Intro

Our accredited Geography BSc(Hons) examines crucial contemporary issues including the climate crisis and human impacts on the environment, global sustainability and the circular economy.

Focused on physical and environmental geography, you’ll also cover elements of human geography featured on our BA(Hons) giving you a broad foundation in the subject. You can tailor the course to your career aspirations through your module choices.

Learning with our team of active researchers you’ll build on knowledge and skills learned in the classroom and the lab through field work. Field trip locations include the inspiring South Downs, Sicily and an optional trip to Brazil.

The option of a work placement year and visiting lecturers from industry will give you a feel for what the working world is like. Alongside this you’ll also develop transferable skills in presentation and teamwork – all helping you to get career-ready.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

UCAS code F800

Full-time 3 years
With placement year 4 years
Part-time 4–6 years

Accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).

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Apply now with UCAS for 2022

Course content

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 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.

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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 Issues

This module introduces pressing global environmental issues 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 will introduce you to a variety of techniques utilised in both the academic and professional world for the analysis of geographical and environmental data. Emphasis is placed on developing skills and abilities to graphically/visually display data and assess patterns/relationships through statistical testing, and geospatial display and analysis. The module will introduce you to and allow you to become a competent user of statistical software.

Options*

The Earth and Ocean System

In this module you will explore and discuss the four ‘spheres’ of the Earth system: the lithosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere, and how they interact to produce the stratigraphic record of Earth history.
Urban Geography

This module will introduce you to key concepts, debates and issues in the sub-discipline of urban geography. It aims to provide you with detailed knowledge of the character and history of selected cities and urban settlements, drawn from both the Global North and the Global South, and their place within wider systems. Case studies of cities, towns and urban settlements seen as exemplifying social, cultural, economic and political processes of urban change and patterns of urbanisation will be explored.
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 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
Research Design and Analysis with Dissertation Planning
Geography Fieldwork, Sicily

Option modules*

Earth Surface Processes
Ice Age Earth
Human Origins and Evolution
Prehistoric and Ancient Societies
Environmental Pollution
Climate Change
Sustainable Futures
Social and Cultural Geography
GIS and Remote Sensing: Principles and Practice
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.

Male student surrounded by computer screens

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*

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
Atmospheric Environment
Waste Management and the Circular Economy
Gender, Sex and the Body
Political Ecology: Contested Environments
Coloniality, Territory and Security
Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing
Community Engagement
Research Field Skills Course, Brazil

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

Meet the team

Dr Chris Carey, course leader

I have over 15 years’ experience working within the archaeological and environmental sectors with a particular focus on human environmental dynamics in the Holocene, archaeometallurgy and prehistory.

Through teaching I want students to share my passion for human interaction with the environment, especially in prehistory. To facilitate this many of my modules involve fieldwork. The modules I teach on include Ice Age Earth, Prehistoric Societies of Europe, Earth Surface Processes and Statistical and Geospatial Data Analysis. Through studying these modules I hope students find a different perspective and gain new insights into prehistoric societies, climate change and human-environment interaction.

Professor David Nash (Professor of Physical Geography)

I am a physical geographer with teaching and research interests at the interface of geomorphology, climatology, history and archaeology.

I like to use as many real world examples as possible to put teaching into context, because I think everything can be really abstract. I like to illustrate with plenty of visuals and also information from latest research papers as well as from my own projects. I try to encourage students to read extensively and take a critical approach, for example in the Climate Change module students consider the views of climate change sceptics, a really useful approach for understanding the strengths and weaknesses of current climate change arguments.

I am strongly committed to fieldwork and in addition to UK and overseas field courses, I like to make use of the local area for teaching. For example, we visit the cliffs at Peacehaven as part of the module Ice Age Earth, where students have the opportunity to examine the impacts of past periglacial processes on chalk landscapes.

Podcast: Prof Nash talks about his research the origin of the giant sarsen stones at Stonehenge that made headlines worldwide, as well as the climate crisis.

Dr Annie Ockelford, principal lecturer

I am primarily interested in the discipline of fluvial geomorphology with particular emphasis on how periods of unsteadiness, such as floods, affect the dynamics of fluvial environments using both field and experimental approaches. I regularly use my research findings to support outreach events run for schools, for the public at science festivals, and for specialist interest groups.

I focus on using my research to inform my teaching and I use a variety of different teaching methods to engage my students. I am particularly keen on using the research facilities, such as the hydraulic flumes we have at Brighton, to run practical sessions where students can design and run their own experiments to collect data for analysis and subsequently compare their own data with current research outputs. I am also interested in how students learn within the geoscience discipline and have a current project looking at how augmented reality can be used to support teaching and learning.

Podcast: Dr Ockelford discusses her research on rivers and floods and how she shared her research findings with MPs and governmental organisations in Westminster

Find out about the rest of the course team

How this course is delivered

How will my course be taught?
For the academic year that starts in September 2022 we’re planning for all students to be taught face-to-face on campus, enhanced by some online learning.

Students who started their course with us in 2021 are on campus for some face-to-face learning including tutorials, workshops, laboratory classes and studio sessions. They are also taking part in off-campus learning activities such as placements, field trips and study visits. And all of our campus facilities – libraries, learning spaces, restaurants, gyms and more are open.

Like all universities we are following government guidance and we are monitoring the pandemic very closely. Should Public Health advise it we have robust plans in place for additional safety measures to be introduced to enable everyone to continue learning on campus, and, as a last resort, for students to continue their learning remotely.

We will update you regularly on our teaching plans for the next academic year as you progress your application with us.

When does my course start?
The 2022 academic year begins on Monday 26 September 2022. Teaching for most courses starts the following week.

Many education courses, some health science courses including Medicine, and some postgraduate business courses have an earlier start date. Check your offer letter for the start date of your course.

Our latest news

Developing resilience and moving forward

Pranil Raja graduated from our Geography BSc(Hons) in 2019.

Geographies of placemaking, inclusion, regeneration and violence in Hastings

We ran our first-year undergraduate Geography Earth and Environment field skills trips at the beginning of November.

Investigating how LGBTQ communities influence urban space

Geography and Environment students visited Soho (London) for a field trip investigating how sex, sexuality, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) communities influence urban space – and are influenced by urban space in turn.

Why study geography at university?

Watch Dr Nick McGlynn’s presentation about what geography is really about and why studying it is such a great choice.

Careers

Professional accreditation

Our Geography BSc(Hons) is accredited by the Royal Geographical Society with IBG. This is independent recognition that the knowledge, skills and other attributes expected of high-quality geography graduates are delivered by our course.

Graduating from an accredited course can also lay the foundation for professional registration as a Chartered Geographer if you choose to embark on a career in a geography-related field.

Prepare for your career

In your career you need a combination of knowledge, skills, personal qualities and relevant experiences – and you’ll get all of this from your degree.

Apply your learning and consolidate your geographical scientific knowledge and skills in the lab and in the field.

Strengthen transferrable skills in time management, group working, communication, presenting, designing solutions and software skills. All of which help to prepare you for your career.

Learn with staff who are active in research and consultancy, you’ll build your specialist research skills and gain more in-depth knowledge in the areas that interest you most.

Gain real-world, related experience and make a difference getting involved with community groups and voluntary organisations.

Placement

Taking an optional placement year offers lots of advantages.

You get to:

apply your learning to real-life situations and challenges
develop your existing skills and gain new ones
explore career options, helping you think about what you don’t want to do as well as what you do
boost your confidence, time-management and organisational skills
make contacts while working in a professional environment
come back for your final year more focused, more organised and more confident

Work related experience

The Community Engagement option module in your second year is a great way to gain valuable skills and experience a different way of learning. You get to complete a practical project with a local community or voluntary organisation, such as the Green Centre in Brighton, that reflects your academic interests.

Volunteering is another way to develop your skills and gain practical work experience while contributing to the wider community.

Facilities for learning

You will gain valuable, hands-on experience in our specialist labs and using our field equipment, including:

Environment and Public Health Lab
Soil and Water Analysis Labs
Soil and Sediment Analysis Lab
Hydraulics Lab
Environmental Simulation Lab
Scanning Electron Microscopy facility
Air quality lab
School of Applied Sciences computer suites running GIS and other professional software
Equipment for field-based geophysical surveying
Field collection equipment

Professional links

Research informs our teaching, helping our students to think and learn like professionals. You will learn with Brighton-based researchers who are tackling global issues such as sustainable riverine management and air quality. Our research spans Environment and Public Health, Society, Space and Environment, and also includes the Centre for Spatial, Environmental and Culture Politics and the Centre for Aquatic Environments.

Guest lectures from industry experts and our own graduates enhance your learning, giving you valuable insights into real-world working environments as well as networking opportunities.

Graduate destinations

Our Geography graduates have gone on to careers in organisations including the Environment Agency, Southern Water, Low Carbon Europe, GIS consultancies. They are working in roles such as GIS officer, environmental consultant, energy consultant, sustainability manager, performance analyst, archaeologist, heritage manager, and planning and development surveyor.

Further study

We have opportunities for further study at postgraduate level in this field:

Supporting your employability

Outside of your course, our Careers Service is here to support you as you discover (and re-discover) your strengths and what matters to you. We are here for you throughout your university journey as you work towards a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Connect with our careers team

Find part-time work that you can combine with your studies.
Find, or be, a mentor or get involved with our peer-to-peer support scheme.
Develop your business ideas through our entrepreneurial support network.
Get professional advice and support with career planning, CV writing and interview top tips.
Meet potential employers at our careers fairs.
Find rewarding volunteering opportunities to help you discover more about what makes you tick, and build your CV.

Whatever your career needs, we are here to help. And that's not just while you are a student, our support carries on after you've graduated.

Find out more...

Coloured background with the words Be More, Connected, Skilled, Emlployable

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

A-levels or BTEC
Entry requirements are in the range of A-level BBB–BCC (120–104 UCAS Tariff points), or BTEC Extended Diploma DMM–MMM. Our conditional offers typically fall within this range.

International Baccalaureate
26 points, to include three subjects at Higher level.

Access to HE Diploma
Pass with 60 credits overall. At least 45 credits at level 3, with 24 credits at merit or above.

GCSE (minimum grade C or grade 4)
At least English language, maths and science.

Foundation degree/HND/HNC
60% in international foundation. Applicants with an HND or foundation degree may be considered for year 2 entry.

Studied before or got relevant experience?
A qualification, HE credits or relevant experience may count towards your course at Brighton, and could mean that you do not have to take some elements of the course or can start in year 2 or 3.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

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

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,250 GBP

International (full-time) 14,892 GBP

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 £1,370 for UK students and £2,120 for international students. This fee may be subject to small increases, in line with inflation.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. 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. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Applied Sciences in the 2021–22 academic year are listed here.

Where required:
- all students are provided with a laboratory coat, safety glasses and log book.
- a budget to cover laboratory consumables and equipment for your final year project is included in the fees for all students.
- access to key subject journals and subject specific databases is provided, as well as a site licence for industry-standard chemical drawing software.
- essential instruction booklets (laboratory handbooks) are provided, as is project poster printing and thesis binding. However, you should budget for books, printing and stationery for personal study.

For our ecology and conservation courses there are compulsory field trips for which you should budget up to £200. There are also optional field trips for which you may choose to budget up to £2,700. You may also need to buy appropriate clothing for outdoor use.
DBS checks for MPharm students are included in the fee.
Costs for MPharm placement travel is reimbursed up to a specified amount depending on location of placement.
The independent mapping project is a mandatory part of the Geology BSc(Hons) involving independent fieldwork that is undertaken in the summer between years 2 and 3. The cost of this fieldwork is not included in the fee, and you will need to meet this additional cost yourself.
Travel and accommodation costs are included for all mandatory taught residential field trips, but you’ll need to provide your own food and drink.
Optional placements and day trips may include additional costs. This will vary depending on where and how long the field trip is but you should budget approximately £1,500.
Some students require specialist outdoor equipment and/or personal protective equipment (PPE) and should budget up to £100.
If you choose to take an optional paid placement you’ll be expected to cover your own travel, accommodation, food and drink.
You will have access to computers and necessary software, however many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses. Find out what free software is available from the University of Brighton.
In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but students may wish to print notes which would involve an extra cost.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2022–23.

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 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.

Location

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Over the last four years Moulsecoomb has undergone a major transformation, planned with accessibility, inclusivity and sustainability in mind.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

On campus you’ll find professional-standard facilities and learning resources for all of our subjects and a brand new academic building Elm House, alongside the library, student centre, fitness facilities and the Students’ Union.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students who apply by 30 June.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
Moulsecoomb campus is linked to Moulsecoomb Place, Mithras halls and Varley Park. All halls are self-catered.
- Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
- Moulsecoomb Place halls are all self-catered and are located right on campus.

Want to live independently? We can help – find out more about private renting.

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Halls

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Park

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Students eating at the Hub

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

Sport at Brighton

Sport Brighton

Sport Brighton brings together our sport and recreation services. As a Brighton student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition.

Find out more about Sport Brighton.

Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Cricket Academy

New for September 2023, our Cricket Academy offers aspiring players the opportunity to continue their cricket development alongside studying for a degree. The programme offers a world-class training environment with the highest quality coaching.

Find out more about the Cricket Academy.

Student views

Aimee Clark

"My time at the University of Brighton showed me why people say that university is the best time of your life.

"I am now seconded out to Transport for London through an environmental consultancy. I am working on workplace travel planning with central London businesses to reduce car use. The best bit about my job is doing something that is making a difference to carbon reduction."

Anthony Easthorpe

"Studying at the University of Brighton enabled me to develop a thorough understanding of key geographical theories, and the open-door policy adopted by tutors helped to create a relaxed environment.

"The wide range of modules and the ability to put learned techniques into practice in well-equipped laboratories and residential and overseas field trips further enriched the entire learning experience."

Stay in touch

Join an online event

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

Statistics

Find out more about how the academic year and degree courses are organised, and about learning and assessment activities you might get to grips with at Brighton. More specific information about this course is detailed in the programme specification (linked below). You can find out also about the support we offer to help you adjust to university life.

Course and module descriptions on this page were accurate when first published and are the basis of the course. Detailed information on any changes we make to modules and learning and assessment activities will be sent to all students by email before enrolment, so that you have all the information before you come to Brighton.

Discover Uni

Discover Uni enables you to compare information when choosing a UK university course. All UK universities publish Discover Uni data on their website.

Programme specification

The programme specification is the approved description of each course. They give a detailed breakdown of the content and structure of the course, and are updated following course changes.

Programme specification