University undergraduate student Jane Israel using a touch screen in the Monica Partridge Building Digital Hub. Friday November 5th 2021.

Geography BSc

University Park Campus, Nottingham, UK

Course overview

Bridging the sciences and the humanities, BSc Geography is the ideal course if you are keen to develop a broader understanding of the world around us, exploring the human and physical environment, as well as the inter-connections between them.

You'll explore fundamental issues such as our relationship with the earth, urbanisation, globalisation and how we use different types of information and data to make sense of the global challenges that face us all.

You can tailor your studies through a wide range of optional modules from subject areas as diverse as languages, climate change or business. Both BA and BSc students are free to develop their interests and enthusiasms in human and/or physical geography.

There will be opportunities to go on field trips in the UK and overseas. This will allow you to put your knowledge into practice and develop the skills and techniques you'll need for your professional career.

You could also enhance your CV by spending a semester studying abroad at one of our partner institutions in locations such as Canada, Europe and the USA or at our campuses in China or Malaysia.

You will graduate with all the knowledge, practical skills and confidence you need to stand out to employers as you start your career.

 

Modules

Mandatory

Year 1

Careers Skills for Geographers

Mandatory

Year 1

Exploring Human Geography

Mandatory

Year 1

Geographical Field Course

Mandatory

Year 1

Interpreting Geographical Data

Mandatory

Year 1

Introduction to Geographic Information Systems

Mandatory

Year 1

Planet Earth: Exploring the Physical Environment

Mandatory

Year 1

Tutorial

Optional

Year 1

Exploring Place

Optional

Year 1

Globalisation: Economy, Space and Power

Optional

Year 1

On Earth and Life

Optional

Year 1

Physical Landscapes of Britain

Mandatory

Year 2

Dissertation Preparation

Mandatory

Year 2

Research Tutorial

Mandatory

Year 2

Techniques in Physical Geography

Optional

Year 2

Cultural and Historical Geography

Optional

Year 2

Earth Observation

Optional

Year 2

Economic Geography

Optional

Year 2

Living with Hazards

Optional

Year 2

Patterns of Life

Optional

Year 2

Political Geography

Optional

Year 2

River Processes and Dynamics

Optional

Year 2

Rural Environmental Geography

Optional

Year 2

Spatial Decision Making

Optional

Year 2

Urban Geography

Mandatory

Year 3

Dissertation in Geography

Optional

Year 3

Advances in Remote Sensing

Optional

Year 3

Earth Observation

Optional

Year 3

Environment, Development and Livelihoods

Optional

Year 3

Environmental Modelling

Optional

Year 3

European Urban Geographies (Berlin field course)

Optional

Year 3

Freshwater Management

Optional

Year 3

Geographies of Money and Finance

Optional

Year 3

Geographies of Violence

Optional

Year 3

Global Climate Change

Optional

Year 3

Health Geographies

Optional

Year 3

Just Futures and their Geographies

Optional

Year 3

Landscape, Culture and Politics

Optional

Year 3

Living with Climate Change in the Yucatan (Mexico field course)

Optional

Year 3

River Management and Restoration (Mount St. Helens Field Course)

Optional

Year 3

Tropical Environments in the Anthropocene

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About modules

The above is a sample of the typical modules we offer but is not intended to be construed and/or relied upon as a definitive list of the modules that will be available in any given year. Modules (including methods of assessment) may change or be updated, or modules may be cancelled, over the duration of the course due to a number of reasons such as curriculum developments or staffing changes. This content was last updated on Friday 24 February 2023.

Teaching is via a range of methods and approaches including seminars, tutorials, and laboratory, practical and field trips.

Field trips are an exciting opportunity for you to gain hands-on experience in a range of topics and enhance the skills and techniques you'll need for your professional career. There are a number of field trips throughout years two and three depending on your module choices.

Our Cartography Unit offers student support, whether it's sourcing maps, designing maps or drawing maps. You will be taught the fundamentals of good map design and all students are encouraged to map their own research.

Teaching methods

  • Field trips
  • Lectures
  • Seminars
  • Tutorials
  • Computer labs
  • Labs  

We use a wide range of assessment methods including formal examinations, essays, project reports, lab reports, field notebooks, posters, verbal presentations, video diaries, and dissertations. Overall, most of our graduates will have experienced about 60-70% coursework and 30-40% examination assessments.

Assessment methods

  • Dissertation
  • Essay
  • Examinations
  • Field books
  • Lab reports
  • Presentation
  • Project work

You can expect to attend about 12 to 13 hours of lectures, practical work and tutorials per week in each year of your degree.

For the rest of the time you will be working independently, doing the necessary reading in preparation for tutorials, writing essays or working on seminar presentations.

Geography graduates are very popular with a diverse range of employers who appreciate the personal and transferable skills they offer.

You'll gain valuable skills including data analysis and statistics, field work techniques and quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Our first-year Careers Skills for Geographers module includes guest lectures from organisations such as the Royal Geographical Society, and a programme of career networking events.

Graduate destinations

Our graduates go on to a wide range of careers. Some enter roles that have a direct correlation to their degree, including conservation and heritage protection and land surveying. Others utilise their transferable skills in sectors such as management consultancy, PR, marketing and financial services.

Recent graduates have gone on to work for organisations such as the British Geological Survey, Capita, Historic England, Network Rail, Swiss Re, Teach First, and Tesla Motors.

Average starting salary and career progression

81.4% of undergraduates from the School of Geography secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual salary for these graduates was £25,225.*

* HESA Graduate Outcomes 2019/20 data published in 2022. The Graduate Outcomes % is derived using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK.

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.

The University of Nottingham is consistently named as one of the most targeted universities by Britain’s leading graduate employers (Ranked in the top ten in The Graduate Market in 2013-2020, High Fliers Research).

Trent Building in sunshine  June 2nd 2020 by Lisa Gilligan-Lee
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The most exciting element about the BSc Geography degree is the opportunity to carry out a variety of fieldwork in fantastic locations. The course offers extremely memorable field trips that equip students with vital skills and relevant research experience.

Emily Richardson

BSc Geography

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