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How to become a Geologist / Earth Scientist

Studies rocks, minerals and the earth - key to mining and the environment.

What does a Geologist / Earth Scientist actually do?

More about this career

Studies rocks, minerals and the structure of the earth – crucial for finding and safely extracting mineral resources, and for understanding natural hazards. Most jobs are in mining and exploration companies, with fieldwork (sometimes remote, physically demanding sites) a real part of the job, especially early on.

Where this degree can take you

  • Exploration Geologist
  • Hydrogeologist
  • Mining Geologist
  • Environmental Geologist

This is our general description of the role and related jobs, not from an official source – it’s here to give you a fuller picture, not as a careers-counselling guarantee.

Not from an official source

Subjects that usually help

  • Mathematics
  • Physical Sciences
  • Geography (helpful)

This is our general guidance about which school subjects suit this career. It is not an admission requirement and not from an official source – the real requirements are on the degrees below.

Not from an official source

Where to check this yourself

What the degrees we’ve captured actually ask for

  • Mathematics – asked for by 3 of 3 degrees
  • Physical Sciences – asked for by 3 of 3 degrees
  • Life Sciences – asked for by 1 of 3 degrees

Counted from the requirements below (an “or” alternative counts for each subject named). Each degree links to the page it came from.

Degrees that lead here

3 degrees at 3 universities. More are added as we verify them.

Sol Plaatje University

Partly verified

BSc Physical Sciences (Geology)

Natural & Applied Sciences · 3 years

SPU APS 30

  • English: level 4 (50% or more) OR English: level 5 (60% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Life Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)

From SPU’s Faculty of Natural & Applied Sciences programme page. We could not confirm the 2027 application closing date (only a stale 2021 date was found on SPU’s applications page).

Source: View the official page (spu.ac.za) (opens the official page)

Stellenbosch University

Selection programme

BSc Earth Science

Science · 3 years

Stellenbosch aggregate 65 %

  • Mathematics: 60%
  • Physical Sciences: 50%

Every Stellenbosch programme is a selection programme. The figures shown are the published minimum requirements - the actual selection threshold is usually higher. Mathematics of 60% or 70% is required depending on which first-year Mathematics module you take.

Source: View the official page (files.su.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of Pretoria

BSc Geology

Natural & Agricultural Sciences

UP APS 34 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
  • Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 5 (60% or more)

The UP tables group Chemistry, Physics, Geology and similar BSc streams together at this level. Most UP closing dates are 30 June; Veterinary Science closes 31 May. Grade 12 applicants apply with their final Grade 11 results.

Source: View the official page (drupalwebprod-files.up.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Are your marks enough?

Put your subjects in once and we’ll check them against every degree above – scored each university’s own way.

What do I qualify for?