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TSR Wiki > University > Choosing a Subject > University Courses > Geography Degree

Introduction

Geography is the study of how the world affects people and how people affect the world. The discipline is split up into two main areas, Human Geography and Physical Geography. The areas are very different but link perfectly together. Human Geography is the geography of people; it looks at the world in a social and economic sense. Physical Geography looks mostly at the environment and its processes. You take Geography as one whole subject or choose to specialise in one of the main areas.

Course Structure

Course structures at different universities can vary wildly, and there is no clear cut structure that all universities offer. However, one typical format [based on observations by user Crisps, a current third year geographer] is as follows:

In first year, topics will mainly be a refresher of A-Level topics, such as fluvial Geomorphology [rivers], arid Geomorphology, Glaciology, Meteorology, Natural Hazards, Soil Science, Biogeography, and so on. First year geography provides an introduction to these subjects before more detailed studies in forthcoming years. You may also be introduced to fieldwork as well as conducting fieldwork reports and basic statistical techniques that will become vital to your dissertation.

Second year modules involve more detailed exploration of these topics studied at first year level, as well as introducing laboratory work, as well as guidance into choosing your own dissertation title. Fieldwork/research for the dissertation is normally carried out in the summer vacation between second and third year.

The third year will normally involve a dissertation write up, as well as the introduction of more specialist modules. These could be practical based subjects such as GIS, Remote Sensing, Fluvial Modelling, to name a few. Detailed explorations of Geomorphology, Climate Change, Natural Hazards, and Soil Science are all available. However, in the second and third year, most universities offer a wider degree of choice when it comes to modules, whereas in first year many modules are compulsory in order for students to get a wide ranging introduction before choosing more specialist modules in forthcoming years.

Assessment will normally consist of a variety of methods: essays, exams [which can be multiple choice, short answer, or essay based or a combination of some of these factors], fieldwork/practical/laboratory reports, oral presentations, poster presentations, group presentations. etc.

Many universities allow you [or require you] to take human geography modules in the first year, as many do not think that it is covered in enough detail at A Level. As at most institutions your first year does not count towards your degree, you can either not take any further human geography modules, or if you are on a human geography degree scheme, change to a physical one.

When applying, make sure you have a look at the modules database of that university to see what modules they offer, and how much flexibility they allow between human and physical. Some will not allow you to take human modules on a physical scheme and vice versa, although you should be able to change degree schemes in first year pretty easily. Others have compulsory modules on both sides of the spectrum, to allow you to gain an insight into both before committing to one.

Admissions

Academic Requirements

Here we have an alphabetical list of entry requirements for geography degrees which should now be updated for 2011 entry. Below that the unis are also grouped by UCAS tariff points (not been updated) and Scottish entrants (NEW). Over time offers change, so please update the list if there are any errors/changes.

• Aberdeen: ABB/(BBB)
• Aberystwyth: 300-320 points
• Bangor: 240-320 points
• Bath Spa: 220-280 points
• Birmingham: ABB (AAB as of September 2010)
• Brighton: ABB
• Bristol: AAA-ABB
• UWE (Bristol): 300-340 points
• Cambridge: A*AA
• Canterbury Christ Church: 240 points
• Central Lancashire: 200-240 points
• Chester: 240-280 points
• Coventry: 280-300 points
• Derby: 200-240 points
• Dundee: ABB/(BCC)
• Durham: A*AA
• Edinburgh: A*AA/(AAA-ABB)
• Exeter: AAA-AAB
• Glamorgan: 220-280 points
• Glasgow: AAA/(ABB)
• Gloucestershire: 280-300 points
• Greenwich: 220 points
• Hertfordshire: 220 points
• Hull: 260-320 points
• Kings College London: ABB
• Kingston: 240-280 points
• Lancaster: ABB
• Leeds: ABB
• Leicester: ABB
• Liverpool: AAB
• Liverpool John Moores: 220-240 points
• LSE: AAB
• Loughborough: 320 points
• Manchester: AAB-ABB
• Manchester Met: 200 points
• Newcastle: ABB
• Northampton: 220-260 points
• Northumbria: 280 points
• Nottingham: AAA-AAB
• Nottingham Trent: 240 points
• Oxford: AAA
• Oxford Brookes: BCC
• Plymouth: 260-280 points
• Portsmouth: 280 points
• Queen Mary: 300-340 points
• Queen's Belfast: BBC-BCCb
• Royal Holloway: 320 points
• St. Andrews: AAB
• Sheffield: ABB
• Southampton: AAB-ABB
• Stirling: (Environmental Geog) BBB/(CCC)
• Sussex: AAB-ABB
• Swansea: ABB
• Ulster: 220 points
• UCL: AAA-ABB
• Worcester: 280-300 points

Universities asking points (first one converted to help)

• Liverpool, 300 points (BBB equivalent) [29]
• Plymouth 280 points [61]
• Queen Mary, 300-340 points [34]
• Bangor 240-300points [52]
• Univ of Chester 260 points [82]
• Dundee 240 points [38]
• Brighton 300 points [56]
• Coventry 240 points [76]
• Kingston 240 points [70]
• Northumbria 240 points [54]
• Portsmouth 240 points [74]
• Greenwich 220 [115]
• UWE 200-280 points [62]
• Bath Spa 200 –240 points [65]
• University of Central Lancs 200- 240 points [73]
• Gloucestershire 200-260 [98]
• Manchester Met 200 points [75]
• Liverpool John Moores 180 –240 points [89]
• Glamorgan 180 points [80]
• Hertfordshire 180-220 [71]
• Northampton 160 –200 points [103]
• Canterbury Christ Church 160 points [82]
• Staffordshire 160 –240 points [79]
• Wolverhampton 160-220 points [113]
• Derby 140-200 points [114]
• Worcester 140 points [100]

Entry Requirements for Scottish Applicants (1st Year Entry):

• Aberdeen: BBBB at Higher
• Cambridge: AAA-AAB at Advanced Higher
• Dundee: BBBB at Higher
• Edinburgh: AAAA-ABBB at Higher
• Glasgow: AAAB-ABBB at Higher
• Oxford: AA or AAB at Advanced Higher
• St. Andrews: AAAB at Higher
• Stirling (Environmental Geog): BBBB at Higher
• Strathclyde: AAAB at Higher

UCAS Form & Personal Statement

Life as a Geography Student

As a Geography student you will have a variety of coursework tasks to complete over the course of the degree. Some of these will be individual based but many involve components of group work or may be entirely composed of group work. There may also be a number of field trips etc. As a result, Geography at university is well known to be a sociable subject, in which you very quickly get to know the other people on your course.

Depending on the modules you choose, or are allocated, you will have a varying amount of lecture/ contact time and personal work to do. If you take mainly physical geography modules, you will have more contact hours in the form of labs etc, whereas human geographers tend to have a greater number of reading hours to complete with generally less lecture time.

Some universities also have tutorials in which you discuss in a small group with a lecturer more difficult and current issues in geography.

Life as a geography student is about combining social factors and coursework and lecture time in order to develop useful skills that can be applied in the 'real' world of work.

Graduate Destinations and Career Prospects

Geography is a particularly useful degree in that it renders you both numerate and graphicate, alongside developing the transferable skills in things like presentations and group work in common with other social science subjects. A particular area of growth for Geography graduates in recent years has been GIS, which is fast becoming ubiquitous in a number of public policy areas. Common areas for graduates to go into include: Teaching, administration, management, planning, finance and banking, marketing and further research.

See Also

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