Geography

Why study Geography?

Geography is an ambitious subject that tackles major global issues: inequality, environmental damage, immigration, climate change, urbanism, locational data security. Geography is one of the most relevant courses you could choose to study.

Geographers are highly employable. Geography provides you with knowledge and transferable skills which will help you secure a first job and advance you professionally. The subject has one of the lowest graduate unemployment rates.

Geographers are generalists. The world needs generalists who can understand how things interrelate, who can understand the consequences of decisions made by specialists in a fast-moving world. Geographers are by definition equally at home focussing on both broad global or regional issues and local conditions. They have to understand relationships between the hard world of science and the soft world of human behaviour.

Geographers cross subject boundaries all the time, equally at home looking at the operation of environmental systems as they are studying aspects of Economics or Politics. Their degree will teach them both quantitative analysis, the hard world of statistics, and qualitative analysis, the ability to evaluate and make judgements. They can use modern technology such as surveying equipment, GIS computer programs and analyse satellite imagery.

Geographers are team-players, especially during fieldwork. In all careers, and indeed throughout your life, you will need to collaborate, compromise and communicate. Geography prepares you for this.

What is Geography like at university?

Fun! Geographers are by nature broad minded, sociable people. They are inherently interested in the world around them. They look outwardly, not inwardly. They are interested in practical solutions. They want to know why the world is like it is. They tend to be busy, energetic people and you will traditionally find them involved in everything on the campus.

What will you study?

The most popular course for students is a straightforward Geography degree. These degrees have compulsory human and physical geography in Year One, with free choice after that. Many universities have a BA stream and a BSc stream for their straight Geography degrees. Students apply for the stream which suits their preferred area (BA = human) (BSc = physical). But in both streams you usually do physical and human in Year One.

In Year Two and Year Three you can specialise, choosing modules such as Political Geography, Cultural Geography, Population Geography, Historical Geography, Marine Geography, Glaciology, Earth Processes or Development Studies.

In the Year Three most courses expect you to complete a dissertation, which is a sophisticated piece of original geographical research. It is worth checking out how the dissertation is set and marked before choosing your university, and what contribution it will make to your degree, as this can differ. Again, choose one which suits you.

You will be taught through a combination of compulsory and optional lectures, seminars, which have a specific theme and are pre-prepared, tutorials, which are smaller and usually based around an element of your own work, such as an essay or pace of research, practicals which often involve lab or ICT work, and of course fieldwork which will vary from one day local, to UK, to foreign.

You may be assessed by continuous assessment of your work, or more traditional end of year examinations. Another area well worth researching.

A ‘typical’ Geography degree will look at:

Why our human and physical environments and landscapes appear as they are, how they form and operate, and how they inter-relate at various scales. How and why patterns of human and physical landscapes differ from place to place. Why there are differences and inequalities within the human world; especially the economic, social and political causes of inequality and economic development at all scales and in all environments. The way in which particular places and regions have evolved to become distinctive.

Stability and instability in both human and physical worlds, including the causes, rates and patterns of change and the prediction of change to the foreseeable future.

How the world operates as one integrated system –politically and economically. environmentally,

Skills you will develop:

• Geography is both a social and an environmental science, so you can expect your degree to teach you many elements of statistics, quantitative analysis, and related computer-based techniques including GIS. The need to collect data means that a Geography course will teach you how to use a range of survey equipment, as well as how to manipulate remote sensing material such as aerial photographs and satellite imagery.

Intellectual skills, especially the ability to evaluate evidence in order to make informed decisions and develop reasoned arguments

Research skills, using a wide range of methods to collect and analyse both spatial and environmental data

And of course, key transferable skills, such as teamwork, problem solving, IT skills and communication skills (presentation, writing, debating).

Can I study Geography with another subject as a Joint Honours?

As well as BA or BSc Single Honours Geography, the subject can also be studied as a Joint Honours course with a wide range of other subjects. Some may be related, such as Geography and Geology, or Geography and Development Studies. Others may be less obviously related, such as Geography and a Modern Language, or Geography and Economics.

Advantages: Broad understanding; you can study two of your favourite subjects. Disadvantages: Two faculties, two sets of friends, two different demands can be confusing, more work than Single Honours, more exams.

Some universities will also offer courses in specialist areas of the subject including: Physical Geography, Human Geography, Marine Geography, Environmental Geography, Development Geography, Population Studies, and so on.

Advantages: Specialised, suits your exact requirements, easier to get on the course as may be less competitive. Disadvantages: May be limiting, narrow, not understood by an employer.

There are also alternatives to a straight Geography degree, include Earth Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Politics and International Relations, American Studies, African Studies, Middle Eastern Studies. Land Economy, for example, is a subject which combines an interest in the built environment, with Politics and Economics.

Which are the best universities for Geography?

The UK is the best place in the world to study Geography. Geography as an academic discipline was effectively created in the UK and as a result the wealth of knowledge in all Russell Group Universities is similarly excellent.

The grades offered for BA and BSc Geography at Russell Group Universities range from A*AA to AAB. The difference is more commonly due to the popularity of the university rather than the quality of the course. In other words, it is possible to go for a less ‘popular’ university and have a lower grade offer for an equally good course.

The RGS (Royal Geographical Society) provides a great starting point for researching Geography degrees.

Which careers can I enter with Geography?

In simple terms Geography graduates enter one of three career paths:

1) A career position directly related to their geographical knowledge and skills. Examples: town and transport planning, chartered surveying, land and water management, sustainability, environmental consultancy, development, tourism,

conservation, demography, housing and social welfare. At some point these careers will require further qualifications leading, for example, to chartered status, and many will offer you the opportunity to do this whilst you are working.

2) A career position which uses a geographers' wide range of transferable skills. The majority of geographers choose these. The list is endless, and graduates from other disciplines will also be competing with you, but geographers are well placed. These careers include finance, accountancy, law, business management, information technology, administration and management, marketing, transport, manufacturing, most service industries. Most likely entry is through some undergraduate management training scheme. Your career is then up to you.

3) Further full-time study or training to develop a career in research (Masters or PhD) or teaching (PGCE), or to advanced qualifications for entry into more specialised professions (Masters or PhD).

What do employers look for and what will I have to offer?

Employers seek a mixture of skills, qualifications and experience when they recruit graduates. On completing your Geography degree you will be in demand as you will be:

A good communicator with strong presentation skills An independent researcher Able to work effectively in a team in a variety of roles Good at combining information gathering from a variety of sources with excellent writing skills