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BA

Geography BA (Hons)

Explore the relationship between people and the planet. This flexible course will enhance your understanding of the challenges facing society and the world around you, while you acquire the knowledge and skills for a broad range of career options.

How to apply Apply via UCAS

Course details

Start date

Degree Type

BA

UCAS Code

L702

Course length

3 years full-time

Typical offer

A*AA

Tuition Fees

  • Home (Full-time): £ per year
  • Overseas (Full-time): £ per year

Overview

Looking to tackle real-world challenges, from climate change to conflict and social inequalities? Studying this research-led degree in human geography will help you develop the necessary skills and experience you’ll need for a broad range of employment opportunities. Our flexible study programme at one of the world’s leading centres for geographical research puts you in control. You can also apply to add a placement year or a year abroad to your degree, increasing the course from three years to four. There is no such thing as a typical Geography career but if you want to make sure that you are highly employable with a variety of transferable skills, that prepare you for the global challenges of the 21st century, then Geography is a great choice.

Course details

Start date

Degree Type

BA

UCAS Code

L702

Course length

3 years full-time

Typical offer

A*AA

Tuition Fees

  • Home (Full-time): £ per year
  • Overseas (Full-time): £ per year

What you'll study

The Geography BA course begins with a broad foundation, during which you are introduced to both human and physical geography. In the second and third years, our modules lead progressively to increasing specialised content focused on the cutting-edge of human geography research. There is also the opportunity to study integrated modules that span the human/physical geography interface. In the final year, you will undertake your own geographical research project.

Core modules

  • Human Geography: Space and Place in a Changing World

    introduces the core concepts of human geography along with the approaches used to understand these concepts in response to specific societal challenges. A variety of case studies is used to illustrate the content.

  • Introduction to Geographical Research

    covers a variety of methods for research and analysis used in human geography and how to select the appropriate methods for a range of geographical contexts.

  • Physical Geography

    coversa broad range of interlinking themes in physical geography, using scale, from global to local, as the organising framework.

Optional modules

  • In recent years optional modules have included: Planet Under PressureGeographies of CrisisIntroduction to Climate Change.

Core modules

  • Social Research in Geography

    provides the skills needed for good research design, interpretation, presentation and evaluation of research findings. You will acquire practical experience through residential fieldwork in the UK.

  • Theory and Concepts in Contemporary Human Geography

    gives an introduction to the key schools of thought in human geography and highlights the role of these theoretical developments in the contemporary social science debate.

Optional modules

  • In recent years optional modules have included: Climate Change: Geographical PerspectivesEconomic GeographyGeographies of DevelopmentPolitical GeographySocial and Cultural GeographyUrban Geography.

Core modules

  • Dissertation

    The is a substantial piece of independent geographical research. It develops your ability to plan and manage your own learning and provides you with an opportunity to research a specific topic in greater depth and present your findings and conclusions.

  • Field trip modules:

    Iceland: Field Research in Glacial EnvironmentsThe ArcticBerlin: Culture, Politics and ContestationJerusalem: Political Geographies of Settler ColonialismChicago: Sites of Global Change

Optional modules

  • In recent years optional modules have included: Understanding Land ConflictsGlobal UrbanismGeographies of Humanitarianism and the HumanEast Asian Political GeographiesRace and Racism in the Planetary CrisisGeographies of Money and FinanceFeminist GeographiesPostcolonialism, decoloniality and developmentCritical Resource GeographiesCritical Geopolitics: Difference, Affect, and Power

Learning

Lectures, seminars, workshops, practical classes, tutorials, fieldwork, projects and presentations are supported by increasing emphasis on self-directed learning – research, reading, and writing – as you move from first to final year. Classes are small enough to allow regular one-to-one interaction with our staff, while practicals and fieldwork allow hands-on experience of the work of professional geographers. You can also attend an extensive programme of research-focused seminars where staff and visiting scholars present their cutting-edge research. This emphasis on research-led, small-group and practical teaching reflects a conscious choice to enhance the quality of the learning experience, transforming you from a consumer of knowledge in the classroom to a generator of knowledge, as you prepare for professional or postgraduate life.

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Assessment

Along with a final-year dissertation, modules are assessed by a diverse range of coursework, including essays, field work reports, practicals, presentations and posters and some may also have an examination.

Entry requirements

Fees & Funding

Choose which fees you want to see:

Home / Island students

£ per year

International / EU Students

£ per year

Home / Island students

Part Time - £ per year

International / EU Students

Part Time - £ per year

The tuition fees shown are for one complete academic year of study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).

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Department Information

  • Geography at Durham is an exciting and diverse discipline that addresses some of the most significant challenges that confront the modern world – from climate change, natural hazards and sea-level change to urbanisation, geopolitics and culture. Our research-led approach to learning means you will be taught by human and physical geographers with specialisms that span a broad range of global social and environmental issues. The Department is an inclusive world-leading centre that offers BA and BSc degrees with flexible pathways to suit your interests and career goals. Whether you lean more towards Physical Geography (BSc) or Human Geography (BA), you will receive expert teaching and guidance from internationally renowned academics through a variety of teaching and learning methods which include plenty of opportunities to get involved in workshops, presentations, fieldwork and project-based work. If your interests span both Human and Physical Geography, our courses include a range of integrated modules that incorporate both the environment and society. Combining hands-on work with traditional academic teaching, you will have the opportunity to study human activity and the physical environment, as well as the interactions between them, in real-world contexts with a range of field trips. Putting theory into practice, you’ll gain valuable practical experience around the world – from the Arctic to Cape Town, Nepal to Iceland – as well as closer to home to discover the rich and varied features of the UK. For more information see our department pages.

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    Facilities

    The Department of Geography is located on the main campus at Lower Mountjoy, close to other departments, colleges, the Bill Bryson library and the Teaching and Learning Centre. Founded in 1928, the Department is one of the leading centres of geographical research and education in the world.

    • State of the art equipment

      Over the past few years, we have invested £1.7m in new, cutting-edge equipment. Our laboratories contain an extensive suite of analytical and geotechnical instruments which are overseen and supported by a team of dedicated technical staff.

    • Facilities

      Facilities also include a workshop, top-class IT facilities, a virtual library, one of the few dedicated cartographic units in the region.

    • Field equipment

      We have an extensive collection of field equipment used in both physical and human geography research and teaching.

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Career Opportunities

Of those UK/EU students who graduated in 2022/23:

85%

in work or further study.

93%

in high or medium skilled employment.

£31,662

is the average salary.

HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey. The survey asks leavers from higher education what they are doing 15 months after graduation. Further information about the Graduate Outcomes survey can be found here www.graduateoutcomes.ac.uk

Employability

Our degree courses will stimulate and challenge you while providing first-class support for your academic and personal development. You will graduate with a unique understanding and experience gained during your degree and a set of transferable skills – problem solving, teamwork, project planning and management – that are highly regarded by employers across a broad range of careers and sectors.  Many of our graduates have taken up roles that make a real difference to people and communities, such as environmental policy and climate science, urban planning, energy, tourism and local development. Examples of high-profile employers include Transport for London, the Met Office, Skanska, Ordnance Survey and KPMG.

More Information

At Durham Geography you will learn first-hand how to address real-world problems and gain hands-on experience.

Learn more about why the department of Geography is a great place to study

Your next steps

Apply via UCAS

  • Institution code: D86

  • UCAS code: L702

Apply now

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