Geology

Geology is a wide-ranging and fascinating subject. On our BSc Geology we cover many areas of interest, including:<br/><br/><br/>- study of the Earth, its history and development and the evolution of life on its surface<br/><br/><br/>- the processes that occur within the Earth<br/><br/><br/>- human interactions with our planet, from finding essential raw materials to assessing risks from volcanoes and earthquakes.<br/><br/><br/>Accredited by the Geological Society of London, the BSc Geology at Birkbeck will introduce you to the dynamic systems within the Earth and at its surface, both at the present day and in deep time. Geology is a practical subject, and the course will include training and experience of geological fieldwork and will allow you to develop your areas of interest in the form of guided project work. Our long-term expertise with distance education allows unrivalled flexibility in your learning style.<br/><br/>You will learn knowledge and techniques that enable you to carry out geological fieldwork and laboratory analyses, as well as gaining transferable skills that can be applied to science subjects that involve fieldwork and practical work.<br/><br/>Geoscientists develop careers in fields as diverse as geological hazard mitigation, exploration for essential raw materials including water, control and prevention of environmental damage, natural resources conservation, as well as education, outreach and further academic study.<br/><br/>**Highlights**<br/><br/><br/>- We offer you flexible teaching methods, balancing face-to-face and online learning.<br/><br/><br/>- Exciting field trip opportunities to famous geological sites in the UK, Greece and Morocco.<br/><br/><br/>- Accredited by the Geological Society of London as a recognised professional qualification. We are the only university that offers this option through distance learning.<br/><br/><br/>- We are part of the joint UCL-Birkbeck Institute of Earth and Planetary Sciences (IEPS) meaning we share laboratories, expertise and events, all open to students for research projects. Find out more about our research facilities.<br/><br/><br/>- Birkbeck was rated in the top 25 universities in the UK for its Earth Systems and Environmental Science research in the 2021 Research Excellence Framework.<br/><br/><br/>- We have been offering evening study courses in the subjects of Earth and planetary sciences for over 70 years and distance learning for more than 20 years.<br/><br/><br/>**Careers and employability**<br/><br/>Graduates can pursue career paths in the oil, mineral and groundwater industries, academia or geology. Possible professions include:<br/><br/><br/>- engineering geologist<br/><br/><br/>- geochemist<br/><br/><br/>- geophysicist<br/><br/><br/>- hydrogeologist<br/><br/><br/>- higher education lecturer.<br/><br/><br/>We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.