Students should ensure they review the Course Structure information provided on the Course Details page for their Bachelor’s Degree. It is essential that students complete any Foundation units identified in that information at the earliest available opportunity in their studies. For those degrees which do not identify any Foundation Units, the necessary fundamental knowledge is incorporated within each degree specific major in your course. Where Foundation units are identified, they are essential and are chosen to provide fundamental knowledge which will assist you throughout the remainder of your studies. In some cases these foundation units are also essential prerequisites to enable you to undertake required units within your chosen majors, so these units should always be completed as early as possible in your course.

Students can access specific major pages through the handbook search function.

Course overview

Description

The Bachelor of Earth Sciences is ideal for students who are curious about the complex system that comprises the solid Earth, its oceans and atmosphere, and the place of Earth in the solar system and beyond. Earth Scientists focus on deciphering the processes that have shaped our planet from its origin, to its changes through time recorded by rocks and fossils, through to modern-day processes. This diversity creates many exciting opportunities for scientific discovery and professional careers. Knowledge of modern-day terrestrial and marine environments help earth scientists interpret ancient data to build 3D syntheses of past Earth environments for a range of applications, e.g. exploring new mineral resources, understanding groundwater flow, and predicting natural hazards and changes in Earth's climate. Increasingly sophisticated technology is used to gain insights into Earth materials and processes using principles and techniques from chemistry, physics, biology and maths. An Earth Sciences degree from UWA will provide you with knowledge and skills that are highly valued by employers of geoscientists. Emphasis is placed on practical skills gained in the laboratory and through fieldwork and can be applied to a diverse range of employment opportunities in industry, consultancies and government. Frequent use of real-world datasets and problem-solving techniques throughout the degree will strengthen your employability, as will the development of generic skills in analysing and synthesising data, communication and teamwork. Earth Scientists have a key role to play in understanding environmental challenges in a changing world and sustainability of resources, e.g. critical metals for renewable technologies, marine and coastal management for habitation, industry and tourism, and energy and water resource management for healthy societies.

Award abbreviation
BEarthSc
Course type
Bachelor's course
Status
Current / 2025
Intake periods
Beginning of year and mid-year
Administered by
Earth Sciences
CRICOS code
107428E

Course details

Structure
144 points comprising 24 six-point units. Students normally take eight units each year, four in each semester.
Available to international students
Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
Attendance type
Full- or part-time
Delivery mode
Internal
Locations offered
UWA (Perth)
Domestic fee type
Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP
Majors available
(1) MJD-GECDM Geochemistry
(2) MJD-IEMDM Integrated Earth and Marine Sciences
Fees
Visit the fees calculator.

No study plans found for this course. See study plans for more information.

Rules

Title

1. These rules are the Bachelor of Earth Sciences (Specialised) degree Course Rules.

Terms Used

2. The Glossary provides an explanation of the terms used in these rules.

Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures

3.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.

(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

Academic Conduct Essentials, Communication and Research Skills And Indigenous Studies Essentials module

4.(1) Except as stated in (2), a student who enrols in an undergraduate degree course of the University for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module), Communication and Research Skills (the CARS module) and Indigenous Studies Essentials (the ISE module) in the teaching period in which they are first enrolled.

(2) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.

(3) A student who has previously achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the CARS module or the ISE module is not required to repeat the relevant module.

English Language competency requirements

5. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.

Admission requirements

6.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—
(a) achieved an ATAR of at least 80, or equivalent as recognised by UWA;

or

(b) an assured pathway offer;

or

(c) a place in a relevant UWA access program.

Admission ranking and selection

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

Transfer Requirements

8.(1) A student enrolled in an undergraduate degree course at UWA may apply to transfer into this course if they satisfy the following conditions:

(a) the student has not commenced their final semester of enrolment;

and

(b) the course transfer is undertaken within the two transfer windows in each academic year;

and

(c) there are no quotas preventing the student from enrolling in a major or unit in which the student seeks to enrol; and
(2) (a) have completed a minimum of 24 points of study in their current course and achieved a WAM of at least 50; and

(b) have met any subject prerequisites for their intended majors.

Course structure

9.(1) The Undergraduate Bachelor's degree consists of:

(a) 144 credit points (normally 24 units), which will include:

(i) a degree-specific major chosen from the list below:

(1) MJD-GECDM Geochemistry

(2) MJD-IEMDM Integrated Earth and Marine Sciences

and

(ii) no more than 72 credit points (normally 12 units) of Level 1 units; and

(iii) at least 72 credit points (normally 12 units) of Level 2 or Level 3 units, including at least 36 credit points (normaly 6 units) of Level 3 units; and

(iv) any relevant foundation units.

and(2) Students may choose to undertake an additional major and/or up to two minors from any undergraduate degree, provided the student will be able to complete all nominated majors and minors within 144 credit points.

Satisfactory progress

10.(1) To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.

(2) A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the CARS module or the ISE module when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress.

(3) A student who fails a unit twice is not permitted to enrol again in that unit unless the relevant board approves otherwise.

Progress status

11.(1) A student who makes satisfactory progress is assigned the status of 'Good Standing'.

(2) Unless the relevant board determines otherwise because of exceptional circumstances —

(a) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the first time under Rule 10(1) is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation';

(b) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the second time under Rule 10(1) is assigned a progress status of 'Suspended';

(c) a student who does not make satisfactory progress for the third time under Rule 10(1) is assigned a progress status of 'Excluded';

(d) a student who does not make satisfactory progress under Rule 10(2) is assigned a progress status of 'On Probation' unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to make satisfactory progress under Rule 10(1).

Deferrals

12. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).