Course overview
This course is designed to produce geography graduates with a broad understanding of the physical and human environment, and with the necessary skills of analysis and synthesis to deal with information from a range of sources and in a wide variety of forms. BSc students are expected to follow a majority of physical geography optional modules.
Year one
You will place equal emphasis this year on the fields of physical and human geography, and geographical information science. Introductions are provided to atmospheric, oceanic, geomorphological and biogeographical systems, and environmental change and cultural, economic, social, rural and urban geography.
Technical themes include data evaluation using statistical packages and geographical information systems.
Years two and three
During the remaining two years of your degree, you can take a flexible range of optional modules, which in many cases lead to applied aspects of the discipline. The range of options include: Economic Geography, Medical Geography, Rural Environmental Geography, Cultural and Historical Geography, Geographies of Money and Finance, Geographies of Fashion and Food, Environment Development and Livelihoods, Digital Explorers and Virtual Geographic Environments. This flexible, modular structure allows you to design a degree structure that reflects your own interests and aspirations.
In addition, you will take core compulsory modules in Techniques in Human or Physical Geography, Career Skills for Geographers and History and Philosophy of Geography. You will submit a 10,000- word dissertation based on a research topic of your choice.
Entry requirements
A levels: AAA-AAB, including A in geography or equivalent at A level
English language requirements
IELTS 7.0 overall (no less than 6.0 in any element)
TOEFL iBT 100 (no less than 19 in listening, writing and reading, and 20 in speaking)
Pearson (PTE Academic) 67 (minimum 67)
Alternative qualifications
For details please see alternative qualifications page.
Flexible admissions policy
We may make some applicants an offer lower than advertised, depending on their personal and educational circumstances.
Notes for applicants
Geography at Nottingham involves the study of modules rooted in the physical, technical and human aspects of the subject and the School of Geography encourages students wishing to select a wide selection of modules in their degree course to do so - regardless of whether they are registered for a BA or a BSc. However, the normal expectation is that those students registered for a BSc will select their optional modules predominantly from the physical side of geography while those registered for a BA will select optional modules predominantly on the human side of the subject.
A student wishing to transfer from a BA to a BSc degree, or vice versa, may apply to do so providing that they are studying an appropriate selection of modules. Students review their module choices with their personal tutor annually and they can, at any time, discuss their degree registration and modules choices with the Director of Teaching and Learning.
By the end of the course you will have a thorough knowledge of geographical theories and concepts, preparing you for a career or further study in the subject or related disciplines. Transferable skills sought by prospective employers will include the ability to communicate effectively, think independently and critically, to process and evaluate data, and to work effectively as a team member or a team leader.
Modules
The modules we offer are inspired by the research interests of our staff and as a result, may change from year to year. The following list is therefore subject to change but should give you a flavour of the modules we offer.
Typical year one modules
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Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
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Interpreting Geographical Data
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Exploring Human Geography
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Earth and Environmental Dynamics
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Geographical Field Course
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Career Skills for Geographers
Typical year two modules
During the remaining two years of your degree, you can take a flexible range of optional modules, which in many cases lead to applied aspects of the discipline. The range of options include: Economic Geography, Medical Geography, Rural Environmental Geography, Cultural and Historical Geography, Geographies of Money and Finance, Geographies of Fashion and Food, Environment Development and Livelihoods, Digital Explorers and Virtual Geographic Environments. This flexible, modular structure allows you to design a degree structure that reflects your own interests and aspirations.
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Techniques in Physical Geography
Typical year three modules
The following modules plus a choice of optional modules from the pathways begun in year two.
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Dissertation BSc
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History and Philosophy of Geography
Typical optional modules
Some of the optional modules listed below may only be chosen during a specific year of the course. Further restrictions on the selection of modules may also apply, for example, you may be restricted to selecting one optional module from a specified group of optional modules.
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Physical Landscapes of Britain
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Globalization and Uneven Development
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On Earth and Life
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River Channel Forms and Dynamics
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Medical Geography
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Desert Geomorphology
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The Cultural Geography of English Landscape
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Scale and Diversity in the Canary Islands
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Quaternary Environments
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Geographies of Money and Finance
Careers
The breadth of geography as a discipline and the range of options available within the undergraduate programme at Nottingham ensure that geography graduates have a wide range of career opportunities open to them.
The compulsory Career Skills for Geographers will further equip you for entry into the world of work and includes the development of a CV, the creation of a personal portfolio of employability skills and lectures on job application techniques and how to succeed in job interviews.
Nottingham geography graduates are increasingly popular with a wide range of employers who appreciate the range of personal and transferable skills in terms of team work, field work, presentation skills, technical abilities as well as more conventional numeracy, computer and literacy skills.
A number of graduates stay on at university to study for a higher degree (for example, an MSc, MA or PhD). Others enter cognate professions such as consultancy, public service, law and teaching (examples here include environmental consultants, law conversion courses and PGCE). Some graduates enter media organisations (Beyond Interactive, Research International), finance and consultancy firms (Anderson, HSBC, Ernst & Young, Baker Tilly), retailing (Boots, John Lewis, Top Shop) and the IT sector (IBM). Many opt for graduate employment careers in blue chip organisations such as Boots, BA and Marks and Spencer, while others enter the voluntary sector or work overseas in development or aid organisations.
Our record over 80 years demonstrates that there are no boundaries to what our graduates achieve or to the career paths they choose to pursue. For information on recent graduates and their student and alumni experiences, see our student profiles page.
Average starting salary
The average starting salary for 2010/11 full-time graduates of the School of Geography was £20,822.*
*Average starting salary from known destinations of first degree leavers who studied full-time, 2010/11.
Careers Support and Advice
Studying for a degree at The University of Nottingham will provide you with the type of skills and experiences that will prove invaluable in any career, whichever direction you decide to take. Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service can work with you to improve your employability skills even further; assisting with job or course applications, searching for appropriate work experience placements and hosting events to bring you closer to a wide range of prospective employers.
Have a look at our Careers page for an overview of all the employability support and opportunities that we provide to current students.
KIS
Key Information Sets (KIS)
KIS is an initiative that the government has introduced to allow you to compare different courses and universities.
Assessment
There is assessment associated with this programme that is not attached to a specific module. In second year, students take a non credit bearing course on building employability. Sessions cover key skills needed to find work experience and employment and evaluating personal development, while highlighting the range of support available.
The course is assessed by the production of a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and self reflection on employability skills acquired, as well as a plan for further skills building.