Palaeontology addresses how the origin and evolution of life is intricately linked with the geological history of the Earth. Through the fossil record you will explore topics such as evolutionary diversity, exceptional preservation and palaeoclimates. We will cover key groups of invertebrate fossils, vertebrate fossils and microfossils, investigating major concepts such as the origin of life, patterns of evolution and extinction, the importance of exceptional fossil assemblages, and the relationship between ecology and evolution. You will also learn about the geological context in which fossils occur. This includes the environments where fossils became preserved, the age of the rocks that contain them, and biases resulting from geological processes. Furthermore, fossils provide crucial information for understanding current changes in ecosystems and the climate. The first-year modules will lay the foundations in palaeontology and across the breadth of the geosciences, and include a field-trip to the beautiful Isle of Arran in Scotland. Also, by choosing the Geology with Palaeontology degree when you apply, you will be assigned to a personal tutor who is a specialist in the field. In the second year, you will develop your skills and understanding across the geosciences, and start to specialise through a bespoke palaeontology module on major events in the history of life, and by choosing a palaeontological focus for your independent fieldwork. In the third year, you will develop specialist expertise through modules on vertebrates and microfossils, plus a dissertation on a palaeontological topic of your choice, and a specialist field trip. Your knowledge of palaeontology will also complement other modules including second-year climate change and the third-year optional module on stable isotopes.