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Overview
On this Environmental Geology and Land Contamination Master's degree course, you'll learn how to investigate and understand contaminated sites. You'll learn how the whole geo-environmental system influences the movement of contaminants from source to potential receptors, through modules that cover hydrology, geochemistry, site investigation, geotechnics, and land assessment.
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Earth systems and environmental sciences at the University of Portsmouth is ranked 4th of all post-1992 universities for research quality
Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
Read more about our amazing earth systems and environmental sciences research
Many countries have a significant legacy of contaminants in the ground caused by industrial and mining activity. These pollutants can pose a significant risk to human health and the environment, so specialist expertise is required to ensure land is safe for use or development.
Demand for expertise is increasing, and in the UK alone the market for environmental consultancy is expected to grow by almost £10 billion to £16 billion by 2027. (Consultancy UK).
This course provides practical training in every aspect – from field and site work, to laboratory analysis and data interpretation – so once you graduate, you can pursue varied roles in the specialist area of contaminated land consultancy, regulation and remediation, both in the UK and overseas.
Scholarships for international students
The School of Environment, Geography and Geosciences offers a limited number of scholarships for international postgraduate students
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.
Course highlights
- Learn from experts in the field, with extensive knowledge of groundwater hydrology, environmental geology and contaminated land management
- Benefit from our industry links and complete a professional research project in collaboration with industry partners
- Use our geotechnical and analytical labs, gaining practical experience in the use of a range of soil and environmental testing facilities in our environmental chemistry analysis laboratory
- Train in fieldwork techniques such as walk-over surveys, sample collection and testing, and the use of GIS and interpretation of remote sensing
- Produce professional conceptual site models (CSM) and learn about risk assessment approaches for contaminated land and water
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Our geography, earth and environmental studies courses are ranked first in the UK for student satisfaction and support, and second for teaching, in the 2024 Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES)
Contact information
Contact AdmissionsChat to your course leader
Whether you want to ask about modules, assessments or your career prospects come graduation, our academics are on hand to help. Book in a one-to-one session with your course leader and get your questions answered.
Entry requirements
Eligibility
This course accepts UK, EU, and International students.
September 2026 start (indicative)
- A second-class honours degree in Geology, Geography, Earth Science, Applied Geology, Civil Engineering, Chemistry, Environmental Science or a related discipline.
- Relevant industrial and work experience will be considered on an individual basis.
Please get in touch if you're not sure if your undergraduate subject is relevant to this degree.
Equivalent professional experience and/or qualifications will also be considered, such as previous study, employment, voluntary work and training courses, including courses and qualifications you didn't complete. Learn more about our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above.
To find out if your non-UK degree or other qualification is accepted, please visit our page for your country and view the UK equivalent of your qualification.
- English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.
Degrees taught solely in English from non-majority English speaking countries will be considered on a case by case basis. Find out more about our English language requirements.
If you do not meet the English language requirements yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
You do not need an IELTS or equivalent certification if:
you have a UK degree you have a degree from a majority English speaking country (not taught by Distance Learning) you are a national of a majority English speaking country
Course costs and funding
Tuition fees
Note these fees are based on courses starting in 2025. We'll confirm 2026 fees here soon.
- Full-time: £10,900
- Part-time: £5,450 per year
(including Transition Scholarship)
- Full-time:£10,900
- Part-time: £5,450 per year
- Full-time: £19,200
- Part-time: £9,600 per year
University of Portsmouth graduates may receive a 20% alumni tuition fee discount.
Fees are subject to annual increase. Read our tuition fees terms and conditions.
You'll be able to pay your fees in instalments. Find out how to pay your tuition fees.
Funding your studies
Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.
If you're a UK student, you may be eligible for a Government Postgraduate Master's Loan, which you can use to help with course fees and living costs.
Environment, geography and geosciences scholarships
International students may be eligible for the School of the Environment, Geography and Geosciences (SEGG) Scholarship.
Loans, scholarships and bursaries
Browse funding such as the Government Postgraduate Loan, our scholarships for new and returning students, and subject specific loans.
Funding for international students
Learn more about sponsorships, scholarships and loans for students applying from outside of the UK.
Fees and funding for Master's courses
Explore Master's funding options, including loans, scholarships, bursaries and more.
Additional costs
These course-related costs aren't included in the tuition fees, so you'll need to budget for them when you plan your spending. Additional costs could include:
- Accommodation: Accommodation options and costs can be found on our accommodation pages.
- Recommended reading: You can borrow key texts from the library and if you choose to purchase these texts they may cost up to £60 each.
- General costs: Such as photocopying, memory sticks, printing charges, binding and specialist printing. We suggest budgeting £75 per year.
- Final project transport or accommodation: where necessary, which related to your research activities. The amount will depend on the project you choose.
Read more about tuition fees and living costs, including what your tuition fees cover.
Modules
Full-time (indicative)
Core
On this course, you'll study three core modules and two optional modules.
You’ll hear a series of thematic lectures and take part in workshops on oil seepages and emerging contaminants in the environment, including metals pollution from mining activities. These workshops will also introduce you to laboratory analytical techniques critical for evaluating the extent of land contamination.
You’ll take a field trip to South West England to see pollution from mining first-hand. This module also includes an introduction to geology for non-geologists.
You’ll learn how to categorise contaminated land within a hydrogeological and geoenvironmental framework. Implement risk-based contaminated land investigation and design a conceptual site model.
You’ll interpret hydrogeological investigations, such as pump tests, and apply aquifer parameterization to inform the understanding of land contamination and guide remediation efforts.
You’ll also assess and interpret evolving guidance and legislation relating to groundwater protection, and evaluate source protection zones around abstraction wells. Finally, you’ll be able to propose your own management, mitigation, reclamation and remediation methodologies for contaminated sites.
You'll formulate hypotheses, collect and critique data, honing analytical abilities to generate original insights. You'll prepare a comprehensive literature review and critically evaluate and discuss the research literature in the context of your research project.
You’ll build versatile skills for managing complex research investigations, finally reporting your scientific results through different media including a thesis report using publication-quality diagrams and figures.
Optional
You’ll study two key segments - remote sensing and Earth Observation, and developing and practising field skills, including data collection and analysis.
You’ll take part in fieldwork and cover key GIS and remote sensing skills including data acquisition, image classification, field surveying, digital editing of datasets, data presentation, and report writing.
In this module, you'll interpret live data and primary literature on aquatic pollution, looking at lethal and sub-lethal effects. As you examine the responses of organisms to environmental pollution, you'll master methods used in toxicology labs and appreciate the range of pollutants that impact aquatic environments.
Among other areas of focus, you’ll appraise how fossil groups can be used in solving industrial geoscientific problems, critically discuss and compare the principal methods of geophysical and invasive ground investigation techniques, and explore the concepts of a geotechnical risk register and critically evaluate their use in site investigations.
You’ll also explore what it means to be a professional scientist and consider appropriate legal and professional frameworks, as well as how this area of work is likely to change in the future.
Part-time (indicative)
Core
On this course, you'll study 180 credits over two years.
You’ll hear a series of thematic lectures and take part in workshops on oil seepages and emerging contaminants in the environment, including metals pollution from mining activities. These workshops will also introduce you to laboratory analytical techniques critical for evaluating the extent of land contamination.
You’ll take a field trip to South West England to see pollution from mining first-hand. This module also includes an introduction to geology for non-geologists.
You’ll learn how to categorise contaminated land within a hydrogeological and geoenvironmental framework. Implement risk-based contaminated land investigation and design a conceptual site model.
You’ll interpret hydrogeological investigations, such as pump tests, and apply aquifer parameterization to inform the understanding of land contamination and guide remediation efforts.
You’ll also assess and interpret evolving guidance and legislation relating to groundwater protection, and evaluate source protection zones around abstraction wells. Finally, you’ll be able to propose your own management, mitigation, reclamation and remediation methodologies for contaminated sites.
Optional
You’ll study two key segments - remote sensing and Earth Observation, and developing and practising field skills, including data collection and analysis.
You’ll take part in fieldwork and cover key GIS and remote sensing skills including data acquisition, image classification, field surveying, digital editing of datasets, data presentation, and report writing.
In this module, you'll interpret live data and primary literature on aquatic pollution, looking at lethal and sub-lethal effects. As you examine the responses of organisms to environmental pollution, you'll master methods used in toxicology labs and appreciate the range of pollutants that impact aquatic environments.
Among other areas of focus, you’ll appraise how fossil groups can be used in solving industrial geoscientific problems, critically discuss and compare the principal methods of geophysical and invasive ground investigation techniques, and explore the concepts of a geotechnical risk register and critically evaluate their use in site investigations.
You’ll also explore what it means to be a professional scientist and consider appropriate legal and professional frameworks, as well as how this area of work is likely to change in the future.
Core
You’ll hear a series of thematic lectures and take part in workshops on oil seepages and emerging contaminants in the environment, including metals pollution from mining activities. These workshops will also introduce you to laboratory analytical techniques critical for evaluating the extent of land contamination.
You’ll take a field trip to South West England to see pollution from mining first-hand. This module also includes an introduction to geology for non-geologists.
You’ll learn how to categorise contaminated land within a hydrogeological and geoenvironmental framework. Implement risk-based contaminated land investigation and design a conceptual site model.
You’ll interpret hydrogeological investigations, such as pump tests, and apply aquifer parameterization to inform the understanding of land contamination and guide remediation efforts.
You’ll also assess and interpret evolving guidance and legislation relating to groundwater protection, and evaluate source protection zones around abstraction wells. Finally, you’ll be able to propose your own management, mitigation, reclamation and remediation methodologies for contaminated sites.
You'll formulate hypotheses, collect and critique data, honing analytical abilities to generate original insights. You'll prepare a comprehensive literature review and critically evaluate and discuss the research literature in the context of your research project.
You’ll build versatile skills for managing complex research investigations, finally reporting your scientific results through different media including a thesis report using publication-quality diagrams and figures.
Optional
You’ll study two key segments - remote sensing and Earth Observation, and developing and practising field skills, including data collection and analysis.
You’ll take part in fieldwork and cover key GIS and remote sensing skills including data acquisition, image classification, field surveying, digital editing of datasets, data presentation, and report writing.
In this module, you'll interpret live data and primary literature on aquatic pollution, looking at lethal and sub-lethal effects. As you examine the responses of organisms to environmental pollution, you'll master methods used in toxicology labs and appreciate the range of pollutants that impact aquatic environments.
Among other areas of focus, you’ll appraise how fossil groups can be used in solving industrial geoscientific problems, critically discuss and compare the principal methods of geophysical and invasive ground investigation techniques, and explore the concepts of a geotechnical risk register and critically evaluate their use in site investigations.
You’ll also explore what it means to be a professional scientist and consider appropriate legal and professional frameworks, as well as how this area of work is likely to change in the future.
Changes to course content
We use the best and most current research and professional practice alongside feedback from our students to make sure course content is relevant to your future career or further studies.
Therefore, some course content may change over time to reflect changes in the discipline or industry. If a module doesn't run, we'll let you know as soon as possible and help you choose an alternative module.
Facilities
Geotechnics Laboratory
Our Geotechnics Laboratory – or Soils Lab – has equipment for analysing fine- and coarse-grained soils.
Environmental Chemistry Analysis Laboratory
Use the equipment in this lab to identify and analyse chemicals and biochemicals in surface water, groundwater and soil, so you can develop strategies to minimise and remove their harmful environmental effects.
GIS and Remote Sensing Laboratory
Discover more about the planet's physical structures and scientific processes, such as glaciers and coastal flooding, using drone data, aerial and satellite remote sensing and geographic information systems.
Geochemistry Laboratory
Trace Earth and environmental processes in this lab, using techniques including palynology processing – the study of strewn particles – for acid dissolutions of rock matrices, sample sieving and heavy liquid separation.
How you'll spend your time
We recognise that you'll probably be juggling more demands when you do your Master's degree, as you may be working or you may have family responsibilities.
We'll give you as much indication here as we can of how much time you'll need to be on campus and how many hours you can expect to spend in self-directed study, but please note that these indications are always subject to change. You should receive your full timetable several weeks before you start with us.
Course structure
Full-time (1-year):
- On-campus, in-person core teaching takes place on Mondays and Tuesdays
- We recommend that full-time students allocate around 37 hours per week to their studies – equivalent to a full-time job
Part-time (2-years):
- On-campus, in-person teaching takes place on Mondays or Tuesdays
- We recommend that part-time students allocate around 18 hours per week to their studies – equivalent to a part-time job
Studies include teaching time (lectures, lab time, etc), tutorials, course work, independent learning and assessments.
On-campus, in-person teaching takes place over two teaching blocks (September to January and January to May). From May onwards, you'll focus on the development and realisation of your research project.
Master's study is deeper and more specialised than an undergraduate degree. This means you'll focus on something that really matters to you and your career as you work closely with academics committed to the subject.
You'll spend more time in independent study and research than you did for your undergraduate degree, but the majority of your teaching time will be in-person and face-to-face.
Teaching on this course includes:
- lectures
- workshops
- laboratory work
- field trips
Assessment
You'll be assessed through:
- poster and oral presentations
- project reports
- laboratory and field reports
- examinations
You'll be able to test your skills and knowledge informally before you do assessments that count towards your final mark.
You can get feedback on all practice and formal assessments so you can improve in the future.
Teaching staff
These are some of the expert staff who'll teach you on this course:
Term dates
September start
The Master's academic year runs from September to the following September. There are breaks at Christmas and Easter. Over the summer you'll be writing your project / dissertation.
January start
Courses that start in January have the same amount of teaching as September-start courses, but they normally run over a longer time period.
January-start courses normally run between 14–18 months, beginning in January and ending in the spring / summer of the following year. There are breaks at Christmas, Easter and in the summer. In the last few months you’ll be writing your project / dissertation.
Joining us as an international student
You'll feel at home in our international community and our diverse city. You'll be joining over 5,000 international students from more than 150 countries who are studying with us.
Learn more about international student life and how we can help you with visas, applications, arrival and settling in.
Career development
Careers this Master’s prepares you for
Environmental geologists and specialists in the identification and treatment of contaminated land are employed by Government and non-Government organisations, as well as commercial land and property developers.
Demand for expertise is increasing, and in the UK alone the market for environmental consultancy is expected to grow by almost £10 billion to £16 billion by 2027 (Consultancy UK).
Graduates also go into academic or commercial research roles, or a postgraduate research degree in earth and environmental sciences.
Graduates of this course have gone onto roles such as:
- Environmental consultant
- Geo-environmental consultant
- Geo-environmental engineer
- Engineer
Career outcomes shown are sourced from the latest available graduate outcome surveys. The data shows career outcomes at 15 months after graduation.
Career planning
During your course you'll have expert career support from your tutors and our Careers and Employability Centre – which you can access for up to 5 years after you graduate.
Career support
You'll benefit from:
- Networking events
- Applied projects with employers
- 1-to-1 appointments
- CV and cover letter advice
- Interview preparation and practice
- Workshops to enhance your employability skills
- Recruitment events including the Student and Graduate Opportunities Fair
- Support starting your own business
Supporting you
Master's study is more focused on independent learning than undergraduate study, but you'll get lots of support via video, phone and face-to-face from teaching and support staff to enhance your learning experience and help you succeed. You can build your personalised network of support from the following people and services:
Types of support
Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.
As well as regular scheduled meetings with your personal tutor, they're also available at set times during the week if you want to chat with them about anything that can't wait until your next meeting.
You'll have help from a team of faculty learning support tutors. They can help you improve and develop your academic skills and support you in any area of your study.
They can help with:
- improving your academic writing (for example, essays, reports, dissertations)
- understanding and using assignment feedback
- managing your time and workload
- revision and exam techniques
During term time, Faculty Academic Skills Tutors (AST) are available for bookable 1-to-1 sessions, small group sessions and online sessions. These sessions are tailored to your needs.
Support is available for skills including:
- University study
- Getting into the right study mindset
- Note-taking and note-making skills
- Referencing
- Presentation skills
- Time management, planning, and goal setting
- Critical thinking
- Avoiding plagiarism
If you have a disability or need extra support, the Additional Support and Disability Centre (ASDAC) will give you help, support and advice.
Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfil your potential and have a great student experience.
You can get personal, emotional and mental health support from our Student Wellbeing Service, in person and online. This includes 1–2–1 support as well as courses and workshops that help you better manage stress, anxiety or depression.
If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need our specialist team can help you.
They'll help you to
- discuss and agree on reasonable adjustments
- liaise with other University services and facilities, such as the library
- access specialist study skills and strategies tutors, and assistive technology tutors, on a 1-to-1 basis or in groups
- liaise with external services
Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources. You can also request one-to-one appointments and get support from a librarian who specialises in your subject area.
The library is open 24 hours a day, every day, in term time.
The Maths Café offers advice and assistance with mathematical skills in a friendly, informal environment. You can come to our daily drop-in sessions, develop your maths skills at a workshop or use our online resources.
If English isn't your first language, you can do one of our English language courses to improve your written and spoken English language skills before starting your degree. Once you're here, you can take part in our free In-Sessional English (ISE) programme to improve your English further.
How to apply
Unlike undergraduate applications, which go through UCAS, applications for this Master's course are made directly to us.
There's no deadline for applications to this course. We accept applications right up until the start dates in September and January, as long as there are places available. If you wait until your start month to apply, you may find that the course is full.
If you're applying as an international student, remember that you'll need to leave plenty of time to get your visa organised.
You can find more advice about applying in our Master's application checklist. International students and current students and recent graduates of the University of Portsmouth also have some different application options, which are detailed below.
Extra information for international students
If you're an international student, you can apply directly to us using the same application form as UK students.
You could also get an agent to help with your application. Check your country page for details of agents in your region. To find out what to include in your application, head to the how to apply page of our international students section.
If you don’t meet the English language requirements for this course yet, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.
Ready to apply?
You can apply for this course in 2026. In the meantime, you can sign up to an Open Day to:
-
tour our campus and facilities
-
speak with lecturers and chat with our students
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get information about where to live and how to fund your studies
I'm a current Portsmouth student, or a recent Portsmouth graduate
If you're currently in your final year of study at Portsmouth, or you graduated since July 2024, you're eligible to make a fast track application. You'll have:
- a shorter application form to complete
- access to the 20% Alumni fee discount
- a guaranteed conditional offer, for most Master's courses
After you apply
Once we receive your application, we may ask you for further information. We will then either make you an offer or suggest alternatives if your application is unsuccessful.
You'll usually get a decision within 10 working days, so you shouldn't have to wait too long. Some courses have an interview stage – we'll let you know if you need to prepare for one.
Learn more about how we assess your application.
Admissions terms and conditions
When you accept an offer to study at the University of Portsmouth, you also agree to abide by our Student Contract (which includes the University's relevant policies, rules and regulations). You should read and consider these before you apply.