Palaeontology and Evolution

Join a University ranked #2 in the UK for 'Earth systems and environmental sciences' research (THE analysis of REF 2021).

Develop an understanding of the evolution of life on this planet through the study of geology and biology. Our degrees are interdisciplinary and provide you with a broad background in palaeobiological science, including state-of-the-art methods and technological advances.

Learn from experts with interests ranging from dinosaurs to plants to the origin of life and be fully immersed in hands-on palaeontology from the start.

One third of the first year is dedicated to biology and two thirds to earth science. After the first year, you will take core units from both disciplines. In the third year, you will carry out a research project, take a range of specialist palaeontology units and select from a range of optional units to pursue your own interests.

In the third year, you will carry out a research project and take a range of specialist palaeontology units. Examples of current units include:

Dynamics of Macroevolution, where you will learn cutting-edge techniques for analysing the large-scale patterns in the evolution of life, including the use of microfossils to reconstruct past climates and ecosystems;
Fossils and Phylogenies, where you will learn how to construct evolutionary genealogies from the comparative anatomy of fossil organisms and the genomes of their living relatives, focussing especially on the origin and diversification of animals;
Vertebrate Palaeobiology and Biomechanics, where you will study the evolution of vertebrates from fish-like creatures to humans, discovering the methods for investigating how their bodies work.
You will also select from a range of optional units to pursue your own interests.

The fourth year of our MSci course takes you on the journey from a consumer, to the creator of scientific discoveries. We teach you how to identify scientific problems, how to design experiments to constrain them, interpret the results and place them within the context of contemporary knowledge. We will train you in transmitting your own discoveries to experts, as well as how to teach within a fieldwork setting. The hard and soft skills obtained in this additional year will give you a career boost by investing in your professional development and preparing you for further research.

Our emphasis on quantitative research allows you to develop valuable mathematical and statistical skills. There are also opportunities for volunteer work and internships in our state-of-the-art palaeobiology laboratories.

The course involves fieldwork, including dedicated palaeontology field courses, the cost of which is included in your tuition fee.