ESE on University Fees

"At Imperial College ensuring a good education to all our students, providing the skills necessary to have a satisfying career is of prime importance.", Prof. Martin Blunt of the head of ESE.

"At Imperial College ensuring a good education to all our students, providing the skills necessary to have a satisfying career is of prime importance.", Prof. Martin Blunt of the Department of Earth Science and Engineering, says in response to the announcement of rises in university fees in 2012-13. "The study of Earth science and Earth engineering is increasingly important and the job prospects for our graduates has never been better. The most significant challenges faced by the modern world, in the supply of energy and resources, whilst at the same time protecting the environment, are being addressed by able and hard-working earth scientists and engineers."

The career prospects of our graduates is highlighted by this year's figures in which 90% of last year's graduates had secured full-time professional employment, or post-graduate courses, by the time they graduated. Dr Lorraine Craig, the department's Academic Tutor, whose role is to guide students from admission to graduation and employment, suggests that the performance of our graduates is one of the best measures of success. "Our graduates are the best advert for the department,", she says, "we have graduates working in most of the major mining, petroleum and energy companies, and there are many senior figures in the industry with roots here at the Royal School of Mines. Our graduates can also be found working as leading scientists in universities around the world". Graduate employment figures for the department this year are the highest of the top ten Earth and ocean science departments listed by the Guardian. "Our students are amongst the best in the country", adds Craig, "they are exacting and demand the highest standards, and their performance after they graduate speaks for itself".

 "The provision of a world class education is expensive." says Prof. Blunt, "without adequate funding, universities, which are not profit making entities, could not exist. My personal advice to any young person who has the ability, is go to a good university, you are likely to be financially much better off than a non-graduate. In the USA, where fees for the best universities are four times higher than here, demand for places is fierce because of the benefits that a top education brings. University fees are small in comparison to the potential salaries and bonuses that can be achieved by graduates."

Students from any background are encouraged to apply to the department. "Imperial College is often branded an elitist university,", says Prof Blunt, " but we are actually an elite university, in the world's top ten, which is quite different. We are elite because we attract the very best students, irrespective of their background. Last year every one of our students had at least three A grades at A level standard. We are proud of this history of quality and accessibility. If you are from a less affluent background and you have the grades, then we encourage you to apply, don't be put off by university fees, you don't need a penny upfront to study here, and after you graduate the pennies, and pounds, will most likely take care of themselves."