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2. Postgraduate
3. Taught Courses
4. Masters
5. Geology - Applied Environmental Geoscience

Course Fact File

Code	MSCAGS
Duration	1 Year Full-time; 2 Years Part-time
Teaching Mode	Full-time, Part-Time
Qualifications	MSc
NFQ Level	Level 9
Fees	See Fees and Costs for full details.
Closing Date	Rolling deadline. Open until all places have been filled. Early application is advised.
Non-EU Closing Date	Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.
Start Date	9 September 2024

Course Outline

Our MSc Applied Environmental Geoscience programme will provide you with comprehensive training in the theory and practice of environmental geoscience. Established in 2017, in consultation with industry and government agencies, our  geoscience programme was established by the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES) in order to address a skills shortage identified in the environmental geoscience sector in Ireland.

There is global demand for graduates with applied environmental geoscience skills and this demand is projected to grow in the coming years. This multidisciplinary vocational programme equips graduates for careers in scientific, engineering, and environmental consultancies, water resources management, raw materials, regulatory agencies, as well as research in Ireland and further afield. Our course content is regularly reviewed by a panel of industry advisors from a range of local and international geoscience practice areas in order to meet the ongoing needs of the geoscience sector.   

Our course also offers a unique opportunity for international students to gain an EU-based work experience whilst studying for their Masters.

The course is delivered in two parts.

Part I comprises modules to the value of 60 credits involving field study, lectures, practical classes, seminars, and workshops.

Part II consists of a research dissertation based on independent research to the value of 30 credits (GL6019) which is completed between April and September. 

• EV6011 Principles of Environmental Assessment and Monitoring (10 credits)
• GL6020 Hydrogeology, Contaminated Land and Assessment (10 credits)
• GL6021 Engineering Geology (10 credits)
• GL6022 Environmental Planning and Regulation (5 credits) 
• GL6023 Offshore Environmental Geology (5 credits)
• GL6024 Applied Geophysics (5 credits)
• GL6025 Geoinformatics for Environmental Geology (5 credits)
• GL6028 Applied Hydrogeology Skills (5 credits)
• GL6029 Applied Geotechnical Skills (5 credits)

Part II

• GL6019 Applied Environmental Geology research project (30 credits)

Course Practicalities

The course is made up of lectures, practical work, seminars, and 15 days in the field. In addition, the students spend four months investigating their industry-based research topic. The course employs continuous assessment, practical reports, essays, seminars, field reports and in-class tests as the main assessment methods along with the production of the final dissertation. The programme is delivered by a multidisciplinary team of academic staff at UCC with extensive expertise which covers all aspects of applied environmental geoscience including:

Professor Andrew Wheeler	Marine Geology/Sedimentology
Dr Patrick Meere	Engineering/Structural Geology
Dr John Weatherill	Hydrogeology/Contaminated Land
Dr Ed Jarvis	Sedimentology/Environmental Geology
Dr Timothy Sullivan	Environmental Science
Dr Ronan Hennessy	Geoinformatics

Why Choose This Course

Facilities

During Semester 1, students have access to industry-standard field equipment in the School of BEES research facilities. This equipment will be used extensively in Semester 2 to undertake applied field training in hydrogeology, geophysics and geoinformatics.

As part of the offshore geology module in Semester 2, students will have the opportunity to participate in seabed mapping and surveying on board Irish research vessels operated by the Irish Marine Institute.

Course participants also have access to computing facilities, including geoscience software packages.

The School of BEES and programme delivery team enjoys excellent links with world-class Irish research centres and participating institutions including:

• Geological Survey Ireland 
• Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences (iCRAG)
• Centre for Marine and Renewable Energy (MaREI)

 

Industry collaborators

A distinctive feature of our Applied Environmental Geoscience programme is the delivery of content by industry practitioners with expertise in specialist areas of the course and with a focus on real-world challenges and solutions.

Industry collaborators who have contributed to the programme to date have included the following individuals and organisations:

Eileen McCarthy (QMEC)

James Dunne and Stephen McCarthy (Fehily Timoney & Company)

Jim Hodgson (Geological Survey Ireland)

Jim Wragg (Geosyntec)

Kevin Cleary (Verde Environmental)

Kevin Forde (Aecom)

Kevin Ryan (Cork City Council)

Marie Fleming, John O'Connor and Gerry Baker (Arup)

Michael Lehane and selected staff (EPA)

Mike Long (University College Dublin)

Paul Quigley (Irish Geotechnical Services Ltd)

Sean Moran (O'Callaghan Moran & Associates)

Tim McGillycuddy (Priority Geotechnical)

Yvonne O’Connell (Apex Geoservices)v

Industry placement and research project

Students spend from May to August working with an industry partner in Part II of the MSc programme where a dissertation and seminar are completed by mid-September.

This industry placement and research project allows students to develop their own interests and carry out an independent investigation on an environmental geoscience topic of their choice. Students also complete certified training courses in construction site health and safety (Safe Pass) to enable them to carry out any fieldwork as part of their placement.

Projects are chosen from a list of topics circulated earlier in the year and may be any combination of field, laboratory, or data analysis. In some cases, the number of available industry placements may be limited and students who are unsuccessful in obtaining an industry placement will complete their research project in the School of BEES. Students interested in research may opt for projects linked to national research centres such as GSI, iCRAG and MaREI. All projects are supervised by one or more academic staff members from the School of BEES.

Examples of recent industry projects include:

• Assessing the feasibility of carbon sequestration and nature-based solutions in urban parks for climate change mitigation: A case study for Cork City (Cork City Council)
• A 3D numerical modelling methodology for assessing sustainability in groundwater abstraction: A case study from Gorey Co Wexford (Arup)
• Investigating the Relationship Between Tellus Topsoil Geochemical and Airborne Radiometric Measurements of Potassium, Uranium and Thorium (Geological Survey Ireland)
• How can Retrofitting Urban Parks Deliver Climate Change Actions? (Cork City Council)
• The chemical analysis of a brownfield site: A case study of Ferrybank, Arklow, Co. Wicklow (Arup).
• Quantifying shoreline change and identifying drivers of change: Dalkey Head to Wicklow Head 2000-2017 (Geological Survey Ireland)
• An Investigation into How the Shear Strength of Discontinuities Impacted on the Slope Stability of Rock Cuttings for the N22 Macroom Bypass (J.B. Barry & Partners Ltd).

 

Connected Curriculum

Our connected learning approach reflects our commitment to the Connected Curriculum where we emphasise the connection between students, learning, research and leadership through our vision for a Connected University. Our staff are at the forefront of this integrative approach to learning and will support you in making meaningful connections within and between disciplines such as geology, geoscience, marine science, engineering, and the environment.

Available Scholarships

We support our postgraduate community by offering a scholarship scheme to prospective. Please see the SEFS Scholarships and Funding PG page for more information.

Career Prospects

Our MSc-qualified environmental geoscience graduates are in high demand for technical roles in both the public and private sectors at home and abroad.

Typically, over 90% of our participants are in full-time employment or research positions related to their MSc studies within three months of completing Part II. In many cases, students were offered employment by their industry placement company.

Environmental geoscientists presenting a range of specialist and transferable skills are readily employed by civil engineering and environmental consultancies as well as geoscience service providers, natural resource companies, local authorities, regulatory and government bodies. Some students may wish to use the MSc programme to acquire additional practical skills prior to embarking on a research career leading to a PhD. For students interested in research, the programme offers comprehensive training in a broad set of transferable skills required for independent geoscience research.

Some students may wish to use the MSc programme to acquire additional practical skills prior to embarking on a research career leading to a PhD. For students interested in research, the programme offers comprehensive training in a broad set of transferable skills required for independent geoscience field research.

Requirements

Applicants must hold at least a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ Level 8) or equivalent in a Geology/Geoscience/Geography/Earth Sciences/Civil Engineering/Environmental Sciences area or have reached an equivalent standard through completion of a relevant postgraduate qualification.

Fees and Costs

Bench Fee

Please be advised that a €1,000 bench fee is also required, payable directly to the School of BEES in two instalments at the start of each semester. This bench fee covers all field and course training activities for the duration of the programme.

How To Apply

The closing date for non-EU applications is Open until all places have been filled or no later than 15 June. Early application is advised.

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