Admissions

UCAS Course Codes:
Earth Sciences F644
Geology F642

Brief Course Outline

Duration of course:
MEarthSc: 4 years, BA Geology: 3 years
Degrees awarded: MEarthSc (Earth Sciences) or BA (Geology)
Intake: 34
Applications shortlisted for interview: 85.1%
Successful applications: 24.0%

Open days 2012

26 June, 27 June and 20 September 2013

26 September: Lesser Spotted Science Day

Contact details

Academic Administration Assistant, Department of Earth Sciences,
Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PR
+44 (0) 1865 272040
Please email us at enquiries@earth.ox.ac.uk
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Earth Sciences (Geology)

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A typical weekly timetable

During years 1–3, your work is divided between lectures (about ten a week), tutorials (one or two a week), and practical classes, occupying about a third of your week. In year 4 you have the opportunity for independent work on special topics or in a research laboratory.

Fieldwork/international opportunities

The Earth Sciences course includes a number of excursions (see table detailing the content of the course). These are designed to link closely to material covered in lectures, and to convey the practice of geology, geophysics, geochemistry, and palaeontology in the field environment. This work culminates in an independent project to study and map an area chosen by the student (with advice from lecturers). Many of the field excursions take place out of term time, so students on the course must be available outside of term.

1st year
Courses Students take all courses in five parallel streams: Planet Earth Fundamentals of geology I Fundamentals of geology II Physics, chemistry and biology for Earth Sciences Mathematics for Materials and Earth Sciences Field Courses Pembroke Field Course (pre-session) Arran Field Course (Introduction) Local field courses	Assessment First University Examinations (Theory and Practical)
2nd year
Courses Students take all courses in five parallel streams: Earth deformation and materials Palaeobiology Petrology Geochemistry and ocean chemistry Mathematical and geophysical tools Field Courses Dorset Field Course Assynt Field Course (Mapping)	Assessment Part A1 Examinations (2nd year, Theory and Practical)
3rd year
Courses Students take a combination of core and optional papers from the following: Natural resources Sedimentary basins The oceans Palaeoclimate and sea level Seismology and earth structure / Continental deformation Volcanoes and environment / Igneous processes and petrogensis Evolutionary turning points / Vertebrate palaeobiology Earth materials, rock deformation and metamorphism Mathematical and geophysical methods Field Courses South-east Spain field trip Extended Essay	Assessment Part A2 Examinations (3rd year, Theory, Practical for Field Course) BA Hons (Geology)
4th year
Research Students choose four options, generally two in each term (four / eight–ten): Anatomy of a mountain belt Planetary chemistry Seismology Records of major environmental change in Earth’s history Palaeobiology Environmental, rock and palaeo-magnetism Topics in oceanography Topics in volcanology Field Courses Optional field courses as announced each year Independent work Research project over 2.5 terms	Assessment Part B Examination (Theory) MEarthSc Hons (Earth Sciences)