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Palaeontology and Evolution

Entry requirements


A level

A,B,B-B,B,C

Standard offer: ABB including two science-related subjects. Contextual offer: BBC including BB in two science-related subjects. Please visit: bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/entry-requirements-qualifications/contextual-offers/ for more information about contextual offers.

Access to HE Diploma

D:21,M:24

Access to HE Diploma in Science, Biomedical/Medical/Health Science or Psychology (or similar titles). The 45 graded Level 3 credits must include: at least 21 credits at Distinction and 24 at Merit or above; and at least 9 credits at Distinction and 3 credits at Merit from units in two science-related subjects. Mature students can contact [email protected] to check the suitability of their Access course.

Requirements for principal subjects are as for A-level, where D1/ D2 is A*, D3 is A, M1/ M2 is B, and M3 is C.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Applicants must also meet these GCSE profile requirements: higher numeracy requirement (6 or B in GCSE Mathematics or equivalent). Further information about GCSE requirements and profile levels: bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/entry-requirements-qualifications/gcse/

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

29-32

Standard offer: 32 points overall with 16 at Higher Level, including 5, 5 at Higher level in two science-related subjects. Contextual offer: 29 points overall with 14 at Higher Level, including 5,5 at Higher level in two science-related subjects. Please visit: bristol.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/entry-requirements-qualifications/contextual-offers/ for more information about contextual offers.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDM

DDM in Applied Science BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma.

Scottish Advanced Higher

A,B

Advanced Higher: AB in two science-related subjects, and Standard Higher: AABBB.

Scottish Higher

A,A,B,B,B

Advanced Higher: AB in two science-related subjects, and Standard Higher: AABBB.

Requirements are as for A-levels, where you can substitute a non-subject specific grade for the Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate at that grade.

UCAS Tariff

104-147

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subject

Palaeontology

Join a University ranked #2 in the UK for 'Earth systems and environmental sciences' research (THE analysis of REF 2021) with an excellent reputation for teaching and learning (#1 in the world for Palaeontology, Center for World University Rankings 2017).

Develop an understanding of the evolution of life on this planet through the study of geology and biology.

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. After the first 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: Marine Micropalaeontology, where you will learn to use microfossils to reconstruct past climates and understand their impact on ecosystems; Macroevolution, where you will learn cutting-edge techniques for analysing the large-scale patterns in the evolution of life; and Vertebrate Palaeobiology and Biomechanics, where you will study the evolution of the vertebrates from fish-like creatures to humans. You will also select from a range of optional units to pursue your own interests.

The course involves fieldwork, including dedicated palaeontology field courses, the cost of which 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.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£29,300
per year
International
£29,300
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of Bristol

Department:

Geographical Sciences

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

86%
Palaeontology

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Earth sciences

Teaching and learning

91%
Staff make the subject interesting
95%
Staff are good at explaining things
82%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
84%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

77%
Library resources
91%
IT resources
89%
Course specific equipment and facilities
64%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

88%
UK students
12%
International students
73%
Male students
27%
Female students
82%
2:1 or above
16%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
A
B

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Earth sciences

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£21,000
med
Average annual salary
93%
low
Employed or in further education
75%
high
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

18%
Natural and social science professionals
9%
Business, research and administrative professionals
9%
Conservation and environment professionals

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Earth sciences

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£22k

£22k

£29k

£29k

£39k

£39k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

Explore these similar courses...

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Nearby University
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Same University
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Geology
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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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