Geology

Geology is the science of the Earth, the discipline that reads the history of our planet from the materials and structures preserved in rocks, landforms and the fossil record. It encompasses the study of how rocks form and deform, how continents have moved and collided, how climate has changed over geological time, how life has evolved and been repeatedly transformed by mass extinctions, and how geological processes create, concentrate and distribute the resources on which human civilisation depends. Understanding these processes is essential for managing natural hazards, supplying the materials needed for the energy transition, and understanding environmental change.

At Birkbeck College this decelerated programme runs part time, allowing you to study geology while maintaining other commitments. You will examine the Earth and its processes and environments across the full breadth of the discipline, exploring rock and mineral formation through geological time, climate-ocean-rock-biosphere interactions, and the ways in which human activity interacts with geological systems. The part-time structure at Birkbeck, with its tradition of evening and flexible teaching, makes the degree accessible to students who cannot commit to full-time study.

Geology graduates work across energy, mining, environmental consultancy, engineering geology, hydrogeology, government agencies, academic research and education. The skills in systematic observation, data analysis, scientific reasoning and field investigation that geology develops are valued by employers in any organisation that needs to understand and manage the physical environment. Postgraduate study in geology, engineering geology, hydrogeology, geotechnics or environmental science provides further specialisation for those who wish to develop research or advanced professional roles.