How to become a palaeontologist
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
University
You could do a degree in:
- botany
- Earth sciences
- geology
- palaeontology
- zoology
Some employers, like museums or oil and gas companies, may ask for a postgraduate qualification like a MGeol, MBiol or MSci.
Other employers, like universities or research institutions, will expect you to have completed, or be working towards, a PhD in your specialist area of interest.
Entry requirements
You'll usually need:
- 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
- 2 or 3 A levels, or equivalent, including a science, for a degree
- a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study
More Information
More Information
Career tips
You may find it helpful if you can speak a second language because you'll often be working with colleagues from around the world.
Further information
You'll find more on palaeontology training through The Palaeontological Association.