find your perfect postgrad program
Search our Database of 30,000 Courses
University of Bristol: Palaeobiology
| Institution | University of Bristol View institution profile |
|---|---|
| Department | Earth Sciences |
| Web | https://www.bristol.ac.uk/study/postgraduate |
| Study type | Taught |
MSc
Summary
This interdisciplinary MSc programme is for students who are passionate about the history of life, mass extinctions, macroevolution, climate change and fossil preservation. You will learn the latest techniques in phylogenetics, biomechanics and macroevolution, providing you with a strong foundation for independent research to PhD level or for careers in fields such as museum curation, science education, science policy, industry or the media.
Bristol is ranked second in the UK for 'Earth systems and environmental sciences' research (THE analysis of REF 2021) and first in the world for Palaeontology (Center for World University Rankings 2017). You will join Bristol's established Palaeobiology Group and engage in current debates in evolution, systematics and palaeobiology. You will learn how to analyse problems quantitatively and design experimental approaches to resolving questions in macroevolution and the study of both ancient and living organisms.
A key aspect of the programme is preparing your research project for publication, and many of our previous students' projects have been published in international scientific journals.
This programme gives you the opportunity to develop a wide range of professional skills, including research planning, problem-solving and communication. You will learn to present palaeontological data through talks, visual displays and formal written reports. You will also develop computational skills in data handling, phylogenetics, macroevolution, functional analysis and 3D digital modelling.
Find out more about the programme and hear from current and former students on our Palaeobiology MSc blog: https://mscpalaeo.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in any Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics subject (including Anthropology and Archaeology). Other degree subjects may be considered on a case-by-case basis if you can demonstrate relevant work experience in laboratories or museums; or roles within the Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics fields (including fieldwork, university or industry roles). We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement. If your achieved grade is lower than our entry requirements, your application may be more likely to receive an offer if you have additional relevant work experience or qualifications. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing: – Evidence of relevant work experience in laboratory work, museum roles, STEM university, industry or fieldwork roles (minimum one week full-time paid or internship). Online STEM courses may also be accepted. See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/countries/ |
| Location | Main Site Beacon House Queens Road Bristol BS8 1QU |
Fees
| England | 14300 GBP for Year 1 |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | 14300 GBP for Year 1 |
| Scotland | 14300 GBP for Year 1 |
| Wales | 14300 GBP for Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | 14300 GBP for Year 1 |
| EU | 31400 GBP for Year 1 |
| International | 31400 GBP for Year 1 |
Summary
This interdisciplinary MSc programme is for students who are passionate about the history of life, mass extinctions, macroevolution, climate change and fossil preservation. You will learn the latest techniques in phylogenetics, biomechanics and macroevolution, providing you with a strong foundation for independent research to PhD level or for careers in fields such as museum curation, science education, science policy, industry or the media.
Bristol is ranked second in the UK for 'Earth systems and environmental sciences' research (THE analysis of REF 2021) and first in the world for Palaeontology (Center for World University Rankings 2017). You will join Bristol's established Palaeobiology Group and engage in current debates in evolution, systematics and palaeobiology. You will learn how to analyse problems quantitatively and design experimental approaches to resolving questions in macroevolution and the study of both ancient and living organisms.
A key aspect of the programme is preparing your research project for publication, and many of our previous students' projects have been published in international scientific journals.
This programme gives you the opportunity to develop a wide range of professional skills, including research planning, problem-solving and communication. You will learn to present palaeontological data through talks, visual displays and formal written reports. You will also develop computational skills in data handling, phylogenetics, macroevolution, functional analysis and 3D digital modelling.
Find out more about the programme and hear from current and former students on our Palaeobiology MSc blog: https://mscpalaeo.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in any Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics subject (including Anthropology and Archaeology). Other degree subjects may be considered on a case-by-case basis if you can demonstrate relevant work experience in laboratories or museums; or roles within the Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics fields (including fieldwork, university or industry roles). We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement. If your achieved grade is lower than our entry requirements, your application may be more likely to receive an offer if you have additional relevant work experience or qualifications. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing: – Evidence of relevant work experience in laboratory work, museum roles, STEM university, industry or fieldwork roles (minimum one week full-time paid or internship). Online STEM courses may also be accepted. See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/countries/ |
| Location | Main Site Beacon House Queens Road Bristol BS8 1QU |
Fees
| Channel Islands | 7150 GBP for Year 1 |
|---|---|
| England | 7150 GBP for Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | 7150 GBP for Year 1 |
| Scotland | 7150 GBP for Year 1 |
| Wales | 7150 GBP for Year 1 |
Summary
This interdisciplinary MSc programme is for students who are passionate about early life, mass extinctions, macroevolution, climate change and fossil preservation. It bridges the biology-geology divide. You will learn the latest techniques in phylogenetics, biomechanics and macroevolution, providing you with a strong foundation for independent research to PhD level or for a career in museum curation, science education, science policy, management or the media.
Bristol is ranked second in the UK for 'Earth systems and environmental sciences' research (THE analysis of REF 2021) and first in the world for Palaeontology (Center for World University Rankings 2017). You will join Bristol's established palaeobiology research group and engage in current debates in evolution, systematics and palaeobiology. You will learn how to analyse problems quantitatively and design experimental approaches to resolving questions in macroevolution and the study of both ancient and living organisms.
A key aspect of the programme is preparing your research project for publication, and many of our previous students' projects have been published in leading international journals. Recent research project topics include the origin of cellular life, the preservation of colours in dinosaurs and the evolution of culture in humans.
This programme gives you the opportunity to develop a wide range of professional skills, including research planning, problem-solving and communication. You will learn to present palaeontological data through talks, visual displays and formal written reports. You will also develop computing skills in data handling, phylogenetics, macroevolution, function and 3D digital modelling.
Find out more about the programme and hear from current and former students on our Palaeobiology MSc blog: https://mscpalaeo.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in any Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics subject (including Anthropology and Archaeology). Other degree subjects may be considered on a case-by-case basis if you can demonstrate relevant work experience in laboratories or museums; or roles within the Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics fields (including fieldwork and university roles). If you are currently completing a degree, we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date. We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing details of your relevant qualifications: * evidence of relevant work experience in laboratory work, museum roles, STEM university roles, STEM industry roles, STEM fieldwork (minimum one week full-time paid or internship). Online STEM courses may also be accepted. See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/countries/ |
| Location | Clifton Campus Beacon House Bristol BS8 1QU |
Fees
| England | 13900 GBP for Year 1 |
|---|---|
| Northern Ireland | 13900 GBP for Year 1 |
| Scotland | 13900 GBP for Year 1 |
| Wales | 13900 GBP for Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | 13900 GBP for Year 1 |
| EU | 30500 GBP for Year 1 |
| International | 30500 GBP for Year 1 |
Summary
This interdisciplinary MSc programme is for students who are passionate about early life, mass extinctions, macroevolution, climate change and fossil preservation. It bridges the biology-geology divide. You will learn the latest techniques in phylogenetics, biomechanics and macroevolution, providing you with a strong foundation for independent research to PhD level or for a career in museum curation, science education, science policy, management or the media.
Bristol is ranked second in the UK for 'Earth systems and environmental sciences' research (THE analysis of REF 2021) and first in the world for Palaeontology (Center for World University Rankings 2017). You will join Bristol's established palaeobiology research group and engage in current debates in evolution, systematics and palaeobiology. You will learn how to analyse problems quantitatively and design experimental approaches to resolving questions in macroevolution and the study of both ancient and living organisms.
A key aspect of the programme is preparing your research project for publication, and many of our previous students' projects have been published in leading international journals. Recent research project topics include the origin of cellular life, the preservation of colours in dinosaurs and the evolution of culture in humans.
This programme gives you the opportunity to develop a wide range of professional skills, including research planning, problem-solving and communication. You will learn to present palaeontological data through talks, visual displays and formal written reports. You will also develop computing skills in data handling, phylogenetics, macroevolution, function and 3D digital modelling.
Find out more about the programme and hear from current and former students on our Palaeobiology MSc blog: https://mscpalaeo.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or an international equivalent in any Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics subject (including Anthropology and Archaeology). Other degree subjects may be considered on a case-by-case basis if you can demonstrate relevant work experience in laboratories or museums; or roles within the Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics fields (including fieldwork and university roles). If you are currently completing a degree, we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date. We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing details of your relevant qualifications: * evidence of relevant work experience in laboratory work, museum roles, STEM university roles, STEM industry roles, STEM fieldwork (minimum one week full-time paid or internship). Online STEM courses may also be accepted. See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website: https://www.bristol.ac.uk/international/countries/ |
| Location | Clifton Campus Beacon House Bristol BS8 1QU |
Fees
| Channel Islands | 6950 GBP for Year 1 |
|---|---|
| England | 6950 GBP for Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | 6950 GBP for Year 1 |
| Scotland | 6950 GBP for Year 1 |
| Wales | 6950 GBP for Year 1 |
Discover the University of Bristol
Founded in 1876, the University of Bristol is one of the UK’s top 10 universities (QS World University Rankings 2026), with a global reputation for world-leading research and academic excellence. As a member of the prestigious Russell Group of research-intensive universities, Bristol also ranks top five in the UK for research (THE analysis of REF 2021).
With its independent and pioneering spirit, the University has a reputation for doing things differently. Bristol was the UK’s first institute of higher education to admit women on an equal basis with men. In 2019, …
View ProfileNot what you are looking for?
Browse other courses in Science, Earth sciences, Geology or Palaeontology, or search our comprehensive database of postgrad programs.Postgraduate Bursary Opportunity with Postgrad.com
Are you studying as a PG student at the moment or have you recently been accepted on a postgraduate program? Apply now for one of our £2000 PGS bursaries.
Click here