Why Bachelor of Science (Honours)?
Discover the Earth’s interior and tackle big questions to help power, build and sustain our future.
With our Bachelor of Science (Honours) majoring in Geophysics, you’ll explore the physical processes that make the Earth dynamic. Study how the planet works from the inside out, investigating everything from tectonic activity to changes in the Earth’s surface and environment over time. Apply physics-based techniques – such as seismic, magnetic and gravitational methods – along with computer modelling and hands-on fieldwork to solve practical problems.
With an additional honours year, widen your career prospects, gain a competitive edge and start building a strong foundation for future postgraduate research. Graduate ready to work as an Earth scientist in a range of industries and government agencies – from environmental to mineral and energy resources.
Overview
Apply physics-based techniques to geological problems occurring on Earth and throughout the solar system. With our Bachelor of Science (Honours) majoring in Geophysics, develop skills to understand the sources of geophysical fields and how their variations reveal the structure and composition of Earth’s interior.
Build a strong foundation in the tools and methods used to study Earth’s subsurface through hands-on fieldwork, lab exercises measuring the physical properties of rocks, and interactive computer labs. Apply your knowledge to real-world challenges in global, exploration and environmental geophysics. Extend your learning with an honours year, where you'll complete an advanced Earth sciences project. Graduating with honours can expand your career prospects while also preparing you for postgraduate research – if you choose to pursue it.
Graduate with essential skills for careers in resource exploration, environmental monitoring, natural hazard assessment and scientific research.
Key features
Understand the structure and composition of the Earth and its dynamic interior. - Apply techniques of geophysical data analysis, computer modelling, visualisation and interpretation.
- Practice geophysical techniques through field-based practicals.
- Use 3D technology in specialised computer labs to detect and map mineral and energy resources.
- Undertake a professional placement or project in your third year.
- Deepen your skills and widen your job prospects with an honours year.
What you'll learn
Build your analytical, problem-solving and computational skills while getting the change to build a degree around your interests with our Bachelor of Science (Honours) majoring in Geophysics. You’ll study a degree that prepares you to influence global change and become a skilled researcher.
Your science degree will allow you to choose from a range of electives and core courses, so you can build foundational knowledge and skills in data analysis, mathematics and science. In your geophysics major, learn to use physical principles and methods that answer questions about the Earth, its environment, processes and properties. Apply principles of geology, physics and data science to understand geological phenomena and solve real problems. Get hands-on with laboratory experiments, fieldwork and computer visualisation, learning to recognise and identify different types of rocks and structures in the subsurface. In third year, experience work integrated learning with an 80-hour professional placement. Then in your final year, put all your learnings into practice with an Earth sciences honours project.
Throughout your degree, engage in collaborative learning on-campus through tutorials and workshops, seminars and lectures. Some courses also offer online delivery, allowing flexibility in how your study. Graduate ready to collaborate with professionals in geology, engineering, environmental science and other related fields.
Majors
The Bachelor of Science (Honours) is also available with majors in the following:
- Biochemistry
- Biotechnology
- Geology
- Geology and Earth Resources
- Geology and Palaeontology
- Physics and Geophysics
- Space Science and Astrophysics
- Theoretical Physics.
What courses you'll study
Complete 192 units comprising:
- 42 to 54 units for Core courses, and
- 84 to 144 units for Majors, and
- At least 6 units from Work integrated learning, and
- 0 to 48 units for Electives
Complete 42 to 54 units comprising:
- 6 to 12 units for all Program core, and
- 12 to 18 units from Common Core, and
- 6 to 30 units from Core Selective
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Course name
Science of People, Society and the Future Planet
|
Course code
SCIE1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Data Skills for Scientists
|
Course code
STAT1000
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
An Ethically Rich Life
|
Course code
COREX001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Fact or Fiction: Data for Everyone
|
Course code
COREX002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Igniting Change: Ideas to Action
|
Course code
COREX003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Proppa Ways, Future Practice
|
Course code
COREX004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Responsible AI: Bridging Ethics, Education and Industry
|
Course code
COREX005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Ways of Being, Ways of Seeing
|
Course code
COREX006
|
Units
6
|
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Biology 1A: Molecules, Genes and Cells
|
Course code
BIOL1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Biology 1B: Evolution and Diversity of Organisms
|
Course code
BIOL1004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations in Chemistry
|
Course code
CHEM1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Chemistry 1A
|
Course code
CHEM1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Chemistry 1B
|
Course code
CHEM1003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Planet Earth
|
Course code
EART1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Earth, Climate and Life Systems
|
Course code
EART1012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations in Mathematics
|
Course code
MATH1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Calculus 1
|
Course code
MATH1004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Calculus 2
|
Course code
MATH1005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Foundations in Physics
|
Course code
PHYS1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Physics 1A
|
Course code
PHYS1001
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Physics 1B
|
Course code
PHYS1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Differential Equations
|
Course code
MATHX202
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Linear Algebra
|
Course code
MATHX104
|
Units
6
|
Notes
Program core - Students in the following Majors will not enrol in STAT1000 Data Skills for Scientists:
Computational Physics, Experimental Physics, Nuclear and Radiation Physics, Physics and Geophysics, Space Science and Astrophysics, Theoretical Physics
Complete exactly 48 units from the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Planet Earth
|
Course code
EART1000
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Extra-terrestrial Geoscience
|
Course code
EART1002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Geophysics 2
|
Course code
EART2003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Spatial Data Acquisition and Analysis
|
Course code
ENGI2004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Calculus 2
|
Course code
MATH1005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Data Taming and Prediction
|
Course code
MATHX105
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Critical Evaluation in Data Science
|
Course code
MATHX106
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Geophysics 3B: Electromagnetics and Seismology
|
Course code
EART3016
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Geophysics 3A: Potential Fields and Geothermics
|
Course code
EART3017
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Scientific Data: Analysis and Visualisation
|
Course code
SCIE2000
|
Units
6
|
Complete at least 6 units from the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Professional Skills in Animal Science
|
Course code
ANIM3005
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Applications in Animal Behaviour
|
Course code
ANIM3900
|
Units
12
|
|
|
Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2
|
Course code
BIOL2900
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3
|
Course code
BIOL3007
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Microbiology and Immunology Practical 3
|
Course code
BIOL3012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Genetics Practical 3A
|
Course code
BIOL3900
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Field Palaeontology 3
|
Course code
EART3002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Field Geoscience Program 3
|
Course code
EART3003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Optics and Photonics 3
|
Course code
PHYS3004
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Computational Physics
|
Course code
PHYSX300
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Experimental Physics
|
Course code
PHYSX301
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Science Professional Placement
|
Course code
SCIE3900
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Science Professional Project
|
Course code
SCIE3901
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Genetics Practical 3B
|
Course code
BIOL2016
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Geophysics 3C: Seismic Processing and Interpretation
|
Course code
EART3004
|
Units
6
|
Notes
If studying ANACHSCIE - Analytical Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying ANIBHSCIE - Animal Behaviour then complete ANIM3900 - Advanced Applications in Animal Behaviour
If studying BIOCHSCIE - Biochemistry then complete BIOL3007 - Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3
If studying CHEYHSCIE - Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying ECOLHSCIE - Ecology then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying ENVGHSCIE - Environmental and Geospatial Science then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingENVSHSCIE - Environmental Science then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying EVOLHSCIE - Evolutionary Biology then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying EVOPHSCIE - Evolutionary Biology and Palaeontology the complete EART3002 - Field Palaeontology 3
If studying EXPEHSCIE - Experimental Physics then completePHYSX301 - Experimental Physics
If studying FOODHSCIE - Food Science and Technology then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studying GENEHSCIE - Genetics then complete BIOL2900 - Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2 or BIOL3901 - Genetics Practical 3B or BIOL3007 - Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3
If studyingGEOLHSCIE - Geology then complete EART3003 - Field Geoscience Program 3
If studyingGEOEHSCIE - Geology and Earth Resources then complete EART3003 - Field Geoscience Program 3
If studyingGEOPHSCIE - Geology and Palaeontology then complete EART3002 - Field Palaeontology 3
If studyingGEOYHSCIE - Geophysics then complete EART3004 - Geophysics 3C: Seismic Processing and Interpretation and may also complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingMARWHSCIE - Marine and Wildlife Conservation then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingMEDBHSCIE - Medicinal and Biological Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingMICRHSCIE - Microbiology and Immunology then complete BIOL2900 - Molecular and Biomedical Science Practical 2 and BIOL3007 - Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Practical 3 and BIOL3012 - Microbiology and Immunology Practical 3
If studyingNUCCHSCIE - Nuclear Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingNUCRHSCIE - Nuclear and Radiation Physics then complete PHYSX300 - Computational Physics or PHYSX301 - Experimental Physics
If studyingPHYGHSCIE - Physics and Geophysics then complete PHYS3004 - Optics and Photonics 3 or PHYSX300 - Computational Physics
If studyingPLABHSCIE - Plant Biology then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingPACHHSCIE - Pure and Applied Chemistry then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingSOILHSCIE - Soil Science then complete SCIE3900 - Science Professional Placement
If studyingSPACHSCIE - Space Science and Astrophysics then complete PHYSX301 - Experimental Physics
If studyingTHEOHSCIE - Theoretical Physics then complete PHYSX300 - Computational Physics or PHYSX301 - Experimental Physics
Complete exactly 48 units from the following:
| Course name | Course code | Units | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Course name
Honours Earth Sciences Project
|
Course code
EART4003
|
Units
30
|
|
|
Course name
Advanced Field Geoscience
|
Course code
EART5012
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Geoscience Data Analysis and Interpretation
|
Course code
EART6002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Geoscience Communication
|
Course code
EART6003
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Problem Solving and Programming Foundations
|
Course code
COMP5002
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Engineering Data Analytics
|
Course code
ENGI5006
|
Units
6
|
|
|
Course name
Object-Oriented Programming Foundations
|
Course code
COMP5033
|
Units
6
|
Career outcomes
Our Bachelor of Science (Honours) majoring in Geophysics will lead you to diverse career opportunities. Your additional honours year will make you even more competitive in the job market, with advanced analytical skills and specialised knowledge. As a geophysicist, you could be employed in industries such as environmental, energy, mineral resources, groundwater, state and federal government geological surveys, defence science and academic research.
Maybe you’ll investigate the impact of mining operations on groundwater and surface environmental processes. Perhaps you’ll consult for federal or state government geological surveys and environment departments. You could even manage and predict earthquake risks and climate impacts or find the next major ore deposit.
You could also pursue the following careers:
- Geophysicist
- Geoscience data analyst
- Exploration geologist
- Energy geoscientist
- Hazard mitigation scientist
- Geotechnical scientist
- Planetary scientist
- Field technician
- Laboratory technician
- Research scientist.
Industry trends
The job outlook for geologists and geophysicists is strong in Australia and work is commonly found in exploration and mining industries (Jobs and Skills Australia, 2024). The modernisation of geophysics through organisations like the National Computational Infrastructure (NCI) is transforming how research is conducted. Thanks to high-performance, national-scale datasets, the geophysics research community can explore Australia’s surface and subsurface in new ways (NCI, 2023) – allowing revolutionary discoveries in composition and structure.
Accreditation
Adelaide University is working through relevant approvals for program accreditation ahead of students commencing in 2026.
Ready to apply?
Please note that a non-refundable application fee of AUD$150 applies for every application submitted to Adelaide University.
Your study experience and support
Adelaide University sets you up for success in your studies – and your social life. You’ll have access to work placement and internship opportunities, overseas study tours and exchanges, networking events with guest speakers and more. Our campuses are equipped with purpose-built facilities including lecture theatres, libraries, workshops, laboratories, and spaces that simulate real work environments. These are all supported by the latest technologies and a 24/7 online learning platform with personalised study information and resources.
You’ll have everything you need to live well and thrive during your studies, with health services on campus, gymnasiums, technology zones and modern student lounges. Get involved in campus sport or join our student clubs that will connect you to your passions – and the people who share them.
Adelaide also has a variety of accommodation options to suit your individual requirements and budget, with options ranging from dedicated student accommodation to private rentals. One of the world’s most liveable cities, Adelaide has lots of leafy parks, gardens and social hubs – and some of the highest living standards globally. No matter where you are in Adelaide, you’re only a short distance from beaches, vineyards, museums, art galleries, restaurants, bars and parklands. Visit the accommodation web page to find out more.
Student services
We’re here to support you on your student journey. Adelaide University offers a range of support services and facilities, including:
- Career advice and mentoring services
- Personal counselling
- LGBTQIA+ support
- Academic support
- Fees and finance help
- Security services
- Accommodation services
- Common rooms
- Prayer rooms.
You’ll also have unlimited access to our dedicated student support hub. Visit in-person or online, or contact our friendly team by phone. We can assist you with anything study-related including enrolment, identification cards, timetables, fees and more.
Your campus
You'll be studying at one of our renowned campuses, accessing cutting-edge facilities and contemporary study spaces.
Study hours
Your courses will require a combination of different learning formats, including lectures, tutorials, workshops, seminars and practicals. Aside from your classes, you’ll also need to allocate additional time for independent study. This may include assignments, readings, projects and contributing to online discussion forums. As a rough guide, full-time studies may require 12-26 hours of class time and 14-18 hours of independent study per week.
Assessment
During your studies at Adelaide University, you’ll complete a mixture of practical, professional and research-based learning. Your assessment types will vary depending on the degree you’re studying, but may include:
- Case studies
- Essays and assignments
- Examinations
- Group projects
- Internships and placements
- Practicals
- Presentations
- Reports and project documentations
- Research projects
- Workplace and classroom contributions.
