Geography BSc (Hons)

Course Content

• Course Details

  The BSc Geography degree at UON has been designed to contribute towards achieving the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals: SDG7: Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG13: Climate Action, SDG11: Sustainable Cities and Communities and SDG15: Life on Land.

  Our Geography BSc degree includes a mix of human geography and physical geography modules. Topics may include social and economic inequalities, climate change, migration, sustainable development, weather, water resource management, geographies of sport. There is a choice of modules at Stages 2 and 3, with flexibility to enable you to specialise in human geography or physical geography if you wish to.

  Stage 1

  There are six compulsory modules at Stage 1, ensuring students have a solid foundation in key aspects of the subject:

  • Introducing Human Geographies. Provides an introduction to key geographical issues such as place, scale and social relations, drawing upon examples from migration, tourism and social geography.
  • The Physical Environment. Outlines the principal processes operating at the surface of the Earth.
  • A Sustainable Community. Introduces the goals of sustainable development and how they can be addressed at local scales.
  • Geohazards. Explores the main causes of and responses to a broad range of natural hazards.
  • Geographical Issues in the Majority Global South. Considers social and economic inequalities at regional, national and international scales.
  • Geographical Techniques. Introduces methods of data collection and analysis used in geographical research.

  Stage 2

  There are three compulsory modules at Stage 2:

  • Geography Field Module. Develops field skills in both human geography and physical geography.
  • Issues in Human Geography. Provides insights into contemporary issues within the UK and Europe, with a focus on social inequalities, deprivation, and changing urban spaces.
  • Geographic Information Systems. Introduces students to the theory and use of GIS for storing, manipulating, analysing and visualising data.

  In addition, you choose three from the following modules:

  • Weather and Climate
  • Populations and Migrations
  • Landscape Processes
  • Biogeography
  • Transport and Mobility
  • Health, Wellbeing and Place

  Stage 3

  There are two compulsory modules:

  • Geography Dissertation. An opportunity to undertake a personal study of a geographical topic you want to investigate.
  • Career Planning and Employability. Develops awareness of jobs you can do with a Geography degree, recruitment processes, and your own subject-specific and transferable skills. This module includes a short work placement.

  You choose three of the following modules:

  • Communicating Climate Change
  • Geographies of Sport
  • Water Resource Management
  • Children’s Geographies
  • Monitoring the Earth’s Surface

  Fieldwork and Career support

  Fieldwork is key to understanding geographical issues and developing transferable skills. Our university geography students conduct fieldwork at all stages of the programme. This might involve visits to sites of geographical interest, individual or group projects, or optional international fieldtrips. Locations of optional fieldtrips in previous years have included the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and Barcelona. We fund the travel and accommodation costs of compulsory study trips on our BSc Geography course. There are additional fees for optional trips.

  UON Geography students have opportunities to network with employers and our own graduates through events on campus, online, and through our dedicated social networking site. This provides our students with insights into the wide range of careers university Geography graduates enter. In addition, students take part in a number of career planning workshops and take a dedicated employability module.

  Module information can be found on the Award Map.

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• Entry Requirements

  Standard entry requirements apply. A typical offer to study BSc Geography at the University of Northampton would be:

  • BCC at A-Level or,
  • DMM at BTEC or,
  • Pass (C and above) at T Level

  We welcome international applicants and applications from students with a range of non-traditional educational or professional qualifications.

  For more information on how to make an application, please visit our How to Apply page.

  If you are an International student and would like information on making an application, please see our How to Apply page.

  Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) Entry Requirements

  Admission to this foundation programme is normally:

  • DEE at A Level or,
  • MPP at BTEC or,
  • Pass (D or E) at T Level

  However, we would also like to hear from you if you have professional or industry experience instead, a range of other qualifications or self-developed subject knowledge that relates to the programme you wish to study.

  English Language Requirements

  All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:

  • IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with a minimum of 5.5 in all bands
    for study at undergraduate level

  For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.

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• Fees and Funding

  2024/25 Tuition Fees
  

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK Full Time: £9,250
  • UK Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
  • UK Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250
  • International Full Time: £15,200
  • International Integrated Foundation Year: £15,200

  Additional Costs

  Our Geography degree includes residential and day fieldwork trips within the UK. These opportunities help you to develop your skills and also visit sites that may be restricted for the general public.

  As well as local area visits, there may be opportunities for overseas fieldwork.

  There is no charge for compulsory field visits within the UK, however the optional overseas trip would incur an additional to be confirmed by your tutor.

  2023/24 Tuition Fees
  

  Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 23/24 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.

  • UK Full Time: £9,250
  • UK Part Time: £1,540 per 20 credit module
  • UK Integrated Foundation Year: £9,250
  • International Full Time: £14,750
  • International Integrated Foundation Year: £14,750

  Additional Costs

  Our Geography degree includes residential and day fieldwork trips within the UK. These opportunities help you to develop your skills and also visit sites that may be restricted for the general public.

  As well as local area visits, there may be opportunities for overseas fieldwork.

  There is no charge for compulsory field visits within the UK, however the optional overseas trip would incur an additional to be confirmed by your tutor.

   

  For information on the scholarships available to you, please see our scholarships page.

  For more information about possible funding options, please visit our Fees and Funding pages.

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• Student Perks

  At the University of Northampton, everything we do, from funded trips to paid internships, is to give you everything you need to make a difference when you leave.

  If you join this full time Geography degree at Northampton, you will receive a laptop when your course begins*. The laptops are built to a bespoke custom specification ideal for use in the seminar room, collaborative group work or studying at home.

  Whatever your ambitions, we’re here to help you to achieve them. We’ll support you to identify the skills you’re learning during your course, find your strengths and secure practical experience so that when it comes to applying for jobs or further study you’ll feel confident in standing out from the crowd. We’ve created the Northampton Employment Promise because we are so confident that if you focus on your studies and complete one of our awards you’ll be highly employable by the time you graduate. Putting you in a great position to secure employment or continue your studies.

  To check out the full list of perks, visit our Student Perks page or dedicated International Perks page.

  *UK fee payers only (see Terms and Conditions for further details).

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• Integrated Foundation Year (IFY)

  The Integrated Foundation Year (IFY) offers a new and exciting route into studying for a degree, attracting ambitious and driven students who are willing to learn and advance.

  If you have non-standard qualifications or do not quite meet the admissions requirements we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to study a four year programme which includes an Integrated Foundation Year. The Integrated Foundation Year will help you develop the theoretical/practical and academic skills you need, in order to successfully progress to the full award.

  Featuring a reduced tuition fee in the first year, our four-year courses will enable you to successfully follow the degree pathway of your choice while gaining essential study skills. The foundation year of your chosen degree will be studied on a full-time basis and is aimed at supporting the transition to higher education. Years two, three and four are then studied as a standard degree programme.

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• FAQs

  How will I be taught?

  Face-to-face sessions are organised as interactive classes with discussion and activities. For some modules on BSc Geography, there are workshops in the laboratory or computer room. Classes are supported by online and technology-enhanced learning to ensure you have the best possible study experience to achieve your potential.

  How many hours per week of teaching/personal tutoring?

  Students typically have 12 hours contact time per week, in addition to 20-25 hours per week of independent study. Students are encouraged to meet with staff on a one-to-one basis to get additional study support, and also receive timetabled personal tutor meetings each term.

  How will I be assessed?

  Each module generally has two items of assessment. Assignments are designed to develop your skills, as well as test your knowledge and understanding. There is a range of written assignments, including reports and essays. You may also be asked to analyse data or reflect on your learning. In some written assignments you will be tasked with writing in a style appropriate to a particular audience. Presentations, debates and discussions are used to assess your verbal communication skills. There are no formal examinations, but there are a small number of class-based tests. A detailed set of instructions is provided for every assignment. Students are encouraged to meet with academic staff to get one-to-one support.

  What careers can I go into from studying this course?

  The BSc Geography degree equips students with a broad knowledge base and a wide range of skills that are attractive for many careers requiring graduate skills. Our graduates gain employment in range of sectors such as planning, environment, transport, education, energy, insurance, and local government. Opportunities to network with graduates are incorporated into the programme.

  Are there any study trips?

  Fieldwork is key to understanding geographical issues and developing transferable skills. Many of our modules include part- or full-day field trips. Typical locations include London and the Midlands. In addition, we often conduct fieldwork on and around campus. There are UK residential trips at Stage 2. Recent trips have included five days in Devon studying physical geography techniques and topics, and two days in Sheffield exploring urban geographies. There may be optional overseas trips. Locations in previous years include Barcelona, Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. We fund travel and accommodation costs on compulsory study trips. There are additional fees for optional trips.

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