University of Birmingham
Hydrogeology MSc
University of Birmingham

Course modalities offered
  • On campus - h Edgbaston Campus
  • Sep 1, 2024 Full-time - 1 years
  • On campus - h Edgbaston Campus
  • Sep 1, 2024 Part-time - 2 years

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews for 20 graduates of Hydrogeology MSc at University of Birmingham for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry.

Overall student satisfaction
72 /100
20 total respondents
chart data
Source: National Student Survey NSS 2023. The Overall student satisfaction data point is from 2022 (latest available year). The Office for Students made the unfortunate decision to discontinue collecting overall student satisfaction data points per course.
This particular course
The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £29000 £25000 £31000
25-75 percentile range £24000 - £30000 £21500 - £31000 £25000 - £38500
Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
All Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry courses of University of Birmingham


Salary of all UK Graduates of Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £25986 £23450 £28950
25-75 percentile range £21993 - £30000 £18456 - £28917 £22344 - £35829
Source: Longitudinal Education Outcomes (LEO) by UK Department for Education Dec 20, 2022
All Molecular Biology, Biophysics and Biochemistry courses in the UK

Course Description

The Birmingham Hydrogeology MSc is the longest-running groundwater MSc course in the UK. Our alumni comprise a large proportion of the groundwater professionals in the UK and many more in another 50 or so countries, all contributing significantly to both human and environmental well-being.

Our course provides students with a comprehensive education in the fundamentals of groundwater science and engineering, together with considerable industry involvement, thus equipping graduates with the skills to tackle any groundwater problem they may be faced with, anywhere in the world.

Why is hydrogeology important?

Hydrogeology is the study of groundwater. Groundwater represents by far the largest volume of freshwater on Earth at any one point in time. It plays a vital role in the environment, provides a major – often the only - water resource for a significant proportion of the world’s population, and often is the dominant factor in determining rock and soil engineering strength. Hence, groundwater is an essential component for national infrastructure globally. All major civil engineering and environmental projects require the input of hydrogeologists. It is also becoming increasingly important in the context of geoenergy. This vital resource requires management and protection, not least from over-abstraction, contamination, and emerging problems including climate change. Employment is available in the UK and overseas, often with consultants, governments and regulators, and research organisations. Jobs are varied and challenging.

Accredited by the Royal Society of Biology for the purpose of meeting, in part, the academic and experience requirement of membership and Chartered Biologist (CBiol).

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

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Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
This particular course

Current jobs

chart data
Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
This particular course

Required skill level of job after 15 months

chart data
Source: HESA - Graduate Outcomes Survey Oct 10, 2023
This particular course

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Hydrogeology MSc at University of Birmingham

20% Sports and fitness occupations
20% Elementary occupations
10% Artistic, literary and media occupations
10% Teaching Professionals
10% Sales occupations
10% Skilled trades occupations
10% Web and Multimedia Design Professionals
Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023

Grading & Study Time

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**Combination of examinations, projects, or reports**

Grading Distribution

Students of the course received the following grades

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Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) 2016

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

chart data
Source: Unistats by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) Oct 10, 2023
This particular course

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • Graduate Degrees
    • (no subscore less than 6.0)
    • 6.5
    • Undergraduate Degrees
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Hydrogeology, MSc, if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

The course is open to graduates who hold a good Honours degree or an equivalent qualification from the full range of science, engineering and environmental disciplines. The course is quantitative and teaches the principles underpinning Hydrogeology to a high level. It introduces participants to many quantitative skills and methods and applicants are required, therefore, to demonstrate an adequate level of ability in mathematics that will allow them to gain the most from the Course and to work effectively in their future career. An AS or A-level in Mathematics or an equivalent through their degree course or through appropriate tuition is sufficient.

Costs

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

Source: Own research based on surveys and university data

University Rankings

Positions of University of Birmingham in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of University of Birmingham in related subject specific rankings.

Natural Sciences

    • #6 
    • #9 
    Geology
    The Times Good University Guide by Subject
    [Published 15 September, 2023]
    • #11 
    • #14 
    Geology
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]
    • #12 
    • #101 
    Geology
    QS World University Rankings By Subject
    [Published 22 March, 2023]
    • #14 
    • #173 
    Geology
    URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
    [Published 22 July, 2023]

Social Studies & Humanities

    • #10 
    • #13 
    Geography
    GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
    [Published 27 October, 2023]
    • #15 
    • #51 
    Geography
    QS World University Rankings By Subject
    [Published 22 March, 2023]
    • #18 
    • #126 
    Social Sciences
    THE World University Rankings by Subject
    [Published 19 October, 2023]

See all 38 university rankings of University of Birmingham

About University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham is a research university based in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. The university’s aim is to be at the cutting edge of educational delivery, and to have their curriculum be continually reshaped by new revelations in research. The main campus is situated a reasonable three miles away from Birmingham city centre, which doesn’t take long to get to via bus if the student decides they’d like to spend some of their free time there.

List of 469 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Birmingham - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Birmingham

Total number of students enrolled at University of Birmingham by level Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
undergraduates:
24385
postgraduates:
9185
Total:
33570
Number of students enrolled in courses of subject “Geology”: Academic year - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
Source: Academic year 2021/22 - Full-time equivalent student enrollments published by Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) on February 2022
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Where is this programme taught

Edgbaston Campus
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Admission advice for international students