Palaeontology and Geobiology MScR Level: Postgraduate research Subject: Earth, Environmental and Ecological Sciences Year of entry: 2026 Study options Full-time MScR | 1 year | Start date: September 2026 Part-time MScR | 2 years | Start date: September 2026 Key facts School School of GeoSciences College College of Science and Engineering PhD by Distance Not available School location Multiple campuses Apply now 19 to 21 November 2025: Postgraduate Virtual Open Days Join us live to explore postgraduate taught and research study at Edinburgh and gain key insights before you apply. Register now Overview About the degree programme The Masters by Research in Palaeontology and Geobiology is the only programme of its kind in the UK. The 12-month programme equips you with analytical skills and expert knowledge.Through close research supervision and training tailored to suit you, the MScR aims to:expose you to a range of key debates concerning methodology and ideasprovide you with tools for critical understandingoffer training in appropriate research methods related to your particular area of research focus Video: Study our Masters by Research in Palaeontology and Geobiology Study our Masters by Research in Palaeontology and Geobiology. Applying How to apply Please see our step-by-step guide to applying for a research degree in the School of GeoSciences. Applications that do not follow application guidelines will be placed on hold and eventually rejected as incomplete.Application process For programme application enquiries, please contact the Postgraduate Research Team:pgrsupport.geos@ed.ac.uk Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:How to apply Please ensure that you contact your potential supervisor(s) by email before applying, as the supervisor and research project are typically assigned before you are accepted to the programme. When to apply Due to high demand, there are two selection rounds with relevant deadlines for this programme. We will make a small number of offers to the most outstanding candidates on an ongoing basis, but hold the majority of applications until the next published selection deadline when we will offer a proportion of the places available.Deadlines for applicants applying for entry in 2026/27RoundApplication deadlinePlaces awarded112 January 202623 February 2026211 May 20268 June 2026 Application fee There is no fee to apply to this programme. What you need to apply As part of your online application, you will need to provide supporting information and documents, such as the following:a CVa research proposalname of supervisor (if known)copies of your degree certificates and academic transcripts that confirm your current or final marksevidence you meet the English language requirements (where applicable)certified translations if your original documents are not in EnglishWhen you start your application, you will be able to see the full list of documents you need to provide. ReferencesYou must also submit two references with your application. Apply Select the award, duration and delivery mode you want to study. Then select the start date you want to apply for. Select programme - Select a programme -MScR Palaeontology and Geobiology (1 year)MScR Palaeontology and Geobiology (2 years) Funding, fees and costs Funding Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:borrowing moneytaking out a loanfamily supportpersonal savingsincome from workemployer sponsorshipscholarshipsExplore sources of funding for postgraduate study Search for other funding opportunities You can find scholarships, bursaries and other funding you might be eligible for on our Scholarships and Student Funding site.Postgraduate funding opportunities Tuition fees Tuition fees by award and duration Tuition fees for full-time and part-time options are listed for one academic year. Full-time MScR Palaeontology and Geobiology (1 year) tuition fees Part-time MScR Palaeontology and Geobiology (2 years) tuition fees Graduate discount If you are a University of Edinburgh graduate, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on your tuition fees for this programme. You may also be eligible if you were a visiting undergraduate student.Find out how to receive your graduate discount Costs Additional programme costs This programme has a minimum additional cost of £1,000 per year (for full-time students).This is to support your research, by covering costs that are directly related to your project.Examples of such costs include:fieldworkconference attendancepurchase of small items of equipmentbookssubscriptionsFurther research costs may be required, depending on your project requirements. Accommodation and living costs You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.We estimate that you might spend £1,167 to £2,330 per month if you are a single student.Living costs include:foodutility billstravel, clothes, books and stationeryrecreational costs (for example, TV subscriptions and social events)Living costsAccommodation costs depend on where you live while studying and the type of accommodation you choose.University postgraduate accommodation options and costs Entry requirements These entry requirements are for the 2026-27 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2027-28 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2026. Qualifications A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in a relevant subject such as geology, biological sciences, environmental sciences, archaeology, anthropology, or a related discipline. International qualifications To find international equivalent qualifications, select where you studied from the country or region list. Where you studied - Select a country or region -AfghanistanAlbaniaAngolaArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBoliviaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBrazilBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCambodiaCameroonCanadaChileChinaColombiaCosta RicaCôte d'IvoireCroatiaCubaCyprusCzech RepublicDemocratic Republic of CongoDenmarkDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFinlandFranceGabonThe GambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGreeceGuatemalaGuineaHaitiHondurasHong Kong-SAR ChinaHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJordanKazakhstanKenyaKorea, Republic ofKuwaitLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLithuaniaLuxembourgMacau-SAR ChinaMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMauritiusMexicoMoldovaMongoliaMontenegroMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNepalNetherlands, TheNew ZealandNicaraguaNigeriaNorth MacedoniaNorwayOmanPacific IslandsPakistanPalestinian TerritoriesPanamaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPolandPortugalQatarRomaniaRussiaRwandaSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSierra LeoneSingaporeSlovakiaSloveniaSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSwedenSwitzerlandSyriaTajikistanTaiwanTanzaniaThailandTogoTrinidad and TobagoTurkeyTurkmenistanUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited States of AmericaUruguayUzbekistanVenezuelaVietnamWest Indies and CaribbeanZambiaZimbabweMy country or region is not listed English language requirements You must prove that your English language abilities are at a high enough level to study this degree programme.This is the case for all applicants, including UK nationals.You can meet our English language requirements with one of the following:an English language testa degree that was taught and assessed in Englishcertain professional qualifications English language tests we accept We accept any of the following English language tests, at the specified grade or higher: IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements. TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements. C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component. Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components. Oxford ELLT: total 7 with at least 6 in each component. Oxford Test of English Advanced: total 145 with at least 135 in each component. How old your English language tests can be Tests no more than two years oldThe following English language tests must be no more than two years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality:IELTS AcademicTOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition)Trinity ISEOxford ELLTOxford Test of English AdvancedTests no more than three and a half years oldAll other English language tests must be no more than three and a half years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts, regardless of your nationality. Degrees taught and assessed in English We accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English-speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration.UKVI list of majority English speaking countriesWe also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English-speaking countries (non-MESC).Approved universities in non-MESCHow old your degree can beIf you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old on the 1st of the month in which your programme starts.This time limit does not apply to your degree if you are a national of a majority English-speaking country. Find out more about our English language requirements Find out about other English language qualifications we accept, including professional qualifications.English language requirements Programme details Research profile Edinburgh has an excellent public and academic presence in palaeobiology and geobiology, and we are one of the leading centres of palaeontology and geobiology research in the UK.Our academic staffOur staff are world leaders in communicating science to the general public. They have written numerous books, ranging from children’s books to adult popular science tomes to textbooks, and appear regularly on television and radio. Our research staff have also published work in high-impact international journals such as Nature, Science and PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).The programme leaders, Professor Steve Brusatte and Professor Rachel Wood, are leading researchers in the field, whose research focuses on key questions around the:origin of major groups of animalsinteraction between evolution and environmental changegenealogical relationships of living and extinct speciesinfluence of mass extinctions on the history of lifeAlong with being regularly published in leading journals, their work has been extensively profiled by the popular press, and they are keen science writers and communicators.To support your pursuit of this degree, we also have staff in:palaeobiologygeochemistrygeobiologyastrobiologyCollaborationsYou will benefit from our strong collaborations with the National Museum of Scotland, our country’s leading natural history and cultural museum, with world-renowned collections of fossils.We are co-founders of the PalAlba Group, a consortium of scientists, conservation specialists and collectors working together to recover, record and research vertebrate fossils from Scotland.Across the University of Edinburgh, we also work closely with:geologistsbiologistsastrobiologistschemistsphysicistsengineersother scientistsThey will be available to co-supervise your MScR research projects.OutreachA major highlight of this degree is that it combines research with scientific outreach.You will gain skills in communicating your research through print, online and digital means, learning directly from scholars who are keen popularisers of science and well-known science writers.You will learn how to promote public awareness and understanding of key 21st century issues that relate to palaeontology and geobiology, such as extinctions, climate change and biodiversity. Our research community The Masters students form a cohort, which is part of the larger Edinburgh palaeontology group of faculty, postdocs, and PhD students.We take considerable pride that our group is diverse in terms of background, nationality, ethnicity and gender, and is typically social and collaborative. Programme structure This MScR programme (total 180 credits) comprises:compulsory taught courses (total 30 credits)optional taught courses (total 20 credits)dissertation (130 credits)Disclaimer: We are currently reviewing the programme structure of our MScR in Palaeontology and Geobiology programme for the academic year 2026/27, with an aim to introduce a new structure with 40 credits from compulsory taught courses and 140 credits from the dissertation.CoursesThis MScR programme has 30 credits of compulsory taught courses.DissertationYou will also complete an independent research exercise and submit a dissertation worth 130 credits. The research project will be developed during Semester 1, with most of the work taking place between January and August.Field workThe School of GeoSciences conducts fieldwork across the globe, from searching for fossils of dinosaurs in Romania and primitive mammals in the western United States, to studying how environmental changes helped usher in the rise of animals in Namibia, China and Russia.We also have active field programs in Scotland. You might have the opportunity to join a team in hands-on fieldwork on the Isle of Skye, one of the best places in the world to find fossils from the mysterious middle part of the Jurassic Period, including some of the first colossal long-necked dinosaurs and primitive flesh-eating tyrannosaurs, or other Scottish fossil sites.You will also be able to take part in annual trips to world-renowned fossil sites around Edinburgh, where the sciences of Geology and Palaeontology were forged in the 18th and 19th centuries.Many of the best MScR projects have a field component, and you will be encouraged to make fieldwork a part of your dissertation topic.Learning outcomesBy the end of the programme, you will gain expertise in or knowledge of:key debates appropriate to your particular research interesthow theoretical concepts ‘translate’ into methodological and hypothesis-testing frameworksresearch design principles and their practicepractical training in the use of specific theoretical, modelling, analytical and experimental methods Find out the aims and structure for each year of study on this programme. Full-time MScR Palaeontology and Geobiology (1 year) (2025-2026) We link to the latest information available. This may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative. Support You will work closely with one or more faculty members on an intensive Masters level research project.TrainingTraining is particular to each research project, and is conducted both one-on-one with the supervisor(s) and in larger groups. Methods training is, therefore, diverse and ranges from understanding how to describe skeletal anatomy from CT scans to employing geochemical methods using our unique instrumentation.You will also receive a more general experience in field palaeontology and scientific communication. Facilities There is a wide range of facilities available.To undertake your individual research project, you will have access to world-class analytical facilities, including:Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM)CT scanners and CT image processing softwarepalaeontological conservation laboratoryfossil preparation equipmentbone histology and thin sectioning equipmentelectronmicroprobediverse geochemical facilitiesLearn more about our facilities Careers Career opportunities This programme will provide you with a strong background for independent research to PhD level or for an applied career in:museumslibrariesmanagementmedia Careers Service Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals. The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies. With the Careers Service, you can: access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengthstry different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you developget help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobsattend careers events and practice interviewsget information and advice to help you make informed decisions Visit the Careers Service website Life at Edinburgh Accommodation We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single postgraduate taught students from outside the UK and new, single postgraduate research (typically PhD) students who:apply for accommodation by 31 July in the year when you start your programmeaccept an unconditional firm offer to study at the University by 31 Julystudy at the University for the whole of the academic year starting in SeptemberUniversity accommodation websiteAccommodation guarantee criteriaWe also offer accommodation options for couples and families.Accommodation for couples and familiesIf you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place Societies and clubs Our societies and sports clubs will help you develop your interests, meet like-minded people, find a new hobby or simply socialise.SocietiesSport Clubs The city of Edinburgh Scotland's inspiring capital will form the background to your studies — a city with an irresistible blend of history, natural beauty and modern city life. Find out more about living in Edinburgh Exercise, leisure and support facilities Outside of your studies, we offer a range of facilities that you might find useful day-to-day, including:sport and exercise facilitiesUniversity cafes and cateringEdinburgh University Students' Association (EUSA) venues and shopsa multi-faith chaplaincy for all faiths and nonea University nursery (based at King’s Buildings campus) Health and wellbeing support You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.The support services we offer include: a student counselling service a health centre (doctor's surgery) support if you're living in University accommodation dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustmentsHealth and wellbeing support services Disability and Learning Support Contact Academic contact Professor Rachel Wood Programme Director Contact details Work: +44 (0)131 650 6014 Email: pgrsupport.geos@ed.ac.uk Professor Stephen Brusatte Programme Director Contact details Work: +44 (0)131 650 6039 Email: stephen.brusatte@ed.ac.uk
