Palaeontology and Geology with an International Year

Undergraduate academic requirements

• Applications are welcomed from candidates offering A levels or equivalent overseas qualifications, including the International Baccalaureate or a recognised foundation programme.
• All candidates must achieve appropriate grades in their examinations; the grades required are listed under the entry requirements tab on each course page.
• Country equivalencies are published per country; for example, holders of the Indian Standard XII are considered for entry to the first year of undergraduate degree programmes.

Postgraduate academic requirements

• A bachelor's degree from a recognised university is required for postgraduate taught study, and each application is reviewed by the Admissions Tutor for the course.
• Country equivalencies are published per country; for example, holders of an Indian bachelor's degree are normally expected to have achieved 55% to 60% or higher for 2

  1 equivalency, or 50% to 55% for 2:2 equivalency, depending on the awarding institution.

• Applicants holding non-standard qualifications are advised to contact the relevant school or department to discuss whether their application would be considered.

English proficiency

Undergraduate

• IELTS

  6.0 overall with no less than 5.5 in any band for Group A courses, rising to 6.5 overall with no less than 6.0 for Group B, 7.0 overall with no less than 6.5 for Group C, and 7.0 overall with no less than 7.0 for Group D

• TOEFL

  for tests taken before January 2026, 80 overall for Group A courses, 88 overall for Group B, 95 overall with no less than 22 in any band for Group C, and 95 overall with no less than 23 in any band for Group D

• PTE Academic

  64 with no less than 59 in all four skills for Group A courses, 67 with no less than 64 for Group B, 76 with no less than 67 for Group C, and 76 in all four skills for Group D

• Cambridge (CAE/CPE)

  minimum overall score of 169 with no less than 162 in any component for Group A courses, 176 with no less than 169 for Group B, and 185 with no less than 176 for Group C and 185 for Group D

Course groups are listed on the international entry requirements page; English tests normally need to have been taken within two years of the programme start date, and only the most recent test score is accepted.

English proficiency waivers

Documents required

• Results transcript
• Personal statement
• References
• Copy of an English language certificate, where English language is a condition of the offer
• Copy of passport details

Documents

• A results transcript submitted with the application
• A copy of the applicant’s passport details

Essays and statements

• A personal statement answering three questions, each in its own section. Up to 4,000 characters across three sections, each at least 350 characters

Recommendations

• A reference, added to the UCAS application by the applicant’s school or college