Geology with an International Year MSci (Hons)

Year 1

Compulsory modules

The first year provides you with a broad training in topics across the subject, through several compulsory modules. We don’t assume any prior knowledge; the chemistry, physics and maths that you require is taught in the context of individual modules, and applied to the problems that you’re investigating. Residential trips to Northern Ireland and South West Wales will train you in key skills in geological observation, data recording and interpretation.

• Earth Systems
• Structural Geology
• Earth History and Life
• Minerals and Magmatism
• Geoscience Project
• Introductory Field and Research Skills
• SW Wales Field Course

Year 2

Compulsory modules

The Year 2 content builds on the first year, covering a range of specialised geological topics. This content is compulsory, and ensures that your degree meets the accreditation requirements. The Year 2 field courses take you to Norh West Scotland, where you will focus on geological mapping skills, and to Dorset and Cornwall, where you will cover a wide range of exercises, from palaeontology to structural geology.

• Field Skills and Project Planning for Independent Geological Mapping project
• Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology
• Sedimentology
• Resources & Exploration
• Field Skills and Project Planning for Geological Field Research
• Assynt Geological Mapping Course

Optional modules:

• Continental Deformation
• Micropalaeontology and Palaeoenvironments
• Geological Natural Hazards
• Hydrogeology
• Oceans Through Time

Your third year is spent at a partner institution overseas.

There you will have the opportunity to study a number of modules which will count towards your final degree. You will also complete a Geology Field Research Project - you may take advantage of the different geological environments to do this in your host country. The year abroad will deepen your learning by exposing you to a new environment with different opportunities.

Compulsory modules

The compulsory Year 4 modules include your major research project – in a topic that you will have devised with an academic – and a skills-based field module.

• Advanced Project

Select one of the following field based modules:

• Sedimentary Basin Analysis
• Sustainable Resource Geology
• Volcanology

Optional modules

You also take two optional modules from a wide variety of topics. Example optional modules may include:

• Palaeoclimates
• Evolution of Vertebrates
• Petroleum Geoscience
• Evolutionary Palaeobiology
• Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology
• Inorganic Chemistry and Groundwater and Borehole Design, Construction and Maintenance
• Groundwater Organic Contaminant Pollution and Remediation
• Tectonic and Magmatic Processes
• Professional Placements for Earth Scientists

Please note: The modules listed on the website for this programme are regularly reviewed to ensure they are up-to-date and informed by the latest research and teaching methods. Unless indicated otherwise, the modules listed for this programme are for students starting in 2020. On rare occasions, we may need to make unexpected changes to compulsory modules after that date; in this event we will contact offer holders as soon as possible to inform or consult them as appropriate.