Structural geologists are crucial to implementing a successful and sustainable energy transition which addresses some of the greatest challenges of our time. Our Structural Geology with Geophysics MSc is a unique and globally leading Master's programme that fully equips you with the expertise needed to make real change across the breadth of energy and resource-facing industries.
You’ll gain advanced theoretical and practical training, combining structural and geophysical techniques to solve real-world geological problems across a range of subsurface environments, from renewable and sustainable energy provision and storage to ores and minerals resources.
Throughout the course, you’ll master the practical application of structural geology, exploring geological and geophysical constraints on subsurface interpretation whilst developing structural models and associated 3D visualisation software skills.
You’ll be taught by academics with a wealth of expertise and industry experience, and you'll have access to specialist facilities that’ll prepare you for working in the industry.
At the end of the programme, as a skilled subsurface interpreter and modeller, you’ll have an extensive skill set, transferable into independent academic research or across a wide range of exciting career paths in this field.
Accreditation
When you choose a degree with accredited status, you can be assured that the teaching is of the highest standard. The quality and relevance of our teaching have been recognised by an independent body of academics and industrialists through our Geological Society of London Professional Accreditation.
If you have an appropriate degree, our Geological Society accreditation will reduce the amount of experience required for you to reach Chartered Geologist (CGeol) status, an important career step in Geoscience.
Learning and teaching
Teaching is varied with some of your modules being very practical based, e.g. fieldwork, presentations and learning new software, while other methods are tutorial or lecture-based. You'll also have the opportunity to work individually or as a group. Regardless of the method, you'll be supported by substantial online learning material.
You'll be assigned a personal tutor who will maintain contact with you throughout the year and offer pastoral guidance. They will help you to settle into the university and clarify any procedures, as well as help you prepare for employment upon graduation.
Specialist facilities
The School of Earth and Environment’s building gives you access to world-class research, teaching and laboratory facilities. As a Masters student, you'll have access to a 3D visualisation suite and your own dedicated computer facilities, in which you may practice the following:
- 2D and 3D seismic interpretation and geocellular modelling via Petrel and other industry-standard software.
- Structural modelling and restoration through a range of industry-standard software.
- A range of structural modelling, restoration, GIS and 3D visualisation programmes using PCs.
- Ore specialisation through resource-specific software, such as Leapfrog 3D deposit modeller.
Our Virtual Learning Environment will help to support your studies: it’s a central place where you can find all the information and resources for the School, your programme and modules.
You can also benefit from support to develop your academic skills, within the curriculum and through online resources, workshops, one-to-one appointments and drop-in sessions.
Active research environment
The School of Earth and Environment is home to five world-leading research institutes, which are at the heart of our active research environment and working to tackle the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges. Throughout your degree, you'll be taught by experts who are leaders in their fields, becoming directly engaged with their cutting-edge research.
Industry links
We have very strong links within the industry, which you’ll benefit from throughout the year. This includes the provision of scholarships, data for dissertation projects, the teaching of short courses and free licenses for industry-standard software.
We’re continually developing new industry relationships; below is a summary of some of the links that we have.
Industrial recruitment visits
We have weekly presentations from companies encompassing the industry spectrum, including the largest multinationals, specialised consultancies, and service companies. This gives you an opportunity to hear technical presentations and information about graduate recruitment schemes and employment opportunities. A number of companies also arrange first-round interviews when they visit.
Programme team
The Programme Leader, Dr Emma Bramham, is a specialist in surface behaviour and subsurface linkage to magnetically driven faulting, specifically in volcanic systems on Mars. She is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and has a wealth of industry experience as an offshore geophysicist.
The wider programme team is made up of geoscientists from the School’s Institutes for Applied Geoscience and Geophysics and Tectonics, featuring specialists in data processing, computational geophysics, structural geology and resource exploration.