7 Best Earth Sciences Schools in the World

Earth sciences, also known as geosciences, are a branch of science that includes all fields of natural science related to the earth and its atmosphere. They also involve dealing with both the physical and chemical constitution of the earth and its atmosphere. Let’s take a look at the best institutions for earth science across the globe!

Top Earth Sciences Schools in the World

1. University of Colorado at Boulder

• College of Arts and Sciences – Department of Geological Sciences Program link
• Tuition Fee Page
• Scholarships Page
• Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD

The University of Colorado Boulder is a public university in Boulder, Colorado, and an excellent earth science school in the world founded in the second half of the 19^th century. The College of Arts and Sciences is one of the colleges of the University of Colorado at Boulder, where the Department of Geological Sciences can be found. This department offers both undergraduate and graduate studies of earth sciences, meaning you could earn a bachelor’s, master’s, and/or PhD degree.

Undergraduate studies that this department offers consist of two Major options that can earn you a Bachelor of Arts degree, as well as some Minor options. Graduate studies offer both master’s, and PhD programs. No matter which degree you wish to pursue, graduate programs are primarily research-based.

2. California Institute of Technology

• Caltech Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences Program link
• Tuition Fee Page
• Scholarships Page
• Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD

California Institute of Technology is a private university in Pasadena, California, US. The Caltech Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences is where the earth sciences studies at this institute can be found. The Division offers both undergraduate and graduate earth sciences studies, providing bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees.

Undergraduate studies at the Division promise to provide the fundamental and necessary knowledge and training to its students in order to build their skills in geological fields, so they can further pursue either graduate degrees or professional careers. Graduate studies offer both master’s and PhD programs, which are closely related. The PhD program provides practical studying and is essentially based on practical work.

3. Columbia University

• Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences Program link
• Tuition Fee Page
• Scholarships Page
• Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, PhD

Columbia University is a private Ivy League university in New York City and also a top school for earth science across the globe, established in the mid 18^th century, which makes it the oldest institution of higher education in New York. The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences is one of the departments of Columbia University, where studies regarding earth sciences can be found. The Department offers both undergraduate and graduate studies in the field of earth sciences, providing bachelor’s, and/or PhD degree(s).

Undergraduate studies at this department consist of Earth Science Major and Earth Science Concentration programs. Be it Major or Concentration, undergraduate studies in general promise to provide basic knowledge to its students when it comes to understanding the connection between humans and earth. Graduate studies provide a PhD program in the field of Earth and Environmental Sciences and are research-based.

4. University of Cambridge

• Department of Earth Sciences Program link
• Tuition Fee Page
• Scholarships Page
• Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD

The University of Cambridge, one of the best-ranked, one of the most well-known, and one of the most prestigious universities in general, is a university in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The Department of Earth Sciences of the University of Cambridge delivers an outstanding earth science program and is one of the University’s departments, founded in the first half of the 18^th century. This department offers both undergraduate and graduate earth sciences studies, meaning you could earn a bachelor’s, master’s, and/or PhD degree(s).

Undergraduate studies at the Department consist of several “stages” of the Earth Sciences program; let us explain: for example, there are IA Earth Sciences, IB Earth Sciences A, then comes the B, then II Earth Sciences, and then finally III. Quite specific, if nothing else. If anything can be guaranteed, it is that all these stages of study will certainly provide all the necessary knowledge for further improvement for those who wish to pursue a career in the earth sciences field. Graduate studies offer master’s and PhD programs, such as MASt in Earth Sciences, and MPhil and PhD Resources.

5. University of California, San Diego

• Scripps Institution of Oceanography Program link
• Tuition Fee Page
• Scholarships Page
• Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD

The University of California, San Diego is among the best universities for eath sciences in the world, and also a public university with one of the campuses based in San Diego, California. The Scripps Institution of Oceanography, as a part of the University of California, San Diego, offers both undergraduate and graduate studies in the field of earth sciences, providing bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees.

Undergraduate studies at the Institute consist of the BS in Earth Sciences program. According to the latest information from the Institute’s website, the program has been renamed to Geosciences program. After finishing this undergraduate program, students could work in fields such as geology, geophysics, earth sciences education, etc. Graduate studies offer both master’s and PhD programs, both in Geosciences of the Earth, Oceans and Planets (GEO). Of course, there is more to these programs, but since the focus is on earth sciences, this will be the only program mentioned.

6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

• MIT Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences Program link
• Tuition Fee Page
• Scholarships Page
• Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private university in Cambridge, Massachusets, established in the second half of the 19^th century. This high-ranked school excels in many areas of study, earth sciences also being one of them. The department in charge of earth sciences at MIT is the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences. This department offers both undergraduate and graduate studies in the field of earth sciences, providing bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD degrees.

Undergraduate studies consist of Majors and Minors. For the given field, and in order to earn a bachelor’s degree in earth sciences, courses such as Introduction to Geology, to Geophysics and Planetary Science, and similar courses should be considered. When it comes to graduate studies, the Department offers a variety of programs, the Program in Geology, Geochemistry, and Geobiology, and Program in Geophysics certainly being worth mentioning. Both of these programs offer both master’s and PhD degrees.

7. Princeton University

• Department of Geosciences Program link
• Tuition Fee Page
• Scholarships Page
• Degrees offered: Bachelor’s, PhD

Princeton University is a private Ivy League university in Princeton, New Jersey, founded in the mid 18^th century. The Department of Geosciences is one of the departments of Princeton University, which is in charge of the earth sciences studies at this university, and offers both undergraduate and graduate studies in the field of earth sciences, meaning you could earn a bachelor’s, and/or PhD degree(s).

The Department’s undergraduate studies deliver an exceptional earth science curriculum across the globe and focus on teaching about natural resources in general, but also about handling them properly. They represent a solid base for pursuing further education, such as a PhD degree that this department also offers. The graduate, PhD program, focuses on research in geosciences through practical working, such as in different kinds of laboratories.

I hope that this article on Best Earth Sciences Schools in the World was helpful. Make sure to also check out the Available Programs for International Students to learn more!