
Greg Spellman
Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology
UCAS Code:
F800
Level:
Undergraduate
Duration:
3 years full time
4 years full time (foundation)
4 years part time
Starting:
September
Fees UK:
Full Time 22/23: £9,250
Part Time 22/23: £1,500 (per 20 credits) Integrated Foundation Year 22/23: £9,250
Fees International:
Full Time 22/23: £14,000 Integrated Foundation Year 22/23: £14,000
Location:
Waterside
For questions regarding study and admissions please contact us:
study@northampton.ac.uk
0300 303 2772
What physical and human factors are impacting on our environment? How are they being addressed at local, national and international levels? How can we influence change?
Our BSc (Hons) Geography programme explores these questions, using small group teaching and one-to-one tutorials to ensure students get individual support from our team of enthusiastic, experienced and research-active academic staff. Our students take part in a range of fieldwork activities, including day trips and UK-based residentials. Overseas trips may also be available.
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.
Updated 04/05/2022
If you’d like to see more of our Waterside campus, come and join us for a socially distanced CAMPUS TOUR.
This course 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 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.
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.
Geography and Development. Considers social and economic inequalities at regional, national and international scales.
Geographical Techniques. Introduces methods of data collection and analysis used in geographical research.
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.
Research Methods. Develops skills essential for the presentation, analysis and interpretation of data.
In addition, you choose three from the following modules:
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.
You choose three of the following modules:
Please note the modules shown here relate to the academic year 21/22. The modules relating to the academic year 22/23 will be available from June 2022.
Standard entry requirements apply. A typical offer would be BCC at A-Level or DMM at BTEC. We welcome international applicants and applications from students with a range of non-traditional educational or professional qualifications.
For more 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.
Admission to this foundation programme is normally DEE at A Level or MPP at BTEC. 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.
All International and EU students applying for a course with us must meet the following minimum English language requirements:
For information regarding English language requirements at the University, please see our IELTS page.
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 22/23 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
This course 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.
Fees quoted relate to study in the Academic Year 21/22 only and may be subject to inflationary increases in future years.
This course 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.
This programme has been accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in geographical knowledge and skills, and prepare graduates to address the needs of the world beyond higher education. The accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from accredited programmes meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical ability and transferable skills.
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.
The Geography department are taking part in GeoNight 2022, with an activity about geography, sport and climate change; this features issues and case studies studied in our Geographies of Sport final year undergraduate module.
Amie is a Geography graduate:
“My personal development has been incredible at the University. Practical elements of the course, such as fieldtrips, as well as extracurricular activities such as societies, have helped me hugely.”
“If you love geography, this course is amazing! It covers so much and has so many module choices to suit everyone. I feel extremely confident that this course has set me up for my future career.”
“I wouldn’t change my time at the University for anything. I can honestly say this University has changed my life!”
Face-to-face sessions are organised as interactive classes with discussion and activities. For some modules, 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.
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.
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.
The programme 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.
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.
Open Days give you the best experience and insight to courses, people and facilities that interest you. Make your choice easier and come meet us.
Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology
Senior Lecturer in Environmental Science
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology
Senior Lecturer in Geography
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology
Professor
Faculty of Health, Education and Society
Senior Lecturer in Waste Management
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology
Senior Lecturer in Environmental Ecology & Management
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology
Lecturer in Environmental Science
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology
Senior Lecturer in Human Geography
Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology
Lecturer in Environmental Science
Geography BSc (Hons)
We offer an innovative approach to enhancing your employability. Career planning workshops take place in all years of study. In addition, there is a career planning module, which focuses on developing your awareness of jobs you can do with a Geography degree, recruitment processes, and your own subject-specific and transferable skills. We work closely with careers advisers to ensure students get one-to-one career guidance and support. Guest speakers from a range of businesses and organisations – including lots of our own Geography graduates – contribute to the curriculum. This gives students ‘real-world’ insights into current issues, provides up-to-date information about the workplace, and gives opportunities for networking with potential employers. We are confident that this experience gives you the edge when applying for employment or postgraduate training. Our graduates gain employment in a wide range of sectors such as planning, environment, transport, education, energy, insurance, and local government.
Tyler credits his university grounding for helping him to complete his day to day work duties.
Environmental Science is a broad field that encompasses aspects of ecology and physical science to evaluate environmental issues and propose appropriate solutions.