Master of Science in Volcanology

at University of Bristol - Clifton Campus United Kingdom

This course allows you to combine two historically interlinked disciplines and develop a breadth of skills across both economics and philosophy.

The economics part of the course is technically rigorous and will build your analytical skills. There are mandatory units in macro- and microeconomics, mathematics, statistics and econometrics (the application of statistical methods to data to estimate economic models). These are complemented by units in philosophy, which will equip you with skills in textual analysis, written and verbal expression, logic and critical thinking.

As you progress through your degree you will be able to take an increasing number of optional units and specialise in areas that interest you most.

Previously, economics options have included: History of Economic Thought; Environmental Economics; Current Economic Problems.

Previous philosophy options have included: Philosophy of Psychology; Evil, Deviance and Crime; Classical Chinese Philosophy.

This degree develops analytical and quantitative skills applicable to a wide range of careers in economics and beyond.

We teach economics in a technically rigorous way. Econometrics - the application of statistical methods to data to estimate economic models - is a central component of the programme. During the first two years mandatory units in macro and micro-economics, mathematics, statistics and econometrics provide you with a strong foundation.

You will complement this with optional modules from a wide range of choices within the Schools of Economics, Finance and Management and other parts of the University. The number of options increases as you progress through the degree, allowing you to select units from the areas of economics that most interest you.

In the final year most students choose an applied economics dissertation. You will also select from a wide range of optional units; in recent years these have included Behavioural Economics, Corporate Finance, Development Economics, Environmental Economics, Industrial Economics, International Economics and Operations Management.

If you love the challenge of thinking through a maths question and the satisfaction of having solved a difficult problem, but also want to think about a broad range of intellectual questions in a rigorous way, this course is for you.

Linked by the formal study of logic, the two components of the course complement each other. You will develop rigorous analysis and argument distinctive to the analytic philosophical tradition, while developing mathematical maturity to reason through subtle ideas in abstract mathematics.

There is also the opportunity to use your mathematical knowledge in the study of the philosophy of biology, economics and physics.

In your first year you will take 80 credit points of mathematics units in common with all other first-year maths students, for example linear algebra, topics in calculus and differential equations, analysis and an introduction to the ideas of proof and group theory. In philosophy you will take 40 credit points in two mandatory introduction to philosophy units.

In your second year a unit in realism and normativity is compulsory, leaving much scope to tailor the rest of your year to your own interests. This continues in the third year, which allows you to choose a variety of units in both mathematics and philosophy. You will complete a philosophy project in your third year.

This course combines philosophy with the study of Spanish, which provides a valuable skill set that is ideally tailored to the increasingly globalised workplace.

For philosophy you will study units covering introduction to philosophy, logic, and realism and normativity.

For Spanish, you will follow a curriculum designed to introduce you to many aspects of Hispanic and Latin American studies. As well as following a structured language course, you will study literature, history, thought, politics, linguistics and culture.

Spanish is the second most widely spoken European language in the world and is the second language of the US.

You will spend your third year abroad working or studying at a partner institution in a Spanish-speaking environment. This will enable you to refine your language skills and cultural understanding. For further details of year abroad opportunities visit Global Opportunities.

In your first year you will gain a broad understanding of the biology of normal and cancerous cells. In addition to studying the immune system, you will take pathology, microbiology and biochemistry units.

In the second year you will study the cellular and molecular basis of cancer and its therapy, as well as autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes and arthritis, and human cancers caused by viruses, such as papillomavirus and hepatitis B. You will take molecular genetics and an optional unit, possibly biochemistry or pharmacology, from a selection offered by other schools.

All practical teaching in years one and two is supported by the eBiolabs dynamic laboratory manual.

In the final year you will undertake a research project or scientific dissertation, working in a research group in our Biomedical Sciences building or in one of the surrounding hospitals. Your work may even be published in scientific literature.

The four-year BSc Cancer Biology and Immunology with Study in Industry is available by transfer after securing a placement during your second year.

This course immerses you in groundbreaking research and gives you the opportunity to contribute to work that could have a significant impact on future generations. It offers a breadth of topics, allowing you to choose your specialism while developing your knowledge and research skills.

In your first two years you will supplement your study of biochemistry with units relevant to medicine, such as pharmacology, physiology and molecular pathology. Your third year focuses on medically relevant aspects of biochemistry, such as those relating to cancer, cardiovascular disease and drug design.

In your fourth year you will carry out an extended, individual laboratory research project of up to 16 weeks under the supervision of a research group leader. You will also study Cell Biology of Development and Disease alongside a choice of either Synthetic Biology or Protein Assemblies and Molecular Machines.

This degree is designed for students with potential who do not have a science background. You can automatically progress from this course to our BSc or MSci Chemistry degrees.

Our chemistry courses offer a superb grounding in the subject. In years one and two you will study fundamental concepts in inorganic, organic and physical chemistry, and applications in areas such as analytical, environmental, materials and theoretical chemistry.

You will also develop your ability to design experiments and interpret results and gain key skills through our chemistry-specific communications and mathematics units.

You will get the opportunity to specialise after the first two years. BSc final-year project options include work in a research laboratory or a local school, helping to develop science resources or carrying out chemistry education research. On the MSci course you will complete a 20-week research project with an academic member of staff in your final year.

We are one of the UK's biggest chemistry schools and we have a superb reputation for teaching and research; over a third of our research was rated 'world-leading' in the Research Excellence Framework 2014.

This four-year MSci Physics course includes a year of gaining hands-on paid experience in the industry. A year spent in the industry can be a life-changing and rewarding experience. It can help you hone your skills in project management, teamwork and communication and provide invaluable insights into commercial pressures and real-world applied science.

Previously, our students have recently worked for The Culham Centre for Fusion Energy, Airbus, JP Morgan, Sharp, Rolls-Royce and the Science and Technology Facilities Council.

You will continue to study core physics via distance learning during your year in the industry in readiness for your final-year project or dissertation back at the University. Our students' final-year projects address questions at the frontier of our research fields and the most successful have been published in scientific journals.

Our physics graduates have an excellent record of employment, a testament to the value that employers place on the transferable skills that you gain on this course.