Which uni for Geography or Politics?

I'm interested in Geography and Politics/IR and looking at UCL, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Durham, and York – I'd love to hear from students about what made you pick your uni for these subjects, and what the best/worst things are! 😊

Reply 1

normaw

Volunteer Section Leader, Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post

by weap

Which unis did you prefer once you'd been to an open day?

Reply 2

Wired_1800

Original post

by weap

Your selection is too stacked with top unis, you should have at most 3 top unis, 1/2 realistic and 1 safety option.

I would suggest a selection for Geography like: Cambridge, Manchester, UCL, Southampton and York.

(edited 2 months ago)

Reply 3

weap

Original post

by Wired_1800

Your selection is too stacked with top unis, you should have at most 3 top unis, 1/2 realistic and 1 safety option.
I would suggest a selection for Geography like: Cambridge, Manchester, UCL, Southampton and York.

I really want to go to Edinburgh and UCL Cambridge Is aspirational and I’m not too sure for two other unis those were just some unis that I was thinking of

Reply 4

Wired_1800

Original post

by weap

I really want to go to Edinburgh and UCL Cambridge Is aspirational and I’m not too sure for two other unis those were just some unis that I was thinking of

If you are focused on Cambridge, UCL and Edinburgh, I would suggest that you stick with them and hope for the best.

For your other two choices, you could consider Southampton and York.

Reply 5

McGinger

Look at areas like International Development and Social Policy - they may be a better fit than straight Geog or Politics.

Development, undergraduate courses : University of Sussex
BSc Global Development with International Study (2026 entry) | The University of Manchester
Human Geography (BSc) - Study - Cardiff University
BSc International Social and Public Policy with Study Abroad | Study at Bristol | University of Bristol

Reply 6

DurhamRep Mia

Official Rep

Original post

by weap

Hey! 😊 I had am a current Durham student, and I honestly love it.

Both subjects are really well-ranked here, with great teaching, and the collegiate system makes it super easy to make friends and feel part of a community. The city’s small but beautiful, and there’s plenty going on without being overwhelming. Geography in particular has plenty of fieldwork opportunities. The workload’s intense but manageable, and tutors are genuinely supportive.

Good luck with your decision and studies, feel free to get in touch with any Durham-specific questions.

Mia (DU rep)

Reply 7

University of York

Official Rep

Hello! 👋

We're excited to know you’re interested in both Geography and Politics/International Relations at York! They're really complementary subjects, and I’d love to share a bit about what our students love about both subjects, and why they choose York.

Why York?

•

Flexible, thought-provoking courses Both our BA Human Geography and Environment and BA Politics with International Relations courses offer lots of module choice and variety, so you can tailor your studies around the issues you care about, whether that’s sustainability, global inequality, governance, or international security.

•

Top Rated Research-led teaching You’ll be taught by academics who are leading experts in their fields, and whose research directly informs their teaching. That means you’ll be learning about real-world challenges and the latest ideas shaping today’s debates. The University of York is one of four universities rated Gold for teaching in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF)

•

Opportunities beyond the classroom From field trips and research projects in Geography to placements and study-abroad options in Politics/IR, there are plenty of ways to gain hands-on experience and build your skills.

•

A beautiful campus and historic city York’s green, lakeside campus offers a welcoming community feel - and it’s just a short walk or bus ride to the vibrant, historic city centre. It’s a lovely balance between a close-knit campus environment and everything a cultural city has to offer.

•

Strong career prospects Our graduates go on to a wide range of careers, from policy and government to NGOs, consultancy and international organisations. The skills you’ll develop in analysis, communication and critical thinking are highly transferable.

Student POV

•

You can read about firsthand experience studying here on our student blogs channel. Student blogs on studying Politics

•

Watch our student vlogs to see what are subjects are like! Day in the life of a politics student.

If you’d like to explore the courses in more detail, you can have a look:

•

BA Human Geography and Environment

•

BA Politics with International Relations

And if you can, we’d really recommend visiting us at an Open Day, it’s the best way to get a feel for the campus, meet staff and students, and see what makes York such a welcoming place to study.
We hope that helps with your decision-making! If you have any questions about our courses, student life, or the application process, we’d be very happy to help - just let us know. 😊 Best of luck💗

-T😊

Reply 8

YorkRepRadhika

Official Rep

Hello there,

First of all, excellent subject choices as both these subjects are timeless, and will always remain highly relevant.💫

I'm a 3rd year PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) student at the University of York. Although my degree covers three disciplines, Politics is my absolute favourite part of the course. What really stood out to me about York is how engaging and well-structured the Politics modules are. We are offered a huge variety of modules to choose from and its honestly a task to select the modules as everything looks so interesting. Another thing I appreciate about the Department of Politics and International Relations is that the teaching staff is extremely passionate about the subject, they make discussions lively, relevant, and thought-provoking. You'll always find yourself questioning and wanting to know more after every lecture.
The professors are very approachable and supportive, they not only guide you academically but also share valuable insights that help when thinking about career paths and future goals.

Beyond academics, York has a really welcoming and inclusive community. Living in the city of York itself is a wonderful experience. The campus is extremely beautiful, everything is close knit. It keeps you away from the hustle and bustle of a big city, but also never lets you get bored as there is always something going in, either on campus or in town. There are over 200 clubs and societies at the university, from sports to dance, board games to movies, there is something for everyone. There are societies focused on different subjects like the York Politics Society, Geography Society, Debate clubs, etc.
I’ve personally found York to be a place where you can explore your interests deeply. Especially in Politics, where everyone brings different thoughts and arguments to the table, your opinion is always heard and valued, and you learn so much through discussions and listening to others’ perspectives. I genuinely believe that anyone opting to study Politics and International Relations at York will have a great experience.

I will you all the very best, I’m sure you’ll find the place that feels right for you😀

-Radhika
3rd Year PPE Student, University of York