Geologists study how the Earth works, including processes that have a major impact on our current and future wellbeing, such as the formation of geological resources, natural hazards, climate change and the movements of contaminants and pollutants through soil and rock. 

Geologists locate and advise on the extraction of minerals, petroleum and groundwater. They are also involved in detecting and monitoring natural disasters such as earthquakes, landslides and floods. 

From the field to the lab, the knowledge you will gain in this course will help you drive advancements in areas such as petroleum or mineral exploration.

This course provides advanced technical training to help upgrade your qualifications or enter a new branch of geoscience. You will attend lectures, seminars and group discussions, and prepare and submit a thesis-based research project.

There are two streams: basin analysis and petroleum geology, and mineral exploration and mining geology. Each stream comprises units in geology and related disciplines.

You will complete a supervised project related to your stream, often in collaboration with industry or government partners.

Please note: unit availability is often limited to specific semesters, which may affect the order in which you can take each unit. 

Basin Analysis and Petroleum Geology

Sedimentary basins contain a record of the tectonic, structural and sedimentological processes that created them. By understanding these processes, often using subsurface data sets, we can gain insights into the energy resources that they contain.

This stream will provide you with the technical and practical skills to evaluate petroleum systems and to pursue a career in hydrocarbon exploration or production.

Mineral Exploration and Mining Geology

Ore deposits - the result of natural processes that concentrate large volumes of minerals within a small area - are becoming more difficult to find and there is an increasing need for geologists to apply a new approach to mineral exploration.

This stream offers detailed knowledge of mining operations and mineral systems. You will learn about the principal types of ore deposits, the fundamentals of mineral exploration, collecting and displaying geophysical data, geochemical processes and magnetics theory, among other topics.

You will also gain technical and practical training that will help you evaluate mineral systems and pursue a career in the mineral exploration industry. 

Why study

• We offer the most comprehensive range of postgraduate geology courses in Australia
• You can choose to specialise in fundamental or applied aspects of geoscience, or combine both, depending on your needs
• Many of our courses address the specific requirements of the minerals, petroleum and groundwater industries
• The practical approach of our courses, combined with their direct industry involvement, provide our graduates with a competitive edge in the employment market.

This course can open up a wide range of geoscience career opportunities depending on your choice of units.