Critical minerals degrees
Our critical minerals masters courses benefit from excellent links with the local and international minerals industry, and ensure you gain the skills needed for a successful career.
Our critical mineral degrees and courses
These courses are based on our Penryn Campus in Cornwall as part of our Graduate School of Environment and Sustainability. Want to find out more? Enquire online.
Masters degrees
Related subjects
Help lead a global Greener, Healthier and Fairer revolution by studying one of our degrees from the Graduate School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Exeter, Cornwall.
You can find out more about our portfolio of mining engineering degrees and geology degrees or search a full list of subject areas taught at the University of Exeter.
Make a positive difference to the future of our planet
The Graduate School of Environment and Sustainability brings together experts from across earth and life sciences, engineering, humanities, social sciences and business. Our programmes are designed with a focus on developing solutions to global challenges and creating a better future for our planet and its people.
We are at the forefront of environmental and social sustainability research, and our programmes draw on that expertise to help our students to build a greener, healthier and fairer future.
2nd in the UK for Mineral and Mining Engineering
QS World University Subject Rankings 2025
Study at the Camborne School of Mines
A world-class combined geoscience and mining department
Leading, world-class research facilities unique to Exeter
including £2 million analytical mineralogy labs and an automated QEMSCAN scanning electron microscope
Top 20 in the world for Mineral and Mining Engineering
QS World University Subject Rankings 2025
Why study a critical minerals masters degree at the University of Exeter, Cornwall?
Around the world, our growing population and our dependence on technology is driving an increasing demand for metals and minerals. From solar panels to mobile phones, lithium-ion batteries to televisions, key elements of our modern lives rely upon specific natural resources buried deep in the ground.
And the way to access these materials? Mining. The industry supports roughly 45% of the world’s economic activities and is essential for helping us transition to a net-zero future.
Mining in a socially and environmentally sustainable way is vitally important. Our programmes benefit from excellent links with the local and international minerals industry, and ensure you gain the skills for a successful career in mining engineering, environmental protection, consultancy, academia, and government or non-governmental organisation sectors.
Scholarships
Women in Mining
Women in Mining UK and the CSM Trust are delighted to offer two £12,000 scholarships for exceptional female students (one UK and one International) enrolling in 2025 on a mining-related course.
The scholarships will be awarded at the panel’s discretion to the applicants considered most deserving of the award. The successful candidates will be expected to take part in activities to promote women in mining. Find out more.
CSM Trust Scholarship
The CSM Trust offers six £5,000 scholarships for exceptional students enrolling on a mining or geology related course. The scholarships will be awarded at the panel’s discretion to the applicants considered most deserving of the award. The successful candidates will be expected to take part in activities to promote studying mining or geology at the University of Exeter. Find out more.
LME Scholarship
Up to two scholarships worth £26,500 each are available to students who have had an application accepted to one of the Camborne School of Mines MSc programmes. This scholarship programme is funded by a generous donation from London Metal Exchange (LME). As part of the scholarships the successful candidates will have the opportunity to undertake mentoring with LME staff and to work with LME on their dissertation project. Find out more.
The Richard Osman Memorial Fund Scholarship
These scholarships will enable up to two talented UK students per year studying on the MSc Exploration and Mining Geology programme to become distinguished Richard Osman Scholars. The successful candidates will receive a bursary covering their tuition fees in full, and a generous stipend toward living costs. Find out more.
"The best part about this course is how diverse and practical it is. The facilities are world-class and you get to learn from the reputable professors who have written most of the text books we learn from and are teaching us things they are currently researching. The support from my lecturers has been great, they have an open-door policy which means we can always pop in and ask them anything we need to."
Freddy
MSc Mining Engineering