University of Birmingham
Geology MSc
University of Birmingham

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 45 graduates of Geology MSc and other courses in Earth Sciences at University of Birmingham for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Earth Sciences.

Overall student satisfaction
84 /100
45 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Earth Sciences

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Earth Sciences at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £26000 £24500 £29000
25-75 percentile range £23000 - £27000 £20500 - £29000 £24000 - £35000


Salary of all UK Graduates of Earth Sciences

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £24981 £24496 £28785
25-75 percentile range £21491 - £29019 £19181 - £30313 £22339 - £36076

Course Description

With our Geology MSci you will study the science of our planet’s evolution – understanding how it has been shaped over billions of years and what it will be like in the future. It truly is a global science.

From monitoring volcanic eruptions and investigating climate change, through to unravelling the disappearance of the dinosaurs or finding acceptable ways to dispose of nuclear waste, a Geology degree at Birmingham will give you a broad-based knowledge of Earth sciences. The MSci Geology programme gives you the opportunity to develop independent research skills and follow your interest in the Earth sciences more fully. It is an ideal background for academic research or employment as a professional geoscientist.

Our extensive fieldwork programme and flexible range of options allows you to specialise in the topics that interest you. You may go on to work in the mining or oil industry, hydrogeology, pollution control or environmental protection; or you could opt to become a geophysicist, geotechnical engineer, work for the British Geological Survey, carry out research or go into teaching. A Geology degree from Birmingham sets you up for a wide range of exciting careers.

Year 1 of the programme shares several modules with the Geology and Physical Geography programme, and it is possible to transfer between these courses in your first year. You also have the option of transferring onto the Geology with an International Year MSci programme, depending on performance.

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 through a range of exciting core modules. You will build on this in the second year with a selection of core and optional modules, before undertaking your dissertation fieldwork. In the third year you can choose from a wide range of modules, and also have the option of specialising further if you stay for the four-year Geology MSci programme (dependant upon performance).

The fourth year allows you to specialise further and develop key career skills through leading your own research project. This independent project accounts for half of your final year, and may involve links with industry. You will develop your research plans with an academic member of staff. Several MSci students have published their research or presented it at conferences, and the MSci year provides excellent training for further research or a professional geoscience career.

Depending on performance, it is possible to transfer onto this programme at the end of your second year of BSc Geology.

Accredited by the Geological Society for the purpose of partially meeting the experience requirement for Chartered Geologist.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Geology MSc at University of Birmingham

40% Engineering professionals
15% Finance Professionals
10% Conservation and environment professionals
10% Legal professionals
10% Science, engineering and technology associate professionals
10% Elementary occupations
10% Finance Professionals

Grading & Study Time

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for Earth Sciences

Qualification requirements

Including a relevant subject/science @ C or above (80 UCAS tariff points)

31-30 overall or 665-655 in 3 HL subjects.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • Graduate Degrees
    • (no subscore less than 6.0)
    • 6.5
    • Undergraduate Degrees
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Geology, MSc, if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Tuition Fees Geology MSc

Ireland £9250 year 1
England UK £9250 year 1
Northern Ireland £9250 year 1
Scotland £9250 year 1
Wales £9250 year 1
Channel Islands £9250 year 1

Additional fee information

For details of the annual tuition fee for International Students please see the course web page listed in the 'course details' section above.

If you are made an offer to study by the University, the yearly tuition fee will be stated in your offer letter.

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

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.

Possible Entry Points:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)

University Rankings

Positions of University of Birmingham in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of University of Birmingham in related subject specific rankings.

Natural Sciences

    • #11 
    • #14 
    Geology
    CUG The Complete University Guide - By Subject
    [Published 08 June, 2023]
    • #12 
    • #101 
    Geology
    QS World University Rankings By Subject
    [Published 22 March, 2023]
    • #14 
    • #173 
    Geology
    URAP University Ranking by Academic Performance - By Field
    [Published 22 July, 2023]

Social Studies & Humanities

    • #12 
    • #37 
    Geography
    GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
    [Published 19 July, 2022]
    • #15 
    • #51 
    Geography
    QS World University Rankings By Subject
    [Published 22 March, 2023]
    • #25 
    • #151 
    Social Sciences
    THE World University Rankings by Subject
    [Published 26 October, 2022]

See all 35 university rankings of University of Birmingham

About University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham is a research university based in Edgbaston, Birmingham, England. The university’s aim is to be at the cutting edge of educational delivery, and to have their curriculum be continually reshaped by new revelations in research. The main campus is situated a reasonable three miles away from Birmingham city centre, which doesn’t take long to get to via bus if the student decides they’d like to spend some of their free time there.

List of 469 Bachelor and Master Courses from University of Birmingham - Course Catalogue

Student composition of University of Birmingham

undergraduates:
24385
postgraduates:
9185
Total:
33570
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Where is this programme taught

Main Site
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