Exeter University to relaunch Mining Engineering degree

The University of Exeter has announced the relaunch of its historic undergraduate Mining Engineering degree after a five-year hiatus. 

The programme is delivered at the university’s Penryn Campus in Cornwall by experts from the world-famous Camborne School of Mines.

The university will welcome its first cohort of Mining Engineering undergraduate students in the 2025/26 academic year, starting in September.

The degree programme will be part of the university’s Engineering 2030 Strategy, which looks to increase their portfolio of undergraduate and postgraduate engineering courses.

All students on existing and new programmes will study a common first year and will be able to convert to the dedicated Mining Engineering programme in their second year of study.

The university is also seeking to create scholarships to support students to continue onto the conversion programme.

President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, Professor Lisa Roberts, announced the decision at a recent Camborne School of Mines Association gala dinner in Perth, Australia.

She said: “Our Camborne School of Mines is known worldwide for its crucial role in providing skills provision, research, and innovation in mining and critical minerals resourcing.

“One of the key missions of our Strategy 2030 goal is to lead meaningful action against the climate emergency and ecological crisis. Mining is integral to modern society, and as we look to transition to Net Zero, the demand for critical minerals is only going to increase.

“We know that one of the largest concerns in recent years of the mining industry is the recruitment of new graduates, and I am delighted to be able to announce the relaunch of our undergraduate Mining Engineering degree at the Camborne School of Mines to support the future health of the mining industry.”

Professor Pat Foster, Head of Camborne School of Mines, said: “We are thrilled that the undergraduate Mining Engineering programme is being reintroduced by the university. The Camborne School of Mines is one of the world’s leading mining institutions and has a rich tradition of ensuring thousands of students have the very best qualifications to forge successful careers across the globe.

“The work that we do has never been more crucial, as we transition towards net zero and the demand for critical minerals increases. It is vital that we are at the forefront of supporting future generations of mining engineers to help build a greener future for us all.”

Industry partners have welcomed the reintroduction of the Mining Engineering degree programme.

Matt Daley, Technical & Operations Director of Anglo American, said: “As one of the world’s leading mining companies, we are delighted that the University of Exeter and the world-class Camborne School of Mines will again be bringing through cohorts of new mining engineers.

“Our industry offers incredible career opportunities for engineers of many disciplines, but mining engineers in particular are set to benefit from an extraordinary era for mining over the next few decades as the world needs ever greater volumes of critical metals and minerals to decarbonise our energy and transport systems, as well as support improving living standards and food security. We look forward to meeting those new graduates in a few years’ time.”