Fieldwork is an essential element of our Geology programmes, and is one of the most enjoyable and sociable parts of the course for students and staff alike. Our programmes at Leeds include a variety of field course destinations in the UK and abroad. Residential fieldwork uses various kinds of accommodation, including youth hostels, hotels and self catering flats. Our students do not camp.

From 2012, Earth & Environment students at Leeds will undertake programme fieldwork and projects at no additional cost for all short and compulsory field courses.  Shorter optional field courses and project work are heavily subsidised.

In Year 1, you will spend a week in South Wales (Pembrokeshire) where you will work in teams to learn the basic skills of a field geologist.

In early summer (end of Year 1), you will go to the north of Scotland for 12 days to develop your geological mapping skills.

Over Easter in Year 2, you will visit the west coast of Ireland to work on both sedimentary and metamorphic rocks.

From mid-May, after Year 2 examinations, you will be free to begin the field work for your final-year independent project. For most students, this involves geological field mapping in small groups. The range of topics and mapping areas offered is linked to areas of staff expertise, ensuring that all students receive support and supervision from an assigned academic staff member.

Typical locations for your mapping project include classic areas of geological interest in the British Isles, such as the Isle of Skye, Northern Scotland, the Yorkshire coast, the Peak District, Portland and the Cornish coast. Some students choose to undertake their project work overseas. Recent destinations have included the Alps, the Pyrenees, Greece, Bulgaria and the west coast of Ireland. The timing allows you to complete your fieldwork by the end of June, so you can spend the summer working or travelling.

In Year 3 we offer field courses in Cyprus, Northern Ireland and the Yorkshire coast and several of our optional modules also have field trips associated with them. Students are expected to make a contribution towards the cost of longer optional field classes.