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Master of Economic Geology (S7W)

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2027 Course information is now available. View 2027 course information

Overview (2025)

Key Information

Duration

Minimum 2 years, up to a maximum of 5 years.

This course is available to study as both part-time or full-time
Duration
Duration refers to the minimum and maximum amounts of time in which this course can be completed. It will be affected by whether you choose to study full or part time, noting that some programs are only available part time.

Location

Hobart
Semester 1, Semester 2, Spring school, Summer school, Winter school
Online
Semester 1, Semester 2, Spring school, Summer school, Term 2, Winter school

"Travel is a great aspect of studying geology here at UTAS. A lot of students are working on projects overseas and this allows exposure to a great diversity of world class geology. Not only that, but Tassie is also a great place for getting out and looking at rocks, with all kinds of unsolved mysteries."

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Josh Phillips

This specialised Master's degree course in Economic Geology is tailored specifically for industry and government geologists.

It is the nucleus of the postgraduate teaching program at the ARC Centre of Excellence in Ore Deposits (CODES) and is an integral part of the National Minerals Geoscience Master's Program. The course is typically offered on a part-time, external basis. Full-time admission is reserved for students demonstrating financial and logistical support and a research proposal.

Students considering full-time enrolment should contact the program coordinator, Dr Rob Scott, to discuss their plans.

  • 1 Infer ore deposit types, exploration strategies and ore processing characteristics using classifications of minerals, rocks and regions
  • 2 Apply geological knowledge and both established and novel methods of geoscientific investigation to find, describe and interpret ore deposits
  • 3 Guide minerals industry stakeholder decision-making with professional judgements informed by geological and regulatory knowledge and ethical, social and environmental considerations
  • 4 Design and conduct original research to address problems pertinent to the mining value chain.
  • 5 Contextualise and communicate minerals industry information to professional and non-professional audiences

Workplace-based activities are included in KEA711 and usually form part of the Thesis Project units (KEA724, KEA725). The field-based units KEA707, KEA708 and KEA718 all include visits to active mines.

Career outcomes

This course equips geoscientists with the latest knowledge and practical skills in economic geology.

Course structure

The Master of Economic Geology requires the completion of 200 credit points, consisting of 150 credit points of coursework units and 50 credit points consisting of either a Research Thesis (Research Pathway) or capstone units (Professional Pathway). All units are weighted at 25 credit points.

(i) All students must complete KEA712, KEA716 and at least one of KEA718, KEA707 or KEA708.

(ii) To demonstrate attainment of the course learning outcomes, students complete either a research thesis (both units KEA724 and KEA725), or any two of the following four units: KEA709, KEA710, KEA711, KEA724.

(iii) The remaining three units may be chosen from KEA707, KEA708, KEA709, KEA710, KEA711 and KEA713, or completed by cross-institutional study through the national Minerals Geoscience Masters (MGM) program. The maximum number of cross-institutional units allowed is three.
 

Entry requirements

Admission to postgraduate courses at the University of Tasmania requires the prior completion of an AQF7/8 (or equivalent) undergraduate degree. Specific requirements for admission to the Master of Economic Geology are as follows:
(i)    a Bachelor of Science/Applied Science (Honours) majoring in geoscience (or a closely related discipline), or
(ii)    a Bachelor of Science/Applied Science majoring in geoscience (or a closely related discipline), and at least two years professional experience as a geoscientist working in the minerals industry or government, or
(iii)    a Graduate Certificate in Economic Geology (K5F)


Prospective students lacking a BSc (geoscience major), but who have at least two years professional experience as a geoscientist, or applicants with a BSc (without Honours) majoring in geoscience but lacking the minimum two-years professional experience, may be eligible for admission to the Graduate Certificate in Economic Geology (K5F), and may continue into the Master of Economic Geology following completion of that course.


To demonstrate eligibility for admission to the Master of Economic Geology, all applicants must provide copies of their previous academic transcripts. Applicants seeking entry to the course based partly on their previous professional experience should provide their curriculum vitae and the names and contact details for two professional referees.  Further information about Postgraduate courses at the University of Tasmania may be found here: https://www.utas.edu.au/study/postgraduate, and the online application enquiry form may be found here: https://www.utas.edu.au/study/apply. 
 

International applicants to the MEconGeol program must meet the same entry requirements as Domestic students. Additionally, international applicants from non-English speaking countries must meet the following English language test requirements for entry to UTAS:

  • IELTS (Academic) - 6.0 (no individual band less than 6.0)
  • TOEFL (PBT) 575 TWE 4.5; TOEFL (iBT) 88 (no score below 20)
  • PTE Academic 50 with no score lower than 50
  • UTAS DEAP Overall 60% (Writing 60%)

International students wishing to undertake the MEconGeol degree on a full-time basis, must (1) complete the 50-credit point research thesis as part of the degree and (2) provide to the university proof that they have the necessary financial resources (e.g. scholarship, company sponsorship, self-funded, etc) to complete the degree (living costs, tuition fees and other course costs, e.g. travel and field costs, funding for research project)

International students completing the MEconGeol degree on a part-time basis do not require a Student Visa to enter Australia (where necessary) to attend coursework units. International students studying full-time and based in Australia required an Australian Student Visa.  

 

 

 

25 credit pts awarded for (i) each non-UTAS Minerals Geoscience Masters unit completed in 5 yrs prior to admission (official transcripts required, max. 3 units), or subsequently by cross-institutional study (max. 3 units) and (ii) each MEconGeol unit completed as a non-enrolled industry participant in the 5 yrs prior to admission (max. 2). Credit may be awarded for equivalent units completed at other universities (official transcripts and supporting documentation required, max. 2 units).

Students who have completed the Graduate Certificate in Economic Geology (K5F) may be awarded the MEconGeol degree by completing a further six 25 credit point units, subject to the MEconGeol course rules.

Students who complete a 50 credit point research thesis as part of the degree qualify for admission to the PhD program.

The Master of Economic Geology is part of the national Minerals Geosciences Masters (MGM) program, allowing UTAS students to take specific Masters-level economic geology focussed units delivered by the University of Western Australia and Curtin University for credit towards their UTAS degree. Conversely, students enrolled in the UWA Master of Ore Deposit Geology can complete MEconGeol units for credit towards their UWA degree. 

Fees & scholarships

Domestic students

Commonwealth supported places (CSP) are available for this course. For eligible domestic students, this means your fees will be subsidised by the Australian Government. You’ll only need to pay the student contribution amount for each unit you study within the course.

Commonwealth Supported Place indicative annual fee: $8,948

How is this calculated?

This is an estimate. The calculation is based on the average full-time enrolment for this course in 2024. All figures are indicative only for 2025. Actual tuition fees will depend on specific unit enrolment, and are subject to annual increases each year. You can find the complete fee details for each unit of study on the individual unit pages. The units for this course are found in the course structure section of this page.

These figures do not include other costs such as the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF). For further information, please visit Scholarships, fees and costs.

HECS-HELP loans

You may be able to defer payment of the student contribution amount by accessing a HECS-HELP loan from the Government. If eligible, you’ll only have to pay your tuition fees once you start earning above a specific amount.

Further information on student loans and a CSP eligibility checker can be found at Australian Government Study Assist.

An important note on Youth Allowance and Austudy

The Department of Social Services has approved some accredited and professionally-oriented master’s courses for student payments through Youth Allowance or Austudy. This means if you enrol in one of these courses, you may be eligible for student payments. However, this is not the case for all master’s courses. Please visit Scholarships, fees and costs for further information.

International students

2025 annual international student tuition fee: $40,250 AUD

The standard year of study for this course is 100 credit points.

Indicative total tuition fee for international students: $ 82,513 AUD.

This total tuition fee is indicative only. Please visit fees and costs for further information on how this is calculated.

International students are charged the Student Services and Amenities Fee but this fee is incorporated in the annual rate. International students do not have to make any additional SSAF payments.

Domestic scholarships

For information on general scholarships available at the University of Tasmania, please visit the scholarships website.

Course year 2025

View previous years course information

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International

+61 3 6226 6200

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