Is geology A level a science for uni admissions

[Agiraffeisnotacat]

DS is picking A level subjects now and does not know what comes next. One possibility is a degree that requires 'a science' in the A levels.

The school say geology A level counts as a science but I can't find much online about whether universities actually do accept it as a science.

Does anyone know about this? Thanks

[Heirhelp]

I would imagine it would depend on the university and the course. If you look on the UCAS website you can get an idea of the entry requirements.

[GrabbyGrabby]

Have you looked at THIS GUIDE which is produced by the Russel Group Unis.

Does your son know what type of Uni and what type of course he might want o do? I mean if he is looking at Oxford then geology obviously won't cut it if they ask for a science subject.

[StealthPolarBear]

I'd have thought it was one of the humanities. I did it - I saw it as an extension of geography.

[Agiraffeisnotacat]

Thanks all, I have had a browse through UCAS at a few courses and it looks like biology is the science they want.

The school are really selling geology as a science though which Is what made me wonder.

He really wants to go into the police but there is a potential medical issue which we can't get clarity on. Chances from what I hear are 70/30 in favour of him meeting those requirements but they have said they can't confirm until he actually applies.

A possible alternative would be to be a paramedic and originally I had read that you needed 'a' science at A level but it now looks as that needs to be biology.

Unfortunately he really doesn't know what he wants to do if he can't get into the police so the aim now is to keep options open. We are nowhere near looking at where on earth he would go!

grabbygrabby that guide looks great, thank you. I will have a read through properly tomorrow.

[GrabbyGrabby]

Might he be better off doing a Btech or an ALevel plus a tech? If he is a hard worker then it might be easier for him to secure an excellent Btech rather than decent grades at ALevel.

Have you liked at paramedic degree requirements , here is an example.

I'm about about the school saying that geology will be treated as a science when it might not be. It's such an important decision I would sit down with him and have a good read around the options. Perhaps you could order some Uni prospectuses to browse through.

Has your son had a good look at the A level geology syllabus. I think it might have quite a bit of chemistry in it but you would need to check that.

[Agiraffeisnotacat]

No sadly he's not currently a hard worker, although definitely better now than previously but still got a way to go.

Yes I've had a look at the paramedic requirements this evening and he should be ok with hard work to get the grades required.

Yes school were very much selling the science element, saying geology is not just rocks but a mixture of chemistry, physics etc. I think it will be ruled out now as the hope was that it may be 'the' required science at A level but it looks like biology will have to be that. Biology is his favourite of the three sciences so it's not a big problem.

Thanks for your help.

[hellsbells99]

Geology is a science. Most degrees asking for a science A level though will specify which subjects are relevant though.

[titchy]

Definitely a science, but an applied science like physical geography, psychology and computing. Some courses won't accept applied sciences as sciences, but many do, even in the RG.

[InformalRoman]

Birmingham Uni, for example, counts Geology as a science, and it's part of the Cambridge Nat Sci physical sciences group of courses.

I wouldn't count Geology as an applied science - it's quite theoretical. However branches of it would be applied science (environmental, hydrology, engineering etc). Can't remember what the A level was like, but at degree level there's a lot of chemistry and a fair bit of maths and stats.

[user7214743615]

it's part of the Cambridge Nat Sci physical sciences group of courses.

Yes, but Geology A level would not get you into Nat Sci unless you had Maths, Physics and Chemistry A levels as well. Physics and Chemistry are enabling while Geology A level is not.

[InformalRoman]

Fair enough User, Geology might not count as a hard science, but Geology is still counted as a science subject. It is rarely offered in schools so OP's son is lucky to have it as an option.

[user7214743615]

Geology is a science but higher level university courses very rarely require "a science" as opposed to a specific science subject. OP is right to be concerned that Geology would not be acceptable to her DS' course choices.

[InformalRoman]

OP's question was "is Geology a science?". Not "would Geology be a relevant science to someone wanting to study to be a paramedic?". The answer to (a) is yes. The answer to (b) is no.

A number of good (ie RG) Earth Science degrees require X number of science A levels and provide a list of acceptable science subjects.

[bojorojo]

Police entry or paramedic was clarified later in the thread. Biology sounds a better choice for paramedic but what do the police want? I only know people who have gone in post degree these days. Geology great for civil and structural engineering by the way!

[Agiraffeisnotacat]

Thanks all for your input. It is only an option at one of the three possible sixth forms (the least preferred one) and I think will not be something he will take despite him being interested in. We are working hard at the biology revision now to get his grade up. He has sadly underperformed at school to date so needs to work hard to get his results up and be accepted at the other sixth forms.

For info, as I understand it the police don't much care what exams you do as long as you have the basics. It is all done on tests during the recruitment process.