Overview
If you’re fascinated by the relationship between human society and the natural world, this BA (Hons) Geography degree, accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (RGS), provides the skills and knowledge you need to help shape the future of the planet.
You'll investigate how we can preserve both the natural environment and the social and economic wellbeing of human populations. When you graduate, you'll have what you need to work in a wide range of areas, such as within urban or environmental planning, the energy sector, teaching or research.
Course Highlights
- Create your own bespoke final year to match your interests and career ambitions by choosing from an optional list of modules, including environment and society, creative economy and urban placemaking and gender and development
- Learn to use GIS to solve societal problems including industry-standard technology, laser survey technology, drones, and photogrammetry equipment
- Experience some of the societies, cultures and landscapes you’re studying through fieldwork, including in places such as Berlin, Malta, Sicily and Uganda
- Choose to study abroad at one of our partner universities in Canada, Australia, Germany, Malta, Slovakia, Hungary and France, or build experience on a work placement at an organisation like the Environment Agency or Natural England
Careers and opportunities
On this BA (Hons) Geography, you’ll learn how to sustainably develop urban areas, and how governments, business and individuals can help protect the planet for future generations. You’ll examine themes such as conservation, sustainability, geopolitics, and economic and urban development, and hunt for answers to big questions about the world and society.
Geography graduates are valuable in all sorts of job roles. As well as learning skills to help you understand and engage with the world, you’ll develop as a professional. You’ll come away as a confident communicator, able to solve problems, make good decisions and work well with others.
When you graduate, you'll be ready for a career in a wide range of important fields and sectors, with technical and professional skills many employers are looking for. Our previous students have gone onto work in areas such as transport planning, engineering, civil services, teaching and research.
As the Royal Geographical Society state, 74.8% of geography graduates enter professional-level jobs after graduation, compared to an average of 60.8% for the social sciences in general.
It also notes data from the Department for Education that puts geography among the top subjects for graduate earnings.
BA Geography or BSc Geography?
Our BA (Hons) Geography focuses on human geography – the ways in which communities, cultures and societies interact with the environment, while BSc (Hons) Geography is more to do with the science of the natural physical world.
Whichever you choose, you'll study both types of geography in your first year, before picking modules on either (or both) in years 2 and 3.
Your module choices will determine whether you graduate with a BA or a BSc Geography, so it helps to know which area interests you most and suits your career aspirations better before choosing which degree to study.
What jobs can you do with a geography degree?
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- geo-environmental consultant
- transport planner
- urban planner
- GIS analyst
- spatial analyst
- operations watchkeeper
- geography teacher
Graduate destinations
Organisations our graduates have gone on to work for include:
- Mott McDonald
- AECOM
- Savills
- Bulb
- Department of Business and Energy
- Thames Water
- Hampshire County Council
You could also go on to study at postgraduate level.
