Geological Oceanography Undergraduate

Like its BSc counterpart, this four year degree focuses on the study of marine sediments within an Earth system science context. This degree focuses on the study of marine sediments within an Earth system science context. It is concerned with sedimentary processes (the origin, transport and deposition of particles in the marine environment), and with marine sediments and rocks, in particular those formed in the past 2 million years, but also further back in time. It differs from the BSc course in that it places emphasis on gaining skills and knowledge of direct relevance to the offshore survey and hydrocarbon industry.

Geological Oceanographers are  required to tackle issues such as offshore site investigation related to renewable energy infrastructure and oil and gas exploration, climate and sea-level change, and coastal erosion. These are challenging and buoyant areas of development; there is currently a deficit of suitably qualified people for these roles. Upon graduation, you will not only have a deep understanding of the ‘earth system’, but you will also have a broad range of practical skills in sedimentology, geophysics and Geotechnics. Data integration capabilities across these disciplines are in short supply within the offshore industry, but it is widely recognized by employers as being of great value. 

Placement Year 

This course is available as a 4-year ‘with Placement Year’ option. Please apply for Geological Oceanography with Placement Year MSci  F65P. Find out more about 'with Placement Year' courses here. 

The placement year provides you with a fantastic opportunity to broaden your horizons and develop valuable skills and contacts through working with a self-sourced organisation relevant to your degree subject. The Placement Year is undertaken at the end of the second year and students are away for the whole of the academic year. The minimum period in placement (at one or more locations) is seven calendar months; more usually you would spend 10-12 months with a placement provider. You would normally start sometime in the period June to September of your second year and finish between June and September the following year. Placements can be UK-based or overseas and you will work with staff to plan and finalise the placement arrangements. 

You will be expected to find and arrange a suitable placement to complement your degree, and will be fully supported throughout by a dedicated member of staff at your academic School and the University’s Skills and Employability Services. 

Why choose Bangor University for this course?

• Our School is one of the largest university centres teaching marine sciences in Britain and is one of the  biggest in Europe.
• The geologists on our staff have expertise in the relevant subject areas and we have strong links with the offshore and hydrocarbon industry.
• We have a £3.5m ocean-going research ship as well as several smaller survey boats.
• We are unique in the UK in offering the sedimentology / geophysics / geotechnics combination of subject areas – and the School of Ocean Sciences is very well recognized amongst practicing professionals as providing high quality employees to the offshore sector.

The course involves up to 25-35  hours per week of lectures, practicals (laboratory and fieldwork),  private study, tutorials and project work. You will also complete literature reviews, exercises, essays, practical and field-work write-ups and your own research.

In the final year you work on a practical research project throughout both semesters. Practical work is an important element and includes free day trips as well as the residential field course in South Wales.

In the Third and Final years, you will be invited to a series of guest lectures (and often interviews) with prospective employees; and be offered trips to various national industry meetings (e.g.Oceanology, Ocean Business).

What will you study on this course?

Please see below.

Modules for the current academic year

Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Geological Oceanography Modules page.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

Mandatory Costs:

Year 3 residential fieldtrip. Students will be required to cover cost of personal subsistence £10/day for 7 days food.

Suitable clothing and equipment for fieldwork will be required e.g. suitable footwear, waterproofs, rucksack.  The cost of these will vary.  Approximate cost: £50-£100

Appropriate stationary for any note-taking during classes e.g. notepad, pens and pencils.  The cost of these will vary.  Approximate cost: £20-£30. 

Necessarily Incurred Costs:

Materials for the preparation of academic poster for assessment.  The cost and number of these will vary.  Approximate cost £10-£15.

Travel and subsistence costs if undertaking extended periods fieldwork as part of Year 4 research project. The cost will vary by project and may only be partly incurred because travel and accommodation costs for shorter periods of fieldwork can be covered. Any costs will be made clear before projects are chosen by the student and not all projects will incur such costs. Approximate cost for a UK-based project £100. 

Notes:

The School of Ocean Sciences is based in Menai Bridge, c. 1.5 miles from Bangor and the halls of residence. Most classes are held on the Bangor site, but some laboratory practicals are held in Menai Bridge (typically 6-10 per semester). Travel to these are covered in Year 1, but not in subsequent years.  Many walk or cycle between the venues, but some opt for public or private transport. Approximate cost if latter two options taken: £40/year.

 

 

 

Mandatory Costs

Year 3 residential fieldtrip. Students will be required to cover cost of personal subsistence £10/day for 7 days food.

Suitable clothing and equipment for fieldwork will be required e.g. suitable footwear, waterproofs, rucksack.  The cost of these will vary.  Approximate cost: £50-£100

Appropriate stationary for any note-taking during classes e.g. notepad, pens and pencils.  The cost of these will vary.  Approximate cost: £20-£30. 

Necessarily Incurred Costs:

Materials for the preparation of academic poster for assessment. The cost and number of these will vary. Approximate cost £10-£15.

Notes:

The School of Ocean Sciences is based in Menai Bridge, c. 1.5 miles from Bangor and the halls of residence. Most classes are held on the Bangor site, but some laboratory practicals are held in Menai Bridge (typically 6-10 per semester). Travel to these are covered in Year 1, but not in subsequent years. Many walk or cycle between the venues, but some opt for public or private transport. Approximate cost if latter two options taken: £40/year.

General University Costs

Home/EU Student Tuition Fees (starting in 2019–20 & 2020–21)

• Full time: £9,000 per year
• Part time: £750 per 10 credits

International Student Tuition Fees*
* Please note: the international tuition fees displayed are for the current academic year (2020-21). The fees for the next academic year (2021-22) will be confirmed soon.

When coming to University, you will have two main costs, Tuition Fees and Living Costs.

There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:

• If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
• If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for guest tickets (£12 each).

Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:

1. Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
2. Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
3. Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.

USA Requirements

International Year Zero:  HSD GPA 2.0 OR SAT 1500+ 
International Year 1:  HSD GPA 3.0 OR SAT 500+ each section OR ACTs 26+  
Undergraduate Courses:  HSD GPA 3.0 OR SAT 550+ each section OR ACTs 26+  
Postgraduate Courses:  Bachelor Degree GPA of 3.0. GRE not required 
PhD/Research Course:  Masters Degree 

Note: Some courses may require higher entry requirements. Refer Individual Course page for details. 

Applicants from USA need NOT provide additional evidence of English Language ability, if previous education was with English medium of instruction. Otherwise, an IELTS overall 6.0 with 5.5 in each component or equivalent is normally required (some courses may require a higher score).

For 2021 entry:

Offers are tariff based, 80 - 128 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.:

• A Levels (including grades BC in 2 science subjects -Physics, Maths, Chemistry, Biology, Geology, Economics, Psychology, Environmental Science or Geography; excluding General Studies)
• International Baccalaureate Diploma (including H5 in 2 science subjects)
• BTEC National/Extended Diploma in Applied Science**: MMP - DDM
• City & Guilds Advanced Technical / Extended Diploma in Environmental Conservation or Countryside & Environmental**: MMP - DDM
• Access to HE Science**
• Welsh Baccalaureate is accepted.
• Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma is not accepted.

International Candidates: school leaving qualifications and college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements). More information here.

We also welcome applications from mature applicants.

*For a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com.

**Similar subject areas may be considered on a case by case basis.

General University Requirements

We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.

All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.

As part of the University’s policy we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.

To study a degree, diploma or certificate course you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com

We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more help and advice about being a mature student at Bangor, please visit the Study at Bangor site.

Specific entry requirements can be seen on the individual course pages.

EU and International students' entry requirements

For information and further detailed guidance on entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.

Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor  University International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.

More information

Home/EU students and International UCAS applicants

E-mail for General Admissions: admissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to:

Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF

Telephone: +44 (0)1248 383717 

International students (non-UCAS applicants)

Email to International Admissions: internationaladmissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to

Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF

Telephone: +44 (0) 1248 382028

The course is ideal preparation for careers in research, oil and gas exploration and the offshore industry, environmental impact  assessment. the water supply  industry, coastal zone management, government advisory bodies and the  scientific media.

Opportunities at Bangor

The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. Developing your personal skills and enhancing your employability while at university is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market.

The Bangor Employability Award (BEA) and Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)

The Bangor Employability Award enables students to build on their transferable skills through the recognition of activities they become involved in during their university life. Students can gain points towards the award through extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, attending workshops or actively participating in the Students’ Union’s clubs and societies.

The HEAR is a final graduation report that all undergraduates receive. The report itemises all academic achievements and additional extra and co-curricular achievements. Academic achievements appear on the report automatically and students are able to note their eligible activities by using the online platform ‘My Employability Hub’. This ensures that future employers are made aware of the additional skills the student has gained outside of the curriculum.

The Award is open to everyone and taking part in the scheme can make a major difference to your performance in the graduate job market.

Internships

Bangor University runs undergraduate and postgraduate internship schemes twice a year, which allow students to work in a professional environment while learning relevant skills and earning money.

Internships offer valuable experience in a professional workplace and there are a range of internships you can get involved in.

Student Volunteering

Not only is volunteering worthwhile – it also improves your employability and widens your experience.

The Students’ Union has a dedicated Student Volunteering Office (SVB) which currently contributes a total of 600 hours each week, promoting a close relationship between the university and the local community. Find out more on the Student Volunteering pages of the Bangor Student’s Union website.

TARGETconnect - Working while you Study

The Skills and Employability Service offers support to students searching for employment during and after their studies.

TARGETconnect advertises the following opportunities:

• Graduate jobs – Local, National and International
• Full-time, part time, permanent and temporary jobs
• Work experience / internships
• Voluntary opportunities

General University Application

How to apply through UCAS

Apply online via UCAS

UCAS stands for Universities and Colleges Admissions Service. All university applications are processed through UCAS and then passed on to the universities listed.

Students may apply for a maximum of five courses. For Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary courses students are only allowed to apply for four courses.

The application form is found on the UCAS website, under ‘Apply’.

When to apply?

We advise you to apply as early as you can as we will start considering applications and making offers straight away. The initial UCAS deadline for UK and EU students is 15 January, however we welcome applications after this date. Those received between 15 January and 30 June will continue to be forwarded to universities by UCAS and will receive consideration where places are still available.

Your Personal Statement

Writing your Personal Statement is the part of the application form that requires most work. You are only allowed 47 lines or 500–550 words to explain why you wish to study the course and the skills you have that are essential for university study.

To write a successful personal statement for your UCAS application you must have a good understanding about the course and its content. Remember that you write only one personal statement for your five choices. Make sure that the courses are similar, if not the same, and make sure that you do not mention a specific course or university.

Read our advice on how to draft a winning personal statement or watch our video guide.

After you’ve applied

You should keep an eye on your application on UCAS ‘Track’. Offers from universities will appear on track and you will be able to accept or decline offers.

You can only reply when you have received all your decisions. The types of reply you can make are firm acceptance and insurance acceptance. Usually students reply in early May.

International Student?

If you are an international student, our International Student pages offer further information on applying.

As an international student applying to study one of our undergraduate programmes you can:

• apply via UCAS,
• or apply direct to Bangor through our online direct application system
• or apply with the help of one of our recruitment agents

Erasmus student?

We receive around 350 exchange students every year from all over the world. 45% of these students come from Europe and the remainder from as far as Singapore, South Korea and Australia.

The University’s International Exchanges Office is responsible for welcoming these students.

Confused about your next steps?

Take a look at our Going to University website for information and advice on getting ready for university.