Geographical
Study Geography With more than 80 UK universities offering over 1,400 geography-related degrees, there are a number of factors to consider when choosing to study geography...
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eography is considered one of the broadest subject areas open to students at undergraduate level. As a result, it has one of the highest employability rates of all undergraduate degrees and is also one of the few subjects offered as both a bachelor of arts (BA) and a bachelor of science (BSc). Deciding between the two is the first step for most prospective geography students. Both BA geography courses and BSc geography courses tend to include elements of human, physical and environmental geography. However, a course labelled as a BA tends to focus on the social, economic, cultural and historical elements of geography, while a course labelled as a BSc will typically focus on the natural aspects of geography. There are also specific physical or human geography courses on offer for those already devoted to one path. Many students make their choice based on their educational background, as the entry requirements for each course are often different. A BSc usually requires a scientific focus in your A-levels while a BA requires humanities. Nevertheless, many universities allow students registered for a BA degree to take some BSc modules and vice versa – there’s room for movement. Largely, the choice comes down to whether you want to focus on physical geography, human geography or both.
Physical geography: Physical geography is the branch of natural science which deals with the study of processes and patterns in the natural environment, as opposed to the cultural or built environment. Each university tends to have its own specialities, but common topics include: - plate tectonics - glacial environments - erosion and volcanology - climate change and environmental issues - river systems and hydrology - geomorphology - biogeography and soil - meteorology
Human geography: Human geography is all about how people interact with their environment and focuses on the cultures, economies and societies that make up the world. Common topics include: - urban, environmental and rural development issues - culture and identity - economy and society - gender and power - geographies of biomedicine and global health - geopolitics - globalisation and international development - social justice Both BA and BSc courses tend to include fieldwork – one of the top reasons why people are drawn to the subject. In addition to geography, several UK universities offer more niche degrees in related fields, many of which can be studied in tandem with geography, or can be chosen for a single module. Some of the most popular include:
Environmental science: The study of humanity’s effect on nature as well as how physical, chemical and biological processes maintain and interact with all life on Earth.
Geophysics: The study of the physics that underpins the history, structure and dynamics of Earth systems.
Geoscience and Environmental geoscience: The study of environmental conditions on Earth and the processes that maintain and modify them, covering the natural processes that have controlled Earth’s history and how modern human activities are affecting the planet today.
Geology: The science of the planet’s evolution, including how it was formed, how it has changed over time, and how the processes that shape our planet affect life on it. 2020 . 7
