Course summary

Our Geology and Physical Geography BSc course is a flexible degree, supported by an extensive fieldwork programme, that will give you a broad-based knowledge of the Earth sciences. What drives the occurrence of natural hazards, and how can we forecast and respond to volcanic eruptions and earthquakes? What can past climate records teach us about future climate change? How is the movement of tectonic plates reflected in the landscape around us? If these are questions that you might ask, then this is the course for you. The course allows you to select from a large number of options across the Earth Sciences and Physical Geography groups so that you can specialise in the topics that interest you. You could choose to study topics as varied as volcanic hazards, environmental protection, applied micrometeorology, engineering geology, or remote sensing methods. You may go on to work in pollution control or hydrogeology, or you could opt to become a geotechnical engineer, work for the British Geological Survey, carry out research or go into teaching. A Geology and Physical Geography BSc degree from Birmingham sets you up for a wide range of exciting careers. Year 1 of our Geology and Physical Geography programme shares multiple modules with the Geology programme. Hence, it is possible to transfer between these courses in your first year. You also have the option of transferring onto the four-year Geology and Physical Geography MSci or Geology and Physical Geography with an International Year MSci programme, depending on performance. This Geology and Physical Geography course gives you a broad and comprehensive training and allows you to develop your own specialist interests. A varied fieldwork programme builds on a variety of lecture and laboratory based teaching, providing you with a range of practical scientific skills. The first year of the course provides you with a strong foundation in geology and physical geography through a range of exciting core modules. You will build on this in the second year, where you can start to choose from optional modules, covering topics as diverse as continental deformation, geological natural hazards, hydroclimatology and environmental protection. In the third year you will lead the research for your dissertation. This could be anything from an industry-linked project with the British Geological Survey to a remote-sensing project investigating glacier retreat. You can also choose from a wide range of optional modules, and have the option of specialising further if you stay for the four-year MSci programme (dependant upon performance).