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Geology & Geophysics

As we move further into the 21st century, geologists and geophysicists will be needed more than ever to help tackle our planet’s most pressing environmental challenges, including the energy transition to a low-carbon future, ensuring global food and water security, and understanding and mitigating the impacts of climate change and natural hazards. The geosciences include a whole range of different ways of understanding the planet we live on.

The main subdivisions are Geology, which includes the study of the Earth’s materials, history, processes, resources and natural hazards, Geophysics , which involves the applications of physics to many of the same areas through the use of sound waves, gravity and electromagnetism, and Environmental Geoscience , which studies the interplay between geological processes, ecological systems, and human society.

Geoscientists are experts at multi-disciplinary science as the diversity of the subject draws heavily on the fields of physics, chemistry, biology and maths, and makes extensive use of computers to process and analyse large datasets and run models and simulations of Earth processes.

Leeds Futures - Environment

We’re excited to launch our Leeds Futures - Environment programme for Year 12 students. Designed to help you develop your insight into the various courses available in the Faculty of Environment and show you what it’s like to study at a Russell Group University, the programme for 2024 is a mixture of on campus and online activities. You will be able to develop your skills and subject knowledge, as well as the opportunity to take part in talks, workshops, meet current students and academics, explore University of Leeds’ campus, and other enrichment activities alongside your current studies.

Discover Geography at Leeds

Discover geography at Leeds is an outreach programme for Y8 students who are interested in geography and science, and want to take part in some practical environmental science based research This programme is for school groups only, click the link to find out more.

Subject taster workshops

We offer a range of workshops delivered by academics and PhD students, these can take place in school or on-campus, if you'd like more information or you'd like to book a workshop, please get in touch!

Online experiments

Have you seen a tornado in bottle? Or water that doesn't freeze at 0 degrees? Watch the videos on the next page to find out more.

SAT school

Are you interested in earth observation and the role satellites can play in geology, geophysics, and environmental sciences? Get in touch with the students who run our SAT school. They can provide interactive in-school and on-campus workshops for students in KS3 onwards.

Student and alumni profiles

Earth and environment youtube

Check out our dedicated YouTube playlist for more information about the school of earth and environment.

Faculty of Environment Scholarships

Find out more about the scholarship opportunities for students studying subject in the Faculty of Environment.