Palaeontology and Evolution

About this programme

Join a university ranked second in the UK for 'Earth systems and environmental sciences' research (THE analysis of REF 2021).Develop an understanding of the evolution of life on this planet through the study of palaeontology, biology and geology.Learn from experts with interests ranging from dinosaurs to plants, to the origin of life and become fully immersed in hands-on palaeontology from the start.One third of the first year is dedicated to biology and two thirds to earth science. In the second year, you will take core units from both disciplines.In the third year, you will carry out a research project and take a range of specialist palaeontology units. Examples of current units include:Coevolution of life and the planet, where you will learn cutting-edge techniques for analysing the large-scale patterns in the evolution of life, including the use of microfossils to reconstruct past climates and ecosystems.Evolutionary palaeobiology, where you will learn how to construct evolutionary genealogies from the comparative anatomy of fossil organisms and the genomes of their living relatives, focussing especially on the origin and diversification of animals.Vertebrate palaeobiology and biomechanics, where you will study the evolution of vertebrates from fish-like creatures to humans, discovering methods for investigating how their bodies work.Evolution: from genomes to biodiversity where you will explore the mechanisms that have shaped and continue to shape the diversity of life, from genomes to populations and whole ecosystems, and you will learn the tools we use to study these processes and how we can harness them to engineer a better futureYou will also select from a range of optional units to pursue your own interests.The course involves fieldwork, including dedicated palaeontology field courses, for example, to Spain, Dorset and the Isle of Wight; the cost of these is included in your tuition fee.Our emphasis on quantitative research allows you to develop valuable mathematical and statistical skills. There are opportunities for volunteer work and internships in our state-of-the-art palaeobiology laboratories.