Geography BSc(Hons)

Course structure

The course allows you to develop a programme of study that matches your interests and career ambitions. You will be able to follow a broad combined syllabus with elements of physical, human and environmental geography, or to focus on areas such as geomorphology, landscape change, environmental hazards and environmental management.

Teaching methods consist of lectures, practical classes, fieldwork and seminars, but real-world experience is at the heart of the curriculum. As such you will experience field trips to Greece in your first year and Sicily in your second. This practical fieldwork component allows you to apply your knowledge to real-world concerns.

Year 1

The first year introduces key themes in physical, human and environmental geography, with core modules that cover the physical forces of landscape change, the impacts of environmental change on the physical and human environments and the human modification of environmental processes. Fieldwork includes a trip to Greece. 

Modules

• Fundamentals of Physical Geography 
• Global Environmental Issues
• Human Geography
• Academic Learning and Field Skills
• Statistical and Spatial Data Analysis 

Option modules*

• The Earth and Ocean System
• Urban Geography
• Introduction to Ecology and Conservation

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Year 2

In your second year you can choose modules across physical, environmental or human geographies or choose to specialise in physical or environmental geography. Fieldwork includes a trip to Sicily. 

Modules

• Earth System Processes
• Practicing Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Sciences
• Research Design and Analysis with Dissertation Planning
• Geography Fieldwork, Sicily

Option modules*

• Ice Age Earth
• Human Origins and Evolution
• Prehistoric and Ancient Societies
• Environmental Pollution
• Climate Change
• Biogeography
• Sustainable Development
• Social and Cultural Geography
• GIS and Remote Sensing: Principles and Practice
• Basic Expedition Leadership
• Community Engagement
• Palaeoenvironments

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

Placement year

A placement year offers you a great opportunity to:

• build knowledge of real-world businesses and organisations
• develop existing skills and discover new ones
• make contacts in industry and commerce
• increase your confidence
• improve your time management.

In recent years, our students have been successful in competing for nationally advertised positions with the Department for Energy and Climate Change, Transport for London and the Field Studies Council.

Other students have secured placements with environmental firms and consultancies, a multi-national telecommunications company and a renewable energy research centre in Spain.

Final year 

The focus for your final year is your independent dissertation. You will work closely with an expert academic to investigate a topic of your choice, applying the research methods and analytical skills covered in the first two years of your course. 

Option modules enable you to tailor your programme of study to support your dissertation and your future career aspirations.

You also have the opportunity of fieldwork in Brazil.

Modules

• Dissertation

Option modules*

• Oceans and Coasts
• Aquatic Environments
• Humans of Ice Age Britain
• Geographies of Heritage
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Environmental Management: Air and Waste Management
• Cold Environments: Land systems, Processes and Environmental Change
• Water, Sanitation and Health
• Gender, Space and Embodiment
• Political Ecology: Contested Environments and Development
• Territory, Power and Security
• Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing
• Community Engagement
• Research Field Skills Course, Brazil
• Evolution of Life 

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

International equivalencies

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Fees

If you choose to take the professional placement (sandwich) year offered on this course you will pay a reduced fee during this year. Our fee for the professional placement year is £1,230 for home students and £2,060 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2019–20.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK/EU students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

What's included in the fee?

When costs such as health or DBS checks, or use of specialist materials are incurred as a mandatory requirement of the course they are included in your tuition fee.

You may incur additional costs depending on the optional modules or activities you choose. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. Before you apply check with the school that provides your course using the contact details in the Find out more tab (at the end of this page) for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly.

See our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as further information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Location

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Moulsecoomb campus map