Palaeontology and Geology BSc (Hons)
University of Birmingham
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( 4.2) View reviews

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Qualification

Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

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Start date

SEP-25

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Duration

3 Years

Course info

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Qualification

Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

Location

Main Site

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP-25

Duration

3 Years

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Qualification

Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

Location

University of Birmingham

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP-26

Duration

3 Years

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Qualification

Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

Location

University of Birmingham

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP

Duration

3 Years

SELECT

Qualification

Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

Location

University of Birmingham

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP-25

Duration

3 Years

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Geology
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Biological Sciences
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Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
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Course info

Studying this Palaeontology and Geology BSc degree course will give you a rigorous training in palaeontology, enabling you to use the fossil record to understand the evolution and diversity of ancient life, from dinosaurs to microfossils.You will be taught by lecturers from one of the largest and strongest palaeobiology research groups in the UK, and our focus on research-led teaching will provide you with exciting opportunities to carry out your own cutting-edge research projects. The rich ...Read more

Studying this Palaeontology and Geology BSc degree course will give you a rigorous training in palaeontology, enabling you to use the fossil record to understand the evolution and diversity of ancient life, from dinosaurs to microfossils.You will be taught by lecturers from one of the largest and strongest palaeobiology research groups in the UK, and our focus on research-led teaching will provide you with exciting opportunities to carry out your own cutting-edge research projects. The rich fossil collections of our Lapworth Museum of Geology provide a unique resource that supports our teaching and research.This course will provide you with the skills necessary to develop a career as a professional palaeontologist engaged in research and teaching or in museum curation, or as an applied palaeontologist/biostratigrapher within the oil industry. Your core training in geology will also provide opportunities for a potential career as a geoscientist, if this is the career path you would like to take. We are excited to announce an update to the palaeontology field course linked to Year 3 field and museum skills module. The new module will run for the first time in 2020/21 and will teach students about the processes involved in finding, collecting, preparing, studying and exhibiting fossils. Recent destinations have included South East Spain, the Scottish Highlands, and from 2020 the USA. The costs of travel and accommodation on all compulsory field courses are covered by the University.All first year modules are compulsory and span the breadth of Earth Sciences and include contributions from the Biology group. From year two onwards, there is more focus on palaeontology and an increasing amount of choice that allows you to select modules following your interests.In year three (and four) you will also complete independent Earth Science research projects based on primary data collected in the field/laboratory or museum developing your practical, analytical and communication skills.In addition to lectures and practical classes, you can look forward to fieldwork training in palaeobiological and geological techniques. This work is undertaken both in the UK and abroad, and is assessed by means of field-driven reports, presentations and field notebook.

Key stats

Geology
WUSCA ranking:
WUSCA student ranking
These are the 2024 rankings, based on ratings given by past and current students.
44/101
CUG Subject Ranking
CUG Subject Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
13th
CUG Ranking
CUG Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
13th
Earth Sciences
Drop-out rate
Drop-out rate
The percentage of students who didn't finish the course.
Calculated by 100% - (% of students continuing course + % of students completed course)
100 - 97 = 3% Drop-out rate Source: UNISTATS, 2019
3%
Employment rate
Employment rate
The percentage of students in full-time work 6 months after finishing their course.
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
95%
Average salary
Average salary
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
Earth Sciences graduate salary at this uni
£21,000
UK Earth Sciences graduate salary
£21,000
What students say
E
Ellen
05 Feb 24

Best things about the uni is the brilliant support you are offered and the campus. There’s a whole variety of food and study spaces and lots of teaching buildings. My biggest..Read more

Modules

Modules (Year 1)
Modules (Year 2)
Modules (Year 3)
IDP Connect

Entry requirements

Exam type

A level

A level:

ABB Grades / Points required

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme:

32 Grades / Points required

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015):

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Required subjects and grades: At least one science A level subject. Specified subjects excluded for entry: General Studies and Critical Thinking.

Accepted in place of A levels with the following grade equivalencies: D2 = A*; D3 = A; M2 = B. Combinations of A levels and Principle subjects are accepted. NB required subjects must be offered (see A level Section)

6, 5, 5 in Higher level subjects plus 32 points overall. Higher level subjects need to include the required subjects as defined for the A-level qualification, where applicable.

BTEC Extended Diploma is accepted but subjects are considered on a case by case basis - contact us for further guidance.

Accepted in place of a non-required A level with the equivalent grade.

Popular A-level subjects

Earth Sciences

Top 5 A-levels taken by students who study this subject at uni.

Geography
74%
Geology
39%
Biology
35%
Chemistry
30%
Mathematics
26%
HESA

Tuition fees

Students living in

England

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from England

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Scotland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Wales

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Northern Ireland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,250 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Channel Islands

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

UCAS/IDP Connect

Latest reviews

Latest Palaeobiology reviews

Palaeobiology
Palaeobiology
E
Ellen
05 Feb 24
Palaeontology and Geology MSci
Best things about the uni is the brilliant support you are offered and the campus. There’s a whole variety of food and study spaces and lots of teaching buildings. My biggest...
Read more
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How Palaeobiology students rated:

Student rating
( 4.0) 3 reviews
5 star
34%
4 stars
33%
3 stars
33%
2 stars
0%
1 star
0%

How all students rated:

Student rating
( 4.2) 1,531 reviews
5 star
37%
4 stars
52%
3 stars
10%
2 stars
1%
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Uni info

University of Birmingham
Academic and Student Division Birmingham B15 2TT United Kingdom
Nearest train station: University   0.2 miles away
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