Geography BSc(Hons)

Course structure

This Geography degree 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 a field trip to Sicily in your second year. This practical fieldwork component allows you to apply your knowledge to real-world concerns.

You have the option to enrol on this course part-time, giving you more flexibility in the way you choose to study.

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

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.

Modules

Core modules

• Fundamentals of Physical Geography

  This module provides a theoretical and practical introduction to azonal (tectonic, climatic, hydrological, fluvial, coastal, slope, aeolian, and biogeographical) and zonal (glacial and periglacial) physical geographical systems. You will examine the ways in which these systems interact with and influence human activities, both at the present day and over archaeological timescales.

• Global Environmental Challenges

  This module introduces pressing global environmental challenges which you'll explore through natural science and social science case studies. The module focuses on scientific, social, economic and political aspects of current and past environmental issues and examines how some of the issues may be addressed through interdisciplinary management and mitigation.

• Human Geography

  This module provides a critical introduction to key themes in human geography. You will develop an appreciation of geographical concepts such as nature, space, place and scale through consideration of geographies of global political-economic change, past and contemporary cultural geographies and geographical imaginations, and social geographies of everyday life.

• Academic Learning and Field Skills

  This module will introduce you to academic study skills, fieldwork skills and transferable skills for geography and environmental sciences. The module will support you in how to learn at university, and in particular, with learning independently. You'll also take part in a residential field course where you will learn field data collection and analysis techniques, methodology design and how to present research findings.

• Statistical and Spatial Data Analysis

  This module introduces techniques used to analyse geographical and environmental data in both the academic and professional worlds. You'll develop the skills and abilities needed to display data graphically and visually, and to assess patterns/relationships through statistical testing, and geospatial display and analysis. You'll become a competent user of statistical software to support and hone your skills, and in the use and application of geospatial/remote sensing data and associated geographical information systems (GIS) software packages.

Options*

• A Brief History of Earth

  Explore the evolution of the Earth and its climatic and environmental change over time. You will examine key concepts in the academic disciplines of geology, quaternary science and archaeology, enabling you to understand deep time trajectories alongside more recent climatic and environmental changes, through to the modern epoch of the Anthropocene.

• Cities and Social Change

  Explore key concepts, debates and issues in urban geography. The module is an exploration of the character and history of selected modern cities from across the world, examining the conflicts and contradictions inherent in the social experience of the cities and the policies and interventions linked to resolving their problems. We investigate concerns around inclusivity and equity as they impact diverse social groups and will explore the interrelationships between urban development and social change.

• Introduction to Ecology and Conservation

  This module will introduce you to key concepts and principles in both ecology and conservation science – illustrated with case studies. The links between ecology and conservation and also between theory and applied research are emphasised

• Past Landscapes and People

  This module introduces key concepts surrounding past societies and the way they viewed, interacted with, and changed their environment. You will explore the techniques and theories that archaeologists use to engage with the past, and how the subject of archaeology interacts with physical and human geography. You will explore human impacts on past environments and put how the modern landscape has been created through the human activities into context. 

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

Year 2

In your second year of your Geography degree 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

• Professional Practice for Global Challenges
• Research and Field Skills

Option modules*

• Earth Surface Processes
• Ice Age Earth
• Human Origins and Evolution
• Ancient and Prehistoric Societies
• Environmental Pollution
• Climate Change
• Sustainable Futures
• Critical Digital Geographies
• Social Justice in Everyday Spaces
• GIS and Remote Sensing: Principles and Practice

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

If you start this course in September 2023, from your second year you'll be able to choose a specialist subject to focus on and have that reflected in the degree title that you graduate with. Subjects you can specialise in are archaeology, geoscience, or remote sensing and GIS. Find out more in the Applying for 2024 section below.

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.

During the Geography BSc(Hons) degree you also have the opportunity of fieldwork in Brazil.

Modules

• Dissertation

Option modules*

• Tectonic Geomorphology
• Rivers, Coasts and Wetlands: Assessment and Management
• Humans of Ice Age Britain
• Dynamic Landscapes
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• The Frozen Planet
• Water, Sanitation and Health
• Atmosphere, Weather and Climate
• Waste Management and the Circular Economy
• Geographies of Genders and Sexualities
• Political Ecology: Contested Environments
• Confronting Coloniality and Racism: Political Geographies of Territory and Security
• Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing
• Community Engagement
• Research Field Skills, Brazil

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

Meet the team

International requirements and visas

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

Visas and immigration advice

Course 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 £1,410 for UK students and £2,180 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2023–24.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

• Fees, bursaries, scholarships and govt funding info for UK and international undergraduate and postgraduate students
• Student finance and budgeting while studying
• About the university’s fees by checking our student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf)

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Local area

Maps

Support and wellbeing

Sport at Brighton