University of Leicester

What you'll study

This one‑year master's programme (full‑time) or longer by part‑time study blends taught modules with a substantial research project. Core teaching covers advanced stratigraphy and sedimentology, palaeobiology and evolutionary methods, taphonomy and fossil preservation, and palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. Practical training includes fossil preparation and taxonomy, microfossil and macrofossil identification, thin‑section petrography, geochronological principles and geochemical proxy techniques.

Students learn laboratory and imaging techniques (including microscopy and digital imaging), field mapping and logging, and quantitative palaeontological analysis. The programme culminates in a major independent research project or dissertation, which can be laboratory, field or museum based and is supervised by a member of academic staff. Optional modules allow students to strengthen skills in GIS, remote sensing, basin analysis, or applied environmental geology to tailor the degree to palaeontology, earth history or applied geology careers.

Typical modules and activities

• Advanced Stratigraphy and Sedimentology
• Palaeobiology and Evolutionary Methods
• Fossil Preparation, Curation and Identification
• Palaeoenvironmental Reconstruction and Proxies
• Quantitative Methods in Palaeontology (statistics and morphometrics)
• Field skills and mapping: UK field trips with practical logging and sampling
• Major Research Project / Dissertation (museum, lab or field based)

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to hold a UK upper‑second class (2:1) honours degree, or an international equivalent, in geology, earth sciences, palaeontology, biological sciences with strong earth science content, or a closely related subject. Candidates with a lower second class degree and relevant professional or research experience may be considered.

Entry typically requires evidence of practical experience in laboratory or fieldwork (for example through undergraduate projects, work placements, or volunteer work with museums or geological organisations). International applicants should demonstrate equivalent academic qualifications and an appropriate level of English language proficiency. Applications usually include academic transcripts, a personal statement outlining research interests, and at least one academic reference; a brief outline of intended project work can strengthen an application for research‑intensive supervisors.

Career prospects

Graduates of this programme are equipped for a range of careers in academia, industry and the public sector. Common paths include:

• PhD research and academic positions in palaeontology, palaeoecology or stratigraphy
• Museum and curatorial roles, including collections care, outreach and exhibition development
• Environmental and geological consultancy, including site assessment, stratigraphic correlation and fossil‑based environmental interpretation
• Heritage and conservation management, working with geological sites and fossil localities
• Energy and resource sectors (e.g. subsurface characterisation in hydrocarbon, geothermal or mineral projects), where stratigraphic and palaeontological expertise is applied
• Science communication, education and public engagement roles

Students leave with transferable skills valued by employers: specimen handling and curation, field survey and sampling, data analysis, scientific writing and presentation, and experience of independent research project management.

Why study at University of Leicester

The University of Leicester's School of Geography, Geology and Environment delivers research‑led teaching with active research groups in palaeontology, stratigraphy and sedimentary geology. Students benefit from hands‑on access to well‑established rock and fossil collections, dedicated laboratories and modern imaging facilities. Fieldwork is integrated into the programme, providing practical experience of UK geological sites and opportunities for targeted overseas projects.

Academic staff supervise a wide range of palaeontological research topics and maintain collaborations across museums, research institutes and industry, offering strong support for student projects and career‑relevant networking. The department's interdisciplinary links with archaeology, conservation and environmental science make this programme suitable for students seeking a broad set of applied and research opportunities in earth history and palaeontology.