2019/20 Undergraduate Programme Catalogue

MGeol, BSc Geological Sciences (International)

Total credits: 480

Entry requirements:

Normally three A-Levels at grades A*AA, including two of: Biology, Chemistry, Geology, Geography or Environmental studies (not both), Mathematics, Physics. Excludes General Studies.

- International Baccalaureate: Normally 38 points overall, with 18 at the Higher Level.
- Scottish Highers: Normally AAAAA.

Other Qualifications (Access to HE Diploma, BTEC etc): Please refer to our website or email us.

School/Unit responsible for the parenting of students and programme:

School of Earth and Environment

Examination board through which the programme will be considered:

School of Earth and Environment

Relevant QAA Subject Benchmark Groups:

Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Environmental Studies (ES3)

Programme specification:

Students on this four year Integrated Masters programme spend their first two years in Leeds, spend their third year studying abroad at one of our many partner Universities, and complete their final year in Leeds. The programme offers students the opportunity:

- to be educated across the full range of Geological Sciences, encouraging and enabling students to acquire a good background of geological knowledge;
- to be trained in field and relevant laboratory techniques;
- the opportunity to deepen and broaden their geological studies within an International academic culture, and carry out fieldwork at world-class geological sites abroad;
- the opportunity to experience a year abroad in an alternative social and cultural environment;
- to develop investigative and communication skills;
- to gain a strong foundation for those who will embark on postgraduate study and/or careers as professional geologists, with an emphasis upon Masters level independent research plus Masters level taught modules in applied subjects during year 4;
- to access a course of sufficient breadth and intellectual training to suit the needs of those who will eventually work outside the subject area.

The degree programme is accredited by the Geological Society. Graduates from an accredited course gain fast-track progression towards obtaining Chartered Geologist status, which is the key professional qualification for a career in some commercial spheres of employment.

The programme fulfils national subject benchmark criteria in terms of:

- developing a multi-disciplinary and an interdisciplinary approach to Earth systems, an holistic view of the materials, structure, processes and interactions of the Earth's core, mantle, crust, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere;
- developing an understanding of major geoscience paradigms including uniformitarianism, geological time, plate tectonics, and evolution of life on Earth and an appreciation of relevant temporal and spatial scales;
- allowing students to become equipped with Earth science terminology and nomenclature, and the skills to identify and for the classification of Earth materials;
- providing methods of acquiring, interpreting and analysing field and laboratory data with a critical understanding of the appropriate contexts for their use, including the collection and documentation of geological field data, for production and interpretation of geological maps;
- enabling students to develop an awareness of issues concerning the exploration, development, exploitation, sustainability and different value sets relating to Earth resources, to contribute to informed debate on aspects of Earth science including human impacts on the environment and the impacts of geohazards on human societies, and to appreciate the contribution of the subject of Earth science to the development of knowledge and its applicability to the world of work.

The strengths of the degree programme here in Leeds include:

- a learning experience within an environment of active research (grade 5 RAE status);
- strong theoretical and applied themes developed and interlinked;
- emphasis on field skills and independent mapping or laboratory projects;
- extensive communication, employment-related and team skills development;
- excellent preparation for postgraduate research or further taught Masters programmes;
- opportunity to include an industrial placement year. Note that UK students should ascertain from their LEA whether they may receive funding support for the extra year in industry.

Students are allocated to partner universities during the first semester of second year, and are normally expected to include a minimum of two weeks' fieldwork in their selection of modules during their year abroad. Allocation is made by the Study Abroad Office.

Progression criteria: Unless extenuating circumstances determine otherwise, the following conditions shall apply. Students are normally expected to maintain an average mark of e normally expected to maintain an average mark of at least 65 in their 1st year in order to remain on the programme. In addition students will also be expected to maintain an average mark of at least 60 in their 2nd year in order to remain on the programme. If a student fails to maintain these requirements they will be transferred to the BSc equivalent programme.

Transfer arrangements: Students transferring to the MGeol Geological Sciences programme from the BSc Geological Sciences programme are expected to attain a minimum 60% average in year 1 and year 2, and transfer is conditional upon securing a study abroad place at one of the approved partner Universities. Dropping below 60% in second year with automatically lead to transfer onto a BSc (International) programme.

Students who fail the year abroad will automatically revert to the relevant BSc programme and will take the 3rd (final) year of the BSc programme in Leeds.

Rules for Award: At the end of the year abroad, the School receives a transcript from the exchange university showing the grades received for each module. These grades are then converted to Leeds marks using a formula specific to each partner institution and specified in the learning contract. The mark achieved during the year abroad is represented by the module SOEE9001 (120 credits).

The marks for 2nd, 3rd and 4th years are combined in the ratio 1:1:1 or 1:1:2 to achieve the highest average.

Year1 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

This programme is being taught out, so there is no Year 1, or Year 2 of this programme.

If you are interested in the content of this programme, please look at BSc Geology instead.

Year2 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Year3 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Exchange Universities for Geological Sciences currently include:

- Purdue University, USA
- University of California, USA (Campuses: Davis, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Diego)
- Colorado School of Mines, USA
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, USA
- Queens University, Canada
- University of Alberta, Canada
- University of Calgary, Canada
- University of Western Australia, Australia
- University of Queensland, Australia
- ANU, Australia
- University of Adelaide, Australia
- Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
- Western University, Canada
- Penn State University, USA
- Dalhousie University, Canada
- University of Toronto, Canada
- University of Victoria, Canada
- University of Auckland, New Zealand

In addition, an MGeol degree can be allowed with a year at the following foreign language partner(s), IF the language capability of the student is at a comparable level to a native speaker:

ETH Zurich

Compulsory modules:

Candidates will be obliged to study the following compulsory module. A mark for this module is calculated according to a translation scheme specific to each destination:

Year4 - View timetable

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]

Compulsory modules:

Students will be required to study the following modules:

Optional modules:

Students MUST take at least ONE of the following fieldtrip modules:

Students will be required to study 30 credits from the following optional modules.
Students who select SOEE5232M cannot take SOEE5630M

Last updated: 29/05/2019

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