Why study with us?

Our students choose to study with us for all kinds of reasons. Among them are the following:

Our teaching staff are active researchers, and their research feeds into teaching, notable through research projects.
We have excellent relationships between staff and students at an individual level which, with the ‘open door’ staff access policy, provides a means of response to student concerns and enables students to seek help and advice at times convenient to them.

Our certificate and diploma courses give you an excellent basis from which to pursue further study or to start your new career.
We offer undergraduate courses, all offered via part-time evening study.
Our postgraduate courses, taught either face-to-face or by expert distance learning, offer professional training in all aspects of earth and geological sciences.
Every year, we are joined by dedicated MPhil/PhD students, determined to pursue their passion for their subject through research.

Our online learning courses are an excellent way to improve your qualifications without leaving your home. Many students have used them to move on in their professional lives.

We know how important fieldwork is in our area of study, and we have found that our students value the experience.
In the field, you have the opportunity to cement your theoretical understanding of topics in geology with practical experience. No amount of classroom discussion on the subject of ancient sea-beds, for example, can really compare to the experience you have when you discover for yourself the evidence of wave ripples and fossils recorded in the rocks of a landscape. At the same time, you develop the skills you need to pursue independent research.
Find out more about our fieldwork opportunities.

If you've always wanted to study earth sciences, geology or planetary studies, but haven't been able to take the time, then we have the answer for you. Your daytime responsibilities don't have to get in the way of your ambitions, because almost all of our taught programmes begin and end in the evening.
Based in WC1, we are London's leading specialists in university education by part-time evening study. This means you can study for a part-time BSc degree over four years, or a part-time master's degree over two years, and gain a universally recognised University of London qualification.

If you are over 21, we will consider your application, even if you don't have 'A' or 'O' levels. Some of our best students have come to us through unconventional study routes.
All we ask is that you have a genuine interest in our courses and a desire to follow it at university level. Find out more about the entrance requirements for our courses, details of which are included in our course descriptions.

Researchers in the Department of Biological Sciences engage in world-class research. The Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences was third of all Environment and Earth Science Departments in the UK, and one of only three to have an average score higher than 3.0.
Find out more about our research.

At Birkbeck, we are experts in understanding our students' needs, and we offer a wide range of support for current students.

Our central location in Bloomsbury means you will find the major sights and experiences of London within easy reach:

Find out more