Postgraduate

Master of Geoscience

Knowledge of past and present earth processes is fundamental to predicting future environmental change. Enhance your skills and knowledge in geoscience.
2
Years Full Time
Course Details Careers & further study Fees & Scholarships Admission requirements How to apply Contact us Enquire Apply

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Student Central

The University of Western Australia (M355), 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, Western Australia 6009

Telephone

131 UWA (131 892)

International

(+61 8) 6488 1000

Email

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Hours

8.30am - 5pm AWST, Monday - Friday

Frequently asked questions

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Careers and further study

Explore the career opportunities available to you.

Career Pathways

Career opportunities for graduates can be found in the following industries:

  • Academic Institutions
  • Environmental Companies
  • Geothermal Research
  • Government Agencies
  • Groundwater Research
  • Mineral Resources
  • Planetary geology
  • Volcano and Earthquake Hazard

Graduates may work as: 

  • Economic Geologist
  • Environmental Policy Manager
  • Environmental Rehabilitation Consultant
  • Geological Surveyor
  • Geologist
  • Hydrogeologist
  • Natural Resource Manager
  • Resource Scientist
View full details

Career Pathways

Career opportunities for graduates can be found in the following industries:

  • Academic Institutions
  • Environmental Companies
  • Geothermal Research
  • Government Agencies
  • Groundwater Research
  • Mineral Resources
  • Planetary geology
  • Volcano and Earthquake Hazard

Graduates may work as: 

  • Economic Geologist
  • Environmental Policy Manager
  • Environmental Rehabilitation Consultant
  • Geological Surveyor
  • Geologist
  • Hydrogeologist
  • Natural Resource Manager
  • Resource Scientist

Further Study

Students completing this degree may have the option to pursue further studies in research.
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Further Study

Students completing this degree may have the option to pursue further studies in research.

Fees and scholarships

Learn more about the fees that apply to you for this course.

Domestic Student Fees

For Commonwealth-supported places, student contribution amounts are charged by unit, based on area of study. For a fee estimate, go to the Fee Calculator and select “I want to price my units”. Fees are subject to annual indexation. Refer to the Handbook to identify the units required. More information on how fees are calculated.

Fee calculator

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

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Cost of living

There are a few things to consider before applying to study at university. One could be your cost of living. This can depend on factors such as lifestyle, accommodation, tuition fees, medical insurance, textbooks and more. For an indication of expenses and average costs, see our Cost of living page.

Cost of living

International Student Fees

Annual course fee

Onshore international students are charged an annual course fee, charged per credit point at a rate dependent on the course in which the student is enrolled. Annual course fees are calculated based on an annual study load. Check the handbook to confirm the annual study load for your course.

Find out more about international student tuition fees and visit the fee calculator for the relevant course fees.

Fees are subject to annual indexation.

Fee calculator

Scholarships

Scholarships are available to students from a diverse range of backgrounds, including academic achievement, financial need, educational disadvantage, leadership and community service, artistic or sporting achievements, and being from a rural or remote area.

Search Scholarships

Cost of living

There are a few things to consider before applying to study at university. One could be your cost of living. This can depend on factors such as lifestyle, accommodation, tuition fees, medical insurance, textbooks and more. For an indication of expenses and average costs, see our Cost of living page.

Cost of living

Admission requirements

If you’re interested in furthering your career by studying this postgraduate course, find out the admission details below

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) a Bachelor's degree or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent; and
(c) successfully completed prior tertiary study in geology or in a related cognate discipline as recognised by UWA.
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Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) a Bachelor's degree or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;
and
(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 50 per cent; and
(c) successfully completed prior tertiary study in geology or in a related cognate discipline as recognised by UWA.

Ranking and Selection Process

Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.
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Ranking and Selection Process

Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

English competency

English is the language of instruction and assessment at UWA and you will need to meet the English language requirements of the University to be eligible for a place.

Minimum overall IELTS score of 6.5, with no band less than 6.0.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENT

English competency

How to apply

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Find out how to apply through our simple online application process. 

We'll guide you through our entry requirements, admission pathways available to you and application deadlines for your chosen course. 

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Course details

Geoscience is the study of our dynamic planet and aims to understand the origin and evolution of Earth, its ancient environments and climates, natural hazards and the formation of resources including petroleum, mineral deposits and groundwater. Knowledge of past and present earth processes is fundamental to predicting future environmental change.

About the course

Geoscience is a science that aims to understand all aspects of our planet, ranging from the Earth's surface to the deep interior. It also aims to discover how the Earth has evolved during the past 4.4 billion years, including the origin of continents, oceans, atmosphere and life. This course develops your abilities to gather and interpret geological information for a wide range of applications.
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About the course

Geoscience is the study of our dynamic planet and aims to understand the origin and evolution of Earth, its ancient environments and climates, natural hazards and the formation of resources including petroleum, mineral deposits and groundwater. Knowledge of past and present earth processes is fundamental for predicting future changes in environments and climate as well as contributing to the management of vital resources. This course develops your abilities to gather and interpret geological information for a wide range of applications. With the majority of Australia’s mineral and petroleum resources found in Western Australia, UWA is in a prime location for you to strengthen your geoscientific knowledge and skills in gathering and interpreting geological information for a wide range of applications. The structure and content of this degree lets you choose coursework units across a range of geoscience subdisciplines depending on your career aspirations, including fieldwork in Australia and overseas, as well as the possibility of undertaking a research project working with internationally recognised Earth Science staff.



Master of Geoscience

Quick details

Status
  • Available
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • Semester 1, Semester 2
Weekly contact time
  • Please refer to the UWA Handbook
Level of study
  • Postgraduate
Course Code
  • 72550
CRICOS code
  • 074954D
View full details
Master of Geoscience

Quick details

Status
  • Available
Locations
  • Perth (Crawley campus)
Attendance
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
Delivery
  • On-campus
Starting dates
  • Semester 1, Semester 2
Weekly contact time
  • Please refer to the UWA Handbook
Level of study
  • Postgraduate
Course Code
  • 72550
CRICOS code
  • 074954D
Full time/part time duration
  • 2 years
Degrees course is available in
  • Master of Geoscience
Alumni story

Olaoluwa Ibilola

Olaoluwa Ibilola
Find out more
Alumni story

Olaoluwa Ibilola

Olaoluwa Ibilola

Olaoluwa Ibilola

Independent Geoscientist consultant

I am an independent geoscientist with a background in Oil and Gas. About 80% of what I do comes directly from my recent study at UWA. It was through UWA that I was first exposed to the mining sector and to the mining side of geoscience. I had zero knowledge of the industry before my study.

My connection with the School of Earth Sciences continues after graduation and I just got an offer to be a casual tutor with the School, an opportunity directly associated with my study there.

I have a passion for learning and helping people maximise their potential. I hate to see people suffering for lack of a good mentor, tutor or coach. By making myself easily accessible across several different support networks, I can be more available to make a difference to more people in need. UniMentor is one such forum that helped me and showed the potential of mentoring to make a difference.

Read more about Olaoluwa's story here.

Course structure

Postgraduate coursework degrees and combined (coursework and research) degrees comprise a number of units. Refer to the course structure for more information.

Course structure details

Course structure details

Conversion
Students who have not completed tertiary units that are deemed equivalent to the conversion units for the chosen specialisation must complete relevant conversion units up to the value of 24 points from this group, as advised by the School(s):
Core
Take all units (24 points):
Coursework and Dissertation (focus area)
Students completing the Master of Geoscience by Coursework and Dissertation take all 24 points (4 units) from this group.
Students completing the Master of Geoscience by Coursework and Dissertation take 24 points (4 units) from this group, with at least 6 points (1 unit) at level 5.
Coursework Only (focus area)
Students completing the Master of Geoscience by Coursework take units to the value of points so that points taken across this group and the Fieldwork and Advanced Topic Groups equals 48 points (8 units), with at least 30 points (5 units) of level 5 units.
Students completing the Master of Geoscience by Coursework must take a minimum of 6 points (1 unit) from this group.
Students completing the Master of Geoscience by Coursework must take a minimum of 6 points (1 unit) from this group.

Why study Geoscience?

  • Gain advanced knowledge of key geological concepts and geological processes operating at global to local scales.

  • Become equipped with sophisticated practical skills to solve geological problems, and obtain a sound working ability to conduct geoscience fieldwork.

  • Gain technical skills in analysis and interpretation of geoscience data at a range of scales (micro to global) incorporating conceptual knowledge of processes and materials.
  • You’ll be equipped with high-level skills in interpretation and integration of geoscience data applied to understand the location, origin and evolution of important resources and other geoscience problems. 
  • Gain advanced skills in communication of geoscience data and interpretations via 2D summaries, 3D models, written work and oral presentation.

Why study Geoscience?

Seekers space article

Abhijith hones his geoscience skills with real-world experience

Abhijith headshot

Master of Geoscience student, Abhijith Harikumar, credits an internship at the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage, via UWA’s Work Integrated Learning program, with giving him the opportunity to put into practice everything that he’s learnt throughout his degree in a real-world environment.

Read the full story
Seekers space article

Abhijith hones his geoscience skills with real-world experience

Ranked Top 100 in the world for Earth & Marine Sciences (QS 2026)
Ranked 49th in the world for Geology (QS 2025)

Centre for Microscopy Characterisation and Analysis

Providing world-class microscopy and microanalysis facilities and expertise to publicly funded researchers and industry.

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Centre for Microscopy Characterisation and Analysis

The Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis has expert academic, technical and professional staff who support the full user pathway from initial project discussion and planning, through to application of cutting-edge characterisation and analytical techniques, assistance with data interpretation, and publication.

 

Visit the CMCA website

STUDY YOUR WAY

Flexibility

We understand that life is busy. That's why our postgraduate courses are designed so you can balance your work and studies. Our flexible postgraduate experience includes the opportunity to study part time, a range of units that are taught after hours, and the option to learn via intensive units. Ask our Student Central team for advice on choosing the right postgraduate route for you. Find out more here.

STUDY YOUR WAY

Flexibility