Careers

The team-working, quantitative, applied and problem-solving skills acquired across our programmes prepare graduates for the future and are all rated highly by employers and other academic institutions.

Courtney Jiskoot (MSci Geology with Study Abroad)

Meet our alumni

No matter where your career takes you, our curriculum is designed to develop the attitudes and aptitudes required for you to succeed and to be effective in the workplace. Equipped with a mix of scientific, technical and transferable skills our graduates have gone on to found companies, shape government policy, run laboratories, become the face of science in media and are known as world leaders in research.

Industry

Our graduates are highly sought after by the following industries:

Geotechnical engineering
Environmental consultancy
Sustainability
Mineral and petroleum exploration

There is always a need for geoscientists in civil engineering projects and in the water resources industry, and with the increasing awareness of the importance of the environment, geoscientists are increasingly being employed in the fields of nature conservancy, waste disposal, pollution and environmental planning.

Media and education

The expanding media and science communication sector seeks enthusiastic graduates, who start out to develop their career in television and film making (BBC, Channel 4 and many independent film makers are based in Bristol), publishing and science education in the museum and schools.

Finance

Many large-scale employers visit Bristol each year to secure significant numbers of science graduates from across the discipline; a degree from Bristol is considered ideal for a career in banking, consultancy, business and commerce.

Governance and policy

Geoscientists are essential to the development of public policy in a wide range of independent and governmental organisations, charities, professional bodies and societies, and in the private sector.

Research

Many of our graduates successfully secure a place on a post graduate degree programme to pursue a successful academic career.

Skill sets and employability

Students develop a mix of scientific and technical skills including coding, modelling, lab skills, mapping, microscopy and data analysis, as well as transferable skills such as report writing, presenting, communicating, creativity and resilience.

Our lunchtime talks with recent graduates, industry and academic speakers are a great opportunity to build a wider professional network and discuss career opportunities.

Career guidance

Advice on careers in Earth science and further degrees is provided by tutors and individual members of staff in their particular discipline, as well as by the University's Careers Service. Find out more about how you can receive guidance, sign up for internship and job experience opportunities, and attend networking events.

Did you know?

Within six months of graduation, 70% of Bristol's Earth Science graduates who have chosen to go into employment are are in graduate-level jobs. (Source: Unistats)

School of Earth Sciences