Geography BSc, 3-4 years
Course information
Typical offer ABB
UK/EU fee £9,250
UCAS code F800
International fee £18,175
Institute code L34
Taught by Geography
21st in the UK for Geography (THE Good University Guide 2021)
97% of students in work or further study six months after graduating (The Uni Guide 2021)
Accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
Admissions enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 5281
seadmissions@le.ac.uk
Course enquiries
+44 (0)116 252 3822/3823
geogadmin@le.ac.uk
Our planet has constantly reshaped itself, but in the twenty-first century, the impact of humanity on all aspects of the planetary machine is undeniable. In this respect, the world needs Geographers more than ever. Geography is a discipline founded on understanding the complex links between the planet, its inhabitants, and the places where they live. As a Physical Geographer, you will help us to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.
Course description
Course description
This degree is perfect for you if you wish to experience the full breadth of Geography, but would like specialise primarily in Physical Geography. After a common first year with BA students, in Years 2 and 3 we offer a diversity of optional Physical Geography modules, covering topics spanning river systems, tropical rainforests, deserts and climate change. There remain Human Geography module options in years 2 and 3, so you can tailor your degree to become a generalist, or a specialist in Physical Geography, depending on your interests. Throughout you will gain transferable skills in remote sensing, geographical information science and statistical and data presentation methods.
The degree includes UK residential fieldwork in Years 1 and 2 going to Devon, Dartmoor and the Lake District. In Year 2 we take you to Almeria (Spain) to explore Europe's only desert. There are options for further residential fieldwork around the world in Year 3.
If at the end of Year 1 you decide you would prefer to focus primarily on human geography, you can transfer to the BA degree in Year 2.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
- A/AS-levels: ABB. Two AS-levels considered in place of one A-level. Geography not essential.
- EPQ with A-levels: BBB + EPQ at grade B.
- GCSE: Grade C/4 in English Language and Maths.
- Access to HE Diploma: Pass relevant diploma with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3, 30 of which must be at Distinction.
- BTEC Nationals: Pass Diploma with DDM.
- International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 30 points. Minimum of 3 in HL Maths, or 4 in SL Maths, or 5 in Maths Studies required if Grade C/4 not held at GCSE. Minimum of 4 in English Language required if grade C/4 not held at GCSE.
Other national and international qualifications considered.
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this course, you can apply for:
- International Foundation Year – Engineering and Technology run by the Global Study Centre. This course is for international students whose academic and/or English results fall just below those required for direct entry to year one of the degree.
- Geography with Foundation Year BSc run by the School of Geography, Geology and the Environment. This course is for all students whose academic and/or English results fall just below those required for direct entry to year one of the degree.
Second year entry may be possible with suitable qualifications.
Selection Process
When considering your application, we will look for evidence that you will be able to fulfil the objectives of the course and achieve the standards required. We will take into account a range of factors including previous exam results.
Applicants are not normally interviewed. If you receive an offer you will be invited to visit the School.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent, with at least 6.0 in each component score. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK and EU Students
Starting in 2021
The University of Leicester has made the decision to keep fees for EU students at the same level as UK student fees for this year, despite this no longer being a UK Government requirement.
- £9,250 in your first year. Tuition fees are subject to government regulations and may change in future years
- Year Abroad: your fee will be £1,250 for that year
- Year in Industry: your fee will be 15% of the full-time tuition fee that applies in that year
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £2,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Additional costs
If you choose the field trip to California as one of your third year option modules, the cost is expected to be about £1,400.
If you choose the field trip to the Amazon as one of your third year option modules, the cost is expected to be about £2,000.
International Students
Starting in 2021
- £18,175 per year
- Year Abroad: £4,543.75, which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee
- Year in Industry: £2,726.25, which is 15% of the full-time tuition fee
You will need to pay a deposit of £2,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Additional costs
If you choose the field trip to California as one of your third year option modules, the cost is expected to be about £1,400.
If you choose the field trip to the Amazon as one of your third year option modules, the cost is expected to be about £2,000.
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
Our degrees are designed to broaden your horizon and to help you acquire the skills sought by employers. Leicester geographers are highly competitive in the job market because of our research-based approach to teaching and learning, which fosters your analytical capabilities, creativity and confidence.
We have dedicated careers support in the School to help you realise your career goals. During term time you will also receive information about careers fairs, job opportunities and career development courses, and other practical information to help you on your way.
A second year module 'Geography in Education' provides placements in local secondary schools. Working closely with teachers you can develop skills and experience beneficial to a career in teaching.
We also organise dedicated Geography Careers Events. Recent speakers represented the Civil Service, Selfridges & Co, Hatch Regeneris, the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency, Ordnance Survey and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology.
The School has well-established links with many businesses and Government departments, including Natural England, the European Space Agency, the Home Office, BP Exploration, and the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission.
Career Development Service
Get career-ready at Leicester with guidance from our award-winning Career Development Service. We're here to give you a lifetime offer of support, even after graduation. Our team of specialist careers advisers and mentors will help you every step of the way. From supporting you with CVs and interviews, to volunteering opportunities and placements, we’re here to help you reach your professional goals.
Related courses
Related courses
Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
We are committed to providing skills and knowledge to help prepare you tackle global challenges. We have mapped our undergraduate degrees for learning which aligns to the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
This degree includes learning which relates to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals:
- Goal 4: Quality education
- Goal 6: Clean water and sanitation
- Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
- Goal 13: Climate action
- Goal 14: Life below water
- Goal 15: Life on land
Course structure
Year 1
Year 1
You will study a broad range of physical and human geography topics in order to understand the breadth of the subject and build foundational knowledge of the discipline. A residential field course in Devon provides field experience in physical geography (landscapes, ecology, coastal management), and will allow you to develop new skills in the context of staff-led projects and activities.
Modules
- Human Geography for a Globalized World
- Environment, Nature, Society
- Evolution of the Earth System
- Exploring our Digital Planet
- Field and Laboratory Techniques for Physical Geographers
- The Contemporary Earth System
- Introducing Leicester Geographies
- Working with Geographic Information
Apart from the field course, this is the same as the BA in Geography, enabling you to switch between the two degrees at the end of your first year if you wish.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year 2
Year 2
In Year 2 you will begin to focus on key areas of physical geography, via core modules on (for example) climate change and analytical methods, and through a range of optional modules. These cover topics including geomorphology and biogeography, as well as satellite remote sensing and palaeo-climatic change. You will attend a residential field course in the Lake District at the start of Year 2, which provides a field-based introduction into these topics and will also go on an overseas field trip (Almeria) mid-way through semester 2.
Core modules
- Geographical Data Analysis
- Climate Change: Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation
- Geographical Research Design (Overseas Field Course) (Almeria)
- Geographical Information Science
Option modules
Choose two modules from:
Then choose one module from:
- Geography in Education (This module has limited spaces)
- Remote Sensing for Geographers
- An Introduction Of Past Global Climate Changes
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Year Abroad or in Industry (optional)
Year Abroad or in Industry (optional)
If you want to, you can spend your third year studying abroad at one of our partner institutions or working in an industrial placement (eligibility is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2). Alternatively, you can opt to continue studying at the University and complete your degree in three years.
NB. A year spent abroad or on an industrial placement still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See our Fees and Funding section for details.
Year Abroad
Studying abroad is not just for people who are interested in travelling and meeting new people. It is about acquiring life skills that are becoming increasingly significant for a wide range of jobs in our modern globalised society. Whether you go on to work in the private sector, the state sector, a non-governmental organisation or become self-employed you will find the experience invaluable. Please see the list of institutions with which we have links, for where you could go on a year abroad. Find out more from our Global Opportunities team.
Year in Industry
A Year in Industry gives you the opportunity to stand out from the crowd when it comes to applying for graduate jobs with work experience incorporated into your programme of study. If this is for you, in Year 2 you will take a module in which we prepare you for that year in work and support you with your search for a placement in an industry or organisation relevant to your career aspirations. After your Year in Industry you will return to University for your final year of study.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Final year
Final year
Your final year incorporates a blend of teaching and research and is constructed largely from optional modules, which allow you to build your degree in the way that most interests you. There is scope to develop specialisms, or remain a generalist. In semester 1 you will develop you own research project with your supervisor as part of the final year dissertation. You will then choose from a wide range of optional modules.
Modules
Choose six option modules from:
- Contemporary Environmental Challenges
- Critical Digital Geographies
- Californian Drylands (field trip)
- Neotropical Rainforests (field trip)
- Understanding Ecosystems and Environments of the Distant Past
- Water Quality Processes and Management
- Information Visualisation
- Stable Isotopes in the Environment
- The Biosphere in the Earth System
- Understanding the Tropical Forests of SE Asia
- River Dynamics
- African Drylands
- Research Communication
Plus your Dissertation
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Fieldwork
Fieldwork
Fieldwork is integral to any Geography degree. In the field you'll develop new skills and apply learning from the classroom to real-world problems. At Leicester, we go into the field a lot - your field trips will be some of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences of your time here.
Our field trips run during each year of study. In Year 1, you’ll get an introduction to residential fieldwork in a UK setting, connecting knowledge gained in classes with the study of a variety of landscapes.
In your second year your field training will focus on the development of skills that prepare you for independent research and your final year dissertation project. Recent locations have included Vancouver and Almeria.
Our Year 3 optional field courses represent an opportunity to develop advanced field skills. They are a chance to experience some of the world’s most remarkable environments such as the Amazon Rain Forest and Death Valley in California.
And you’ll be pleased to know our staff are involved in field-based research worldwide, ensuring that our teaching draws on active field experience.
Fieldwork locations may vary and are subject to availability.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
Job prospects are excellent: 97% of our Geography students are employed (or studying for a Masters degree) six months after graduating. (DLHE)
Fieldwork is integral to any Geography degree. Our field trips will take you to some of the world's most remarkable environments, such as the Amazon Rain Forest and Death Valley in California.
Our School operates an Open Door policy, meaning you can access support when you need it.
You will definitely want to join the Students' Union's Geography Society which offers a great mix of academic support and social events. Leicester GeogSoc is affiliated to EGEA, a massive European network providing great opportunities for exchanges and professional development.
Teaching and learning
You will be taught through a mixture of lectures, tutorials, seminars, practicals and fieldwork. All lecture material is available online through our virtual learning environment Blackboard. Contact time typically averages about 11-13 hours per week. Residential field trips are run by academic staff throughout the degree and provide extended periods of small group teaching in field contexts.
Your work will be assessed through a mixture of methods including, essays, scientific reports, learning diaries, oral and poster presentations, mock journal articles, popular science articles and a final year individual (supervised) dissertation project. Coursework is mainly undertaken on an individual basis. However, a number of modules (especially field-based modules) involve assessed group project work.
Fieldwork
Fieldwork is integral to any Geography degree. In the field you will develop new skills and apply learning from the classroom to the real world. You will work in teams to ask questions about the environment and to solve problems. Our field trips will be one of the most rewarding and enjoyable experiences for both Human and Physical Geography students.
All field courses in your first and second year are subsidised by the University of Leicester. Optional field courses in Year 3 do come with an additional cost, although there are bursaries available.
If you study on the Geography BSc, your residential field trips include:
Devon and the Lake District (Year 1 and 2 – core modules)
Gain your first experience of physical geography in the field, these residential trips consider the landscapes and ecology of Dartmoor and the Lake District. Students on both trips will also develop their field survey, sampling and analysis skills.
Almeria (Year 2 – core module)
Examine the striking landscapes and ecologies of the arid coast of southeast Spain, investigating the distinctive geomorphology and ecology of this unique area. As part of the second year research design module, with help from staff, you will make your first attempt at designing and implementing a scientific project of your own.
The Amazon (Year 3, optional)
Spend two weeks in southern Colombian Amazon sailing the Amazon River and studying the spectacular tropical vegetation, fauna and aquatic ecosystems of this biome. Run by staff who have worked in this region throughout their careers, this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip to a truly remarkable and unique environment.
Mojave Desert and Death Valley (Year 3, optional)
Spend ten days in the Mojave Desert (near Las Vegas) in a bespoke desert research station with spectacular views of desert dunes and mountains. This trip and its associated module are focused on desert landscape processes and the climatic evolution of the Mojave itself. We consider desert rivers, sand dunes, dry salt lakes and – in Death Valley – one of the hottest, driest and most spectacular landscapes on Earth.
Independent learning
When not attending lectures, seminars or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. Typically, this will involve practical activities, worksheets, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects, undertaking research in the library, preparing coursework assignments and presentations, and preparing for exams. This time also includes time meeting staff, such as your personal tutor, which you can arrange via regular staff office hours. To help with your independent learning, you can access the Library and social study spaces spaces in halls of residence.
Your contact hours will depend on the option modules you select. You can see details of the contact hours on individual module pages.
Academic support
Our Student Learning Development Team provides help in the following areas:
- study and exam skills
- academic writing
- presentations
- dissertations
- numerical data skills
- referencing sources
Our AccessAbility Centre offers support and practical help for students with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, including physical, mental health or mobility difficulties, deafness, or visual impairment.
Teaching staff
This is a research-led degree. You will be taught by an internationally recognised experts in their fields, whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. Our third year specialism modules map closely to staff’s current research and to our cutting edge facilities where you will get hands on experience. PhD research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader. Our teaching is informed by the research we do. You can learn more about our staff by visiting our staff profiles.
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | UCAS Code | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Geography | Qualification BSc | Duration 3 years full-time | UCAS Code F800 | Availability Apply Now |
| Course Geography with Year Abroad | Qualification BSc | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code F800 | Availability Apply Now |
| Course Geography with a Year in Industry | Qualification BSc | Duration 4 years full-time | UCAS Code F800 | Availability Apply Now |