The department here of Earth Sciences in
Durham is one of the larger departments
of Earth Science now in the UK. It has
something like 32 academic staff, about
60 postgraduate students and then
typically well over a hundred
undergraduate students every year. It's
in a purpose-built building with
research laboratories, state-of-the-art
teaching facilities and it also runs a
full programme of degrees in Geology,
Geology with Geophysics, Earth Sciences
and earth and environmental degrees as
well. Earth Sciences here at Durham is
based on research that teaching and
that's based on the fact that we have
very, very active research here.
It's a very dynamic group of people conducting
research and the research is what drives
us into doing the teaching and providing
the raw material for our teaching.
Our objective is to go way beyond just
giving people information but to try to
actually actively engage our students
with the sorts of research that we're
all doing.
If you come to Durham it's a unique
experience because you're coming to a
department that has a number of world
leading, state-of-the-art research and
teaching facilities. A mass spectrometer suite which analyses
elements down to parts per quintillion. Our laser scanning equipment and also
our latest acquisition is a high
velocity shear apparatus which simulates
what happens along geological faults
during earthquakes.
When I first applied to Durham
University what originally attracted me
to the department was the fact that the
course actually covered a broad range of topics.
A lot of geology involves travelling and working outdoors.
That's for me a real perk.
The sorts of places that trips are going to are places like South Africa
Cyprus, but also fantastic geology
on our own doorstep that we should never
ignore, you know the Lake District,
Scotland etc. All will give very, very
good training for, for geoscientists.
They start you off in quite wet areas
and they get progressively drier and
more exotic.

The facilities here a re really good, like we've got really
new lecture theatres like you can see here.
The support base for the course is really, really good.
For me, I'm partially sighted
and the department have been really, really good in helping me
with the problems faced.
Students who graduate from our degrees go on to work
in a range of different areas. A large
number of people go on to be
professional Earth Scientists, many of them conducting research or doing further
training and master's programmes. A large number of people go into petroleum and
energy related work. We also have a large
number of people who go on to work in
other industries that have absolutely
nothing to do with the earth sciences.
They've come here and studied to do
their degree, they've had lots of great
learning experiences, they've acquired
lots of skills that will help them in a
wide array of jobs.
We're right in the middle of absolutely beautiful countryside, the quality of life is high
and Durham University is a fantastic
jewel right in the middle of County Durham.
I lived in Durham Castle for my
first year and it's is a real privilege.
The collegiate system at Durham's really good. You're kind of included
in your own little family within your
college which is really nice. You get to
socialise with different people within
your college outside of your department.
To apply to come to Durham you need to
apply through UCAS. Probably the
most important after you've made sure
you've met our requirements of at least
two science A-levels is that you've
actually well written your personal
statement. Primarily because it's the only
opportunity that, as an applicant, that
you will have to actually sell yourself
to the department and make sure that you
put yourself in the best light possible.
I definitely made the right choice
and I just love it here, love the atmosphere, everyone is so friendly.
I think it's the best decision I've ever made.
The university has a fantastic
reputation. If I can say yes I've got my
degree from Durham, it's kind of, like
extra bonus marks.
 
