The only condition is that the area is considered geologically suitable by the Department. With this in mind we will ask you, later in your second year, to provide a brief written statement of your plans and to discuss them with one of the teaching staff. We need to check that your area has reasonable exposure and geological problems, and that you have thought about safety and logistic arrangements. You will get a grant towards the cost of travelling to your field area and living in it. You apply for this through your college.
Most colleges are unable to pay the full cost of travel to an overseas field area.
However, this disadvantage can be set against the opportunity to take a foreign holiday before or after your spell of field work. You will spend your time in the field producing a geological map, cross-sections, lithological logs and field sketches, and collecting appropriate structural, lithological and palaeontological data and samples. The map is usually the main endeavour, but you may research specific aspects of the geology in more detail if you have time. This is your chance to make a really original scientific contribution. On occasions short published papers have derived from this sort of work.