Geology BSc
Geology is the study of Earth’s history, composition and evolution. We tackle this through a multidisciplinary course stretching from understanding Earth materials, internal processes that cause volcanoes and earthquakes, to surface processes that shape landscapes. We explore biological processes that build diversity and trigger extinctions, ocean and atmospheric processes shaping climate, and issues relating to resources, geohazards and climate change.
Key information
Entry requirements
- Grades
- AAB
- Subjects
- Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Geography, Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Physics preferred.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4
Contextual offer
- Grades
- BBB
- Subjects
- Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Geography, Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Physics preferred.
- GCSEs
- English Language and Mathematics at grade C or 4
At least two A level subjects should be taken from UCL's list of preferred A level subjects.
- Points
- 36
- Subjects
- A total of 17 points in three higher level subjects to preferably include two sciences, with no higher level score below 5. Biology, Chemistry, Geology/Geography, Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Physics preferred
Contextual offer
- Points
- 32
- Subjects
- A total of 15 points in three higher level subjects to preferably include two sciences, with no higher level score below 5. Biology, Chemistry, Geology/Geography, Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Physics preferred
The English language level for this programme is: Level 1
Information about the evidence required, acceptable qualifications and test providers can be found on our English language requirements page.
A variety of English language programmes are offered at the UCL Centre for Languages and International Education.
The Undergraduate Preparatory Certificates (UPC) prepare international students for a UCL undergraduate degree who do not have the qualifications to enter directly. These intensive one-year foundation courses are taught on our central London campus.
Typical UPC students will be high achievers in a 12-year school system which does not meet the standard required for direct entry to UCL.
For more information see: ucl.ac.uk/upc.
About this course
Together with subject-specific skills, the Geology BSc course provides a strong intellectual and practical platform for those who wish to pursue non-geological careers as it integrates a wide range of ideas from many different scientific disciplines, including chemistry, physics and biology, and provides training in the application of scientific methods and knowledge to complex problems.
The course includes: studies of the nature of rocks and minerals, their mode of origin and environment of formation; the study of past life and palaeo-environments; the physics and chemistry of the Earth; major Earth processes such as plate tectonics and mountain building.
During fieldwork students learn to apply and develop independent and team skills and problem-solving abilities which complement and build upon lectures and laboratory-based coursework, whist being exposed to the true complexity of natural geological systems.
The BSc course is almost identical to the first three years of the MSci course.
Course structure
The Geology BSc course is intended to provide a complete education and training that will qualify students for a wide range of professional employment within and outside the subject area. We also offer Study Abroad and MSci course variants incorporating a year abroad and/or independent-research components, which are intended as an entry route for high-level professional employment or postgraduate education and research. Years 1 and 2 are common to all these courses and it is possible to switch until the end of Year 2. We advise you to select the MSci course initially for maximum flexibility see separate MSci course summaries .
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules usually 8 per year , normally valued at 15 credits. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from year-to-year.
In Year 1, students develop a fundamental knowledge base in both practical, theoretical and field-based skills. A Mathematics module is taken appropriate to A level background.
In Year 2, students develop specific skills used in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and take modules which build on the first year course. Two modules are built around teaching and research exercises carried out on field courses currently based in Scotland and the Spanish Pyrenees , and students plan and implement an independent field-based mapping project.
In Year 3, students have considerable scope to develop an individual portfolio of interests through a range of advanced, research-based optional modules. The modules include research-based activities and independent research projects that match students to researchers one-to-one. A major field-based independent mapping project draws on all aspects of the student’s learning and provides a focus for outputs that include digital maps and figures, a scientific poster, oral presentations and a research report.
Modules
In each year of your degree you will take a number of individual modules, normally valued at 15 or 30 credits, adding up to a total of 120 credits for the year. Modules are assessed in the academic year in which they are taken. The balance of compulsory and optional modules varies from programme to programme and year to year. A 30-credit module is considered equivalent to 15 credits in the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).
Please note that the list of compulsory modules given here is indicative. Up to 10 optional modules per year are displayed for this course: this may not be the full range of optional modules available for selection. This information is published a long time in advance of enrolment and module content and availability is subject to change. Modules that are in use for the current academic year are linked for further information. Where no link is present, further information is not yet available. For more detail regarding module availability, please contact the department.
Compulsory modules
- Sedimentology and Stratigraphy (GEOL0010)
- Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology (GEOL0011)
- Global Geophysics (GEOL0012)
- Structural Geology and Tectonics (GEOL0016)
- Isotope Geology (GEOL0017)
- Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing (GEOL0073)
- Introduction to Mineral Resources (GEOL0077)
Optional modules
Compulsory modules
- Crustal Dynamics, Mountain Building and Basin Evolution (GEOL0023)
- Geological and Environmental Mapping (GEOL0024)
- Geodynamics and Global Tectonics (GEOL0057)
- Statistics for Geoscientists (GEOL0061)
- Applied Geoscience for Mineral Resources and the Environment (GEOL0068)
Optional modules
- Biodiversity and Macroevolutionary Patterns A (GEOL0021)
- Ocean Physics and Climate Change (GEOL0022)
- Earth and Planetary Materials (GEOL0026)
- Groundwater Science (GEOL0027)
- Environmental Geochemistry (GEOL0031)
- Tectonic Geomorphology (GEOL0043)
- Paleoclimate and Paleoenvironmental Change (GEOL0045)
- Artificial Intelligence for Earth Observations (AI4EO) (GEOL0069)
- Volcanoes, Society and the Environment (GEOL0070)
We use a mixture of lectures, practical classes, field courses, directed reading, problem-orientated learning, private study and tutorials to enable you to gain the theoretical knowledge and practical skills demanded by the course, as well as to develop key transferable skills such as critical analysis, report writing, team working and organisational skills.
Fieldwork is an important part of our course and essential for Geological Society accreditation. It is delivered through stand-alone modules or as a component of modules that also have campus-based lectures. Teaching and learning come through outcrop-based talks, demonstrations and discussions, followed by independent observation and data collection. Assessment is via independent and team-based real-world exercises, often enquiry-based, with outputs that include written notes, maps, section logs, data analyses, scientific sketches and presentations.
On return to UCL these field observations may form the basis for reports, fair-copy maps, oral presentations, posters, logs and cross sections. An independent mapping project (30 credits) is taken in the third year allowing students to design, plan, execute and write-up a major independent piece of geological research. Our field-based modules currently take place in Dorset (UK), Scotland, the Pyrenees (Spain), the Betics (Spain) and Germany. Mapping projects take place in a variety of locations, in the UK or abroad.
You will be assessed by a combination of written examinations, practical examinations, coursework, independent project reports and sometimes an oral examination.
Typical weekly contact hours in the first three years will be 8 hours of lectures and 8 hours of practicals. Lecturers are also available for help outside these formal hours, as well regular tutorial sessions. During field trips, student will have constant contact with several members of staff except for the independent mapping . Students are also expected to do an additional 15 to 20 hours per week independent study.
The department will endeavour to make reasonable adjustments for students with disabilities, including those with long-term health conditions, neurodivergence, learning differences and mental health conditions. This list is not exhaustive. If you are unsure of your eligibility for reasonable adjustments at UCL, please contact Student Support and Wellbeing Services.
Reasonable adjustments are implemented on a case-by-case basis. With the student's consent, reasonable adjustments are considered by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services, and where required, in collaboration with the respective department.
Details of the accessibility of UCL buildings can be obtained from AccessAble. Further information about support available can be obtained from UCL Student Support and Wellbeing Services.
For more information about the department and accessibility arrangements for your course, please contact the department.
Fees and funding
| Study mode | UK fee (2026/27) | Overseas fee (2026/27) |
|---|---|---|
| Full time | £9,790 | £42,700 |
UK undergraduate fees for 2026/27 are subject to parliamentary approval and are for the first year only. Fees for subsequent years may be subject to increase: Student Terms and Conditions. UK fees are in line with the Government announcement on fee cap increases. Fees for 2027/28 entry will be published in August 2026.
International undergraduate students benefit from a cohort guarantee unless indicated below, meaning that their tuition fees will not increase during the course of the programme, but UCL reserves the right to increase tuition fees to reflect any sums (including levies, taxes, or similar financial charges) that UCL is required to pay any governmental authority in connection with tuition fees.
International fees shown are the fees that will be charged to 2026/27 entrants.
Full details of UCL's tuition fees, tuition fee policy and potential increases to fees can be found on the UCL Students website.
Additional costs
The only extra costs above and beyond what is normally expected (e.g., computer, pens, paper) is for fieldwork. However, the Department makes substantial contributions towards these costs, covering all accommodation and in-field transportation. Students are expected to cover their transport costs (flight/train/bus) to and from the beginning of the field locations for the 2nd and 3rd year field trips at an estimated cost of £200, depending on the exact location (currently Spain). Some fieldtrips include meals or are self-catered, but where they are not, the additional cost of food should be around £200 per trip. Students are expected to provide their own appropriate field clothing, such as walking boots and waterproofs.
Students on the BSc Geology course have five compulsory fieldtrip modules and so will need to budget ~£1000 for these. In the third year, the GEOL0024 independent mapping project includes 30 days of field work (although a digital hybrid option is available). For this field work, the department provides ~£800 to each student. This should cover all or most expenses, but extra costs may be incurred depending on where the student chooses to do their mapping and type of accommodation.
For in-person teaching, UCL's main teaching locations are in zones 1 (Bloomsbury) and zones 2/3 (UCL East). The cost of a monthly 18+ Oyster travel card for zones 1–2 is £119.90. This price was published by TfL in 2026. For more information on additional costs for prospective students and the cost of living in London, please view our estimated cost of essential expenditure at UCL's cost of living guide. If you are concerned by potential additional costs for books, equipment, etc., please get in touch with the relevant departmental contact (details given on this page).
Various funding options are available, including student loans, scholarships and bursaries. UK students whose household income falls below a certain level may also be eligible for a non-repayable bursary or for certain scholarships. Please see the Fees and funding pages for more details.
Why study this course at UCL?
The department delivers world-leading research embracing the origins and history of life, Earth’s composition and structure, earthquake and volcanic hazards, and past and present climate change, and these are fully integrated within our taught course.
Our department delivers world-leading teaching ranked 5th in the UK in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025: Geology embracing the origins and history of life, Earth’s composition and structure, earthquake and volcanic hazards, and past and present climate change, and these are fully integrated within our taught course.
You will be taught by lecturers who are active researchers within their fields, ensuring everything you learn is up to date and providing you with opportunities to take part in cutting-edge research activities.
We are located in the Kathleen Lonsdale Building at the Bloomsbury campus, providing you with access to world-class facilities including bespoke teaching laboratories, microscope facilities and student hub spaces, all in the heart of the department, next to staff offices and our research laboratories.
This course includes approximately three months of field classes in the UK and continental Europe and independent field mapping projects in Scotland, Southern France and Spain, with financial support from the department.
Discover Uni
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What this course will give you
As UCL Geology graduates, students will have developed both discipline-based and highly sought after analytical skills, for example in logical thought and numeracy. This BSc course provides a complete education and training in Geology and transferable skills that will qualify our graduates for a wide range of professional employment within and outside the subject area. A comprehensive list of learning outcomes is provided above. This course is also accredited by the Geological Society. Undergraduate students may join the Geological Society as a Candidate Fellow and can become a Fellow of the Society upon graduation. A graduate taking an accredited undergraduate course will be gaining experience and insights directly relevant to a later award of Chartered Geologist or Scientist (CGeol/CSci) status. The course provides a broad education in Geology, integrating field and laboratory skills with theoretical studies.
Many of our graduate have gone on to employment in sectors such as Energy, Natural Resources and the Environment, Consultancy, Scientific Research, Policy and Government, Construction and Journalism. Recent graduates have found employment with companies such as Aether, the Department for Transport, Green Element, Thames Water, RSK Group and Veolia Environmental Services. After graduating students have have found employment as physical scientists, environment professionals, business analysts and in academia, with around 27% of our graduates choose to pursue further study for an MSc or PhD.
Graduate Outcomes survey carried out by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), looking at the destinations of graduates in the 2017–2023 cohorts.
Professional accreditation
This course is accredited by the Geological Society. Undergraduate students may join the Geological Society as a Candidate Fellow and can become a Fellow of the Society upon graduation. A graduate taking an accredited undergraduate course will be gaining experience and insights directly relevant to a later award of Chartered Geologist or Scientist CGeol/CSci status.
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Register nowHow to apply
Application for admission should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
We normally reach a decision on making an offer on the basis of the application alone. If you have an offer and would like to visit the department in person, please email the Admissions Tutor to arrange this.
Selection
For further information on UCL's selection process see: How we assess your application.
Apply for this course
You are applying for the Geology BSc course. For application guidance please visit Application guidelines.Course starts: September 2027
UCAS applications open for 2027 entry on 12 May 2026.
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