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Geology MGeol

4-5 years

Gain a broad training in geoscience as for our BSc Geology degree, and then develop masters-level expertise, including a research project on a topic of interest to you. What might you discover?

Geology MGeol, 4-5 years

Gain a broad training in geoscience as for our BSc Geology degree, and then develop masters-level expertise, including a research project on a topic of interest to you. What might you discover?

Start date:

2025

Course information

Typical offer AAB

UK fee £9,535

UCAS code F601

International fee £24,500

Institute code L34

The Uni Guide logo

95% of students in work or further study six months after graduating (The Uni Guide 2023)

The Geographical Society

Accredited by the Geological Society of London

National Student Survey logo

Ranked 2nd in subjects aligned to Geology for ‘overall positivity’ in the NSS 2024 (according to Times Higher Education NSS 2023 methodology applied to the NSS 2024 data).

Course description

Course description

Our Geology degrees gives you a broad training in the geosciences, from the structure and history of our planet and life on Earth, to the natural resources that geologists need to manage for a sustainable future. You may have already discovered that every rock tells a fascinating story: perhaps it was formed in a volcano, or preserves dinosaur remains, or a chemical signature of past oceans, or a rare mineral with high-tech applications. Our Geology degree helps you piece it all together to arrive at a profound understanding of our planet and the role of the geoscientist in today’s world.

The first year lays the foundations by introducing you to the full spectrum of geoscience topics, including the rock cycle, palaeontology, natural resources, and geological maps. You will undertake a field trip to the beautiful Isle of Arran in Scotland where you can put into practice everything you have learn on campus. In the second year you will develop your skills and understanding, and in the third year, develop specialist expertise to help realise your potential. You can choose optional modules to reflect your developing interests, and take field trips to UK and overseas locations. By choosing the Geology degree, you will have more option choices than students on specialist degree streams, though it’s easy to change at the end of the first year if you discover a particular interest in palaeontology or applied and environmental geology. Explore the different modules in detail using the links on this page.

BSc or MGeol: what's the difference?

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. Plus you may be able to spend your third year abroad.

It is possible to transfer between the BSc and the MGeol up to the end of Year 2.

Entry requirements

Fees and funding

Accreditation

Careers and employability

Related courses

Sustainable Development Goals

Testimonial

Course structure

Year 1

Year 1

You will have a broad introduction to geoscience and discover the role of geology and geoscientists in today's society.

Modules

All of our geoscience subjects have the same first year so you can transfer between subjects before Year 2 if you wish to. This is the same as Year 1 of the BSc.

Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.

Year 2

Optional Year in Industry

Year 3 (or Optional Year Abroad)

Final Year

Fieldwork

Why Leicester?

Job prospects are excellent: 95% of our Geology students are employed (or studying for a Masters degree) six months after graduating. (DLHE)

All our degrees are accredited by the Geological Society of London. They said that our courses are “excellent” and they were “particularly impressed by the amount of fieldwork undertaken”.

Your degree will take you to geologically fascinating locations across the UK and further afield, starting with a Year 1 trip to the Isle of Arran.

Ranked 1st in subjects aligned to Geology for ‘Learning opportunities’ in the NSS 2024 (according to Times Higher Education NSS 2023 methodology applied to the NSS 2024 data). View the NSS questions all students were asked for individual themes.

Teaching and learning

Teaching

You will be taught through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, seminars, practicals and fieldwork. All lecture material is available online through our virtual learning environment Blackboard. Residential field trips are run by academic staff throughout the degree and provide extended periods of small group teaching in field contexts.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a combination of coursework, fieldwork, independent reports and projects, seminars, oral and poster presentations and computer-based tests, as well as formal exams.

We place a strong emphasis on safety training, time management, and student initiative.

Your personal tutor will provide you with individually tailored academic support throughout your degree. You will receive non-assessed feedback on every module to help you improve and prepare for your assessed work.

Through the Student-Staff Committee you can raise any issues relating to your studies and suggest course developments.

Fieldwork

In your first year you will receive basic geological field training on the Isle of Arran, one of the most geologically varied spots on Earth. Further field trips will take you to:

  • Spain - field mapping and training in advanced sedimentological techniques in an arid terrain.
  • Anglesey - examining and interpreting structurally complex rocks.

In your third year you will pick one from the following:

  • Wales - studying the geology, palaeontology and evolution of this Palaeozoic sedimentary basin
  • Tenerife - studying pyroclastic rocks on the third biggest volcano in the world
  • Cornwall – investigating a classic area of economic mineralisation and the environmental consequences of mining

And in your fourth year a choice of either:

  • Overseas Field Course - using multidisciplinary data to unravel complex geologic relationships and the evolution of a region, or
  • Urban Geology Field Course, Leicestershire – investigating the Anthropocene, the geological epoch we live in now.

Following additional field training in your second year, you will undertake an Independent Field-based Project. This is an exercise in practical, deductive geology which forms an important part of the degree. You choose the field area, allowing you to develop your geological interests. This will enable you to demonstrate your determination, motivation and ability to solve problems based on your own observations, as well as developing your self-confidence and organisational skills.

The cost of fieldwork is dependent on the year of study, destination, and whether the trip is core or optional to the programme. You will also incur expenses in completing your own independent fieldwork which is a requirement of the course. You will undertake this at the end of the second year of your course and you will be provided with partial financial support for this. Your own expenses will depend upon where you decide to undertake your independent fieldwork.

Your contact hours will depend on the optional modules you select. You can see details of the contact hours on individual module pages.

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and our social study spaces in halls of residence.

Academic support

Our Centre for Academic Achievement provides help in the following areas:

  • study and exam skills
  • academic writing
  • presentations
  • dissertations
  • numerical data skills
  • referencing sources

Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.

Teaching staff

You will be taught by an experienced teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.

Apply now

Course Qualification Duration UCAS Code Availability
Course Geology Qualification MGeol Duration 4 years full-time UCAS Code F601 Availability How to apply
Course Geology with a year abroad Qualification MGeol Duration 4 years full-time UCAS Code F601 Availability How to apply
Course Geology with a Year in Industry Qualification MGeol Duration 5 years full-time UCAS Code F601 Availability How to apply

Data about this course

100%of students say teaching staff have supported their learning well.

Data for courses in Earth sciences at University of Leicester

For more official course information visit Discover Uni

See course data

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student using microscope in class

There is a real sense of community within Geology. The lecturers are incredibly approachable.

Hester

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