Geography and Earth Sciences
What will I gain from my subject?
As well as your practice-based skills and the acquisition of knowledge your degree will equip you with a range of transferable skills that are highly valued by employers. Transferable skills include problem solving, self-management, communication and teamwork. Your transferable skills and the level of intellectual attainment gained through study of your subject mean that you will have many different career options when you graduate. A high percentage of all graduate vacancies are open to graduates of any discipline yet many students are not aware of this or they are influenced by the myths surrounding the choices open to them.
What can I do with my subject?
Your degree prepares you for a wide variety of career paths. Graduates have developed careers both within and outside Geography and Earth Sciences.
There are a great many possibilities open to graduates, probably more than you realise at first. Sometimes, the hardest task facing finalists and new graduates is deciding how to choose from the many options available to you. There are jobs which are directly related to degree disciplines, jobs where particular subjects may be useful and also a whole range of jobs open to graduates of any discipline.
What help is available?
You have a dedicated links Careers Consultant who works closely with your department to provide support, advice and information. Careers workshops and events are held in your department to promote work experience opportunities, support career planning and network with professionals working in the creative industries. A central careers education programme is also delivered and postgraduates have access to the Postgraduate Skills Training programme. You are welcome to drop into the Careers Service for further support and information anytime
Where do I start looking for work experience and graduate jobs? - Useful resources
The links below are a starting point when seeking opportunities directly related to your subject; more general resources are available in our finding work experience section. Don't forget that support is available from the Careers Service when applying for jobs and work experience.
UK
- ADAS (Agricultural Development and Advisory Centre)
- British Antarctic Survey - summer vacancies
- British Cartographic Society (includes jobs)
- British Geological Survey
- Centre for Alternative Technology
- Centre for Ecology and Hydrology
- Change Agents UK - graduate placements in the environmental sector
- Conservation Careers - vacancies in the UK and abroad
- Conservation Jobs
- Conservation Volunteers
- Countryside Jobs Link
- Countryside Jobs Service
- Earthworks Jobs
- ENDS Environmental Job Search
- Entrust Resource Solutions - Recruitment for Scientists
- Envirolink Network
- Environment Agency
- Environment Job
- Environmental Careers (CIWEM)
- Environmental Jobs
- Field Studies Council - offers year out placements to undergraduates
- Forestry Commission
- Geography Jobs
- GIS-Jobs.co.uk
- Gradcracker - includes placements for science, engineering and technology students
- Green Jobs
- Green Jobs Online
- Groundwork
- Institute for Outdoor Learning
- Land Research Associates
- MET Office
- National Trust
- Natural England
- Natural Resources Wales
- Nature Jobs
- NERC
- New Scientist Jobs
- Oil and Gas Job Search
- Ordnance Survey
- Renewable Energy Jobs
- Science Careers
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency
- Solar Jobs
- Sustainable Business Jobs
- Waste Management Jobs
- Water Jobs
- Wildlife Trusts (includes vacancies)
- Wind Turbine Jobs
Overseas
- Conservation Careers - vacancies in the UK and abroad
- Earth Science Jobs
- Earthwatch
- Earthworks Jobs
- Ecoteer
- Envirolink Network
- Environment Jobs.com
- Global Vision International
- Greenforce
- Green Internships International
- IAESTE - scientific and technical training placements
- Research Internships in Science and Engineering (RISE) - summer internships in Germany
- Restless Development
- Sea Grant Marine Careers - links to internships
- Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO)
- World Wildlife Fund
Professional bodies and associations
These organisations promote the interests of people working in particular professions. Some have listings of employers who are members of the association and may advertise jobs while others may be a useful source of information when researching employers for applications or considering a speculative application.
- American Association of Geographers
- Association for Geographic Information
- British Cartographic Society
- British Ecological Society
- Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
- Chartered Institute of Water and Environmental Management
- Geological Society
- Hydrographic Society UK
- Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management
- Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment
- Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society
- Royal Geographical Society
- Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
- Royal Town Planning Institute
- Survey Association
What do Aber graduates do?
Below are some examples of roles our Graduates have moved into:
- Agricultural Officer
- Assistant Analyst
- Assistant Quantity Surveyor
- Assistant Ranger
- Catastrophe Risk Analyst
- Civil Servant
- Coastal Management Research Assistant
- Community Development Officer
- Conservation Research Assistant
- Conservation Officer
- Data Analyst
- Development Control Officer
- ESS Administrator
- Environment Officer
- Environmental Consultant
- Environmental Engineer
- Environmental Monitoring Officer
- Environmental Planning Officer
- Environmental Scientist
- Expedition Guide
- Flood Incident Management Officer
- Geologist
- Geomorphologist
- Geotechnical Consultant
- Geotechnical Engineer
- GIS Analysis Technician
- GIS and Remote Mapping Consultant
- Graduate Trainee Librarian
- Highways Administrator
- Hydrochemist
- Hydrologist/Environmental Modeller
- Hydrometrist
- Landscape and Environmental Technician
- Lecturer in Human Geography
- Outreach Energy Adviser
- Planning Liaison Officer
- Planning Technician
- Police Officer
- Postdoctoral Research Assistant
- Recycling Officer
- Research Officer
- Scientist
- Spatial Technician
- Surveyor Land Agent
- Teacher
- Traffic Engineer
- Traffic Surveyor
- Trainee Environmental Risk Consultant
- Trainee Journalist
- Trainee Outdoor Instructor
- Trainee Surveyor
- Trainee Manager
- Transport Planner
- Welsh Language Development Officer
Examples of employers that Aberystwyth geography and earth science graduates and postgraduates have gone to work for:
- Amey plc
- Aquaplus Solutions Ltd
- Atkins
- BP
- British Geological Survey
- Clockwork
- Coral
- Countryside Council for Wales
- Dyfed Powys Police
- Earth Science Partnership
- East Dorset District Council
- Electrocycle
- Environment Agency
- Fat Foma
- Geomatics Group
- Geotechnics Ltd
- Groundwork
- Hydro-Logic Ltd
- Hydrock Consultants
- ING Direct
- International Council for Mining and Metals
- JBA Consulting
- Land and Water Resource Consultants Ltd
- Land Research Associates
- Media Planning Group
- Meteorological Office
- Metropolitan Police
- Mott MacDonald
- National Assembly for Wales
- National Trust
- Natural Resources Wales
- Network Rail
- Office for National Statistics
- Redrow
- RPS Group
- Scottish Water
- Severn Trent Water
- Skye Instruments
- Snowdonia National Park
- Soil Association Certification Ltd
- Sports Turf Research Institute
- Technology Centre
- Transport for London
- Various County Councils
- Various HE Institutions
- WD Environment
- Welsh Assembly Government