Explore how physical and human systems interact to shape our planet. On this BSc Geography degree, you’ll gain the scientific and analytical skills to understand natural processes, environmental change and the challenges impacting people and places today.
Over 3 years, you’ll study both human and physical science aspects of geography and specialise in physical geography as you progress. You’ll learn how to investigate and interpret the natural world through classroom learning, fieldwork and lab work, developing advanced techniques such as:
You’ll be taught by researchers from a top UK geography department. Their expertise in environmental change, climate systems and sustainability will guide your development as a geographer and scientist.
With their support you'll cover topics that interest you, with opportunities to study topics from glaciers to dessert landscapes or climate change and human-coastal interactions.
There are several opportunities for practical experience throughout this degree helping you understand environmental processes in real contexts and prepare you for professional practice. Alongside lab work, field activities are built into every year of study. This includes a first-year field course in the New Forest, residential trip to Tenerife included in your tuition fees and an optional third year trip to the Swiss Alps, Cambodia or Namibia.
Your personal academic tutor will support your academic and professional development, helping you choose modules and plan your career.
You can also:
Our welcoming and supportive Geography society also hosts a range of academic and social events all year, providing community and additional opportunities throughout your degree.
We regularly review our courses to ensure and improve quality. This course may be revised as a result of this. Any revision will be balanced against the requirement that the student should receive the educational service expected. Find out why, when, and how we might make changes.
Our courses are regulated in England by the Office for Students (OfS).
I’m enjoying how my degree takes us from lecture rooms to computer stations to laboratories, it had made me realise I have a love for lab work.
This course is based at Highfield.
This qualification is awarded by the University of Southampton.
The Course Description Document details your course overview, your course structure and how your course is taught and assessed.
ABB
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.
If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, your offer will be: BBB and Grade A in the EPQ
We are committed to ensuring that all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise an applicant's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme as follows: Grades BBC
Pass, with minimum 34 points overall with 17 points at Higher Level if no prefered subject taken at Higher Level or Pass, with minimum 32 points overall with 16 points at Higher Level if one or more prefered subjects taken at Higher Level.
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
DDD in the BTEC Extended Diploma. DD in BTEC Diploma plus A in A-level subject or DD in BTEC Diploma plus B in a preferred A-Level subject. D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus A A from 2 A-level subjects or D in the Subsidiary Diploma plus AB from 2 A-level subjects including at least one preferred subject.
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
BTEC Extended Diploma must be in a relevant subject area
DDD in the BTEC Extended Diploma. DD in BTEC Diploma plus A in A-level subject or DD in BTEC Diploma plus B in a preferred A-Level subject. D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus A A from 2 A-level subjects or D in the Subsidiary Diploma plus AB from 2 A-level subjects including at least one preferred subject.
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 39 must be at Distinction and 6 credits at Merit or 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, or which 30 must be a Distinction and 15 credits at Merit if a preferred subject.
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
H1 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 if no preferred subject is included or H1 H2 H2 H2 H3 H3 if one or more preferred subjects included.
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
Offers will be based on exams being taken at the end of S6. Subjects taken and qualifications achieved in S5 will be reviewed. Careful consideration will be given to an individual’s academic achievement, taking in to account the context and circumstances of their pre-university education.
Please see the University of Southampton’s Curriculum for Excellence Scotland Statement (PDF) for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.
D3 D3 M2 if no prefered subject included or D3 M2 M2 if one or more preferred subject is included.
Cambridge Pre-U's can be used in combination with other qualifications such as A Levels to achieve the equivalent of the typical offer where grade D3 can be used in lieu of grade A or M2 can be used in lieu of grade B.
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
ABB from 3 A Levels or AB from 2 A levels are included and B from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales
Offers typically exclude General Studies and Critical Thinking.
We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
An overall distinction with grade A in the core element in the Science T-Level
Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) and Mathematics at minimum grade 4/C.
Find the equivalent international qualifications for our entry requirements.
If English is not your first language, you must show that you can use English to the level we require. Visit our English language pages to find out which qualifications we accept and how you can meet our requirements.
If you are taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), you must get at least the following scores:
If you do not meet the English language requirements through a test or qualification, you may be able to meet them by completing one of our pre-sessional English programmes before your course starts.
You might meet our criteria in other ways if you do not have the qualifications we need. Find out more about:
Find out more about our Admissions Policy.
We welcome applications from learners of all ages. Students who are aged 21 and over at the start of their undergraduate course are defined as mature by the University of Southampton. We take a holistic assessment of the application looking for academic ability and commitment to study. Typical entry requirements, which may vary from discipline to discipline, includes for example, evidence of recent formal academic qualifications or professional qualifications, relevant work experience or volunteering. You may also be invited to attend an interview with an Admissions Tutor. For some degree programmes, there may also be a Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body (PSRB) requirement. We accept many different academic qualifications. For more information, please contact the Admissions Team.
Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
This degree consists of a set of core and compulsory modules and a selection of optional modules. You can choose your options from:
A major part of all our degree programmes is the research project. This involves personal fieldwork or documentary research, in the UK or abroad. You'll develop your topic with a member of staff who will give ongoing supervision. You'll start the project in your second year, and complete it in your final year.
This year provides a broad academic foundation in physical and human geography. Statistical and computing skills are also an important element in the early part of the degree.
You'll also study aspects of climate change, including:
You'll also attend an in-depth, non-residential field course in the New Forest, looking at both physical and human geography topics.
There is a wide choice of optional modules.
You'll take core modules in physical geography. You can learn about remote sensing for earth observation or global water resources.
The highlight is the second year field course, where you will spend a full week in Tenerife. You'll learn about life on a volcanic island (volcanology, biodiversity, hazards and natural resources) to designing and executing your own field project. This trip is included in your tuition fee.
Beyond the core modules, there are a wide range of other options to choose from. For example, you can learn advanced geographic information systems, gaining additional mastery in this highly sought after technical skillset.
You can take up to 2 modules outside geography. For example, you could explore:
In this year you'll have a broad range of advanced options to choose from. These are based on the research interests of academic staff and bring you to the frontier of current knowledge in geography.
Whether fluvial processes, urban geography or health care provision fascinate you, you'll get a sense of cutting-edge issues and debate.
You'll also have the option to travel further afield to Switzerland and Cambodia or Namibia.
In this year you'll conduct your own in-depth research on an aspect of geography you find most interesting during your dissertation project.
Want more detail? See all the modules in the course.
The modules outlined provide examples of what you can expect to learn on this degree course based on recent academic teaching. As a research-led University, we undertake a continuous review of our course to ensure quality enhancement and to manage our resources. The precise modules available to you in future years may vary depending on staff availability and research interests, new topics of study, timetabling and student demand. Find out why, when and how we might make changes.
As well as the optional modules listed here, you can also choose from a range of modules from other disciplines across the University. You'll find more information about module choices in the programme specification under 'About this course'.
You must study the following modules in year 1:
As well as the optional modules listed here, you can also choose from a range of modules from other disciplines across the University. You'll find more information about module choices in the programme specification under 'About this course'.
You must study the following modules in year 2:
You must also choose from the following modules in year 2:
As well as the optional modules listed here, you can also choose from a range of modules from other disciplines across the University. You'll find more information about module choices in the programme specification under 'About this course'.
You must study the following module in year 3:
You must also choose from the following modules in year 3:
The learning activities for this course include the following:
How you'll spend your course time:
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 1:
Year 1:
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 2:
Year 2:
Your scheduled learning, teaching and independent study for year 3:
Year 3:
You’ll be supported by a personal academic tutor and have access to a senior tutor.
Andrew Phillips is the course leader.
This degree will allow you to develop and evidence subject-specific and targeted employability skills. This includes the required skill set for a range of future careers, further study, or starting your own business.
The skills you can expect to focus on and gain from this course include:
The employability and enterprise skills you'll gain from this course are reflected in the Southampton skills model. When you join us you'll be able to use our skills model to track, plan, and benefit your career development and progress.
Download skills overview
Graduates commonly work in a range of organisations or sectors including:
Environmental Consultancy,
Environmental public bodies,
government research institutes,
Local Councils,
Academic,
Charities,
Commercial/private sector.
*Example graduate job titles and job prospect statistics taken from The Graduate Outcomes Survey, which gathers information about the activities and perspectives of graduates 15 months after finishing their course.
You can apply for a year in employment placement on this course. This is a great way to improve your employability and confidence in your career prospects. Recommended by 100% of students who've taken part, you can apply for a UK or global placement in any sector.
We are a top 20 UK university for employability (QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022). Our Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise team will support you. This support includes:
We have a vibrant entrepreneurship culture and our dedicated start-up supporter, Futureworlds, is open to every student.
Your career ideas and graduate job opportunities may change while you're at university. So it is important to take time to regularly reflect on your goals, speak to people in industry and seek advice and up-to-date information from Careers, Employability and Student Enterprise professionals at the University.
Fees for a year's study:
Your tuition fees pay for the full cost of tuition and standard exams.
Find out how to:
Accommodation and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees. There may also be extra costs for retake and professional exams.
Explore:
If you're a UK or EU student and your household income is under £36,200 a year, you may be able to get a University of Southampton bursary to help with your living costs. Find out about bursaries and other funding we offer at Southampton.
If you're a care leaver or estranged from your parents, you may be able to get a specific bursary.
Get in touch for advice about student money matters.
You may be able to get a scholarship or grant to help fund your studies.
We award scholarships and grants for travel, academic excellence, or to students from under-represented backgrounds.
The Student Hub offers support and advice on money to students. You may be able to access our Student Support fund and other sources of financial support during your course.
Find out about funding you could get as an international student.
We will assess your application on the strength of your:
We'll aim to process your application within 2 to 6 weeks, but this will depend on when it is submitted. Applications submitted in January, particularly near to the UCAS equal consideration deadline, might take substantially longer to be processed due to the high volume received at that time.
We treat and select everyone in line with our Equality and Diversity Statement.
Please contact our enquiries team if you're not sure that you have the right experience or qualifications to get onto this course.
Email: enquiries@southampton.ac.uk
Tel: +44(0)23 8059 5000
Geography (BSc) is a course in the Geography and environmental science subject area. Here are some other courses within this subject area:
