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The Palaeobiology degree stream will provide you with a strong background in the evolutionary history of life, including interactions with Earth’s climate. It is the interface of Earth & Life Sciences
How, when, and where did life evolve, and are we alone in the universe? Why did dinosaurs and other species disappear during mass extinctions, when other groups survived and subsequently flourished? How will species respond to the current climatic and environmental crisis? Palaeobiology provides a unique perspective in addressing these and other questions that are central to our understanding of the past, present, and future of biodiversity.
“Palaeobiology sits at the interface of Earth and Life Sciences, incorporating a diverse range of disciplines, including evolutionary and molecular biology, anatomy, geology, climatology, ecology, astrobiology, geochemistry, geography, oceanography, and conservation science.
It also traverses an extraordinary range of temporal, spatial, and biological scales, from the reconstruction of ancient DNA in extinct species, to deciphering the origins of life billions of years ago, to studying the evolution of the microscopic organisms that populate the oceans, to understanding how the largest animals to ever walk on land were able to reach unprecedented sizes.
The Palaeobiology degree stream at UCL will provide you with a strong background in the evolutionary history of life, including interactions with Earth’s climate. It will teach you the cutting-edge methods that enable our understanding and reconstructions of past life, as well as how we incorporate this information into addressing the current biodiversity crisis. Delivered by experts spanning the full range of palaeobiological-related disciplines, from the origin of life to present-day biodiversity, and from the smallest life forms to the giant dinosaurs, our flexible degree stream also allows you to focus on an Earth or Life Sciences route to becoming a palaeobiologist.
Modules:
- Year 1
Term 1 - Autumn Term
Module Code Credit Value Module Title Compulsory: GEOL0001 15 Earth Materials GEOL0007 15 The Earth BIOL0001 15 Quantitative Biology Options: GEOL0008 15 Geochemistry BIOL0004 15 Life on Earth BIOL0006 15 Methods in Ecology and Evolution Term 2 - Spring Term
Module Code Credit Value Module Title Compulsory: GEOL0003 15 History of Life GEOL0006 15 Surface Processes BIOL0003 15 Introduction to Genetics Options: GEOL0002 15 From Petrology to Petrogenesis Fieldwork: Dorset/Devon Coast Part of GEOL0006 Surface Processes (takes place in the Easter vacation) Cornwall/Devon Coast Part of GEOL0002 From Petrology to Petrogenesis - Year 2
Term 1 - Autumn Term
Module Code Credit Value Module Title Compulsory: GEOL0009 15 Vertebrate Palaeontology and Evolution BIOL0012 15 Animal Biodiversity Options: GEOL0015 15 Maps, Images & Structures
(GEOL0015 is a prerequisite for GEOL0010)BIOL0008 15 Fundamentals of Molecular Biology GEOG0020 15 Ecological Patterns & Processes XBKB0023 Check availbility at Birkbeck 15 Astrobiology (taught at Birkbeck in the evenings) Term 2 - Spring Term
Module Code Unit Value Module Title Options: GEOL0010 15 Surface Processes & Structures
(GEOL0015 is a prerequisite for GEOL0010)GEOL0017 15 Isotope Geology BIOL0011 15 Evolutionary Genetics BIOL0014 15 Fundamentals of Ecology Fieldwork: Pyrenees Part of GEOL0010 Surface Processes & Structures (taught in the Easter vacation) - Year 3
Term 1 - Autumn Term
Module Code Unit Value Module Title Compulsory: GEOL0021 15 Biodiversity and Macroevolutionary Patterns Options: ANTH0012 (PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A LEVEL 5 MODULE) 15 Palaeoanthropology Other modules are available from GEOG* and ANTH*. Please check with the departments.
Term 1 & 2
Module Code Credit Value Module Title Options: GEOL0014 15 Geosciences Report Term 2 - Spring Term
Module Code Credit Value Module Title Options: BIOL0032 15 Species Conservation & Biodiversity BIOL0020 15 Sex, Genes and Evolution ANTH0040 15 Primate Evolution and Environments HPSC0107 15 Science Journalism ANTH0060 15 Primate Behaviour & Ecology - Year 4
MSci Co-ordinator: Professor Ian Wood
To progress to Year 4 of the MSci programme, you must have a Year 3 average of 60% or better and a nominal BSc award of an upper second, or better. Students who do not fulfil the required criteria to proceed at the end of the third year may be considered for graduation with the award of a BSc Honours degree.
Students can also choose courses from other departments at UCL, in particular, Geography, Biology, Archaeology, Anthropology, and Anatomy. Please seek further advice from the Undergraduate Tutor.
Term 1 - Autumn Term
Module Code Credit Value Module Title Compulsory: GEOL0044 15 Palaeoceanography BIOL0035 15 Vertebrate Life & Evolution Options: GEOL0059 15 Origin of Life and Exobiology Electives: Available in UCL Biology, Anatomy, Anthropology, Archaeology. Term 1 & 2
Module Code Credit Value Module Title Compulsory: GEOL0039 15 Earth & Planetary System Science GEOL072 45 Independent MSci Project Term 2 - Spring Term
Module Code Credit Value Module Title Option: GEOL0045 NOT RUNNING 2022/23 15 Palaeoclimatology BIOL0032 15 Species Conservation & Biodiversity (May be taken if not already taken in Year 3) GEOL0025 15 Earth Resources and Sustainability GEOL0036 15 Advanced Biodiversity and Macroevolutionary Studies Electives: Available in UCL Biology, Anatomy, Anthropology, Archaeology. Fieldwork: Germany Part of GEOL0039 Earth & Planetary System Science