Earth Sciences
MJRH-ADESC

Earth Sciences (Advanced)

Undergraduate major

Gain the knowledge and the skill sets for careers in a range of industries involved with Earth materials and planetary systems.

Course outline
  • ATAR

    ATAR

    Minimum ATAR 95
  • Qualification
    Earth Sciences Major (BAdvSci) (Honours)
  • Credit

    Credit

    800
Course outline

You can study this course as part of the following degree

Visit the degree page for information on admission criteria, course fees and study locations.

Course outline

Overview

Overview

Earth scientists are essential to the safe management of the environment, and to the discovery and sustainable extraction of mineral and energy resources. They use sophisticated instruments to determine the properties of Earth and planetary materials, and to help understand the evolution of the Earth and the controls and direction of its climate and biosphere.

This major is a Bachelor of Advanced Science honours course for high-performing science students. If gives you a flexible approach to learning, allowing you to explore the field of Earth sciences through opportunities for immersive research experiences, industry placement and team-based projects.

In this course, you will gain a comprehensive body of knowledge in Earth sciences, as well as the skillsets for careers in the diversity of industries involved with Earth materials and planetary systems.

A significant part of your learning will be in Curtin’s Earth sciences research facilities – which are among the best-equipped in Australia. And, in your final-year capstone experience, you’ll have the opportunity to pursue Earth and planetary science projects ranging from pure research through to translational (entrepreneurial) science.

How this course will make you industry ready

You'll have opportunities for immersive research experiences, industry placement and team-based projects. Your capstone experience offers the opportunity to pursue an earth and planetary science research project.

What jobs can the Earth Sciences (Advanced) course lead to?

Careers

  • Earth scientist
  • Environmental geoscientist
  • Geochemist
  • Hydrogeologist
  • Geologist
  • Geotechnical engineer
  • Geotechnician

Industries

  • Mineral exploration and mining
  • Environmental consultancy
  • Climate science
  • Geotechnical services
  • Geological surveys

What you'll learn

  • exhibit depth and breadth of knowledge and excellence in research and its application in Earth sciences, recognising its links to other disciplines. Contribute new knowledge to Earth sciences by designing appropriate investigations, including using field, laboratory, or remote sensing techniques; accessing, synthesising, and critically evaluating knowledge from a range of sources; analysing and interpreting data; and constructing arguments and conclusions while recognising the limitations in the approaches used, GC1
  • be resilient and equipped to engage in self-driven, continuous and reflective discipline and professional lifelong learning and development, demonstrating acquired Earth science and entrepreneurship skills in fostering innovation in Earth processes and systems understanding, and effective and sustainable Earth resource management to creatively explore natural system problems, the green economy and drive positive change, GC2
  • effectively capacity build, communicate and promote the value of sharing ideas, knowledge, approaches and solutions relating to the processes and evolution of the geosphere, as well as its intersection with the hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere to a range of audiences (academia, industry, government and public), for a range of purposes using a variety of oral, textual, visual modes or other digital media, GC3
  • demonstrate awareness of global citizenship, and capability to address complex natural systems, resource, climate, environmental and sustainability problems by applying practical and/or theoretical scientific techniques and clean technologies, recognising that scientific endeavours are required to comply with ethical, cultural and legal standards, and should reduce inequalities, GC4
  • demonstrate an advanced and coherent understanding of the nature and relevance of Earth sciences, the social and cultural context of natural systems, and the contribution of different knowledge systems, including Indigenous perspectives, especially around Earth observation and management, natural resources, and relationship to Country, GC5
  • demonstrate accountability, integrity and work responsibly and respectfully with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and ways of working in a range of applied settings, including laboratory and field contexts, both as an independent, self-directed scientist and collaboratively within multi-stakeholder partnerships, with cognisance of equity, equality and all appropriate regulatory and professional considerations within and adjacent to the Earth sciences sector, GC6

Why study Earth Sciences (Advanced) at Curtin?

Advanced science expertise

Curtin's Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) courses are designed for high-performing science students, with opportunities for immersive research experiences, industry placement and team-based projects.

World-ranked global university

Curtin ranks in the top 1% of universities in the world, based on our ARWU ranking. (Academic Ranking of World Universities, 2025).

Australia's best in Earth Sciences

Curtin outranks all other Australian universities in the area of Earth Sciences. (Shanghai Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024)

Admission criteria

What you need in order to get into this course. There are different pathway options depending on your level of work and education experience.

Select an option that best suits you:

You’re considered a high school leaver if you:

  • Completed year 12 in Australia or overseas in the past two years, or
  • Completed TAFE or VET studies in the past two years.

ATAR pathway

  • Minimum ATAR 95

    This course has a minimum ATAR of 95

  • Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Essential WACE subjects (prerequisites)

    Mathematics Methods ATAR

  • Desirable WACE subjects

    Desirable WACE subjects

    Chemistry ATAR, Earth and Environmental Science ATAR

Please see our correlation comparability for previous TEE subjects, WACE courses and WACE ATAR courses.

StepUp Entry

StepUp Entry

Successful StepUp Entry and StepUp Equity Adjustment Admission Pathway (StepUp Bonus) applicants will be eligible to be considered for admission into this course.

Alternative pathways

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    STAT is not accepted for this course.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

7

Speaking

7

Reading

7

Listening

7

Overall band score

7

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

How others gained admission

View the ATAR breakdown to see the low, median and high ATAR scores of students who started studying this course recently.

To see the other pathways students have taken, see the pathway breakdown.

Application Requirements

You’re considered someone with work and life experience if:

You have left secondary education more than two years ago (i.e. who are not classified as recent secondary education applicants) and have not undertaken vocational education training (VET) or higher education study since then.

How we define ‘experience’

‘Experience’ includes a combination of factors sufficient to demonstrate readiness for higher education such as mature-age entry, professional experience whether completion of the Skills for Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) is required or not, community involvement or work experience. Applicants may have undertaken non-formal programs that have helped prepare them for tertiary education or are relevant to the proposed higher education field of study.

Pathways

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    STAT is not accepted for this course.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

7

Speaking

7

Reading

7

Listening

7

Overall band score

7

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Application Requirements

You’re considered someone who studied at TAFE or have done an apprenticeship if:

Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a VET course. This includes study at a public TAFE or other VET provider, whether a qualification was completed or not. Applicants with VET study may have other qualifications such as a Year 10 or Year 12 secondary school certificate.

Pathways

  • TAFE entry

    Not accepted. VET study cannot meet the equivalent ATAR requirement.

  • STAT entry

    Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)

    STAT is not accepted for this course.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

7

Speaking

7

Reading

7

Listening

7

Overall band score

7

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Application Requirements

You’re considered someone who has recently left university if:

Applicants with higher education are those whose highest level of study since leaving secondary education is a higher education course, such as a university degree. This may include applicants who are currently studying a higher education course at another education provider and want to transfer to Curtin University, or applicants who are currently studying at Curtin but want to switch to a different course. It may also include applicants who have completed past study with university and non-university higher education providers.

Curtin course switcher criteria

To switch into this course, you need to have:

  • Attained an ATAR of 95; or
  • Completed 200 credits over one year, with a course weighted average (CWA) of 80% or higher; and
  • Met the prerequisites.

Maths Methods prerequisites can be met with:

  • Maths Methods ATAR or equivalent; or
  • MATH1014 Foundations of Calculus
  • MATH1015 Linear Algebra 1 with a final mark of at least 70; or
  • MATH1016 Calculus 1 or
  • MATH1017 Accelerated Mathematics 1

Higher education course switcher criteria

This course has a semester one intake only. Please refer to the TISC website for more information.

English requirements

Curtin requires all applicants to demonstrate proficiency in English. Specific English requirements for this course are outlined in the IELTS table below.

You may demonstrate English proficiency using the following tests and qualifications.

IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System)

Writing

7

Speaking

7

Reading

7

Listening

7

Overall band score

7

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Application Requirements

Unsure what option suits you?

We’re here to help you navigate the complexities of university admission. Choose the support you need from the options below.

Find your pathway to Curtin

Think you don’t have the marks or qualifications to study at Curtin? We have several pathways to help you meet admission. Use our pathway finder to find your best way to studying with us.

Pathway finder tool

Application Requirements

Credit for recognised learning (CRL)

Use your experience to get credit towards your degree

Finish your course sooner with credit for your previous study or work experience.

Fees and scholarships

Please view the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Honours) degree for indicative fees.

Looking for more detail on the course structure?

View course structure

How to apply

Please review information on how to apply for the campus of your choice

Apply now
  • The offering information on this website applies only to future students. Current students should refer to faculty handbooks for current or past course information.

    The information on this page may be subject to change. In particular, Curtin University may change the content, method or location of delivery or tuition fees of courses.

    While Curtin uses reasonable efforts to ensure that the information provided on this page is accurate and up to date, errors and omissions sometimes occur. Curtin makes no warranty, representation or undertaking (expressed or implied) nor does it assume any legal liability (direct or indirect) for the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of any information.

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  • Curtin course code: MJRH-ADESC
  • Last updated on: 28 October 2025

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