Earth Scientists develop a combination of analytical, teamworking, numerical and communication skills. This can prove a great attraction to employers, and Bristol's geoscientists do consistently well in the job market.

Data obtained from

• Geology (BSc and MSci), including joint honours courses and courses with study abroad
• Geophysics (BSc)
• Environmental Geoscience (BSc and MSci) including courses with study abroad
• Palaeontology and Evolution (MSci)
• Graduates from the UK 

Responses were received from 34 UK graduates from 2019/20; this is a response rate of 69.4%

Destinations

Most important activity	Percentage of graduates
Paid work for an employer	50%
Self-employment/freelancing	0%
Running my own business	0%
Developing a creative, artistic or professional portfolio	0%
Voluntary/unpaid work for an employer	5.9%
Engaged in a course of study, training or research	32.4%
Taking time out to travel	0%
Caring for someone	0%
Retired	0%
Unemployed and looking for work	8.8%
Doing something else	2.9%

Sector information

Earth Scientists are well placed to enter careers in a range of sectors not always related to their degree subject. Examples include IT and management consultancy, law, investment banking, accountancy, marketing, Civil Service and the armed forces.

Sector	Number of graduates
Accounting, bookkeeping and auditing activities; tax consultancy	1
Engineering activities and related technical consultancy	1
Space transport	1
Other sectors (11 sectors)	12

Employers and occupations

As 70% of all graduate vacancies don’t ask for specific degree subjects, Earth Science graduates enter all sorts of careers from community work and sports coaching to broadcasting and land surveying.

Examples of employers

• Atkins plc
• Kubrick Group
• PwC
• Gordano School

Examples of occupations

• Data Engineer
• Data Scientist
• Graduate Transport Planner
• Technical Support Officer

Further study

Postgraduate study is often required for those wishing to enter a career in Earth Sciences. Many Bristol postgraduates have gone on to successful careers within fields such as oil and mineral exploration, mapping, civil engineering and environmental consultancies, university research and teaching, conservation organisations, museums, cartography, hydrology and broadcasting.

Qualification type	Percentage of graduates
Higher degree, mainly by research (e.g. PhD, DPhil, MPhil, MRes)	41.7%
Higher degree, mainly by taught course (e.g. MA, MSc, MBA)	58.3%
Postgraduate diploma or certificate (including PGCE/PGDE)	0%
Professional qualification	0%
Undergraduate degree (including integrated master’s degrees) (e.g. BA, BSc, MBChB, MEng)	0%
Other undergraduate diploma or certificate not specified above	0%
Other qualification	0%
Not aiming for a formal qualification	0%