Palaeontology

Palaeontology is the scientific study of ancient life, reconstructing the history of organisms on Earth from the fossil record and using those reconstructions to understand evolutionary processes, ancient ecosystems, and the history of our planet. It sits at the intersection of biology and geology, requiring expertise in both to interpret the evidence that fossils provide. Palaeontologists study everything from single-celled organisms and early marine invertebrates to dinosaurs, early mammals, and ancient plants, and their work contributes directly to our understanding of how life has responded to environmental change over hundreds of millions of years.

At the University of Portsmouth, this three-year, full-time degree gives you a grounding in the science of ancient life within a department that includes active researchers in the field. You will develop skills in fossil identification and interpretation, geological fieldwork, evolutionary biology, and the scientific writing and data analysis that professional palaeontological work requires. A sandwich year is incorporated into the programme, providing a substantial professional placement in a relevant scientific or museum context, and work placements are embedded in the course.

A year abroad is also available, giving you the opportunity to study palaeontology in a different geological and academic environment. A typical entry tariff of 104 points reflects the accessible standard of entry for this specialist degree.

Palaeontology graduates go on to work in academic research, natural history museums, geological surveying, fossil conservation and curation, environmental science, and the oil and gas industry, which employs geoscientists for subsurface analysis. Many pursue postgraduate study in palaeontology, geology, evolutionary biology, or museum studies. Science communication, education, and documentary work are further destinations that draw on the specialist knowledge developed in this degree.