University Field Trips

Field work is a unique way to gain ‘hands-on practical experience’ by collecting real life data in a non-traditional teaching environment.

Field Trips are based in a relevant area of study that could vary from a museum in London to a geological region in Spain! Other than academic learning, field trips are a wonderful opportunity to meet and interact with more people in your course outside of a classroom setting.

So, why do universities offer field trips? Field Trips are the best way to learn about practical concepts. Studying about physical processes might give us an understanding of ‘How’ and ‘Why’ those processes occur but fieldwork gives an opportunity to learn skills such as data collection and collaboration as well as to gain practical experience and better understanding of concepts, all of which are valued by employers.

Field Trips are quite relevant in degrees such as Geology, Geophysics, Geography etc. In UCL Earth Sciences, field work is compulsory for everyone on a Geology course. Field trips happen as a part of Geophysics, Earth Sciences and Environmental Geoscience courses during the  1^st year but are based on module selections for the remainder of the degree. So, if you chose a course in the UCL Earth Sciences department, you will be doing field work!

As field work is a part of modules, it is always graded. The weightage of field work might vary from 30% in a 1^st year module (other 70% of the module being assignments/exam) to being 100% field work based for a 3^rd year module.  This means field work becomes more important with each successive year. 

Some examples of places UCL Earth Sciences students have been are Dorset (Year 1), Northwest Scotland (Year 2), Pyrenees (Year 2), Betics (Year 3), Peak District (Year 3) and Southern Germany (MSc, MSci students). There is also an option if you want to do Geological Mapping which lets you choose where you go for a field trip for 30+ days! If you are part of the ‘Independent Mapping Project’ in Year 3, you could choose areas in the UK, Spain, Italy, USA or even Mount Everest if you’re bold enough to map there! There is also a ‘Hybrid Mapping Project’ that is based around London for students with accessibility needs or if you want to gain experience on a corporate style case study instead of field work.

Field trips do have some basic equipment requirements for your own safety, like hiking boots, waterproof clothing and hard hats. Technical equipment such as compass clinometers and hardened tablets are provided by the Department for field work free of cost! However, you might still have to spend ~£100 on personal equipment such as clothing, field notebooks and stationery (I personally recommend waterproof ink pens!!).

If you’re worried that you might not be able to afford the personal equipment, contacting UCL Financial Assistance to get short term loans might be helpful.

(https://www.ucl.ac.uk/students/funding/financial-support/financial-assistance-fund)

More details about Field Trips UCL Earth Sciences has to offer can be accessed through the UCL Earth Sciences website:  https://www.ucl.ac.uk/earth-sciences/study-here/fieldwork.