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Geology at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Birkbeck, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Course summary

On this BSc Geology you will have the opportunity to study the Earth and its processes and environments. You will examine how we can best manage environments through understanding the processes of rock and mineral formation through geological time, climate-ocean-rock-biosphere interactions, and the effects of human interactions with the environment. Why choose this course?

  • This degree is accredited by the Geological Society of London, opening up a route to becoming a chartered geologist. It will also equip you for careers in research, environmental protection, environmental hazard mitigation, and other industries.
  • Geologists play a key role in guiding governments, industry and society on how best to protect the Earth’s environment whilst using its raw materials and potential for renewable energy in the most sustainable manner.
  • You will benefit from the research activities of our staff, and also through our close collaboration with University College London's Earth Science department.
What you will learn You will learn how to identify key environmental indicators, such as rock, mineral and fossil assemblages, alongside landscapes and geomorphology, that are used by geologists to understand the key processes that have produced the Earth, and the effects of human interactions with the Earth. You will also learn key aspects of biology, geography, physics, chemistry, planetary science, material science, mathematics, cartography, numerical modelling, computer science, sustainability and environmental protection. How you will learn You can choose to study this BSc Geology through attendance on campus in our state-of-the-art laboratories and lecture spaces, or entirely by distance learning via online video streams, digital lecture notes and our electronic library. You will also have the option to attend residential field classes in places such as Wales, Scotland, Greece and Morocco, and we also provide virtual online field courses as an alternative. All lectures offer full digital lecture notes with diagrams, photographs and video content and are live-streamed and recorded so they are useful for revision purposes and learning online in different time zones. Exams are online to allow assessment of both on-campus and distance-learning students. This course is available to study full- or part-time. If you choose to study this course on campus, it has an evening timetable with classes taking place in the evening. Highlights
  • We offer you flexible teaching methods, balancing face-to-face and online learning.
  • Birkbeck was rated in the top 25 universities in the UK for its Earth Systems and Environmental Science research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.
  • We have been offering evening study courses in the subjects of Earth and planetary sciences for over 70 years and distance learning for more than 20 years.
Careers and employability On this BSc Geology we teach you key research methods and approaches vital for future employment. On successfully graduating, you'll have gained an array of transferable skills, including the ability to:
  • write scientific documents, use spreadsheets, carry out numerical calculations, write code for computer simulations, and make observations that facilitate data collection
  • make and interpret maps, using a variety of cartographic skills and geographic information systems
  • conduct independent field surveys, mapping and data collection, and work in a team of scientists
  • present your work and communicate results to scientists, governments, industry, civil and environmental protection agencies and society in general.
Graduates have gone on to be employed in universities, environmental protection industries, resources industries, renewal energy industries, government departments, civil protection agencies, NGOs, charities, museums, local environment projects, environmental tourism, research councils and teaching.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

A combination of reports on field-based projects, laboratory work and written examinations. Some modules include continuous assessment through written work.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • The Geological Society

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential. ALTERNATIVE ENTRY ROUTES Students who successfully complete Birkbeck's Certificate of Higher Education in Earth History and Palaeontology, Geology, Mineralogy and Volcanology or Planetary Science with Astronomy will be considered for a place on the BSc, with the possibility of exemption from the first-year modules.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £4765 Year 1
Northern Ireland £4765 Year 1
Scotland £4765 Year 1
Wales £4765 Year 1
International £9030 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Geology at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS