Geology with Foundation Year BSc, 4-5 years
There’s always another way to follow your passion. If you don’t quite have the entry requirements to study geology at Leicester, this STEM Foundation Year degree is for you.
Course information
Typical offer BCC
UK fee £9,250
UCAS code F993
International fee £22,600
Institute code L34
95% of students in work or further study six months after graduating (The Uni Guide 2021)
Accredited by the Geological Society of London
Course description
Course description
Geology at Leicester provides a friendly, dynamic and supportive environment in which to learn about the history of our planet and life on Earth. You will be taught by staff recognised internationally for their expertise in fields such as palaeontology, economic geology, volcanology, structural geology, geophysics, and palaeoenvironments. You will benefit from our excellent facilities, ranging from dedicated student study spaces, 24/7 secure access to the building, and collections of over 250,000 specimens of rocks, fossils and minerals to help you learn. In later years, you can choose modules that give you experience of our research facilities, including advanced microscopes and geochemistry labs.
All of our geology-focussed degrees include common modules in the first year, so you can easily transfer between courses as you discover the topics that inspire you most and best match your career aspirations. From the third year you can choose from a range of optional modules, and it is also possible to transfer between the three-year BSc and the four-year MGeol degrees, so you can graduate with the most appropriate qualification for your future career. Our Physical Geography and Geology degree is a bit different, with a tailor-made programme right from the start, and plenty of options later on. For details of all the modules, follow the links under each degree course.
We pride ourselves on our excellent staff-student relations and have high student satisfaction levels, not least because of our small-group teaching and tutorials, which provide individually tailored academic and pastoral support throughout your degree. You will learn through a combination of lectures, practical classes, workshops, small-group tutorials, and field trips. This means you will have plenty of contact time with the lecturers, who are happy to provide feedback as you progress through each module. Your assessments will be a mixture of exams, presentations, written reports, group projects and other activities, as we recognise that everyone has different strengths and preferred ways of learning. For many students, fieldwork is one of the highlights of their time at Leicester.
All of our geology focussed courses are accredited by the Geological Society, demonstrating that our degrees offer high-quality teaching as well as providing the skills necessary for a career as a professional geoscientist. Furthermore, our graduates are highly sought after in many professions because of the breadth of skills you will develop, including high levels of independence, team-working, and data analysis. We have a strong emphasis on embedding skills within our modules, and we provide careers advice throughout your degree, including an annual in-house careers event and through our excellent links with industry partners and alumni.
With diverse modules to choose from to develop your own interests, and with excellent field programmes and numerous scholarships and bursaries available to support your studies, we are committed to helping you achieve your full academic potential.Entry requirements
Entry requirements
- A-levels: BCC or points equivalent from your best three A-levels. One science subject preferred from: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electronics, Geography, Geology, Maths, Further Maths, Physics, and Statistics. You may be required to take an additional maths assessment test.
- GCSE: Grades C/4 in Maths (if no A-level Maths) and English Language.
- BTEC Diploma: DDM in a science related subject, which must include appropriate maths and science content. You may be required to take an additional maths assessment test.
- International Baccalaureate: Pass diploma with 26 points minimum, one HL science subject preferred. Must have maths and English if not held at GCSE grade C/4.
- Access to HE: Pass diploma with 24 Distinctions in a science related subject, which must include appropriate maths and science content. You may be required to take an additional maths assessment test.
If your qualification or country is not listed, please contact us for more information, including the name and result of the qualification you have studied.
Selection Process
When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.0 or equivalent. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in 2023
- £9,250 in your first year. Tuition fees are subject to government regulations and may change in future years
- Year in Industry: your fee will be 15% of the full-time tuition fee that applies in that year
Scholarships
You can apply for dedicated bursary schemes run by Aggregate Industries and Carl Zeiss Microscopy. These typically have a total value of £13,500 and include work experience with the sponsor. We also offer £1,700 of bursaries funded by the Holloway Trust for students to develop outreach projects. There are competitive prizes and awards in each year for academic achievement and overall performance.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
International Students
Starting in 2023
- £22,600 per year
- Year in Industry: £3,390, which is 15% of the full-time tuition fee
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
From 2022 onwards, EU nationals will pay the International fee. If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Scholarships
You can apply for dedicated bursary schemes run by Aggregate Industries and Carl Zeiss Microscopy. These typically have a total value of £13,500 and include work experience with the sponsor. We also offer £1,700 of bursaries funded by the Holloway Trust for students to develop outreach projects. There are competitive prizes and awards in each year for academic achievement and overall performance.
Accreditation
Accreditation
All our degrees are accredited by the Geological Society of London, the professional body for geologists in the UK. Their accreditation panel said that our courses are “excellent” and they were “particularly impressed by the amount of fieldwork undertaken.”
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
All of our Geology degrees will provide you with the knowledge, technical and transferable skills required to achieve your professional goals. You’ll also benefit from a dedicated Careers Tutor with many years’ experience as an industry geologist.
Our annual Geology Careers Day is attended by a wide range of companies from across the geoscience sector. More than 50 companies are actively involved with Geology at Leicester, from funding major research projects to work experience opportunities.
Graduate destinations
Many of our graduates work as geoscientists involved in discovering, extracting and developing energy, mineral and water resources. Leicester graduates are also employed in the environmental sector, addressing issues of climate change, sustainability, waste management, environmental monitoring and remediation.
Some graduates have moved directly into other professions (e.g. teaching, banking, the media, management and the police). And around a quarter of our graduates go on to do further study for a Masters or a PhD.
Career Development Service
Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Career Development Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we're here to help you reach your professional goals.
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- Goal 3: Health and well-being
- Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
- Goal 13: Climate action
- Goal 15: Life on land
Course structure
Foundation Year
Foundation Year
Modules
- Mathematics 1
- Waves and Matter
- Principles of Earth Science and Earth Systems
- Principles of Biological Science
- Introductory Data Analysis
- Academic Support
- Introduction to Chemistry (double module)
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 1
Year 1
You will have a broad introduction to geoscience and discover the role of geology and geoscientists in today's society.
Modules
- First Year Tutorials
- The Rock Cycle – Our Dynamic Earth (double module)
- Micro to Macro: From Rock Properties to Plate Tectonics
- Palaeobiology and the Stratigraphic Record
- Natural Resources and Energy for the 21st Century
- Geological Maps and Structures
- Introductory Field Course (Arran)
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
Year 2
Year 2 of the BSc course is your third year at Leicester.
You will learn about more advanced aspects of geosciences such as the conditions required to form magmatic, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks.
Core modules
- Geological Field Skills (Spain, Anglesey and Lake District field courses)
- Magmatic and Metamorphic Processes
- Depositional Processes and Environments
- Introduction to Geochemistry
- Structure and Tectonics
- Climate Change: Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation
Option modules
Choose one option module from:
- Principles of Geophysics
- Mineral Resources for Net-Zero Carbon 1
- Major Events in the History of Life
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.
Optional Year in Industry
Optional Year in Industry
If you want to, you can take a year out between your second and third years and spend that time working in industry.
If you choose to do this, you’ll take a module in your second year that will help you to find a work placement and prepare you for the workplace. Throughout your placement, there will be structured support available to you from specialist staff at the University.
You’ll benefit from real-world experience in a commercial setting, enabling you to make an easier transition from studying to working after you finish your degree. It will also strengthen your CV significantly in preparation for entering the graduate labour market. On top of all this, you’ll be paid a salary for your placement.
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.
Final Year
Final Year
During your final year you will have the opportunity to take your degree in the direction that you want. The core modules will ensure that you are advancing in the essential areas of geology. Optional modules provide the chance to continue with the fundamental principles of geology at an advance level or specialise in the areas that fascinate you.
Core modules
Plus your Dissertation
Field Courses
Choose one field course from:
- Physical Volcanology
- The Mining Lifecycle Field Course – Cornwall (if you have previously taken Mineral Resources for Net-Zero Carbon 1)
- Key Events in the Evolution of Planet Earth Viewed Through the Geological Lens of Wales - a field course (if you have previously taken Major Events in the History of Life)
- Archaeological Geophysics Field Course (if you have previously taken Fundamentals of Geophysics)
Option modules
Choose two option modules from:
- Environmental Geoscience
- Diversity and Evolution of Vertebrates (if you have previously taken Major Events in the History of Life)
- Geophysical Data Analysis (if you have previously taken Fundamentals of Geophysics)
- Crustal Dynamics
- Water Quality Processes and Management
And two option modules from
- Earth Science in Education
- Planetary Science
- The Forensic, Archaeological and Geological Application of Microfossils
- Mineral Exploration, Economics and Sustainability
- Mineral Resources for Net-Zero Carbon 2 (if you have previously taken Mineral Resources for Net-Zero Carbon 1)
- Stable Isotopes in the Environment
- River Dynamics
This is the same as Year 3 of the MGeol.
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.
Fieldwork
Fieldwork
Fieldwork can be one of the most stimulating and enjoyable experiences of your time on a Geology degree. Your field begins in the very first week of your studies with a day spent investigating the fascinating local geology of Leicestershire.
In Year 1, the Introductory Field Course takes place on Arran, a Scottish island with more geological variety per square kilometre than virtually anywhere else in the world. You’ll rapidly develop observation and recording skills through active participation in scientific discovery.
In your second year you will focus on developing the skills that will enable you to carry out your own geological fieldwork in a variety of terrains. We’ll guide you through this with field trips to Spain, Anglesey and the Lake District.
In your third year, you will carry out an Independent Field-based Project. You get to choose your own field area, allowing you to develop your geological interests (and showcase an impressive range of transferable skills!). Depending on the specialist modules you choose, there are also trips available to Tenerife, Cornwall and Pembrokeshire.
If you study for (or transfer onto) a four-year MGeol course, your final year will include an overseas trip as well as something more local. Some research projects can involve fieldwork, too.
And you’ll be pleased to know our staff are involved in field-based research worldwide, ensuring that our teaching draws on active field experience.
Fieldwork locations may vary and are subject to availability.
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.
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.
Our School operates an Open Door policy, meaning you can access support when you need it.
Teaching and learning
Our courses have a practical emphasis and are based on sound theoretical understanding.
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.
And 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
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.
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.
Your contact hours will depend on the option modules you select. You can see details of the contact hours on individual module pages.
Academic support
Our Student Learning Development Team 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 with Foundation Year | Qualification BSc | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code F993 | Availability How to apply |
| Course Geology with Foundation Year with Year in Industry | Qualification BSc | Duration 5 years | UCAS Code F993 | Availability How to apply |
Data about this course
There is a real sense of community within Geology. The lecturers are incredibly approachable.