BSc Geology or Bachelor of Science in Geology is a 3-year long undergraduate level bachelor’s degree course focused on earth science. The course involves the study of rocks, minerals, other solid substances, their compositions, their history and other processes involving them.
This course is spread over 6 semesters and covers subjects like environmental science, earth science, mineral science, the study of other natural resources (like water, petroleum, natural gas, etc), their positioning and presence, climate change and related problems, etc. The course also includes fieldwork and exploration.
To be eligible to apply for Geology Course, a candidate must have a minimum of 55% marks in HSC (10+2). The candidates must complete 10+2 in the science stream with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics or Biology along with English as a compulsory language from any recognized education board. Admission to BSc Geology is generally on a merit basis. However, some institutes may conduct their own entrance examinations like Banaras Hindu University. The average fees charged for this course lie in the range of INR 10,000 to INR 30,000. Dual degree courses of BSc Geology-M.Sc Geology spread over a span of 5 years is also offered by some colleges and Universities like IISER, Kolkata.
Several job opportunities are also available after completing a BSc in Geology. Some of the job profiles offered are- Geologist, Petrologist, Hydrogeologist, Mine Supervisor, etc in some of the top companies. The starting salary offered after BSc Geology is around INR 3-4 LPA. After pursuing BSc Geology, students can also opt for higher studies and can opt for M.Sc Geology, M.Sc Petroleum Geology, M.Sc Marine Geology, PhD courses, etc.
Course Details
Some of the important details about BSc Geology course are listed below in the table:
| Course Level | Undergraduate Course |
| Full Form | Bachelor of Science- Geology |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Examination Type | Semester type |
| Eligibility | 10+2 with PCM/PCB and English with min 55% marks |
| Admission Process | Merit-based |
| Course Fees | INR 10,000 to INR 70,000 |
| Average Salary (INR) | 4,00,000 – 6,00,000 |
| Top Recruiting Companies | GAIL, ONGC, Geological Survey of India (GSI), Coal India, ISRO, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd, Hindustan Zinc Ltd |
| Job Positions | Geologist, Seismologist, Hydrogeologist, Mine Supervisor, Petroleum Geologist, Paleontologist, Earth Science Teachers etc. |
BSc Geology: What is it About?
- The programme teaches you about various rocks, minerals, fossils, crystals etc that are found on and under the earth’s surface.
- It includes the study of mineralogy, palaeontology, petrology, economic geology, hydrogeology, stratigraphy, structural geology etc.
- The course also includes mandatory fieldwork and practicals of different theory subjects.
- Moreover, this course provides you with a great knowledge of nature and different natural phenomena like earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis and many others, how they occur, their after-effects etc.
- After completion of this course, students can either pursue higher studies or can work in different departments in both the private and government sector.
- M.Sc and PhD courses with multiple specialisations can be pursued after this course.
- The course is also available as a distance education option.
Why BSc Geology course?
BSc Geology course is pursued by a lot of students these days. Given below are some reasons why you can think of pursuing this course:
- Various Job Opportunities: After completion of BSc Geology course, a plethora of job opportunities are available for candidates. Job Opportunities are available in various government and private sectors. Candidates can work as geologists, hydrogeologists, palaeontologists, marine geologists etc.
- Decent Salary: The entry-level salary of BSc Geology graduates is around INR 4 to 5 lakh per annum. With higher experience, the candidates can end up earning more than INR 18 lakh per annum in any field.
- Various Career Options: Candidates pursuing BSc Geology have multiple options to opt as a career. Candidates can wish to pursue higher studies like M.Sc and PHD thereafter or can opt for various jobs available.
- Top Recruiters: Some of the top companies recruit students who completed their BSc in Geology like- Geological Survey of India (GSI), Schlumberger, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Physical Research Laboratory (PRL), National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Oil India Limited (OIL), GAIL, etc.
BSc Geology Admission Process
Admission to BSc Geology is generally on the basis of merit list (marks scored in HSC- 10+2). However, some colleges may conduct their own entrance examinations.
Merit-Based
- Candidates after completing their 12th can easily apply for this course on the official websites of college, once the application window is opened.
- After the application window is closed, colleges release their merit list of selected candidates.
- Subsequent lists may be released by colleges depending on the number of students applied and a number of seats available.
- The cutoffs of the reputed colleges generally range between 75% - 85%.
- The cutoffs for the topmost colleges like presidency college can even go above 90% marks.
Entrance Based
- Some colleges like BHU conduct their own entrances as criteria to admit students into BSc Geology.
- Apply for the entrances, if any, on the official website of conducting college as required.
- Candidates are selected on the basis of marks scored in these entrance examinations.
Given below are the steps that can be followed to apply for BSc Geology course:
Step-1: Visit the official website of the college.
Step-2: Read all the instructions given on the website and then register yourself by creating an account.
Step-3: Sign-in into your account and fill necessary details- personal details, academic details etc.
Step-4: Upload the necessary documents as required.
Step-5: Recheck all the information that you have filled before going further.
Step-6: Complete your registration by paying the application fees.
Step-7: Download or print the application form for any future reference.
Step-8: Apply for the entrance exam, if any.
Step-9: Keep checking the official website for any further updates.
BSc Geology Eligibility Criteria
All the candidates applying for the BSc Geology programme need to comply with the eligibility criteria prescribed by the college. The basic eligibility criteria are:
- Candidates must have completed their HSC (10+2) with minimum 55% marks from any recognised board.
- Candidates should have studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Mathematics along with English as main subjects.
- A relaxation of 5% marks may be given to candidates belonging to reserved categories.
However, the eligibility criteria may differ from college to college.
| BSc Agriculture Eligibility | BSc Computer Science Eligibility | BSc Biotechnology Eligibility |
| BSc Psychology Eligibility | BSc Microbiology Eligibility | BSc IT Eligibility |
BSc Geology Entrance Exams
Some Colleges or Universities conduct their own entrance examination for admission into BSc Geology programmes. Some of these entrances are given below:
-
BHU UET - Candidates applying at Banaras Hindu University need to appear for BHU UET Entrance examination conducted by the University for undergraduate courses.
| Name of the Exams | Registration Dates (Tentative) | Exam Dates (Tentative) |
|---|---|---|
| NPAT | December 2023 – May 21, 2024 |
January 2024 – May 2024 |
| CUET | February 2024 – April 2024 | May 15 - 31, 2024 |
| CUCET | November 28, 2023 - May 29, 2024 | May 2024 |
| SET | January 2024 |
May 2024 |
How to Prepare for the Entrance Exam?
One can easily excel in entrance examinations if they already know about the pattern of the entrance exam.
- BHU-UET has 3 sections for BSc Geology course namely – Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
- Each section carries 50 marks.
- The duration of the exam is 150 minutes.
- It is an Objective type entrance examination i.e their Multiple Choice Questions in each section.
Points to remember while preparing for entrance examinations.
- The questions in all the sections are based on the topics studied in school till class 12th in each subject.
- To excel in this entrance exam, candidates must prepare all these topics.
- Identify your weak areas and give more time to them.
- Practice previous year’s question papers and sample paper and analyse.
- Revision is the most important step in preparing for any entrance exam. So, revise all the concepts thoroughly.
How to get admission in a good BSc Geology college?
Generally, admission to most of the BSc Geology colleges is on the basis of marks scored in class 12th only, however, some colleges or universities may conduct their own admission test.
- For merit-based, candidates need to score a good percentage in HSC or 10+2 examinations. Generally, the cut off for merit list for top colleges lies above 90% marks.
- For the entrance exam, be updated about the syllabus of entrance exams and practice previous year’s papers.
- Prepare well for class 12th examinations and entrances, if any. Practice previous year’s question papers.
- Candidates need to be updated about those BSc Geology colleges and their admission process where they want to apply.
- Apply at the college website when the application window is open.
BSc Geology Syllabus
The semester wise breakup of BSc Geology as given by UGC- University Grants Commission of India is given below in the table:
| Semester-1 | Semester-2 |
|---|---|
| Earth System Science | Elements of Geochemistry |
| Mineral Science | Structural Geology |
| Communicative English | Environmental Science |
| GE-I | GE-II |
| Semester-3 | Semester- 4 |
| Igneous Petrology | Metamorphic Petrology |
| Sedimentary Petrology | Stratigraphic Principles and Indian Stratigraphy |
| Palaeontology | Hydrogeology |
| Field Work-I | Field Work-II |
| GE-III | GE-IV |
| Semester -5 | Semester-6 |
| Economic Geology | Engineering Geology |
| Geomorphology | Remote Sensing and GIS |
| Elective -1 | Elective -3 |
| Elective- 2 | Elective -4 |
- GE or General Electives in the first 4 semesters and Electives in the last two semesters are to be selected by candidates from the options of subjects given by the college.
- The course also includes practicals and field training.
BSc Geology Books
Some of the books for BSc Geology Students are given below:
| Book Name | Author |
|---|---|
| Igneous Petrology | J.D. Winter |
| Structural Geology | SK Ghosh |
| Geology of Petroleum | Arville Irving Levorsen |
| Exploring Geology | Reynolds |
| Essentials of Geology | Fredrick K. Lutgens |
| Foundations of Earth Science | Fredrick K. Lutgens |
| Sedimentary Petrology | S.M. Sengupta |
| Elements of Geology | S.M. Mathur |
| Geochemistry | Mason and Moore |
BSc Geology Top Colleges
Below are given two different tables for top colleges and top universities offering BSc Geology courses:
| Name of the Institute | Location | Average Annual Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Hansraj College | Delhi | 21,395 |
| Fergusson College | Pune | 12,000 |
| Ram Lal Anand College | Delhi | 21,000 |
| M G Science Institute | Ahmedabad | 18000 |
| Presidency College | Chennai | 1,262 |
| Dibrugarh University | Assam | 20,000 |
| Presidency University | Kolkata | 4,391 |
| Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi | 1,982 |
| Parul University | Vadodara | 30,000 |
Source: College Websites
College Comparison
Given below is the comparison between two top colleges offering BSc Geology programme:
| Parameters | Hansraj College | Fergusson College |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | The college was founded in 1948 and provides its students with various committees, clubs and research opportunities. | The college was established in 1895 and has various international collaborations. |
| Ranking (NIRF ) | 9 | 42 |
| Affiliated to | Delhi University | SavitriBai Phule Pune University |
| Location | Delhi | Pune |
| Admission Criteria | Merit-based | Merit-based |
| Average Fees (INR) | 21,395 | 12000 |
| Average Placements (INR) | 4.5 LPA | 3 LPA |
| Top Recruiting Companies | GAIL, ONGC, Oil India, NTPC, Geological Survey of India etc. | Schulemberger, Geological Survey of India, GSDA, ONGC, PRL, CWPRS |
Source: College Websites
BSc Geology Distance Education
- Some colleges also offer an option of Distance Education to pursue BSc Geology.
- This option is suitable for working professionals or for those who are studying some other course and also want to study BSc Geology as a side option.
- The eligibility criteria for this course is also similar- candidates should have minimum 55% marks in class 12th examinations with PCM or PCM as subjects along with English from a recognised board.
- There may be additional relaxation in marks for candidates belonging to reserved categories.
- The admission to these colleges is usually merit based, i.e., on the basis of marks scored in class 12th examinations.
Some of the colleges offering BSc Geology in Distance Education are:
| College Name | Location | Average Annual Fees | Course Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| IGNOU | Delhi | INR 12,600 | 3 Years |
| Chhattisgarh University | Raipur | INR 15,000 | 3 Years |
The average fees of these colleges lie between INR 10,000 to INR 40,000.
Course Comparison
BSc Geology and BSc Geography
Both courses are good courses and are undergraduate level courses.
Some of the differences between BSc Geology and BSc Geography are given in the table below to help you choose the course that you want to pursue:
| Parameters | BSc Geology | BSc Geography |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | This course is an in-depth study of the composition and structure of the earth. It gives equal emphasis on both internal and external features of the earth. | This course is mainly concerned with the study of external features of the earth surface including maps, location of water bodies, inhabitants, etc. |
| Admission Criteria | Merit-based or entrance based | Merit-based or entrance based |
| Cut Offs | Cut Offs are usually high for this course | Cut Offs are usually high for this course |
| Duration | 3 year | 3 year |
| Examination Type | Semester type | Semester type |
| Average Annual Fees | INR 10,000- INR 70,000 | INR 5,000- INR 3,00,000 |
| Eligibility | 10+2 with PCM/PCB | 10+2 with PCM/PCB |
| Top Colleges | Hansraj College Delhi, MG Science Institute Ahmedabad, Fergusson College Pune. | Madras Christian College, Presidency College Chennai, Loreto College Kolkata |
| Job Roles | Geologists, Hydrogeologists, Paleontologist, Mine Supervisors | Geographer, Urban Planner, Cartographer, GIS Specialist |
| Top Recruiting Companies/agencies | ONGC, GSI, GAIL, ISRO, Coal India, NTPC | Planetariums, Armed Forces, ONGC, Coal India |
| Average Salary | INR 5 LPA | INR 7 LPA |
Source: College Websites
BSc Geology Job Prospects and Career Options
After completing their BSc Geology, candidates can either look for job options or can opt for higher studies.
- Multiple job options are available for students in various government and private companies in different industries- oil industry, research area, mineral industry, mining industries etc.
- Candidates can also pursue M.Sc in Biology or PhD thereafter. PhD course is available with a number of specialisations. Candidates can work in teaching institutions after completing their PhD.
Some of the Job profiles offered to BSc Geology students with their description and average salary are given below:
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Salary (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Palaeontologist | A palaeontologist is scientists who study fossils of extinct flora and fauna species. They may work in labs, teach in institutions, conduct fieldwork for research. | 5.5 LPA |
| Geologist | Geologists are those scientists who study the different components that make up the structure of the earth and other terrestrial planets. They travel on sites, gather samples, develop research proposals, conduct research, analyse data etc. | 5 LPA |
| Petroleum Geologists | These are those scientists who work in the field of petroleum geology. They work on all aspects of extraction, estimation and processing of oil, petroleum, gas and other combustible resources buried in the earth. | 8 LPA |
| Mine Supervisors | Mine Supervisors are responsible for conducting and managing mining activities. They are responsible to ensure the safety of mine workers, to supervise that targets are achieved and are of high quality, assigning shifts, training and development of workers, maintaining data etc. | 2.36 LPA |
| Hydrogeologist | These are the scientists who work in the area of underground water. Their main responsibility is to monitor and analyse the flow of underground water, its distribution, quality and quantity. They also work to devise the measures to preserve underground water. | 5.91 LPA |
| Marine Geologist | Marine Geologists are those people who study about areas affected by marines, coastal areas, under ocean ground, estuaries etc. | 7 LPA |
The graph below shows the various Job Profiles offered to BSc Geology students and their average salary:
Source: Payscale
BSc Geology Future Scope
BSc Geology opens up a number of opportunities and career options for candidates.
- Students can opt for higher studies. They can opt for M.Sc in their field of interest. M.Sc course after BSc Geology is available with a number of specialisations- Mineralogy, Paleontology etc.
- Students can opt for jobs in various public and private sectors. The pay package for entry-level jobs is quite decent, however, you can always earn higher with higher experience.
- Students can also give exams for various civil services like UPSC etc.
- After completing MSc, students can go for PhD degrees.
BSc Geology FAQs
Ques. What is the full form of BSc Geology?
Ques. What are some of the sub-disciplines of BSc Geology?
Ques. What is the minimum cut off for general BSc Geology DU Admissions?
Ques. Is it possible to do MBA after BSc Geology?
Ques. What are employment opportunities available after BSc Geology?
Ques. What skills can be acquired by pursuing BSc Geology?
Ques. Is it possible to pursue LLB after BSc Geology?
Ques. Which is better BSc Geology or BSc Microbiology?
Ques. Is BSc Geology a good major?
Ques. When will the registration in Delhi University start for BSc Geology courses?
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