Sedimentology, Stratigraphy and Palaeobiology

Award Award	Duration Duration	Start dates Start dates	Application Application
PhD (MPhil also available) PhD (MPhil also available)	Full-time: 3–4 years Part-time: 6–8 years Full-time: 3–4 years Part-time: 6–8 years	February and October February and October	January to April January to April

The study of sedimentary rocks and the fossils contained within them is critical to our understanding of the Earth system and the evolution of life. Studies using and developing sedimentological, stratigraphical and palaeobiological techniques form two themes in the Palaeoenvironmental Change Research Group within the School of Environment, Earth and Ecosystems Sciences at the OU.

Research in these themes include micro- and macro-fossil studies into evolutionary change through Earth history, plant morphology, sequence stratigraphy and the use of sedimentary records of orbital forcing to develop geological timescales.

A major focus of current research is the use of sedimentary rocks as archives of past environmental and sea-level change. As such, this work brings together both sedimentological and stratigraphical investigations with geochemical analyses of sedimentary rocks and fossils to develop novel proxies for tracing ancient environmental change.

Minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent). If you are not a UK citizen, you may need to prove your knowledge of English.

We encourage enquiries from prospective students on topics related to sedimentology, stratigraphy and palaeobiology (macro- and micro-fossil), as well as topics related to palaeoenvironmental change.

UK fee UK fee	International fee International fee
Full-time: £5,006 per year Full-time: £5,006 per year	Full-time: £16,420 per year Full-time: £16,420 per year
Part-time: £2,503 per year Part-time: £2,503 per year	Part-time: £8,210 per year Part-time: £8,210 per year

Some of our research students are funded via the Central England NERC Training Alliance; others are self-funded.

For detailed information about fees and funding, visit Fees and studentships.

To see current funded studentship vacancies across all research areas, see Current studentships.

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