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 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.

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 will provide a theoretical and practical introduction to a range of 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 will introduce you to a range of pressing global environmental issues which are explored from both natural science and social science angles, via a range of case studies. The module focuses on scientific, social, economic and political aspects of current and past environmental issues and explores how some of the issues may be addressed through interdisciplinary management and mitigation. Workshop sessions involving targeted pre-reading and small group working will take place at specific intervals.

• 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 a range of 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 and autonomously. The module also involves 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 the use of both classic and cutting-edge case studies.

  Emphasis is placed on the links between ecology and conservation and also between theory and applied research.

• 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 System Processes
• 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
• The Frozen Planet
• Water, Sanitation and Health
• Atmospheric Environment
• Waste Management and the Circular Economy
• Geographies of Energy
• Gender, Sex and the Body
• Political Ecology: Contested Environments
• Territory, Power 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.

International requirements

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

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 £1,230 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 us for advice about what is included and what optional costs you could face so you can budget accordingly. You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page.

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.

Local area

Campus where this course is taught

Accommodation

Maps

Accommodation

University building

Moulsecoomb campus map