BSc (Hons) Geophysics Bachelor's degree at Durham University
BSc (Hons) Geophysics at Durham University. Geophysics at Durham asks a fairly fundamental question: how does the Earth actually work?
About this course
Geophysics F665 - Durham University Skip to main content BSc (Hons) Geophysics Gain the knowledge you need to understand how the Earth works. From the provider’s course page.
BSc (Hons) Geophysics is a Bachelor's degree (BSc (Hons)) at Durham University, based in Durham Campus. It runs 3 years, studied full-time.
For Earth sciences graduates from this provider, 90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, 75% in highly skilled roles, typical earnings around £33,000. (HESA Graduate Outcomes / LEO, via Discover Uni.)
For the typical curriculum, specialisations, career paths and graduate earnings for Physics & Chemistry, see the sections below.
Course evidence score
The arithmetic mean of the official measures available for this course: NSS satisfaction, graduate activity and continuation.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Limited evidence Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Graduate Outcomes work or further study 90% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Published threshold met Discover Uni suppresses continuation data below its publication threshold. Cohort 2022-23. Continuation 91% (2022-23; Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Curriculum & modules
Real modules published for this course, grouped only where the source gives a year, stage or level.
Year 1 6 modules
- Field StudiesCompulsory
Module details
introduces techniques for description and interpretation of natural geological and environmental features. This module also covers mapping skills, and the observation, recording and processing techniques needed for fieldwork and imagery
- Further Mathematics for GeoscientistsCompulsory
Module details
ensures that you have the basic maths techniques needed to solve a range of numerical problems in the geosciences
- Understanding Earth SciencesCompulsory
Module details
covers an introduction to the areas such as petrology, sedimentology, structural geology and palaeontology and relates the processes to the plate tectonic cycle
- Introductory Data Science for GeoscientistsCompulsory
Module details
introduces the fundamentals of data acquisition and analysis in a geoscientific context. You will learn how to apply computational tools to manipulate and visualise a range of scientific and geospatial data
- Earth MaterialsOptional
- Environmental and SustainabilityOptional
Year 2 7 modules
- Geophysical Methods for GeoscientistsCompulsory
Module details
introduces the main geophysical exploration methods and explains their application in understanding the geological structure of earth. You will also gain hands-on experience of some widely used geophysical field methods used in geophysical surveys, in preparation for your dissertation project
- Earth Systems Modelling and AnalysisCompulsory
Module details
aims to develop your skills for analysing and visualising a range of geoscientific data and introduce you to methods for creating computer simulations of Earth systems
- Research Skills for GeoscientistsCompulsory
Module details
covers the fundamentals of scientific theory and how to apply these concepts to real-world geoscientific reasoning. You will also gain further experience with the processing and visualisation of geospatial data
- Lithospheric Structure and ImagingCompulsory
Module details
aims to develop and integrated understanding of the structure, composition and evolution of the lithosphere by combining geological and geophysical processes
- Environmental GeophysicsCompulsory
Module details
covers a range of physical processes in the environment that underpin the functioning of the biosphere and introduces common near-surface geophysical techniques that can be used to study environmental processes and problems
- Isotopes in Environmental and Climate SciencesOptional
- Igneous and Metamorphic ProcessesOptional
Year 3 9 modules
- DissertationCompulsory
Module details
Worth one-third of your final-year marks, you will produce an independent research based on a computing, field or laboratory project chosen to suit your interests
- Geophysical FlowsOptional
- Earth Structure and DynamicsOptional
- Environmental GeochemistryOptional
- Volcanology and MagmatismOptional
- Earth Sciences into SchoolsOptional
- Tectonic Processes and Renewable Geo-resourcesOptional
- Environmental ManagementOptional
- Geochemistry of the EarthOptional
Source: provider course page. Modules can change; required/optional status, credits, descriptions and assessment are shown only when explicitly published.
Course in depth
What this course covers, who it suits and where it leads.
What you'll study
The course structure moves progressively from core theory into applied and independent work. Early on you'll cover core theory - the physics and mathematics that underpin geophysics, including how waves propagate through different materials and how fields (gravitational, magnetic, electrical) behave in and around the Earth. Alongside this sits research & methods, where you learn the techniques geophysicists actually use to collect and interpret data, and applied practice, which puts those methods to work on realistic problems, likely including fieldwork and laboratory or computational exercises. As you progress, specialist options let you focus on particular areas of interest within geophysics, while professional skills work builds the practical competencies - technical communication, data handling, teamwork - that employers in this field expect. The course culminates in an independent project, giving you the chance to design and carry out a substantial piece of geophysical research or investigation of your own, working more autonomously than in earlier years and drawing together everything you've learned into a single extended piece of work.
Who it's for
This course suits people who are curious about the physical world at a genuinely large scale - who want to know not just what the Earth is made of, but how you'd go about finding out without being able to dig down and look. If you enjoyed physics and maths at school and are drawn to problems that mix theory with real, messy data, you'll likely feel at home here. Much of the work involves reasoning carefully from indirect evidence - interpreting signals, models and measurements to build a picture of something hidden - so patience and a liking for problem-solving matter as much as raw enthusiasm for the outdoors. Equally, if you're someone who wants your studies to eventually connect to fieldwork, instrumentation or applied science beyond the classroom, that trajectory is built into the course as you move from foundational theory towards independent, practice-based work. Most students arriving on this course have come through A-levels or an equivalent qualification, typically with a UCAS tariff in the 160-175 range, though this reflects what past entrants held rather than a fixed requirement. What matters more than the exact grades is a genuine comfort with physics and mathematical reasoning, and a willingness to keep applying that reasoning to increasingly open-ended, real-world problems as the degree progresses.
Careers & job market
Geophysics graduates sit within the broader Physics & Chemistry field nationally, and the available labour-market data reflects that wider group rather than this course alone. Across Physics & Chemistry courses nationally, 85% of graduates were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with 75% of those working graduates in roles classed as highly skilled. Nationally, 90% of students on these courses continue past their first year, either still enrolled or having completed. On earnings, national Graduate Outcomes/LEO data (not specific to Durham or to geophysics alone) shows starting salaries 15 months after graduation ranging from roughly £26,500 to £34,000, moving to between £24,650 and £34,800 after three years, and £30,600 to £43,200 after five years. These figures describe national outcomes across the field and shouldn't be read as a guaranteed or typical salary for any individual graduate - actual outcomes vary considerably depending on sector, role and location. Geophysics itself feeds into areas such as environmental and geotechnical consultancy, natural resource exploration, seismology and geoscience research, though the specific destinations available will depend on the specialist options and project work you pursue during the degree.
University & format
Durham University is a public, research-intensive institution and a member of the Russell Group, founded in 1832 and home to around 19,520 students in total. This BSc (Hons) Geophysics (UCAS code F665) is delivered full-time over three years on Durham's campus, entirely in English. The university holds a Silver award for teaching quality in the Office for Students' TEF 2023, and was. As a recognised UK degree-awarding body, the BSc (Hons) you graduate with is nationally recognised.
Student satisfaction
How students on this course answered the National Student Survey, by theme.
Share of students responding positively.
Published threshold met NSS publication requires sufficient responses; small differences are not a rank. NSS mean of 7 published themes (Discover Uni snapshot 2026-06-21)
Applicant information
The next application dates for this course, followed by facts the provider publishes.
- 2027 entryCompleted applications can be submitted
Your application needs a reference before you can send it.
- 2026 entryFinal date for 2026 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2026 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
- 2027 entryEqual-consideration deadline
18:00 UK time for most undergraduate courses.
Show 5 later dates
- 2027 entryUCAS Extra opens
Applicants who used all five choices and hold no offer may be able to add another choice.
- 2027 entryLast day applications go directly to providers
Applications received after 18:00 UK time are entered into Clearing.
- 2027 entryClearing opens
Eligible applicants can see vacancies and release themselves into Clearing.
- 2027 entryFinal date for 2027 applications
Applications must reach UCAS by 18:00 UK time.
- 2027 entryLast day to add a Clearing choice
Check that this course still has a vacancy before adding it.
The provider publishes contextual-offer information. Eligibility and any reduced offer are applicant-specific.
Placement year. Availability, selection and pay can vary.
See and book current events. Dates can fill or change.
Entry & how to get in
Who gets in
What recently admitted students actually held, official admissions data, not a stated requirement.
UCAS tariff of entrants
Grades are the A-level equivalent of each points band. Tap a band to check your own chances below.
Qualifications held on entry
| Qualification | Share |
|---|---|
| A-levels or equivalent | 96% |
| Other | 2% |
| an Access course | 1% |
Entry & your chances
An honest read from the official entry data, plus your personal match.
Accepted students typically held strong UCAS tariffs. Check how your predicted grades compare and whether a contextual offer applies.
Will you get in? Plot your grades
Pick your predicted A-levels and watch your UCAS points land on the real spread of students admitted to this course.
Each bar is the share of admitted students in that UCAS-points band (lower → higher). Grades show the A-level equivalent.
Based on the official admitted-student tariff distribution. Many universities make contextual (reduced-grade) offers, so a result below the range doesn’t rule you out.
How to apply
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS. Here’s what matters for this course, the right deadline, the grades to aim for, and the steps in order.
- 1Register on UCAS Hub
Create your UCAS application and add this course (code F665). One application covers up to five choices.
- 2Write your personal statement
A single statement covers all your choices, so keep it broad enough for similar courses while showing genuine interest in this subject.
- 3Submit by 13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
UCAS equal-consideration deadline for most undergraduate courses. Source: UCAS 2027 dates.
- 4Reply to your offers
When decisions are in, pick a firm (first) choice and an insurance (back-up) choice with slightly lower grades.
- 5Results day & confirmation
On results day (mid-August) your place is confirmed if you meet the offer. Just missed? Talk to the university, or find a place through Clearing.
Fees & funding
What this course costs and how UK student finance covers it.
Tuition per year
Provider fee page (England 2026/27 cap where not stated).
Check fees at Durham University →For students who normally live in England
2026/27 Student Finance England figures. Maintenance support is means-tested and this two-point view is not an entitlement calculator. The course total uses its published length and home fee where both are available; a missing full-time fee uses the clearly labelled England-cap scenario, while part-time fees and unknown lengths are never guessed. Use the official calculator. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland use separate systems: SAAS, Student Finance Wales, and Student Finance NI.
Starting on or after 1 January 2027?
The Lifelong Learning Entitlement is a separate system. A new learner’s tuition entitlement is currently stated as £39,160 (about 480 credits at 2026/27 fee levels), subject to prior study and eligibility. Check the official LLE guide.
Paying for it
- Tuition Fee Loan: can cover eligible tuition up to the applicable limit and is paid straight to the provider.
- Maintenance Loan: up to £10,830/yr away from home outside London (England, 2026/27), means-tested on household income.
- Repayment: 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below it; written off after 40 years.
- Earn alongside: most students work part-time in term, part-time roles on the StudySmarter job board.
England figures shown; Scotland, Wales & NI run their own schemes, check gov.uk.
Scholarships & bursaries you could qualify for
That does not mean no funding exists. Check the university directory for current amounts, eligibility and application dates.
We only display a named award when its provider source identifies the award and who it is for.
Still deciding what to study?
StudyKit brings course choice, applications and funding together in one place, with a personal AI assistant. Find what really fits you and start your UCAS application step by step.
Careers & earnings
What Physics & Chemistry graduates actually earn, from real outcome data, 15 months, 3 years and 5 years after graduating.
Graduate earnings: this course
| When | Median | Typical range | Graduates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 months after | £33,000 | £30,000 – £37,500 | 20 |
| 3 years after | £31,500 | £25,000 – £42,500 | 80 |
| 5 years after | £41,500 | £30,500 – £52,500 | 90 |
Nominal earnings for graduates of this course/subject at this provider. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23.
Graduate outcomes, 15 months on: this course
- 1Graduate roleFirst role after the degree · 0–2 yrs
- 2Specialist / PractitionerWorking in physics & chemistry · 2–5 yrs
- 3Senior / LeadLeading work and people · 5–10 yrs
- 4Head of / ExpertSenior leadership or deep expertise · 10+ yrs
How pay grows: this course vs Physics & Chemistry nationally
National figures for Physics & Chemistry graduates, HESA Graduate Outcomes (15 months) and the Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) dataset (3 & 5 years). These are national, not university-specific; actual pay varies by employer, region, role and experience. Different cohorts, so the bars are not one group over time.
Work out your pay
Headline figures hide a lot. Calculate realistic take-home pay for this field by role, region and experience, then check your CV before you apply.
What happened to 100 students?
Choose an outcome to translate the published percentage into a simple 100-person view. Each dot represents one percentage point, not an individual tracked student.
were in work or further study
15 months after graduation
Source: Discover Uni, using Graduate Outcomes and continuation data. Cohorts: 2022-23. Limited evidence. Published sample: 20; treat comparisons cautiously. Cohort 2022-23. Each tab is a separate published measure; categories can overlap and should not be added together.
Value compared with similar courses
How this course’s 5-year median earnings compare with Physics & Chemistry courses at the same study level.
Compared with 886 courses with compatible official earnings data. This is a course-value comparison, not a quality ranking.
UK occupations graduates enter
Published graduate destinations, joined conservatively to UK SOC 2020, ONS pay and Skills England demand.
- Conservation and environment professionalsSOC 2020 215 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £40,520
- Finance ProfessionalsSOC 2020 242 · 15% of published destinations · ASHE median £47,173
- Natural and social science professionalsSOC 2020 211 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £44,243
- Engineering professionalsSOC 2020 212 · 10% of published destinations · ASHE median £50,325
Discover Uni JOBLIST/JOBTYPE; ONS ASHE 2025 provisional, all employee jobs; Skills England Occupations in Demand 2025. SOC is shown only for an exact normalised label match; demand is shown only at exact four-digit SOC. Published sample: 75; response rate: 70%. Pay describes the occupation across workers, not a guaranteed graduate salary.
Job market & outlook
How Physics & Chemistry graduates fare in the labour market, and how AI is reshaping the work.
How AI is changing the work
AI doesn't replace the profession, it shifts it: routine tasks get automated, while judgement, working with people and using AI well become more valuable.
What AI takes off your plate
- Routine information gathering
- First-draft writing and summaries
- Standard analysis and admin
- Repetitive processing tasks
More human than ever
- Judgement and original thinking
- Working with and leading people
- Owning and sense-checking AI output
- Ethics and accountability
The strongest graduates pair subject depth with the ability to use AI tools critically.
Roles & employers
Where Physics & Chemistry graduates typically go, indicative destinations from graduate career data. Each role links to live openings on the StudySmarter job board.
Roles graduates go into
Where they work
- Research institutes
- Energy & manufacturing
- Universities
- Government labs
Jobs after this course
Current roles from the StudySmarter job board that suit Physics & Chemistry graduates.
Physics Content Developer for AI-Enhanced LearningUp LearnPhysics PhD, Quantum Data Scientist for AIObsidianPhysics Academic MentorRibbons and Reeves LimitedPhysics TechnicianSapientia Education TrustPhysics Academic Mentor17918Physics Teachers in Calderdale and KirkleesCV-LibraryIs this course right for you?
The essentials UK applicants ask about: finance, outcomes, entry and quality.
Student finance
For comparison, the standard full-time England tuition cap is up to £9,790 per year in 2026/27; the actual fee varies by course and provider. If you normally live in England, eligible students can apply for a Tuition Fee Loan, plus a Maintenance Loan for living costs. Under Plan 5 you repay 9% of income above £25,000, nothing below that, and the balance is written off after 40 years.
Where graduates go
90% were in work or further study 15 months after graduating, with a median salary of £33,000. See the full breakdown in Careers & earnings above.
Your entry chances
Use the UCAS points calculator above to see how your predicted grades compare with admitted students, and whether a contextual offer could apply.
Official-data snapshot
Averaging the official measures published for it, this course scores 8.9 out of 10: NSS 86.6% · in work or study 90% · continued 91%.
Who studies here and in this subject?
Provider- and UK subject-level context.
University of Durham
Physical sciences across the UK
HESA student record 2024/25. Counts are rounded.
Local crime-data context
A neutral snapshot around the published teaching location.
Around Durham Campus
698 street-level reports returned within roughly one mile across 2026-04 to 2026-06.
Police.uk street-level API. Approximate locations, not confined to campus. England, Wales and Northern Ireland; not Scotland.
Is Physics & Chemistry right for you?
Tick what applies to you and see how good a fit it is.
International students
What applying to Durham University from outside the UK involves: fees, English, visa, funding and living costs.
Tuition fees
International tuition is £34,095 / year for this course (from the provider’s fee page). You’re not eligible for UK Tuition Fee or Maintenance Loans, so plan for fees plus living costs upfront.
English language
Most UK undergraduate courses ask for around IELTS 6.0–6.5 (no band below 5.5–6.0), or an accepted equivalent. If you’re just short, most universities run a pre-sessional English course that counts towards the requirement.
Student visa
You’ll usually need a Student visa (Student Route). After you accept an offer the university issues a CAS; you then show funds for fees plus about £1,023–£1,334/month living costs and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge for NHS access.
Scholarships & funding
Many universities offer international/global scholarships (often £2,000–£6,000/yr), check Durham University’s funding pages.
Living costs
Budget roughly £1,100–£1,400/month outside London and £1,400–£1,800/month in London for rent, food and travel; the figure also matters for your visa.
Working while you study
A Student visa usually allows up to 20 hours/week in term time and full-time in holidays, useful alongside study, though not something to rely on for fees.
Visa rules and fees change. Always confirm the current requirements with Durham University and gov.uk before you apply.
Related courses
More at Durham University
Common questions
How competitive is entry?
What are the entry requirements?
What do graduates go on to do?
What will it cost me?
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