Geography

Each year of this programme is designed around a combination of compulsory core modules, as well as opportunities to take optional modules and/or discovery modules across the University so you can choose additional subjects of interest. The balance of compulsory and optional modules depends on the year and programme of study and is explained fully in the programme catalogue. If you study this programme part time you’ll study fewer modules in each year. You will have a personal tutor all the way through your degree.

In year one, you’ll develop a grounding in the core concepts and themes of human geography, plus key academic writing and digital learning skills. Core modules explore different geographies of a changing world, including economic globalisation, neighbourhood change, urbanisation and cities, migration, health, development, environmental management and sustainability. We focus on issues of justice, difference, identity, nature, space and place across different scales and ideologies.

In year two, you’ll be provided with a core programme of research and career skills training that you’ll supplement from optional modules that cover geo-politics and international development, service analysis and planning, economic geography, the development of modern cities, citizenship and identity, natural resource management, and sustainable transport.

In year three, you’ll be required to undertake a significant independent final year project - currently a dissertation - alongside a suite of optional modules that cover subjects such as urban social movements, creating alternative futures, population and health geographies, location analysis, global insecurities, migration and encounter, and healthy transport. You will also have the choice of a research, work or teacher placement.

We also offer a “year in industry” scheme which allows you to extend your three-year programme to four years and gain employment experience first-hand across public, private and voluntary sectors. We also offer field trips at each level of study and they provide a great opportunity to study a fascinating subject in contrasting environments away from the University.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Modules Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Local to Global: Geographies of a Changing World 40 credits
• Nature, Society and Environment 20 credits
• People, Place and Politics 40 credits
• Studying in a Digital Age (Environment) 5 credits

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Career Skills in Geography 10 credits
• Research Methods: Ideas and Practice in Human Geography 30 credits

Optional modules

• Political and Development Geographies 20 credits
• Service analysis and planning 20 credits
• Geographies of Economies 20 credits
• Helsinki: urban growth and sustainability 20 credits
• Montpellier: urban and rural development 20 credits
• Belgrade: urban and social geographies of a Balkan city 20 credits
• The Making of the Modern City 20 credits
• Citizenship and Identity: Comparative Perspectives 20 credits
• Living within limits: natural resource management for sustainable development 20 credits
• Transport Land Use and Development 10 credits
• Transport, Energy and Environment 10 credits
• Transport, Mobility and Safety 10 credits

Year 3

Compulsory modules

• Human Geography Dissertation 40 credits

Optional modules

• Urban and Regional Development: A Case Study of Athens 20 credits
• Global Cities: Buenos Aires 20 credits