PG Geosciences 2014

Infuencing the world since 1583
THE UNIVERSITY
OF EDINBURGH
GeoSciences
POSTGRADUATE
OPPORTUNITIES
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www.ed.ac.uk/geosciences
The University
02 Welcome to the School of GeoSciences
03 Facilities and resources
04 Community
05 Employability and graduate attributes
06 Taught masters programmes
15 Research at the School of GeoSciences
16 Our research collaborations
17 Research opportunities
20 Funding
22 How to apply
23 Get in touch
24 Campus map
THE UNIVERSITY
OF EDINBURGH:
INFLUENCING THE
WORLD SINCE 1583
Our proud history and
alumni ambassadors
For more than 400 years our staff and
students have been making their mark
on the world. Theyve explored space,
revolutionised surgery, won Nobel Prizes,
published era-defning books, run the
country, paved the way for life-saving
breakthroughs and laid the foundations
for solving the mysteries of the universe.
By choosing further study or research at
Edinburgh you will be joining a community
of scholars who have been at the forefront
of knowledge since 1583.
We are associated with 15 Nobel Prize
winners, including physicists Charles Barkla
and Max Born, medical researcher Peter
Doherty, economist Sir James Mirrlees and
biologist Sir Paul Nurse. Our famous alumni
include NASA astronaut Piers Sellers,
former MI5 Director-General Dame Stella
Rimington, Olympians Sir Chris Hoy and
Katherine Grainger and historical greats
such as philosopher David Hume, physicist
and mathematician James Clerk Maxwell,
inventor Alexander Graham Bell and Sherlock
Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
You are now in a place
where the best courses
upon Earth are within your
reach such an opportunity
you will never again have.
Thomas Jefferson, American Founding
Father and President (speaking to his
son-in-law, Thomas Mann Randolph, as he
began his studies at Edinburgh in 1786)
01
The University of Edinburgh
GeoSciences Postgraduate Opportunities 2014 entry
An inspiring destination
Your frst-class education will take place in
one of Europes most striking capital cities,
a World Heritage Site that is regularly voted
one of the best places in the world to live.
Edinburgh enjoys a solid reputation as a
centre for innovation, whether as home to
the 18th-century Scottish Enlightenment,
as a modern source of pioneering science,
medicine and technology, or as the host of
the worlds largest and longest-established
arts festival. You couldnt ask for a more
inspiring setting in which to further your
knowledge and broaden your horizons.
Join us
Edinburgh offers unparalleled academic
breadth and diversity, making it a vibrant,
challenging and stimulating environment
for postgraduate study. Whether you plan
to change direction, enhance your existing
career or develop in-depth knowledge of
your area of study, the University of
Edinburgh provides a world-class
learning experience.
* Times Higher Education World University Rankings
** Latest Research Assessment Exercise
Teaching and research excellence
We are consistently ranked as one of the
worlds top 50* universities. As host to
more than 30,000 students from some
130 countries, studying across 100
academic disciplines, the University
of Edinburgh continues to attract the
worlds greatest minds. World-leading
research is produced by 96 per cent**
of our academic departments, placing
Edinburgh in the top fve in the UK for
research. Our excellent teaching was also
confrmed in the latest report from the
Quality Assurance Agency, which awarded
us the highest rating possible for the
quality of the student learning experience.
Collaborations and
international partnerships
As an internationally renowned centre
of academic excellence, Edinburgh is
the site of many world-class research
collaborations. Our postgraduate students
are crucial to our continued success and
development and, along with our staff,
they forge research links through regular
travel and overseas exchanges. We take
pride in our partnerships with other
institutions such as the California Institute
of Technology, Stanford University, the
University of Melbourne, Peking University,
the University of Delhi and the University
of KwaZulu-Natal to name but a few.
We are a member of both the League of
European Research Universities and the
Coimbra Group, giving us strong links
with leading European institutions from
Barcelona to Berlin.
Linking research and commerce
Edinburgh was one of the frst UK
universities to actively develop commercial
links with industry, government and the
professions. Edinburgh Research and
Innovation (ERI) has continued, for the past
four decades, to develop the promotion
and commercialisation of the Universitys
research excellence. ERI assists our
postgraduates in taking a frst step to
market, whether it is through collaborative
research, licensing technology or providing
consultancy services.
Enhancing your career
With one of the best track records for
graduate employment in the Russell
Group, the University of Edinburgh is
committed to embedding employability
into your teaching and learning
experience. From offering access to
volunteering schemes to providing
support from our sector-leading Careers
Service, the University provides myriad
opportunities to develop your skills,
knowledge and experience giving you
the edge in a competitive job market.
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The effect of these complex relationships
is vitally important to our worlds future,
which means our graduates are in the best
position to make that future better. We
offer opportunities that are increasingly
interdisciplinary and international in
focus, consistently developing new
and exciting courses and programmes
to help our students to fnd solutions
to real-world problems.
We are the largest geoscience research
group in the UK, with about 370 academics
and researchers. The quality of our research
is second to none: we were the highest
rated research group in the latest UK
Research Assessment Exercise. The School
offers dedicated expertise across our core
teaching areas of ecology, environmental
sciences, geography, geology, geophysics,
meteorology and oceanography.
Illustrious past, exciting future
While we can draw upon a rich geological
heritage (James Hutton, the father of
modern-day geology was an Edinburgh
alumnus), we dont rest on our laurels. The
School of GeoSciences is at the forefront of
new developments and thought leadership.
Our current staff and research collaborators
build upon established prestige and
reputation, continuing to break new ground
in their understanding and application of
the principles of the earth sciences.
At the School of GeoSciences we examine new connections
between the Earths geology, atmosphere, oceans and life,
including considering our own role and impact on our planet.
Talented staff pool
Among our large and experienced
academic team are many global leaders
in their feld. Two of our researchers were
lead authors of the Nobel Prize-winning
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Changes Fourth Assessment Report,
while we also boast a double winner of
the World Meteorological Organizations
Norbert Gerbier Prize and the worlds frst
Professor of Carbon Capture and Storage.
Industry links
Our masters programmes will not only
extend your knowledge in some of the
most exciting areas in earth sciences,
but will also give you valuable skills and
expertise to help you work at the forefront
of global resource management. We work
closely with industry, through Edinburgh
Research and Innovation, the Universitys
commercialisation offce, to fnd practical
answers to tomorrows problems.
Committed to forging industry relationships,
many of our degree programmes offer the
chance to collaborate with external bodies
through dissertation and project work.
We offer a Jobs in GeoSciences day, and
a Careers Fair, to our students, as part of
our Innovative Learning Week, at which
we welcomed guests (including a number
of our own alumni) from an exciting variety
of jobs, sectors and practice areas.
WELCOME TO
THE SCHOOL OF
GEOSCIENCES
03
Facilities and resources
New facilities
Our new Edinburgh Centre for Carbon
Innovation (ECCI) is an exemplar of social,
economic and environmental sustainability.
The building is set to become the frst
development of its kind to achieve an
outstanding rating from BREEAM, the
worlds leading sustainability rating
system for the built environment. ECCI
is a collaborative project with Edinburgh
Napier and Heriot-Watt Universities that
brings together experts in law, business,
technology and policymaking.
As you would expect, we have a wide
range of hi-tech apparatus for the analysis
of minerals and fuids, for isotope analysis
and for measuring the physical properties
of materials. But few institutions can boast
facilities that need a call sign for Air Traffc
Control. In our case the call sign is G-GEOS
and the equipment is an Eco Diamond
HK36 small aircraft invaluable for
measuring trace gas concentrations up to
altitudes of approximately 3,000 metres.
We also offer excellent resources for
scientifc computing, for instance in
geographic information systems,
meteorological modelling and geophysics.
We place a strong emphasis on feld
measurement techniques in ecological,
atmospheric and earth sciences.
By joining the School of GeoSciences, you will gain access
to outstanding facilities. From our own aircraft to the latest
technology for rock analysis, our exceptional equipment
enables our researchers to stay at the forefront of their feld.
National facilities
The School hosts and manages a number
of national analytical facilities on behalf
of the Natural Environment Research
Council (NERC). We are home to:
the NERC Ion Microprobe Facility
the Experimental GeoScience Facility
(NERC recognised)
the NERC Geophysical Equipment Facility
the NERC Field Spectroscopy Facility
the NERC Tephrochronology Service
the NERC Chemical Dating Facility
Airborne GeoSciences (NERC recognised).
Among our newest facilities is the UK
Biochar Research Centre, where we are
leading the way in a rapidly developing
feld that offers the promise of carbon
sequestration on a potentially global scale.
Collections of the University
The Universitys collections are unique
in their depth and diversity. Managed by
the Centre for Research Collections, and
housed in our Main Library at the heart of
our central campus, they span more than
500,000 rare books, and scientifc and
cultural artefacts from around the world.
Highlights include the worlds oldest
surviving Gaelic text; a page from the fnal
draft of Charles Darwins On the Origin of
Species, as well as two copies of the frst
edition; philosopher Adam Smiths original
library; Alexander Flemings sample of
mould used to make penicillin; original
quartos of Shakespeare plays, with notes
in the margins from 16th-century actors;
the thermometer of chemist Joseph Black;
and original Sir Isaac Newton diagrams in
David Gregory manuscripts of 1692.
University archivists with a broad
spectrum of expertise make it their
priority to ensure these items are accessible
by our students, researchers and staff.

You will gain access
to outstanding facilities.
Community
We have an active and motivated
postgraduate student community with
regular events including a Dissertation Mixer,
Field Training Days, Innovative Learning
Week and informal socials. Additionally,
staff and visiting experts deliver exciting
lectures and seminars that are open to all
of our students, which means there really
is something for everyone.
Taught masters students receive generous
support from our GeoSciences Teaching
Organisation, which helps with all aspects
of the administration of your studies,
while our dedicated programme directors
are responsible for your academic and
pastoral care.
Our supportive academic community provides a dynamic
environment in which our postgraduate students can truly
thrive. We offer numerous opportunities to access study
support, develop new skills, share knowledge, exchange
ideas and socialise with like-minded colleagues.
Collaborative culture
All academic research staff and
postgraduate students are affliated
to one of our three research institutes:
Geography and the Lived Environment
Global Change
Earth & Planetary Sciences
As groupings of researchers with related
interests, the institutes provide a forum for
the development of ideas, collaboration,
and dissemination of results, and an
environment for training, development
and mentoring of research students and
early-career researchers. The research
institutes each have a very active seminar
series drawing distinguished external guests
as well as internal speakers, and you will
be encouraged to attend and participate.
This has been a great course one of the best investments
I have made in my life, where I have not only studied in one
of Britains best cities but have pushed a subject to the very
limit of our current knowledge. The University of Edinburgh
has looked after us so well and we defnitely lucked out with
our course organiser! This is not only a career enhancer but
has also brought a new aspect to my life as an environmentalist
and what I can achieve in the future
Ben Reid, MSc Ecosystem Services
Peer support
Our Research Training and Development
team ensures effective delivery of all
postgraduate training, as an integral
underpinning of all School research
activities. On joining us you will become
a member of the student-run GradSchool,
an excellent peer-support network that
spans each of the Schools sites. GradSchool
organises social events, lectures and
conferences, and maintains crucial links
between you and our academic staff.
Each year GradSchool welcomes new
research students with a range of events:
there is an organised weekend away to the
mountains; the GradSchool conference,
which attracts industry sponsors; the regular
GradTalk seminars; and a spring ceilidh.
05
Employability and
graduate attributes
Observing changes in markets and
external scientifc developments, and
incorporating these into our ever-evolving
programmes, has ensured that we equip
students with those skills most in demand
by employers.
Our graduates have gone on to work for a
huge array of employers across all sectors,
including the Department of Energy and
Climate Change, The Carbon Trust, the
Forestry Commission, British Airways,
Hewlett-Packard, Shell, Credit Suisse,
Google, and the police.
We encourage our students to participate
in research-skills training, including
training in time management, academic
referencing, and training in qualitative
and quantitative skills provided by our
academic staff and the Institute for
Academic Development (IAD).
Careers Service
The Universitys award-winning Careers
Service aims to expand the horizons of
all students, empowering and inspiring
you to make successful career decisions.
The Service has a friendly team of experts
ready to help you at our offces on the
central campus and at Kings Buildings.
We offer advice and guidance whatever
your plans for the future, including
careers in research. We offer workshops
throughout the year that are open to
all postgraduate students, plus sessions
specifcally for international students.
Our Careers Service has a team dedicated
to developing our already strong links
with employers from all industries and
employment sectors; from the worlds top
recruiters to small enterprises based here
in Edinburgh. We provide a programme
of opportunities for students to meet
employers on campus and virtually.
More information:
www.ed.ac.uk/careers/postgrad
Our GeoSciences graduates have excellent academic and career
prospects working with industry, staying in academia or
entering government and non-government organisations.
Institute for Academic Development
All of our postgraduate students beneft
from our Institute for Academic
Development (IAD), which provides
information, events and courses to
develop the skills you will need now
and in the future.
The IAD offers one of the most established
university research and career skills training
packages in the UK. Our experts will
help you gain the skills, knowledge and
confdence needed to move on to the
next stage in your career, be that in a
professional sector or within academia.
The Institute provides research students
with dedicated training in topics such
as research management; personal
effectiveness; communication skills;
public engagement, networking and
teamworking; leadership; and career
management. You can gain expertise in
information technology and presentation
skills; confdence in undertaking
independent and creative research;
the ability to critically evaluate source
materials; and the capacity to construct
intellectually rigorous arguments.
For taught postgraduates, the IAD
provides a growing range of tailored
study-related and transferable skills
workshops, plus online advice and learning
resources. These are all designed to help
you settle into postgraduate life, succeed
during your studies, and move confdently
onwards to the next stage of your career.
By developing these broader professional
skills and qualities, our postgraduate
students are always in high demand.
More information:
www.ed.ac.uk/iad/postgraduates
Backing bright ideas
LAUNCH.ed is the Universitys award-
winning programme for student
entrepreneurs. Each year, LAUNCH.ed
works with students to help them start
new businesses. Since 2005 we have
helped Edinburgh students and alumni
launch more than 120 businesses, of which
more than 85 per cent are still trading.
More information:
www.LAUNCH.ed.ac.uk
Learn to teach
We encourage all of our research students to
carry out demonstrating and tutoring work
for the Schools undergraduate programmes.
This work is strongly supported by training
and coaching, to ensure you get the most
out of the experience and can gain a new
skillset from it.
Rich resource
Scotland has an
exceptionally rich diversity
of geology, and is home
to two UNESCO-supported
Geoparks.
www.european
geoparks.org
Taught masters programmes
Our growing range of postgraduate taught
programmes allows you to beneft from
cutting-edge research knowledge and
skills training in your selected subject and
beyond. We are proud to have developed
a number of exciting programmes that are
the frst of their kind, most recently: our
MSc in Ecosystem Services, our Certifcate
in Global Environmental Challenges (online
distance learning), our MSc in Soils &
Sustainability and our MSc in Geographical
Information Science & Archaeology. We
pay close attention to changes in the
market and to scientifc developments,
ensuring our offering is up to date and
that our programmes are designed with
the ever-changing needs of our students
at the forefront of our minds.
We are also privileged to host lectures
by representatives from government
organisations and industry, who contribute
to our programmes, courses and dissertation
supervision, making our programmes truly
dynamic and stimulating and ensuring
they deliver a real-world focus.

Field trips
A number of our programmes have
residential feld trips and day excursions that
really enhance the learning experience and
enable you to put your skills into practice.
Recent destinations include Kenya (MSc in
Ecological Economics), France (MScs in Food
Security and Environmental Protection &
Management), and the southern European
coastline (MSc in Ecosystem Services).
As a UK-leading hub of geoscientists, we are uniquely placed
to offer an exciting range of taught masters programmes.
See also
You may also be interested in taught postgraduate
programmes offered by other Schools within the University,
particularly University of Edinburgh Business School and the
School of Engineering.
www.ed.ac.uk/studying/prospectus-request
Dissertation
After completing the taught component of
your chosen programme, you will complete
a dissertation project from April to August.
You are encouraged to develop your own
research focus, with direction from your
Programme Director and dissertation
supervisor, or to select projects made
available by academic staff from across
the School. The School offers publication
prizes for the top dissertations each year.
Flexibility
While each programme has compulsory
or core courses, the School offers an
enormous breadth of optional courses that
will also form part of your MSc. This means
that the scope for customisation is vast
and that you can focus on areas of special
interest to you. You may also have access
to courses in the Universitys School of
Engineering and from across the Schools
in our College of Humanities & Social
Science. (Please note some restrictions
apply but your Programme Director can
assist you in making the most of your
course selection. Class sizes will vary).
On any of our taught programmes you can
study for a Postgraduate Diploma instead
of an MSc by completing all taught courses
without completing the dissertation.
Online distance learning
The University of Edinburgh is the biggest
provider of online distance learning in the
Russell Group. Just like our on-campus
provision, all our online programmes
are delivered by dedicated academics,
many of whom are leaders in their feld.
Our Postgraduate Certifcate in Global
Environment Challenges is an extremely
fexible option for students looking to
balance further study with professional
or family commitments.
Collaborations
Edinburgh is a genuine hub for geosciences.
Our taught programmes are strengthened
through collaborations with a range of
internal and external partners, including
the University of Edinburgh Business
School, the School of History, Classics
& Archaeology, Scotlands Rural College
(SRUC) and Heriot-Watt University. These
collaborations allow us to share in-depth
knowledge in particular subject areas,
including climate change; carbon
management; food security; ecological
economics; environmental protection;
water, waste and recycling; and soils,
and to pass this collected expertise
to our students. We also have a high
concentration of businesses and other
organisations working in the feld of
geosciences in Edinburgh. We draw
upon these links to ensure our taught
programmes provide you with the skills and
contacts you need to develop your career.
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www.ed.ac.uk/pg/518
Carbon Capture & Storage
MSc 1 yr FT (2 yrs or 3 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)
Programme description
The only programme of its kind in the UK, our Carbon Capture & Storage
MSc gives you high-level skills and training across this rapidly developing
area. This MSc is a launch pad for careers in business, industry and
government in the felds of low-carbon energy and hydrocarbon production.
Global energy demands are still rising, and fossil fuels remain central
to meeting those demands. CCS has been recognised as a way forward.
Commercial trials are under way, and countries and industries are
investing in this new technology.
We offer the choice of two streams to follow in this exciting area:
Carbon Capture & Storage, which gives students expertise in storage
and geological reservoirs; or Carbon Capture & Storage Engineering,
for specialist engineering expertise.
Programme structure
Both MSc streams have two semesters of lectures and practical classes,
followed by a research dissertation of up to 15,000 words.
Stream 1: Carbon Capture & Storage
This stream provides training in reservoir geology and an overview of
geological carbon storage, including capture and economic aspects.
COmPULSORY COURSES
Carbon Economics; Carbon Capture and Transport; Carbon Storage
and Monitoring; Reservoir Engineering.
You will also choose from a wide range of optional GeoSciences courses.
Please note Geology for Earth Resources is compulsory if you do not have
a degree in GeoScience.
Stream 2: Carbon Capture & Storage Engineering
This stream develops an understanding of carbon capture with a specifc
focus on engineering this stream is particularly designed for graduates
in engineering and physical sciences.
COmPULSORY COURSES
Advanced Power Plant Engineering with Carbon Capture; CCS Group
Design Project; CCS Systems and Economics; Chemical Engineering
Thermodynamics; Engineering Aspects of CO
2
Capture and Transport;
Geological Carbon Storage; Geology for Earth Resources; Separation
Processes for Carbon Capture; Thermodynamics for Power Plant
Engineering with CO
2
Capture.
Career opportunities
Graduates of Stream 1 can enter into all manner of jobs due to the
transferable and highly desirable nature of the skills gained. However,
typically our graduates pursue careers in business, industry, government
and non-governmental organisations in the feld of low-carbon energy
production. Stream 2 graduates are ready for successful careers in the
rapidly expanding industry of low-carbon energy production.
minimum entry requirements
A UK 2:1 degree, or its international equivalent (www.ed.ac.uk/
international/country).
English language requirements
See page 22.
Fees and funding
www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduate
For funding information see also page 20.
Programme Directors Professor Jon Gibbins/Dr Mark Wilkinson
Tel +44 (0)131 650 4867/+44 (0)131 650 5943
Email jon.gibbins@ed.ac.uk/mark.wilkinson@ed.ac.uk
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/412
Carbon Management
The MSc in Carbon Management is a landmark collaboration between
the University of Edinburghs School of GeoSciences, Business School
and the School of Economics, giving students expertise and advanced
understanding of this new global feld of emissions management. Carbon
management is at the heart of tackling climate change and is now a
central consideration for business. Edinburgh has emerged as a global
hub in this new discipline, with expertise, industry links and innovation
you cannot fnd elsewhere.
Programme structure
This MSc programme consists of two semesters of taught courses. Each
course consists of a balance of lectures, seminars, workshops and visits.
From May to September, you will undertake individual dissertation
project work.
COmPULSORY COURSES
Applied Carbon Methods; Business and Climate Change; Carbon
Economics; Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation; Climate
Change Management.
OPTIONAL COURSES
May include: Climate Change and EU Law; Economics for Postgraduates;
Emissions Reduction Project Development; Energy Policy and Politics;
Environmental Impact Assessment; Forests and Environment; Innovation
for Sustainability; Integrated Resource Planning; Land Use/Environmental
Interactions; Low Carbon Investment; Management of R&D and Product
Innovation; Outward Investment from Emerging Markets; Waste
Resource Management.
A key strength of our programme is the employability of our graduates.
The programme has won the PricewaterhouseCoopers award for
Teaching Employable Skills and provides the opportunity to conduct
business carbon audits in collaboration with the Carbon Trust; work on
placements with major industry groups such as the 2020 Climate Group,
and conduct dissertation research as part of work-based projects with
a wide range of external collaborators.
Our graduates are enjoying roles ranging from government advisers
and NGO researchers to renewable energy project developers and
commercial carbon management consultants.
For a view of what more than 100 of our MSc Carbon Management
alumni are now doing visit www.geos.ed.ac.uk/homes/dreay/
msccarbon.html
See page 22.
Fees and funding
Programme Director Dr David Reay
Tel +44 (0)131 650 7723
Email msc@business-school.ed.ac.uk
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/29
Ecological Economics
Ecological economics focuses on how to make sustainability and
environmental management work in practice through the application
of economic principles. You will study the interaction between ecology,
social systems and economics, and explore solutions to the worlds
multidimensional environmental problems.
An essential part of the programme is a spring study tour, giving you
a chance to gain frst-hand experience of ecological economic tools
being implemented, putting your theoretical skills into practice. Tours
are usually for 10 days and typically in the developing world. Previous
locations have included Morocco, Tanzania and Kenya.
Programme structure
Learning is through lectures, informal group discussion and individual
study, as well as the study tour. After two semesters of taught courses,
you will work towards your individual dissertation.
COmPULSORY COURSES
Foundation in Ecological Economics; Applications in Ecological Economics.
OPTIONAL COURSES
May include: Atmospheric Quality and Global Change; Environment
and Development; Environmental Impact Assessment; Human
Dimensions of Environmental Change and Sustainability; International
Development; Land Use/Environment Interactions; Management
of Sustainable Development; Participation in Policy and Planning;
Principles of Environmental Sustainability; Principles of Geographical
Information Science (GIS); Project Appraisal; Recent Global
Environmental Change; Rural Development; Society and Development;
Soil Protection and Management; Waste Reduction and Recycling;
Water Resource Management.
Economic principles of effciency and cost-effectiveness are essential
tools for todays decision-makers, and students with postgraduate
training in this area are much sought after. Our graduates are working in
a variety of sectors, including environmental consultancies; international
and governmental agencies; NGOs; fnancial institutions; multinationals;
environmental education and research. About a quarter of our masters
students go on to doctoral research programmes.
international/country), although students holding a 2:2 honours degree,
or its international equivalent, with appropriate work experience, may
also be considered.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
Programme Director Dr Salman Hussain
Tel +44 (0)131 535 4307
Email salman.hussain@sruc.ac.uk
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/701
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem services is the study of how ecosystems beneft humanity and
how we use, manage and value these benefts. In particular it provides
a way of assessing the trade-offs involved in utilising the environment.
This is a rapidly developing area of scientifc and social science research,
and an increasingly common approach to environmental policy-making
and management.
The programme consists of core courses on ecosystem science, valuation
and management, and a dissertation. An essential element of this
programme is a feld trip, which takes place in the spring, giving you insights
into the methods and approaches that will be useful for dissertation work.
Previous destinations have included France and the Scottish Highlands.
Programme structure
Learning is through lectures, informal discussions and private study.
You will follow two semesters of taught courses before working towards
an individual dissertation.
COmPULSORY COURSES
Ecosystem Dynamics and Function; Ecosystem Values and Management.
OPTIONAL COURSES
May include: Atmospheric Quality and Global Change; Culture, Ethics
and Environment; Environmental Governance; Fundamentals of Remote
Sensing; Human Dimensions of Environmental Change and Sustainability;
Interrelationships in Food Systems; Land Use/Environmental Interactions;
Management of Sustainable Development; Political Ecology; Principles of
Environmental Sustainability; Principles of Geographical Information Science
(GIS); Society and Development; Soil Protection and Management; Spatial
Modelling; Sustainability of Food Production; Values and the Environment.
The UKs research councils cite the skills gained on this MSc as among
the most-wanted skills in the environmental sector. As the demand for
sound evidence of ecosystem services increases, both policymakers and
businesses are looking for graduates who are able to translate complex
science into policy and business opportunities. Here in Edinburgh, we
have strong links with businesses and key industry players who will want
to make use of these skills. Committed to helping our graduates to meet
prospective employers and to facilitate networking with those active
in the feld, we organise an Ecosystem Services Careers Fair each year.
Additionally, we actively support students to conduct their dissertations
in partnership with external organisations.
A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent (www.ed.ac.uk/
international/country), in a relevant subject in the natural sciences (such
as botany, zoology, ecology, biodiversity, geology, biology, geography,
environmental studies, hydrology, conservation) or the social sciences
(such as anthropology, political science, economics, development,
resource use) or in another relevant subject.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
Programme Director Dr Casey Ryan
Tel +44 (0)131 650 7722
Email casey.ryan@ed.ac.uk
09
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/30
Environment & Development
This is an interdisciplinary programme exploring the inter-dependencies
between healthy ecosystems and civil society, now and in the future. It
focuses on the nexus of poverty, environmental change and livelihoods for
the least developed countries, where the quality of many peoples lives
is severely compromised by declines in ecosystem function, for example
where pollution and habitat loss eliminates water and food security.
The programme also focuses on root causes of poverty, which may
be driven by regional or global economics far beyond the borders of a
particular country, culture or village. You will be challenged to cultivate
research thinking that is globally relevant and also grounded in cases
that focus on particular issues, places or systems, providing insights
to real-world situations.
Programme structure
This interdisciplinary MSc consists of two semesters of taught courses.
You will take two core courses and four optional courses, each consisting
of a balance of lectures, seminars, workshops and visits. In addition, you
will undertake an individual dissertation project.
COmPULSORY COURSES
Understanding Environment and Development; International
Development in a Changing World.
OPTIONAL COURSES
May include: Human Dimensions of Environmental Change; Principles of
Environmental Sustainability, Climate Change and Corporate Strategy;
Marine Systems and Policies; Forests and Environment; Water Resource
Management; Ecosystem Dynamics and Functions; Interrelations of
Food Systems; Ecosystem Values and Management; Foundations in
Ecological Economics; Political Ecology; Culture, Ethics and
Environment; Values and the Environment.
Additionally, you may choose from courses offered elsewhere across
the University.
This programme provides a suitable qualifcation for students seeking
roles within international and national development agencies, think-
tanks, NGOs, environmental consultancies and the private sector.
A UK 2:1 degree, or international equivalent (www.ed.ac.uk/
international/country). Applicants with a UK 2:2, or international
equivalent, may also be considered if suitability to the programme
is illustrated by work experience.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
Programme Director Dr Meriwether Wilson
Tel +44 (0)131 650 8636
Email meriwether.wilson@ed.ac.uk
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/395
Environment,
Culture & Society
This programme offers you advanced multidisciplinary knowledge
of contemporary issues and debates on the relationship between
environment, nature, culture and society. Our graduates are equipped
to think critically across multiple disciplines, to generate new knowledge
related to the environment, and to use this knowledge effectively to
address urgent environmental challenges.
The programme draws on expertise from across the University, especially
from geography, philosophy, theology, science and technology and
development studies. You will gain research skills and the ability to assess
the importance of geographical, philosophical and other theoretical
issues that shape environmental policy and practice.
Programme structure
This programme consists of six taught courses, including four optional
courses, studied over two semesters. Each course consists of a balance
of lectures, seminars, workshops and external visits. In addition, students
undertake an individual dissertation project.
COmPULSORY COURSES
Political Ecology; Values and the Environment.
OPTIONAL COURSES
May include: The Anthropology of Landscape; Archives: History, Geography,
Politics; Climate Change, Justice and Responsibility; Ecology, Ethics and
Spirit; The Evolution and Dynamics of Biotechnology; Foundations in
Ecological Economics; Genetics, Nature and Society; Human Dimensions
of Environment and Sustainability; Methodological Debates in Human
Geography; Philosophy and the Environment; Principles of Geographical
Information Science; Research Design in Human Geography; Society and
Development; Sociology of the Environment and Risk; Understanding
Environment and Development; Understanding the City.
Our graduates have pursued careers in environmental policy, nature
conservation, animal welfare, NGOs (environmental charities and
development organisations) and public consultation as well as PhD research.
international/country). Applicants with a 2:2, or its international
equivalent, may be considered with appropriate work experience.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
Programme Director Dr Emily Brady
Tel +44 (0)131 650 9137
Email geos-envcs@ed.ac.uk
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/31
Environmental Protection
& Management
The biosphere, and therefore life as we know it, is under threat by human
activities. Our use of natural resources, deforestation and soil erosion,
toxic emissions and the increase in greenhouse gases all have potentially
serious consequences for our future on Earth. On this programme,
celebrating its 20th year in 2013/14, is a collaboration between the
School of GeoSciences and Scotlands Rural College (SRUC), you will learn
about the issues that face the Earth and gain an in-depth understanding
of natural resource management, and the processes that give rise to
environmental degradation and pollution problems. It will allow you
to play a vital role in planning and actioning strategies to protect and
conserve the environment.
Programme structure
This programme involves two semesters of taught courses, which are
a balance of lectures, seminars, workshops and visits, plus a research
dissertation project of about 16,000 words. Part of this programme is a
week-long study tour in spring. Past study tours have been held in France,
Greece, Portugal, Israel and Morocco.
COmPULSORY COURSES
Atmospheric Quality and Global Change; Land Use Environmental
Interactions.
OPTIONAL COURSES
You will also choose four optional courses. We particularly recommend the
following: Waste Reduction and Recycling; Water Resource Management;
Soil Protection and Management; Environmental Impact Assessment.
We offer a wide range of optional courses from the School of GeoSciences
and other Schools across the University. Visit our website to see current
options at: www.ed.ac.uk/geosciences/masters/environment-protection
Our graduates have a solid record in fnding employment in the
environmental sector while some choose to further their studies through
a PhD. There are also opportunities in consultancy positions and with
environmental regulators, government and NGOs.
international/country), in a biological, environmental or physical science,
geography, engineering, economics or other relevant subject. Applicants
with a UK 2:2 degree, or its international equivalent, may also be considered
upon evidence of relevant work experience or career change.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
Programme Director Dr Oliver Knox
Tel +44 (0)131 535 4066
Email oliver.knox@sruc.ac.uk
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/32
Environmental Sustainability
Ensuring the environmental sustainability of society is the major challenge
facing humanity in the 21st century. How can the needs of the worlds
growing population be met without threatening the ecological processes
that support human well-being? How can the economy and energy
systems be restructured to combat climate change? What policies
foster sustainability? How can the necessary changes in the behaviour
of organisations and individuals be promoted? This MSc programme
explores these and related questions. You are encouraged to think across
disciplinary boundaries to blend scientifc, socio-economic, policy and
ethical perspectives for a stronger understanding of sustainability and
how it can be achieved.
Programme structure
This programme consists of six taught courses, studied over two semesters.
You will also undertake a research project leading to a dissertation of up
to 20,000 words.
COmPULSORY COURSES
Principles of Environmental Sustainability; Case Studies in Sustainable
Development.
OPTIONAL COURSES
May include: Applications in Ecological Economics; Atmospheric Quality
and Global Change; Culture, Ethics & Environment; Ecosystem Dynamics
and Functions; Energy Policy and Politics; Environmental Impact
Assessment; Forests and Environment; Foundations in Ecological
Economics; Global Environmental Politics; Integrated Resource
Management; International Development; Land Use/Environmental
Interactions; Participation in Policy and Planning; Project Appraisal;
Sustainability of Food Production; Waste Reduction and Recycling;
Water Resource Management.
This programme prepares you for a wide range of roles within environmental
consultancy, national and local government, non-proft organisations,
education, or further postgraduate research. The choice of courses and
dissertation project can be tailored towards your chosen career path.
international/country), in a biological, environmental or physical science,
geography, social science or other relevant subject. Due to the focus,
business-related degrees are unfortunately not suitable for entry.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
Programme Director Dr Marc Metzger
Tel +44 (0)131 651 4446
Email marc.metzger@ed.ac.uk
11
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/668
Food Security
How will we feed ourselves in the future? This is one of the most important
questions faced by the human race and this programme, a collaboration
between the University of Edinburgh and Scotlands Rural College (SRUC),
will help to answer it. You will explore issues such as social demographics,
diet and nutrition, trade, technology, conservation and climate change,
along with genetically modifed crops and the increasing pressures on
resources such as water and soil. This unique MSc offers you the scope to
address all these issues and fulfl the growing demand for qualifed experts
to contribute to policy and legislation development on food production
and the supply chain.
Programme structure
This programme consists of six taught courses studied over two semesters
and an individual dissertation project of about 12,000 words. The
programme also includes a study tour, which takes place in spring,
prospectively in Italy.
COmPULSORY COURSES
Frameworks to Assess Food Security; Inter-relationships in Food Security;
Sustainability of Food Production.
OPTIONAL COURSES
May include: Applications in Ecological Economics; Atmospheric
Quality and Global Change; Environmental Ethics; Environmental
impact Assessment; Foundations in Ecological Economics; Land Use/
Environmental Interactions; Management of Sustainable Development;
Principles of Geographical Information Science; Project Appraisal;
Waste Reduction and Recycling; Water Resource Management.
Graduates of this programme typically go on to work in government
and non-governmental agencies as well as international bodies and
businesses where they can utilise the invaluable skills they have acquired
on the programme, such as food security assessment.
international/country), in an agricultural, ecological, biological or
environmental science, engineering, social science, economics, politics or
other relevant subject. Applicants with a UK 2:2 degree, or its international
equivalent, may also be considered with relevant work experience.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
Programme Director Dr Fiona Borthwick
Tel +44 (0)131 535 4138
Email food-sec@geos.ed.ac.uk
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/74
Geographical
Information Science
This programme gives you expert understanding of the latest
developments in geographical information science (GIS) by mixing
strong practical training, theoretical knowledge and the ability to
apply skills in any software environment.
Our intensive programme allows you to tailor your degree around
personal interests and career goals as well as offering hands-on
experience in geographical problem solving.
Demand for GIS expertise is growing at an unprecedented rate. The proven
ability of our graduates in employment means our internationally recognised
programme is held in high regard by employers. The programme is
accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Programme structure
This programme is designed to prepare you for employment through
courses that refect industry need. There is also a feld trip to the Scottish
Highlands focussing on techniques for capturing geospatial information.
COmPULSORY COURSES
Distributed GIS; GeoVisualisation; Introduction to Spatial Analysis;
Research Practice & Project Planning; Spatial Modelling.
OPTIONAL COURSES
May include: Advanced Spatial Database Methods; Fundamentals
of Remote Sensing; Further Spatial Analysis; Hyperspectral Remote
Sensing; Introduction to Radar Remote Sensing; Object Oriented
Software Engineering Principles; Principles of Geographical Information
Sciences; Spatial Algorithms.
There are more optional courses available from the Schools of
GeoSciences, Informatics and Social & Political Science.
Our graduates work throughout the world in both public and private
sector organisations, and in the past have pursued careers with Microsoft,
Google, General Electric Aerospace, the World Bank, British Antarctic
Survey, the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Unisys, British Airways,
the Forestry Commission, DEFRA, and Registers of Scotland.
international/country). A UK 2:2 or equivalent may also be accepted
with relevant industry experience.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
Programme Director Bruce Gittings
Tel +44 (0)131 650 2558
Email bruce@ed.ac.uk
See also
Geographical Information Science is also available as a Masters
by Research. See page 19.
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/795
Geographical Information
Science & Archaeology
This degree offers you the chance to develop a detailed understanding
of the application of geographical information science (GIS) and related
technologies within the feld of archaeology.
The programme retains a distinctive Scottish favour, and you will beneft
from the guidance of internationally recognised staff. The programme
combines the pedigree of the Edinburgh GIS expertise with a long-
established reputation in archaeological teaching and research.
You will gain a broad understanding of the use of GIS in archaeological
surveying, recording and research and will be equipped with the analytical
and communication skills necessary to work in this vibrant feld. Demand for
the application of GIS within archaeology is growing at an unprecedented
rate, including searching for new archaeological sites, determining the
societal context of existing sites and examining the interplay between
successive occupations of a site.
The proven ability of our GIS graduates in employment means our
programme is held in high regard by a wide range of employers.
Programme structure
Study takes place over two semesters of taught courses, through
lectures and seminars, after which you will work towards an individual
dissertation. There is also a feld trip to the Scottish Highlands focusing
on techniques for capturing geospatial information.
COmPULSORY COURSES
Introduction to Spatial Analysis; Principles of GIS for Archaeologists;
Research Practice & Project Planning; Research Sources and Strategies
in Archaeology; Spatial Modelling.
OPTIONAL COURSES
May include: Advanced Spatial Database Methods; Distributed GIS;
Frontiers in Archaeology: Research Seminars; Fundamentals for Remote
Sensing; Further Spatial Analysis; GeoVisualisation; Hyperspectral
Remote Sensing; Introduction to Radar Remote Sensing; Object
Oriented Software Engineering Principles; Spatial Algorithms; The
Scottish Lowlands: Archaeology and Landscape before the Normans;
Theoretical Archaeology.
The expertise gained from this programme will allow you to continue to
study or to pursue a career in surveying, illustration and 3D visualisation,
digital archiving, heritage management, terrain modelling, database
management, geomatics or consultancy. Our GIS graduates have gained
work in both public and private sector organisations, including Historic
Scotland, English Heritage, the Royal Commission on the Ancient and
Historical Monuments of Scotland, Forth Valley GIS and CFA Archaeology.
international/country). A UK 2:2 or equivalent may also be accepted
with relevant industrial or business experience.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
Tel +44 (0)131 650 2558
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/798
Global Environment
Challenges
PGCert 1 yr FT (2 yrs PT)
Human activity is changing the natural environment at an
unprecedented rate. As a result humanity faces a range of complex
and interrelated challenges: global warming, ecosystem disruption,
biodiversity loss, and, for many, increasing diffculty in meeting basic
human needs for energy, food, water and shelter.
This part-time, online distance learning programme takes a
multidisciplinary approach to understanding these contemporary
environmental issues and will develop your capacity to address them
in your professional life.
Programme structure
This certifcate is split into the following three taught courses:
GLOBAL ENVIRONmENT CHALLENGES
Offered from September to December. This course introduces the
nature and relevance of key environmental challenges.
CLImATE CHANGE ImPACTS AND ADAPTATION
Offered from January to March. This course provides a high-level
understanding of climate change impacts and adaptation at global,
national and local scales.
ECOSYSTEm VALUES AND mANAGEmENT
Offered from March to June. This course considers the roles that
ecosystems play in providing a range of services, including climate
regulation, water, food and shelter as well as cultural and spiritual values.
The courses are delivered through an exciting mixture of online modes,
including video lectures, study guides, self-directed and guided reading,
and a range of interactive online refection and discursive activities.
This programme will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed for
work with governments, NGOs, international aid organisations, United
Nations agencies, the private sector, universities, other research
institutions and many others.
international/country), in any subject. Professional experience
will also be taken into account.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
Programme Director Osbert Lancaster
Tel +44 (0)131 650 4917
Email osbert.lancaster@ed.ac.uk
13
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/379
Integrated Resource
Management
MSc 1 yr FT (2 yrs or 3 yrs PT available)
Integrated resource management is about fnding the most effective
use of limited resources, with as little disruption, and as much long-term
sustainability as possible. If we can balance the social, economic and
environmental demands made of our resources, their use will be more
sustainable and conficts will be reduced.
This programme is designed for people who are interested in, or already
involved in, environmental planning, resource allocation or overseeing
sustainable development programmes. We will explore such issues as
why we overuse our natural resources and how we can manage them
better and prioritise their use.
You can tailor the programme by choosing courses that suit their particular
career goals and interests, selecting optional courses from the School
of GeoSciences and beyond.
Programme structure
This programme involves two semesters of lectures and an individual
research project.
COmPULSORY COURSES
Integrated Resource Management; Integrated Resource Planning.
OPTIONAL COURSES
May include: Distributed GIS; Energy Policy and Politics; Environmental
Impact Assessment; Frameworks to Assess Food Security; Human
Dimensions of Environmental Change and Sustainability; Participation in
Policy and Planning; Principles of Geographical Information Science (GIS).
Graduates of this programme go on to work in industry and government
organisations. This programme is designed to give you career options in any
organisation that needs to consider its environmental or resource decisions.
international/country). Applicants holding a UK 2:2 degree, or its
international equivalent, may also be considered, especially with
evidence of relevant work experience. Undergraduate students and
individuals with backgrounds in business, economics, geography,
engineering and agricultural and environmental sciences, as well as
many others, have all studied and benefted from this masters degree.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
Programme Director Dr Ronald M Wilson
Tel +44 (0)131 651 7163
Email ron.wilson@ed.ac.uk
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/781
Soils & Sustainability
This programme focuses on soil as a vital resource, underpinning
the sustainability of ecosystems and all agricultural production.
You will learn about soil function and management, and soil
classifcation, assessment and analysis, with a strong emphasis
on practical skills, and you will gain expertise in the relationship
between soil and sustainable approaches to land resource use.
Programme structure
This programme involves two semesters of classes followed by an
individual research project. The curriculum consists of compulsory and
optional taught courses followed by a period of individual dissertation
project work. A study tour, which takes place in the spring, is an integral
part of the programme.
COmPULSORY COURSES
Soil Protection and Management; Soils Science Concepts and Application.
OPTIONAL COURSES
May include: Culture, Ethics and Environment; Ecosystem Dynamics
and Functions; Ecosystem Values and Management; Environmental
and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental Geochemistry;
Environmental Impact Assessment; Human Dimensions of Environmental
Change and Sustainability; International Development; Land Use/
Environmental Interactions; Management of Sustainable Development;
Participation in Policy and Planning; Principles of Environmental
Sustainability; Principles of Geographical Information Science; Project
Appraisal; Sustainability of Food Production.
Study tour
During the week-long feld tour you will refresh your skills and learn new
tools and techniques that are likely to be useful during the dissertation
process. The study tour is currently held in Mende, France, and some free
time is provided to visit the local area, go rafting and visit the Aven Armand
caves. There may also be a short tour before the programme starts during
induction week, to give you a chance to get to know your cohort.
A recent report by the British Society of Soil Science identifed soil science
as an area in which there are critical skills shortages, meaning graduates
of this programme will be in high demand. Soil scientists are employed
in a broad range of vocations including environmental consultancy,
research, overseas development, environmental impact assessment
and analysis, site reclamation and remediation, and conservation. Soil
scientists also advise on government policy, archaeological excavations
and laboratory analyses, forensics, and landscape design.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
Programme Director Dr Jennifer Carfrae
Tel +44 (0)131 535 4060
Email jennifer.carfrae@sruc.ac.uk
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/77
Petroleum Geoscience
MSc 1 yr FT
Hydrocarbons remain the dominant global source of energy, with
current world production of oil and gas at a record high. Companies face
increasing technological and commercial challenges, meaning petroleum
engineers and geoscientists with these areas of expertise are in high
demand to offer advice and guidance. Our graduates are the target
of many oil and oilfeld service companies.
Our programme draws on expertise from the University of Edinburgh,
Newcastle University and Heriot-Watt University to give you frst-rate
teaching in subsurface geology, geophysics and geo-engineering,
equipping students to appraise and develop subsurface resources
with a particular focus on hydrocarbon geoscience.
Programme structure
This programme involves two semesters of lectures and practical classes,
taught at both Heriot-Watt and the University of Edinburgh. You will also
undertake a dissertation project.
The programme is intensive but very rewarding, and typically consists
of a fve-day week of lectures and practical work, with 2025 hours of
additional work per week in class or labs. There is a feld excursion to the
UKs Wessex Basin and the local petroleum basin of the Forth is used for
a guided team-based exploration exercise.
COURSES
May include: Formation Evaluation; Geomechanics and Flow Mechanics;
Petroleum Basins; Petroleum Geophysics; Petroleum Systems Analysis;
Reservoir Concepts; Reservoir Sedimentology; Stratigraphy and
Reservoir Quality.
This is a highly rewarding programme, as this progressive industry
provides opportunities for work throughout the world, across a broad
spectrum of science and engineering felds. Society still needs what we
fnd below the surface as an energy resource. Subsurface is also the ideal
destination for our waste, including carbon dioxide. This means that
there has never been a better time to study petroleum geoscience.
See page 22.
Applications for this programme are made directly to Heriot-Watt University.
www.postgraduate.hw.ac.uk
Fees and funding
www.postgraduate.hw.ac.uk
Programme Director Dr Helen Lever
Tel +44 (0)131 451 4057
Email helen.lever@pet.hw.ac.uk

University of Edinburgh Co-ordinator Professor Rachel A Wood
Tel +44 (0)131 650 6014
Email rachel.wood@ed.ac.uk
15
Research at the School of GeoSciences
The University of Edinburgh has an
unbroken record of teaching and research
in the earth sciences going back to 1770,
when Robert Ramsay became the frst
Professor of Natural History.
James Hutton and Arthur Holmes were
prominent among those who set an
academic tradition in Edinburgh that
continues today with the University
achieving top ratings in earth sciences
teaching and research.
Home of leading research
Our interactive and interdisciplinary
research environment allows us to tackle
diffcult research questions, from causes
of past glaciations to interactions of earth,
climate and society. The ambition and
quality of our research was refected in
the latest Research Assessment Exercise:
66 per cent of our research was rated
within the top two categories world-
leading and internationally excellent.
Our location at the Kings Buildings campus
home to most of the Universitys science
and engineering research benefts our
work too. Our Kings Buildings neighbours
include external institutes such as the
British Geological Survey; our proximity
to them strengthens these research links.
Backed by industry
The School receives strong backing from
industry, particularly in areas such as
hydrocarbons and carbon capture and
storage. We receive support from the
EU and from major UK research councils,
including the Engineering and Physical
Sciences Research Council and the
Economic and Social Research Council.
Research community
Postgraduate research at the School
of GeoSciences is represented by three
research institutes.
Geography and the Lived
Environment
This institute generates agenda-setting
research that improves understanding of
the relationships between people, society
and the environment. Researchers seek
to investigate key areas of contemporary
and historical societal concern, including
development, climate change, inequalities,
land-use change, ecosystem services,
health and wellbeing and urbanisation.
As the largest grouping of geoscientists in the UK, we offer an
extensive range of research opportunities for postgraduates.
The lived environment refers to those
aspects of the Earth system that are
experienced by people not as it is purely
conceptualised or theorised, but as it is
lived. It is a multidisciplinary concept that
brings together environmental science,
geography, economics, policy, social
science and computer science.
Global Change
This institute seeks to improve the
scientifc understanding of past, present
and future changes in the Earth system
through measurements, theory and
computational modelling. Better
understanding of the Earth system
allows us to inform policymakers and to
develop effective mitigation strategies,
which, if implemented, would minimise
the economic and humanitarian
implications of changes in climate and
the Earth system. Our aim incorporates
some of the most compelling scientifc
challenges of the 21st century. To
address these questions we nurture an
interdisciplinary research and teaching
environment, integrating expertise across
the institute, the School of GeoSciences
and more broadly throughout the
University and beyond.
Earth and Planetary Sciences
This institute undertakes research that
informs the solutions to address global
challenges relating to resources, natural
hazards and the environment. Our
researchers seek better understanding
of chemical and physical properties of
materials, the origin and history of pore
fuids, minerals, rock assemblages, and
magmas, and their interactions at all
scales within the Earth. We develop
new seismological, electromagnetic,
gravitational, magnetic and industrial
seismic methods to interrogate the
Earth remotely for such information.
Dynamic leaders
The School has many high-profle
academics who are leaders in their feld.
Stuart Haszeldine is the worlds frst
Professor of Carbon Capture and Storage.
He co-leads Scottish Carbon Capture and
Storage, the UKs largest such group
(a collaboration between the University
of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University and
the British Geological Survey). He is a
member of the Advisory Group to the UK
Department of Energy and Climate Change
and also advises the Scottish Government.
Gabriele Hegerl is Professor for Climate
System Science. She studies the causes of
observed changes in climate, and detected
the emerging signal of greenhouse gas
increases in temperature data. She now
studies causes of change in climate
extremes and of climate variability and
change over the past millennium. Professor
Hegerl is involved in the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change. She was a
member of the Summary for Policymakers
writing team in the Fourth Assessment
Report, and is a member of the Synthesis
Report writing team in the forthcoming
Fifth Report.
Alexander Tudhope is the Head of the
School of GeoSciences and Professor of
Climate Studies. One of his main research
interests is coral palaeoclimatology which
uses records laid down in coral growth to
reconstruct past climate and environmental
change. Much of this work has focused
on the El Nio Southern Oscillation
phenomenon and has involved feldwork
from the Galpagos to the South Pacifc
islands to Papua New Guinea. He was
involved in the Integrated Ocean Drilling
Programmes Expedition 325 to drill
samples from Australias Great Barrier Reef.
International collaborations
A commitment to international
partnerships is intrinsic to the Schools
research ethos. We have established
research links on every continent.
Some projects are global in scope, such
as the calculation of surface temperatures
across oceans, determining the rate at
which cosmic rays bombard the Earths
surface at different latitudes, or human
transnational processes such as migration
and globalisation.
Other projects focus on specifc regions
and communities, for example addressing
issues of gender and social equality for
the Nepal-Swiss Community Forestry
Project in Kathmandu, or examining
archaeological evidence in Iceland
to evaluate the role of climate in
environmental and cultural change.
Examples of our research partnerships
can be found on page 16.
Our research collaborations
Centre for Research on
Environment, Society and Health
CRESH fosters collaborations between
scientists whose research is focused
on exploring how physical and social
environments can infuence health.
http://cresh.org.uk
Centre for Science at
Extreme Conditions
The aim of the CSEC is to promote the study
of materials at extremes of pressure and
temperature and in electromagnetic felds.
www.csec.ed.ac.uk
Edinburgh materials and
micro-Analysis Centre
We provide integrated and
interdisciplinary facilities for the
application of microbeam analytical
techniques to material analysis.
www.geos.ed.ac.uk/facilities/EMMAC
Edinburgh Research Partnership
in Engineering and mathematics
ERPem, a consortium involving the
University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt
University and Edinburgh Napier University,
is organised into six Joint Research Institutes
(JRIs) dedicated to world-class research,
innovation and education in engineering
and mathematical science.
www.erp.ac.uk
Edinburgh Seismic Research
We are a federation of research groups
forming the UKs largest group of scientists
involved in exploration geophysics.
www.geos.ed.ac.uk/seismic
We work with a wide range of research institutes, centres and
universities around the world. Here is a selection of our partnerships.
International Centre for
Carbonate Reservoirs
ICCR is a strategic alliance between
Edinburgh and Heriot-Watt universities
investigating the recovery of hydrocarbons
from carbonate reservoirs.
www.geos.ed.ac.uk/iccr
National Centre for
Earth Observation
The NCEO is a partnership of scientists and
institutions that are using data from Earth
observation satellites to monitor global
and regional changes in the environment.
www.nceo.ac.uk
Scottish Carbon Capture
and Storage
Led by the School of GeoSciences, this is
the largest such grouping in the UK, with
world-class expertise in hydrocarbon
geoscience, industrial-scale chemical
engineering, carbon capture and innovative
CO
2
use and power plant design.
www.sccs.org.uk
Scottish Universities Environmental
Research Centre
This is a collaborative facility operated
by the Universities of Edinburgh and
Glasgow, providing world-class analytical
facilities. It hosts several national Natural
Environment Research Council facilities.
www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/suerc
UK Geotraces
UK Geotraces is part of an international
consortium founded to understand the
oceanic cycles of key trace elements
and isotopes.
www.ukgeotraces.com
For more information
about our research
centres, please visit:
www.ed.ac.uk/
geosciences/
centres-consortia
Apart from in-depth subject knowledge, I was
able to gain and develop skills such as writing
for publication, presenting to audiences with
various levels of background from experts at
conferences to undergraduate students applying
for funding, networking and self-motivation.
Karin Viergever, PhD, Institute of Geography
17
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/93
Atmospheric & Environmental
Sciences (Environmental
Sustainability)
PhD 3 yrs FT (6 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)
MPhil 2 yrs FT (4 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)
Research institutes
The research degree in Atmospheric & Environmental Sciences draws
on expertise from the following two research institutes: Global Change
and Geography and the Lived Environment.
Research profle
Global Change
Our overarching aim is to improve the scientifc understanding of past,
present and future changes in the Earth system through measurements,
theory and computational modelling. Better understanding of the Earth
system allows us to inform policymakers and to develop effective mitigation
strategies, which, if implemented, would minimise the economic and
humanitarian implications of changes in climate and the Earth system.
Our aim incorporates some of the most compelling scientifc challenges of
the 21st century. To address these questions we nurture a multidisciplinary
research and teaching environment, integrating expertise across the
Institute, the School and more broadly throughout the University.
Geography and the Lived Environment
We seek to generate agenda-setting research that improves
understanding of the relationships between people, society and the
environment. Our research investigates key areas of contemporary and
historical societal concern, including development, climate change,
inequalities, land-use change, ecosystem services, health and wellbeing
and urbanisation. The lived environment refers to those aspects of the
Earth system that are experienced by people not as it is purely
conceptualised or theorised, but as it is lived. It is a multidisciplinary
concept that brings together environmental science, geography,
economics, policy, social science and computer science.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
The School receives sizeable studentship quota allocations from research
councils and also offers studentships provided by successful consortium
bids and research grants. School-funded scholarships are also available.
Programme contact PGR Recruitment Secretary
Tel +44 (0)131 650 8556
Email go@geos.ed.ac.uk
Research opportunities
We offer a range of research degrees: MSc by
Research, MPhil and PhD. You can commit to
anything from one year of full-time study for the
MSc to six years part-time study for a doctorate.
mSc by Research
This degree offers the opportunity to acquire research skills by
undertaking a single year (if studying full time) of independent
study within the Schools research interests.
master of Philosophy
The MPhil requires a minimum of two years study (if studying
full time), including an extended piece of supervised research.
Doctor of Philosophy
As a PhD student you will undertake an original research project
under individual supervision. Your studies will take at least three
years, and to qualify for your doctorate your thesis must be
judged to represent an original contribution to knowledge.
Support
As a research student, you will be affliated to one of our research
institutes, benefting from an excellent peer-supported network.
As groupings of researchers with related interests, the institutes
provide a forum for development of ideas, collaboration, and
dissemination of results, and an environment for training,
development and mentoring of research students and early
career researchers.
more information
Enquiries for PhD and MSc by Research programmes should be
directed to:
PGR Recruitment Secretary
School of GeoSciences, Grant Institute, University of Edinburgh
West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JW, UK
Tel +44 (0)131 650 8556
www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/
geosciences/postgraduate/phd
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/69
Geology & Geophysics
Research institutes
The research degree in Geology & Geophysics draws on expertise
from the Schools Earth & Planetary Science research institute.
Research profle
The Earth & Planetary Science research institute studies the physical and
chemical properties, origin and history of the Earth, and encompasses the
major disciplines of geology, geochemistry, geodynamics, meteorology
and geophysics. We bring together hitherto separate felds to understand
the way in which the Earths subsurface works from atoms to plates,
and on timescales ranging from seconds to billions of years.
We have special expertise in mineralogy; igneous, metamorphic and
experimental petrology; palaeontology; sandstone and carbonate
diagenesis; tectonics; rock physics and chemistry; petroleum geoscience;
seismic imaging; and seismic sequence stratigraphy.
Our research is applied to areas as diverse as carbon capture and storage
and the examination of diamonds from the lower mantle. The Edinburgh
Earth Observatory, part of the Earth & Planetary Science research institute,
is a multidisciplinary research unit, providing a strategic focus and support-
base for the Universitys expertise in the geosciences. Its main research
focus is on understanding the Earth and its environment through the
effective exploitation of both in situ and remote observations.
The Earth & Planetary Science research institute, and our associated, new
joint Graduate School, established by the Edinburgh Research Partnership in
Engineering and Mathematics, now contains Europes largest grouping of
subsurface research geologists and specialist geophysicists in a single city.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
Tel +44 (0)131 650 8556
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/105
Geography
(Human Geography)
Research group
The research degree in Geography draws on expertise from the Schools
Human Geography Research Group, part of the Geography and the Lived
Environment research institute.
Research profle
The Human Geography Research Group is recognised for its leading
contribution to research at the forefront of the feld. The Groups
research efforts provide challenging new insights to core geographical
concerns through three research themes: relations and identities;
knowledges, practices and policies; and development and power.
We have expertise in a wide range of regions, including the UK and
Europe, South Asia, Australia, North and South America, Canada, the
Caribbean and the Middle East. We also have productive collaborations
with colleagues in many parts of the University.
Facilities
Our collaborations with colleagues in other parts of the University
include the Schools of Education, Health in Social Science (including
Counselling Studies), Edinburgh College of Art and other areas within
the College of Humanities & Social Science.
We have one of the best equipped GIS laboratories in Europe, together with
software for data handling in a range of social, economic and demographic
datasets, GIS, database management, modelling and visualisation.
Training and support
The School is recognised as a provider of the Economic & Social Research
Council (ESRC) RT (1+3) postgraduate training programme and has two
RT-recognised masters by research programmes: the MSc by Research
in GIS & Society and the MSc by Research in Human Geography, which
is co-delivered with the Scottish Graduate School of Social Science.
The group is a member of the ESRC-recognised Scottish Human
Geography Consortium and the Kindrogan Consortium for Advanced
Postgraduate Research Training in Human Geography. It has expertise
in qualitative and feminist methodologies, archive use, and GIS-linked
analysis of large datasets.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
The group receives a studentship quota allocation from the Arts
& Humanities Research Council (AHRC) and the ESRC and also has
studentships from successful consortium bids.
Tel +44 (0)131 650 8556
19
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/84
GeoSciences Individual
Project
MSc by Research 1 yr FT (2 yrs PT available for UK/EU students)
This masters by research programme is an opportunity to carry out a
substantial piece of research in any of the major branches of geosciences.
The programme allows you to work on research throughout the year, and
your work will be judged solely on your fnal dissertation. You can follow
taught courses by arrangement with your supervisor, but none are required.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
Programme contact Professor Andrew Curtis
Tel +44 (0)131 650 8515
Email andrew.curtis@ed.ac.uk
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/81
Geographical Information
Science
This is a world-class programme, offering a unique educational opportunity.
We aim to develop and improve understanding of the feld of GIS by
mixing strong practical skills with fundamental theoretical knowledge.
The MSc by Research degree is perfect for those who wish to pursue
future research and allows those with a strong background in GIS the
fexibility to widen their expertise by taking optional courses in other
disciplines, such as informatics, alongside developing your dissertation.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
Tel +44 (0)131 650 2558
www.ed.ac.uk/pg/86
Human Geography
This degrees emphasis on independent research allows you to work
closely with scholars who are leaders in their feld.
Your research may be in any area of social, urban, environmental,
development, political, economic, historical or cultural geography that
is supported by the Human Geography Research Group. This degree is
co-delivered with the Universitys Graduate School of Social Science.
We offer a balance between general and specialist research training.
The degree is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council
and the Arts and Humanities Research Council.
A highlight of the programme is the postgraduate conference where
you present your research to colleagues. The programme can stand
alone as a masters degree, or form the frst year of a 1+3 ESRC-backed
PhD programme.
See page 22.
Fees and funding
Programme contact Dr Eric Laurier
Tel +44 (0)131 651 4303
Email eric.laurier@ed.ac.uk
See also
Some of our research areas are closely related to those offered
by other Schools within the University. In particular, you might
be interested in research degrees offered by the School of
Chemistry or the School of Engineering.
www.ed.ac.uk/studying/prospectus-request
Funding
Awards are offered by the School of
GeoSciences, the College of Science &
Engineering, the University of Edinburgh,
the Scottish, British and international
governments and many funding bodies.
While securing funding is competitive, the
School of GeoSciences makes every effort
to fnd funding support for students with
proven academic merit, enthusiasm to
study with us and a good case for fnancial
backing. Additionally, many students fnd
their own funding from a variety of
external sources.
Below we list a selection of potential
sources of fnancial support for
postgraduate students applying
to the School of GeoSciences.
Graduate Discount Scheme
We offer a 10 per cent discount on
postgraduate fees for all alumni who have
graduated with an undergraduate degree
from the University. We also offer a 10 per
cent discount for international graduates
who spent at least one semester at the
University of Edinburgh as a visiting
undergraduate. www.ed.ac.uk/student-
funding/discounts
Key
Taught masters programmes
Masters by Research programmes
Research programmes
University of Edinburgh scholarships
China Scholarships Council/University
of Edinburgh Scholarships (China)
A number of scholarships for PhD study
to candidates who are citizens and
residents of China. www.ed.ac.uk/
student-funding/china-council
Colciencias Scholarships (Colombia)
The University of Edinburgh offers a
number of tuition fee scholarships to
full-time PhD students in partnership
with Colombias Department of
Science, Technology and Innovation.
www.colciencias.gov.co
CONACYT Scholarships (mexico)
The University of Edinburgh offers
scholarships to full-time postgraduate
students in partnership with Mexicos
National Council of Science and
Technology. www.conacyt.mx
CONICYT Scholarships (Chile)
scholarships to full-time masters
students in partnership with Chiles
National Commission for Scientifc and
Technological Research. www.conicyt.cl
Deutsche Post DHL Scholarships
A number of scholarships available for
postgraduate masters study in eligible
programmes supported by the
Edinburgh Centre for Carbon Innovation.
www.ed.ac.uk/schools-departments/
student-funding/postgraduate/dp-dhl
A large number of scholarships, loans and other funding schemes are available for your postgraduate
studies. You can fnd the full range at: www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/postgraduate.
Edinburgh Global Latin-American
masters Scholarships
Twelve scholarships are available to
students from eligible countries who are
accepted on a full-time masters degree
programme. www.ed.ac.uk/student-
funding/postgraduate/latin-america
Edinburgh Global masters
Scholarships
A number of scholarships available to
international students for masters study.
www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/masters
Eric Liddell China Saltire
Scholarships (China)
Ten scholarships are available to Chinese
citizens who are permanent residents
of mainland China who are accepted on
a full-time masters degree programme.
www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/
postgraduate/liddell
FIDERH and FUNED
Scholarships (mexico)
scholarships in partnership with Mexicos
Fund for Development of Human
Resources and the Mexican Foundation
for Education, Science and Technology.
www.fderh.org.mx
www.funed.org.mx
Julius Nyerere masters
Scholarships (Tanzania)
Three scholarships are available to
citizens of Tanzania who are normally
resident in Tanzania who are accepted
on a full-time masters degree programme.
www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/nyerere
21
Principals Indian masters
Scholarships (India)
Twelve scholarships are available to
students from India for masters study.
masters-india
School of GeoSciences Studentships
A number of part-funded UK/EU and
international PhD studentships are
offered annually. www.ed.ac.uk/
schools-departments/geosciences/
postgraduate/phd/fees-funding/funding
UK/EU masters Scholarships
A number of scholarships for UK and EU
students who have been accepted on
a full-time masters degree programme.
uk-masters
Loans available for study at
the University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh is a
participating institution in the following
loans programmes, meaning we certify
your student status and can help with
the application process.
The Canada Student Loans
Program
The University is eligible to certify
Canadian student loan applications.
canadian-loans
The Student Awards Agency
for Scotland
The Student Awards Agency for
Scotland offers eligible students
postgraduate tuition fee loans for
one short course of professional or
vocational training. In addition, the
University of Edinburgh provides a
number of postgraduate bursaries to
assist eligible students with their fees.
www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/pg-loan
US Student Loans
The University is eligible to certify loan
applications for US loan students. Full
details on eligibility and how to apply
can be found online. www.ed.ac.uk/
student-funding/us-loans
Other sources of funding
The following are examples of the many
scholarships and support schemes available
to students from particular countries who
meet certain eligibility criteria.
Beit Trust
Beit Trust Scholarships support
postgraduate students from Malawi,
Zambia and Zimbabwe, usually to
undertake a masters degree.
www.beittrust.org.uk
Canon Collins Trust
Canon Collins Trust provides scholarships
for students from Angola, Botswana,
Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia,
South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and
Zimbabwe who wish to pursue a one-year
masters degree. www.canoncollins.org.uk
Chevening Scholarships
A number of partial and full funding
scholarships are available to one-year
masters students. www.chevening.org
Commonwealth Scholarships
Scholarships available to students who are
resident in any Commonwealth country,
other than the UK. www.dfd.gov.uk/cscuk
Fulbright Scholarships (USA)
Scholarships open to US graduate
students in any subject wishing to
study in the UK. www.iie.org/fulbright
marshall Scholarships (USA)
Scholarships available to outstanding
US students wishing to study at any
UK university for at least two years.
www.marshallscholarship.org
Scotlands Saltire Scholarships
A number of scholarships open to students
who are citizens permanently and
ordinarily resident in Canada, China, India
and the USA for one year of masters study.
www.ed.ac.uk/student-funding/saltire
Silber Bequest
Funding is available to help prospective
postgraduate students who consider
themselves to be refugees from their
native land. www.ed.ac.uk/student-
funding/silber
Funding for online
distance learning
The University offers several scholarships
specifcally for online, part-time
postgraduate programmes, including the
Edinburgh Global Online Distance Learning
Masters Scholarship, for which students
of our Global Environment Challenges
MSc can apply. www.ed.ac.uk/student-
funding/e-learning/online-distance
The Scottish Governments initiative to attract international
students from Canada, China, India and the US through
the Saltire Scholarship Scheme, as well as the University
of Edinburghs help and support for international students,
has helped provide me with an opportunity that I would never
have conceived of prior to starting my studies at Edinburgh.
Robert Starr, MSc High Performance Computing, Scotlands Saltire Scholarship
How to apply
When applying, you will set up an account,
which lets you save your application and
continue at another time.
In certain circumstances you can make
your application by post. Contact the
College of Science & Engineering about
postal applications (www.ed.ac.uk/
science-engineering).
Full guidance on our application system:
www.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate/applying
General requirements
Our usual entrance requirement for
postgraduate study is a UK 2:1 degree, or
its international equivalent (www.ed.ac.uk/
international/country), in a subject related
to your chosen programme. You will also
need to meet the Universitys language
requirements (see right).
masters applications
For all masters programmes taught MSc,
MSc by Research and MPhil you should
have a UK 2:1 degree or its international
equivalent (www.ed.ac.uk/international/
country), although students with a 2:2
degree may be considered, depending
on experience and circumstances.
Entry requirements for individual
programmes can vary, so check the
details for the specifc programme
you wish to apply for.
Deadlines
There are no offcial deadlines for our
taught programmes, but places become
allocated as the year progresses. To give
yourself the greatest chance of being
accepted, we recommend applying as
early as possible. If you are applying for
funding, in most cases you will need an
offer to study with us before you can make
your funding application and many of our
scholarships have deadlines in the spring.
Procedure
Thoroughly explore this prospectus and
our website to identify your preferred
programme of study. We encourage you
to contact the School to discuss your
choice. See Get in touch, page 23.
Check you meet all entry requirements.
Check whether a separate application is
needed for funding. Check any deadlines.
Visit www.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate/
degrees, navigate to your chosen
programme, and click on Apply.
Follow the instructions within the
online application system.
For all masters programmes, we
encourage you to write a personal
statement including information
on your knowledge and training. You
should explain why you have chosen
the particular programme and how
your experience is relevant. More
information: www.ed.ac.uk/
geosciences/masters/apply
PhD applications
For PhD applications we usually require a UK
2:1 degree or its international equivalent
(www.ed.ac.uk/international/country). We
may take into account work experience
or a masters degree. If you are uncertain,
you should discuss your qualifcations with
your potential supervisor.
Deadlines
There are no offcial deadlines for our
PhD programmes and applications are
welcome throughout the year. However,
many of our funding opportunities have
deadlines and you may need an offer to
study with us before you can make your
funding application.
Procedure
Thoroughly explore this prospectus and
our website to identify your preferred
area of research. You can choose from
existing research project vacancies
(details at www.ed.ac.uk/geosciences)
or propose your own research project.
Contact a potential supervisor to
discuss your research idea (details at
www.ed.ac.uk/geosciences). If you
have a multidisciplinary proposal it
could be helpful to talk to more
than one potential supervisor.
Visit www.ed.ac.uk/postgraduate/
degrees, navigate to your chosen
programme, and click on Apply.
Follow the instructions within the
online application system.
In many cases you will need to submit
a research proposal as part of your
application. More information:
www.ed.ac.uk/geosciences/phd/apply
Joining us from overseas
International applicants are advised to
check the Universitys website to fnd
out more about their visa options and our
Integrated English for Academic Purposes
(IEAP) programme. More information:
www.ed.ac.uk/international/ieap
International agents
The University has certifed representative
agents in the following locations: Brunei,
Canada, China, Gulf Region, Hong Kong,
India, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Malaysia,
Mexico, Nigeria, Norway, Russia, Saudi
Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South
Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Zambia
and Zimbabwe. International applicants can
use an agent to help guide them through
the application process if necessary.
More information: www.ed.ac.uk/
studying/international/agents
Students whose frst language is not
English must show evidence of one
of the qualifcations below.
All mSc programmes (taught and
research) and PgCert programmes
in the School of GeoSciences:
IELTS Academic module 7.0 (with no
score lower than 6.0 in each section).
TOEFL iBT 100 (with no score lower
than 20 in each section).
Pearson Test of English 67 (with no
score lower than 56 in each of the
Communicative Skills sections
Enabling Skills scores are not
considered).
Cambridge CPE Grade B.
Cambridge CAE Grade A.
We have an online application process for all postgraduate programmes.
Its a straightforward system with full instructions, including details
of any supporting documentation you need to submit.
23
Contact us
For more information about taught
MSc programmes, please contact
our Teaching Organisation:
info@geos.ed.ac.uk
You can also speak to the relevant
programme secretaries:
For Carbon Capture & Storage,
Integrated Resource Management
and Petroleum GeoScience, contact:
Christine Wilson
Tel +44 (0)131 650 5430
For Ecosystem Services and
Carbon Management, contact:
Olivia Little
Tel +44 (0)131 650 7542
For Environmental Sustainability, and
Environment & Development, contact:
Natasa Honeybone
Tel +44 (0)131 650 2572
For Geographical Information Science;
Environment, Culture and Society;
and Human Geography, contact:
Lynne mcGillivray
Tel +44 (0)131 650 2543
For Ecological Economics,
Environmental Protection &
Management, Food Security and
Soils & Sustainability, contact:
Elspeth martin
Tel +44 (0)131 535 4000
Get in touch
For specifc GeoSciences Postgraduate
Taught Scholarship queries please
contact:
Natasha Black
Tel +44 (0) 131 650 7542
Email geos-pgt-scholarships@ed.ac.uk
For more information about research
programmes (PhD, MSc by Research
and MPhil), contact:
PGR Recruitment Secretary
Tel +44 (0)131 650 8556
Visit us
Our postgraduate Open Day is your
opportunity to come and meet current
staff and students. Our next campus-
based Open Day takes place on Friday
22 November 2013. For further details,
please visit: www.ed.ac.uk/
postgraduate-open-day
If you are unable to visit Edinburgh,
contact the School and we can arrange
a video call with your prospective
Programme Director.
The University also runs online
information sessions for prospective
postgraduate students throughout the
year. More information: www.ed.ac.uk/
postgraduate/online-events
All mPhil and PhD programmes
in the School of GeoSciences:
IELTS Academic module 6.5 (with
no score lower than 6.0 in each
section).
TOEFL iBT 92 (with no score lower
than 20 in each section).
Pearson Test of English 61 (with no
score lower than 56 in each of the
Communicative Skills sections
Enabling Skills scores are not
considered).
Cambridge CPE Grade C.
Cambridge CAE Grade B.
Please note:
English language requirements can
be affected by government policy
so please ensure you visit our
website for the latest details.
www.ed.ac.uk/english-
requirements/pg/cse
Your English language certifcate
must be no more than two years
old at the beginning of your
degree programme.
A degree from an English-speaking
university may be accepted in
some circumstances.
Cambridge tests are accepted only
for applicants who do not need
Tier 4 visas to enter the UK.
Abbreviations: IELTS International
English Language Testing System;
TOEFL iBT Test of English as a
Foreign Language Internet-Based
Test; CPE Certifcate of Profciency
in English; CAE Certifcate in
Advanced English.
www.ed.ac.uk/english-
requirements/pg
Campus map
A702 SOUTH
We are
here!
Institute of
Geography
and here
The Grant
Institute
The School of GeoSciences is based in several buildings across
two University campuses. The Head of School and the main
offces are at Kings Buildings, about two miles south of the city
centre. The Institute of Geography and the Edinburgh Centre
for Carbon Innovation are in the historic Old Town of Edinburgh.
University building
Detailed maps
can be found at:
www.ed.ac.uk/maps
Edinburgh isnt so much a city,
more a way of life I doubt Ill
ever tire of exploring Edinburgh,
on foot or in print.
Ian Rankin, best-selling crime writer and
University of Edinburgh alumnus
Published by:
Communications and Marketing,
Designed by:
Tayburn
Photography by:
Paul Dodds
Edinburgh Inspiring Capital
Yao Hui
Tricia Malley & Ross Gillespie
Shutterstock
Laurence Winram
Printed by:
Image Data Group

Printed on Revive 50:50 Silk: a recycled paper containing
50% recycled waste and 50% virgin fbre. Manufactured
at a mill certifed with ISO 14001 environmental
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is bleached using an Elemental Chlorine Free process.

The University of Edinburgh 2013.
No part of this publication may be reproduced
without written permission of the University.
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body registered
in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.
This publication is available
online at www.ed.ac.uk/studying/
prospectus-request and can be
made available in alternative
formats on request. Please contact
communications.offce@ed.ac.uk
or call +44 (0)131 650 2252.
Postgraduate
Open Day
22 Nov 2013

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