Geography - BA(Hons)
Program Overview
This BA(Hons) Geography program equips students with the knowledge, skills, and understanding to analyze complex global challenges, from climate change to social justice. Through a blend of theoretical background and real-world application, including field trips, projects, and industry partnerships, graduates are prepared for careers in environmental consultancy, research, public sector agencies, and international organizations. The program is accredited by the Royal Geographical Society and offers study-abroad opportunities for global perspectives.
Program Outline
You will gain a thorough understanding of the physical and human aspects of the Earth's systems and learn how to critically evaluate environmental issues. The program emphasizes real-world application, ensuring that graduates are prepared for a wide range of careers.
Program Description
This course is designed to offer a comprehensive education in human geography, focusing on social science perspectives. You will delve into various aspects like urban studies, sustainability, cultural and political landscapes, resources management, and the environment's role in shaping human lives and society. You will explore contemporary topics like globalization, tourism development, migration patterns, climate change justice, urban regeneration, and sustainable transportation. The program provides a unique blend of theoretical background and real-world application through various learning activities like:
- Fieldwork: You will participate in three exciting field trips, exploring diverse environments both in the UK and abroad.
- Lectures and Seminars: You can expect interactive sessions led by experienced faculty who are experts in different geographical fields. These discussions will delve into key concepts, current research findings, and critical thinking.
- Project work: Collaborative and individual projects provide opportunities to apply knowledge to specific areas of interest. You can conduct independent research, analyze datasets, design solutions for real-world issues, and communicate findings effectively.
- Environmental Challenges: You will delve into contemporary environmental problems like climate change, pollution, and natural resource depletion and explore their social and ecological impacts.
- Field Study in Human Geography: This field trip provides hands-on exploration of real-world geographical challenges in diverse UK landscapes.
- Geographies of Globalisation: You will analyze the global forces influencing local societies and explore the impacts of economic, social, and technological changes.
- People, Places, and Change: Explore the dynamic relationship between individuals, their communities, and changing geographical environments.
Year Two
- Applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS) provides further training and practical experience in utilizing GIS technology for spatial analysis and visualization.
- Professional Development: Develop essential career readiness skills, including communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and professional etiquette.
- Sustainable Transport: Technologies and Behaviour: Analyze sustainable transportation solutions and the changing patterns of mobility in cities.
- Global Crime and Migration: Examine the global patterns of migration, their social and economic impacts, and their interconnections with crime and security.
- Climate and Environmental Justice: Understand the ethical implications of environmental policies and explore issues like climate refugees and resource management challenges.
- Decolonising Environmental Management: Explore the legacies of colonialism, its influence on resource management practices, and strategies for environmental conservation in a postcolonial framework.
Placement Year (Optional):
Students enrolled in a four-year sandwich program spend their third year undertaking either a work placement, gaining professional experience in various sectors related to geography, or participate in a year-long study program abroad, exploring a diverse range of geographic topics in another region of the world.
Final Year
- Extended Independent Project: This final year project allows you to independently research a topic of personal interest under the guidance of academic supervisors, culminating in a substantial dissertation.
- Three Optional Modules:
- Advanced Geographical Expedition: You get the opportunity to embark on a two-week adventure to a unique location worldwide (like Iceland, South Africa, Kenya, or China) and conduct research in an exotic environment, studying various environmental, economic, and societal aspects
- Contemporary Security Issues: Analyze contemporary security concerns around the world, ranging from terrorism and global crime to border control and environmental threats
- Transforming Global Cities: Explore urban development challenges in major cities, focusing on sustainability practices and social change strategies
- Water and Energy Futures: Investigate the critical issues related to freshwater resources management, renewable energy technologies, and their role in a sustainable society
- International Development and Transformation: Examine the complexities of developing countries' social, economic, and ecological transitions. The curriculum continuously evolves, incorporating student and stakeholder feedback, ensuring the course stays current and aligns with industry needs, preparing graduates with relevant and sought-after knowledge.
Assessment
This program utilizes diverse assessment methods tailored to different modules, allowing you to showcase your knowledge through different approaches. You can expect a combination of written exams, essays, research reports, project reports, presentations, field exercises, and practical examinations, depending on the specific learning outcomes and module objectives. The program provides ample support to students who may require assistance with academic or research skills through dedicated support centers.
Teaching
Learning occurs through an engaging mix of teaching methodologies:
Lectures and Seminar Discussions
provide opportunities for interactive knowledge sharing. Academic experts lead discussions on key concepts, theoretical foundations, research findings, and contemporary debates. These sessions encourage critical reflection, dialogue, and active learning.
Practicals and laboratory sessions
You will have the opportunity to apply theoretical concepts in real-world settings. This allows you to gain hands-on skills, conduct practical experiments, and analyze data using industry-standard software tools like Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and statistical packages. These sessions help you build technical proficiency and critical analytical skills.
Field trips
Immerse yourself in diverse landscapes and explore real-world geographical phenomena firsthand.
Two-week Advanced geographical expedition
in exotic locations worldwide like South Africa, China, Iceland, or Kenya. Conduct research on diverse environmental, economic, societal issues in these unique settings. Fieldwork is a core aspect of your learning, allowing you to gain practical research and analytical skills, strengthen problem-solving abilities, and work effectively within a team.
Project-based activities
Individual and group project assignments provide opportunities to delve deeper into specific areas of your interest. This allows you to develop research, analysis, and critical thinking skills, as well as enhance communication, presentation, and teamwork capabilities. These projects provide opportunities to apply theoretical knowledge, conduct in-depth research, and contribute to real-world issues.
One-to-one tutorials
Regular consultations with your module tutors offer valuable support in understanding concepts, undertaking independent research and project work, enhancing academic writing and research skills and addressing arising challenges during your study career.
Careers
Graduates can pursue careers in:
Environmental consultancy
You can work on projects related to sustainability, resource management, climate change mitigation strategies, urban planning, or renewable energy development in environmental consultancy firms.
Research
This program provides a strong foundation to pursue further research opportunities in the field of human geography, focusing on various aspects like urban development, climate change, and migration.
Public sector agencies
Work with government departments or local authorities, contributing expertise in areas like urban planning, development planning, transportation infrastructure, resource management, and social justice initiatives.
International organizations:
You may apply your expertise within organizations like United Nations or other intergovernmental institutions, focusing on environmental sustainability, international development projects, or addressing global challenges related to migration, inequality, and security concerns.
Educational institutions and research institutions
With further training, graduates could pursue careers teaching geography in various educational settings or contributing as researchers within academic or research-oriented institutes.
Other
Accreditation and partnerships
- Accredited by: Royal Geographical Society (RGS) and the Institute of British Geographers
- Partnerships with leading institutions in the US and Canada offer study-abroad opportunities, allowing students to gain international perspectives and enhance global understanding.
Placements
The sandwich year program provides students with valuable work experience and networking opportunities within relevant fields. Previous placements have involved placements at environmental organizations, local authorities, and sustainability-driven initiatives in Bristol, a city renowned for sustainability and green infrastructure initiatives.
Full-time; Sandwich course
| Fees | Amount (£) | |---|---| | Home Annual (Per Year) Fee | 9250 | | Home Full Annual Fee Following Placement Year | 9250 | | Home Module Fee (15 Credit) | 1156 | | Home Placement Year Fee | 1156 | | Home Reduced Annual Fee Following Placement Year | 8094 | | International Annual (Per Year) Fee | 15850 | | International Full Annual Fee Following Placement Year | 15850 | | International Module Fee (15 Credit) | 1981 | | International Placement Year Fee | 1981 | | International Reduced Annual Fee Following Placement Year | 13869 | | Offshore Annual (Per Year) Fee | 9250 | | Offshore Full Annual Fee Following Placement Year | 9250 | | Offshore Module Fee (15 Credit) | 1156 | | Offshore Placement Year Fee | 1156 | | Offshore Reduced Annual Fee Following Placement Year | 8094 |
Indicative Additional Costs
| Fees | Amount (£) | |---|---| | Additional Course Costs Indicative Maximum Cost Per year | 220 | Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on. Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year. You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the four year course and then transfer to the three year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.
Additional costs
This refers to items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.
