Geology with Palaeontology - BSc (Hons)

University of Leicester

The history of life on Earth is written in the rocks, and it takes a palaeontologist to decipher it. If you love fossils, and what they can tell us about evolution and environmental change, then this geology degree is for you.Palaeontology considers 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 global climate change. You will investigate key groups of invertebrate fossils and microfossils, and will tackle key concepts, such as the origin of life, evolution and extinction, and the relationship between ecology and evolution. You will also learn about the geological context in which fossils occur, including the environments where fossils are preserved, the age of the rocks that contain them, and the biases resulting from geological processes.\\Students choosing the Geology with Palaeontology degree are be assigned to a personal tutor who is a specialist in the field from the start of their degree. First-year modules lay foundations in both palaeontology and the breadth of the geosciences.\\In the second year, you continue to develop skills and understanding across the geosciences, but you will begin to specialise via a bespoke palaeontology module on the history of life, and by choosing a palaeontological focus for your independent fieldwork.\\In the third year you will develop specialist expertise on vertebrates and microfossils, and will develop a dissertation on a palaeontological topic of your choice. Your knowledge of palaeontology will also complement other option modules such as our third-year optional module on environmental stable isotopes.\\Each year of the degree includes different field work opportunities, including trips to Scotland, Spain and Wales where you will be able to apply all that you have learned here on campus. You will also carry out an independent field-based project which may range from geological mapping in a fossiliferous area, to field and laboratory analysis of fossils.### BSc or MGeol: what's the difference?Whether you study for the Geology with Palaeontology BSc or the [**MGeol**](https://le.ac.uk/courses/geology-with-palaeontology-mgeol), your degree will combine the knowledge and skills base of a degree in geology with the development of expertise in the scientific study of fossils.Apply for a BSc degree if you want an ideal three-year route to becoming a professional geologist or you’re looking to pursue further geological studies through a specialist MSc course.Apply for a four-year MGeol degree if you are looking to fast-track your professional geological employment or to continue on to PhD research after graduation. MGeol courses include a major cutting-edge independent research project on a topic chosen by you, giving you the opportunity to work with specialist analytical facilities, learn the skills required to succeed in a research environment and potentially see your work published in a peer-reviewed journal.It is possible to transfer between the BSc and the MGeol up to the end of Year

School of Geography, Geology and the Environment