MSci Palaeontology and Evolution
University of Bristol · Bristol, United Kingdom
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University of Bristol · Bristol, United Kingdom
MSci Palaeontology and Evolution
Undergraduate · Sciences
About this programme
Join a university ranked second 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 palaeontology, biology and geology. 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. In the second year, you will take core units from both disciplines. In the third year, you will carry out a research project and take a range of specialist palaeontology units. Examples of current units include:Coevolution of life and the planet, 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.Evolutionary palaeobiology, 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, for example, to Spain, Dorset and the Isle of Wight; the cost of these is included in your tuition fee.
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Field
- Sciences
- Duration
- 4 years
- Tuition
- £31,300 / year
- English
- IELTS 6.5
- Study mode
- Full-time
Entry requirements
A-level standard offer: ABB | A-level contextual offer: BBC | Go to entry requirements for the full entry criteria and contextual offer eligibility.
Visa
- Visa required
- Student visa
- Application fee
- GBP 558
- Proof of funds
- GBP 1,171/mo
- Processing time
- 3–8 weeks
Standard figures for this route. Some applicants pay a reduced fee or none at all — confirm your own case on the official visa page.
Scholarships available (8)
- Black Futures ScholarshipPartial funding · Annual additional-funding cycle
- Black Heart Scholarship ProgrammePartial funding · Check official website
- Bristol Think Big ScholarshipsPartial funding · Rolling, several rounds per year
- Qube Research and Technology ScholarshipPartial funding · Annual additional-funding cycle
- Think Big about Science and Engineering Undergraduate ScholarshipPartial funding
- Think Big about Veterinary Science Undergraduate ScholarshipPartial funding
- Think Big Undergraduate ScholarshipPartial funding
- University of Bristol BursaryLiving stipend · Claim by start of summer vacation each academic year