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Undergraduate

Geography BA (Hons)

University of Gloucestershire

What is Geography BA (Hons)?

Population, migration, conflict, development, global crime, health and ageing. These present some of the most pressing social challenges of this century, are inherently geographical in nature and are the focus of our BA Geography degree.

You’ll join a course ranked 1st in the UK for student satisfaction in the 2023, 2022 and 2020 Guardian University Guides and 5th overall in 2023.

You’ll develop a world view, be exposed to a broad range of geographies and acquire an extensive set of research skills. You’ll find that the abilities you develop are readily transferable, with Geographers continuing to be one of the most sought-after graduates, able to turn their hand to a vast range of employment sectors.

You’ll have the opportunity to progress from field training in the UK in Year 1 to overseas field research in Year 2 and field placements in Year 3, forging unforgettable experiences with us in the landscapes of Europe, Africa and the Americas. You’ll also have the flexibility to select physical geography themes from our companion BSc Geography course, or to switch to the BSc up to the end of Year 2. There is also the opportunity to spend a semester in Year 2 at partner Universities in Canada, the USA or New Zealand.

With a focus on small class, practical and field learning, you will be assessed entirely through coursework to gain a truly representative measure of graduate attributes sought by future employers and for postgraduate study.

Gloucestershire is the only university in the UK to offer Geography as a fast-track 2 year format, alongside the standard 3 year and 4 year (with placement) courses. On this accelerated degree, you’ll make a substantial saving on tuition fees, accommodation and general living costs. The faster pace of study is made achievable by the well-structured degree at Gloucestershire, involving some concentrated intervals of work in the early summer.

To support your undergraduate journey, we also offer fee waivers, bursaries and awards, for both UK and International students. At the end, as a Gloucestershire graduate you can choose to pursue one of our postgraduate courses, receiving a priority offer and a 20% fees discount.

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Entry requirements

    • 112 – 128 UCAS tariff points, BBC – ABB at A levels, DMM – DDM at BTEC, or a Merit in your T-Level.

      Applicants for the Fast track study mode may be required to interview.

       

    • English Language or Literature and Maths Grade 4/C in GCSE (or equivalent) are normally required.

    • We welcome and encourage applications from mature students (aged 21 and over). If you are taking an Access to Higher Education Diploma you will need to pass 60 credits with at least 45 credits at Level 3.

Course modules

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Fees and costs

See the further details of fees and potential extra costs when studying a course at the University of Gloucestershire.
Start date Location UCAS code Fee (UK)
per year
Fee (international)
per year
Sep 2024 Francis Close Hall, Cheltenham L700 £9,250 £16,600
Sep 2025 Francis Close Hall, Cheltenham L700 TBC TBC

Ready to apply?

Possible careers

Graduates from this course can go on to work in:

  • geographic information systems (GIS) roles
  • teaching, lecturing and research
  • sustainable development management
  • planning consultancy
  • civil or security services
  • renewable energies.

Industry links

We offer short-term internships and year-long placement options – so you can gain workplace experience, network with potential employers and obtain academic credit towards your degree. Recently our students have been flood mapping for major water companies, valuing land across the Cotswolds, and planning urban developments and transport networks.

 

 

Help shape the world through GIS

Find out how to use geographic information systems (GIS) to link crime hotspots and urban planning, analyse deprivation, perform suitability mapping for new retail locations, and evaluate the factors around urban growth.

Choose a course consistently ranked highly for satisfaction

Our Geography courses are in the UK top 15 according to the Guardian University Guide. Over the last 6 years of the annual National Student Survey, our course has consistently scored 90% or more for overall satisfaction.

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Ranked 1st in the UK for student and teaching satisfaction

Our geography & environmental courses are ranked 1st in the UK for student and teaching satisfaction by the Guardian University Guide 2023.

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Ranked 1st in the UK for student satisfaction

Our geography & environmental courses are ranked 1st in the UK for student satisfaction by the Complete University Guide 2023.

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Ranked 2nd in the UK for student experience

Our geography & environmental courses are ranked 2nd in the UK for student experience by The Times Good University Guide 2023.

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Ranked 3rd in the UK for teaching quality

Our geography & environmental courses are ranked 3rd in the UK for teaching quality by The Times Good University Guide 2023.

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Ranked 5th in the UK

Our geography & environmental courses are ranked 5th in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2023.

Placements

As part of your course you can gain valuable experience on an optional placement year.

  • Duration – 12 months, full-time (minimum 35 hours a week)
  • Location – popular destinations include the UK, USA, China and Europe
  • Visa – you may need a visa if you’re on placement abroad
  • Finance – your tuition fee is reduced for your placement year – and you can still apply for a maintenance loan and get money advice
  • Placement support – we’ll help you find a great placement and get the most out of the experience

 

 

"Field research is key to our degree course"

“I lead the South Africa trip, where our human geography projects focus on development, sustainability and social transformation. My own research specialism lies in ‘development studies’, which along with ‘population and migration’ and ‘the geography of crime’ make up the three human geography themes of our degree. Lately I’ve undertaken fieldwork in Tanzania, Nigeria and South Africa, examining food production and distribution, and considering representation, development and change in Africa.”

Kenny Lynch, Professor of Development and Communities

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