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Energy & Environment Research & Development Degree

Geophysicist

Study Earth's physical properties using seismic, gravitational and magnetic methods to find resources and understand hazards.

A day in the life

Collect and process field data, build subsurface models, interpret seismic surveys, and advise drilling or engineering teams.

Typical route

Helpful A-levels

Physics + Maths (+ Geography/Geology useful)

Typical qualification and training

  • Geophysics, Physics or Earth Sciences degree
  • MSc or PhD for research roles

These are common routes, not compulsory subject combinations. Entry requirements vary between universities, training schemes and employers, so always check the current provider requirements.

Indicative UK salary

Starter
£28,000-£35,000
Experienced
£40,000-£60,000
Senior
£75,000+

Oil, gas and geothermal sectors can pay at the higher end.

Salary range checked against Prospects.ac.uk: Geophysicist.

UK employers

  • BP
  • Shell
  • Tullow Oil
  • British Geological Survey

Worldwide employers

  • SLB
  • ExxonMobil
  • Equinor
  • CGG

Useful route links

These links are good starting points for courses, apprenticeships, graduate routes and professional training. They open the official or specialist sites rather than another summary page.

UCAS course search: geophysics Compare degree prospectuses, entry requirements, open days and course structures. ucas.com National Careers Service: Green careers Explore routes into jobs that support net zero and the environment. nationalcareers.service.gov.uk UKRI studentships and research funding Explore UK research councils and postgraduate research funding routes. ukri.org UCAS Physics and astronomy courses Search UK undergraduate physics, astrophysics and related degree options. ucas.com Prospects: what can I do with a physics degree? Independent overview of careers that physics graduates enter. prospects.ac.uk Find an apprenticeship on GOV.UK Search current apprenticeship and degree apprenticeship vacancies in England. gov.uk

Key skills

Renewable Energy Engineer

Design, install and improve systems that generate power from wind, solar, tidal and other low-carbon sources.

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Climate Modeller

Use physics, maths and supercomputers to simulate climate systems and predict environmental change.

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Research Scientist (Physics)

Plan and carry out experiments or theoretical work to discover new physics and turn it into applications.

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Sources and further reading

External links open in a new tab.

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