Program Overview

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Earth Sciences Research MSc (Res)

The Earth Sciences Research MSc facilitates independent research. Our research groups focus on the following themes: palaeobiology, palaeoclimatology, plate tectonics and volcanic processes.

Course Overview

Focus is on independent research with minimal taught content. Training depends on supervisory capacity and research group interests. Submit a well-formulated proposal, followed by an interview. Additional bench fees or lab costs may apply.

Course Highlights

Earth Sciences is a vibrant research and postgraduate teaching department with staff working on a broad range of research projects.

• Benefit from a vibrant research community and expert supervision.
• Participate in dedicated training programs and research seminars.
• Enjoy dedicated workspaces and top-notch computing facilities.
• Access excellent laboratory facilities for your research needs.

Research Themes

We undertake research across a wide range of the earth sciences and are always pleased to discuss individual research proposals from students. Our research groups focus on the following themes: hydrogeology; palaeobiology and palaeoenvironments; palaeoclimatology and subsurface structure and properties.

Palaeobiology

Our palaeobiology research explores the evolution and diversity of life through deep time.

• The palaeobiology research theme at Birmingham spans an extraordinary range of biological, temporal and spatial scales.
• Our research theme includes world-leading systematists and palaeoecologists specializing in organisms ranging from single-celled algae to the largest vertebrates to have walked the Earth (as well as the plants they ate).
• Researchers have made fundamental contributions to understanding the evolution and diversity of life on Earth, such as the radiation of the earliest fish, the origins of terrestrial vegetation, patterns of dinosaur diversity and the long-term evolution of marine phytoplankton.

Palaeoclimates

This theme brings together multiple disciplines to reconstruct and model past climate systems.

• Palaeoclimate research at Birmingham integrates sedimentologists, palaeontologists, geochemists and climate modellers to produce an integrated view of ancient palaeoenvironmental change.
• Our time periods of study stretch from detailed investigations of the sedimentology and glacial process of Proterozoic “snowball earth” events, to super high-resolution speleothem reconstructions and General Circulation Model simulations of Holocene climate.

Dynamic Earth

This research focuses on the structure and evolution of the Earth’s interior and its influence on surface processes.

• Research in this area includes a range of work on the evolution of rifted margins with a current focus on an international collaborative project involving 3-D seismic profiling of the Iberian margin.
• The work has important implications for the role of deeply ingressing water, through serpentinization, in guiding the structural history of margins.

Entry Requirements

• 2:1 Honours degree in a relevant subject
• Research proposal: If you are proposing your own research topic, you will need to submit a research proposal. It’s a key part of your application, so take your time. Your potential supervisors will use it to decide if your research is something they can support.

Fees and Scholarships

• £5,181 (full-time) / £2,591 (part-time)
• Funding options:
  • Apply for a PhD that already has funding attached
  • Self-fund, or search for funding or a studentship
• A limited number of scholarships and studentships may be available to outstanding applicants.

Application Process

To apply for a postgraduate research programme, you will need to submit your application and supporting documents online.

• If you are applying to an ‘advertised PhD’, please check the details of the specific research project for application deadlines.
• If you are submitting your own research proposal, applications are accepted all year round.

Career Opportunities

Our Earth Science master’s graduates boast an excellent employment record, securing roles in both public and private sectors globally.

• Many advance to senior positions in industry, academia, and government, while others pursue PhDs and research careers.
• Numerous alumni have earned national and international awards for their contributions.

Related Courses

• Environmental and Biological Nanoscience (MRes)
• Earth Sciences (PhD / MPhil)

Student Experience

At Birmingham, your university experience isn’t just about studying. You will have the opportunity to discover new experiences, develop different skills and make friends for life.

• Accommodation: As a postgraduate researcher, you’ll have a variety of choices of accommodation.
• Living in Birmingham: As one of the original pioneering cities, Birmingham is a melting pot for shopping, food and drink, nightlife, sport, culture, and industry.
• Campus life: Our green and spacious campus is the place where our community comes together to learn, relax and socialise.