Bachelor of Science (Honours) - Geology (F600)

With the Geology BSc, students will study the science of the planet’s evolution – understanding how it has been shaped over billions of years and what it will be like in the future. It truly is a global science.

From monitoring volcanic eruptions and investigating climate change, through to unravelling the disappearance of the dinosaurs or finding acceptable ways to dispose of nuclear waste, a Geology degree at the University of Birmingham will give students a broad-based knowledge of Earth sciences.

This extensive fieldwork programme and flexible range of options allows students to specialise in the topics that interest them. Students may go on to work in the mining or oil industry, hydrogeology, pollution control or environmental protection; or they could opt to become a geophysicist, geotechnical engineer, work for the British Geological Survey, carry out research or go into teaching. A Geology degree from the University of Birmingham sets students up for a wide range of exciting careers.

Year 1 of the Geology BSc programme shares several modules with the Geology and Physical Geography programme, and it is possible to transfer between these courses in the first year. Students also have the option of transferring onto the four-year Geology MSci or Geology with an International Year MSci programme, depending on performance.

This Geology BSc course gives students a broad and comprehensive training in geology and allows them to develop their own specialist interests.

A varied fieldwork programme builds on a variety of lecture and laboratory based teaching, providing students with a range of practical scientific skills.

The field courses help students to develop as an observational Earth scientist. Each field course is part of a compulsory assessed module. Current residential field course destinations include South West Wales, the Scottish Highlands, Dorset and Cornwall, southern Spain and Tenerife (for four-year programmes).

The first two years of field training culminate in the dissertation (mapping) project, which involves up to six weeks fieldwork in an area of the students' choice, in the summer between Year 2 and 3. Many students stay in the UK for this, but students have also recently undertaken projects in Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Romania, New Zealand and the USA. Students will also have the option to undertake their fieldwork with an industrial partner, leading to an industry-linked project. Your project may focus on an aspect of resource or applied geology. Recent partners include Tarmac, Hope Cement, Hanson and the British Geological Survey.