Master of Science (Earth Sciences)

The Master of Science (Earth Sciences) at the University of Tasmania is a two-year postgraduate degree for people who want to understand how the planet works and how to read its history from rocks, sediments, fossils and structures. Tasmania is an unusually good place to do this. The island holds some of Australia's oldest rocks, world-recognised Precambrian and Palaeozoic sequences, and a mining and mineral exploration industry that runs on geoscientists. You study the physical and chemical processes that shape the crust, how to map and interpret geological materials, and how to reconstruct past environments and climates.

How the degree is structured

Australian master's degrees by coursework and research are normally one to two years full-time, and this one runs for two. You take units of study worth credit points across semesters, with the option at some institutions to spread study over trimesters. The first part of the degree is coursework: core units in earth science and electives that let you specialise in areas such as mineral and energy resources, environmental geoscience, or basin and tectonic analysis. The second part is a substantial research thesis or capstone project, supervised by an academic in the discipline, where you design a question, collect and analyse data, and write it up. Many students do fieldwork for that project, and some work with industry or government partners. Because this is a science master's, the research component is where a lot of the learning happens.

What you actually learn

You finish with skills that employers can use: geological mapping, field observation and sampling, rock and mineral identification, stratigraphic and structural interpretation, geochemical and geophysical data analysis, and the ability to write technical reports and present findings. You learn to work with uncertainty, because the rock record rarely gives you a clean answer. You also learn to work in teams and to manage a project from proposal to final report.

Who it suits

This degree suits geology or earth science graduates who want to deepen their knowledge, move into research, or add a qualification before entering the resources, environmental or government sectors. It also suits people from related science backgrounds, such as environmental science or physical geography, who want to retrain in geoscience. International students should check the English requirement for their intake: IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common coursework-postgraduate standard, and TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the university's own English programmes are accepted as equivalents. The Department of Home Affairs sets a separate English threshold for the Student visa. While studying, a student visa generally allows work of up to 48 hours per fortnight, and graduates may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 082552M. Confirm current entry requirements, unit offerings, fees and visa conditions on the official university and CRICOS pages before you apply.

• Geologist — mineral exploration, mining, and resource estimation with companies operating in Tasmania, Western Australia, Queensland and overseas.
• Environmental geoscientist — contaminated land assessment, groundwater, and mine rehabilitation for consultancies and regulators.
• Hydrogeologist — groundwater resource mapping and management for government agencies and water authorities.
• Geotechnical specialist — ground conditions for engineering, construction and infrastructure projects.
• Government geoscientist — state and federal geological surveys, Geoscience Australia, and natural resource agencies.
• Research officer or PhD candidate — universities, CSIRO, and collaborative research centres.
• Museum or science communicator — natural history museums, education, and geotourism.