MGeol, BSc Geological Sciences (International) is a four-year Integrated Undergraduate Masters degree that includes the enviable opportunity of spending your third year in Australia, New Zealand, Canada or the USA. Your year abroad counts towards your final degree classification, and you take only Masters-level modules during your final year.

The programme concentrates on the fundamental processes that govern the development of the earth's crust, the formation of rocks, and the evolution of life on earth. We regularly update the content of our geology programmes in line with current developments, so that you gain a thorough grounding in modern applied geology, including petroleum and mineral resources, engineering geology and environmental geology.

This programme is also accredited by the Geological Society of London, the geoscientists’ professional body.  Accreditation is only available to degrees that provide sufficient field experience and the full range of skills required for employment in the earth sciences.  It is your first step towards becoming a Chartered Geologist, which is increasingly important as a professional qualification, although not yet mandatory - employment as a geoscientist within the EU often depends on your having chartered status.  

Reasons to study MGeol, BSc Geological Sciences at Leeds

• We have made major investments in our teaching facilities, including our groundbreaking Earth Visualization Laboratory, all brand new microscopes and 3-D suite
• A year in the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand adds real value to your degree - the experience that employers want
• This is a degree for students with a professional interest in geology -  many MGeol, Bsc students achieve a First Class degree and go into research careers
• Flexible pathways through our degrees accommodate your personal interests in petroleum, minerals and the environment, with partners abroad to match
• You have the opportunity to take exciting field classes in the UK and overseas
• Research-led teaching across the whole breadth of geology, and a chance to work with top scientists overseas
• We have maintained our excellent employment statistics for many years, with more than 93% of graduates being in employment 6 months after graduation
• On our excellent field work programme the School pays the costs of accommodation and travel for all compulsory and short optional field classes, while the costs of longer optional classes and project work are heavily subsidised. Geology students also receive a fieldwork pack
• We attract industry sponsorship and maintain excellent relationships with major companies in the sector. Their evolving commercial requirements inform and influence the development of our programme content

Why study MGeol, BSc Geological Sciences?

You will derive enormous benefit from your MGeol, BSc Year Abroad; prospective employers will be aware that this experience demonstrates a high degree of independence and that it has broadened your academic horizons.  Leeds was the first UK University to introduce the fully-integrated International Study Year Abroad and we have many years experience of working with internationally-renowned partner institutions in North America and Australasia.

MGeol, BSc graduates are highly regarded for their teamwork, problem solving, IT and data handling and manipulation skills, as well as for the breadth of experience that they have acquired while studying abroad. The majority of our graduates go on to successful careers in industry or with government bodies, or pursue PhD research as the first step on an academic career.

If you choose to study in the Leeds School of Earth and Environment you will join one of the largest and most vibrant Schools in the country. Leeds is the only university that has brought the complete range of geoscience and environmental disciplines together under one banner, from strongly science-based Geology, Geophysics and Meteorology via Sustainability or Environmental Science, to Environmental Social Science.  Most importantly, Leeds offers you the best-developed International Geoscience Year Abroad programme in the UK - where we led, others have followed!

Our £23.5 million building opened in April 2010 and boasts state-of-the-art facilities for both teaching and research. Because Leeds is a research-intensive Russell Group University, you are guaranteed to interact with staff who are at the cutting edge of research world-wide, and who will incorporate this expertise into their teaching.  More information on our approach to learning and teaching can be found here.

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