Physical Geography and Geology BSc, 3-4 years
This degree is for you if you have a broad interest in Earth Science and the environment, and you want to study at the boundary of physical geography and geology.
Course information
UK fee ÂŁ9,250
UCAS code F8F6
International fee ÂŁ22,600
Institute code L34
Taught by Geography

Top 4 in the UK for Earth Sciences (National Student Survey 2021)

97% of students in work or further study six months after graduating (The Uni Guide 2021)
Course description
Course description
This course provides guides you through the functioning of planet Earth, from the distant past to the present. In this degree, carefully selected complementary modules from Physical Geography and Geology are structured to provide students with an understanding of Earth System functioning across a range of space-time scales. This includes knowledge of modern landscape processes, how insights from the modern world allow us to interpret the rock record (and vice-versa), and how the fossil record allows us to understand the patterns of life on Earth today. You will also investigate key contemporary processes and the challenges facing society today by studying topics like climate change, desertification, pollution and water quality. Studying both the past and present will enable you to reflect upon and tackle many of the environmental challenges facing the planet.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
- A-levels: ABB-BBB preferably including at least two from: Geology, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Use of Maths, Computer Science, Environmental Science, or Geography. We also consider one-science profiles with Geology, Maths, Biology, Chemistry or Physics.
- EPQ with A-levels: BBB + EPQ at grade B. A-level subjects preferably including at least two from: Geology, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Use of Maths, Computer Science, Environmental Science, or Geography. We also consider one-science profiles with Geology, Maths, Biology, Chemistry or Physics.
- GCSE: Grade C/4 in English Language and Maths.
- Access to HE Diploma: Pass science diploma with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3, 30 of which must be at Distinction. To include Physics, Chemistry and Maths Level 3 credits.
- International Baccalaureate: Pass Diploma with 30 points, including grade 5 in two science subjects at HL. Minimum of 3 in HL Maths or 4 in SL Maths required if grade C/4 not held at GCSE. Minimum of 4 in English Language required if grade C/4 not held at GCSE.
- BTEC Nationals: Pass Diploma with DDD (Science Related). Please contact School regarding eligibility.
- T Levels: Distinction in Science (with an Occupational Specialism in Laboratory technician).
Other national and international qualifications considered.
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 of Geography, Geology and the Environment.
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 Students
Starting in 2023
- £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
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Additional costs
There is an additional cost to students as a contribution towards core fieldwork modules in years one and two. In year one this is a maximum of £100. In year two this is a maximum of £250. These are the total contributions for the academic year, regardless of the number of fieldcourses (i.e. they are not the costs or contributions per fieldcourse)
International Students
Starting in 2023
- £22,600 per year
- Year Abroad: £5,650 which is 25% of the full-time tuition fee
- Year in Industry: £3,390 which is 15% of the full-time tuition fee
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
From 2022 onwards, EU nationals will pay the International fee. If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status under the EU settlement scheme, you may qualify for the UK fee (subject to criteria).
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Additional costs
There is an additional cost to students as a contribution towards core fieldwork modules in years one and two. In year one this is a maximum of £100. In year two this is a maximum of £250. These are the total contributions for the academic year, regardless of the number of fieldcourses (i.e. they are not the costs or contributions per fieldcourse)
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
Your first year provides foundational knowledge for the Earth Sciences and Physical Geography, considering the origin, structure and composition of Earth, the operation of plate tectonics and the processes controlling our weather and climate. We also introduce you to a wide range of teaching approaches (practicals, computer labs, tutorials, workshops, lectures) and develop key practical skills (e.g. Geological Maps and Structures). The residential fieldtrip to Arran brings your learning into practice in the field.
Modules
- The Rock Cycle – Our Dynamic Earth
- Palaeobiology and the Stratigraphic Record
- Skills for Professional Geographies
- Exploring our Digital Planet
- The Contemporary Earth System
- Geological Maps and Structures
- Introductory Field Course (Arran)
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
The second year develops key research and analytical skills, while further developing subject-specific knowledge. You will study the operation of contemporary Earth surface processes as well the sedimentary rock record and the fossil record. This core content is designed to provide a sufficient breadth of material to allow specialisation as you move into your final year. The residential trip to Almeria, Spain, provides field experience of contemporary landscape processes and the region’s geological record, as well as building important skills in project design and teamwork.
Core modules
- Catchment Systems
- Climate Change: Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation
- Major Events in the History of Life
- Magmatic and Metamorphic Processes
- Geographical Research Design (Overseas Field Course) (Almeria) (double module)
- Introduction to Geochemistry
Option modules
Choose one option module from:
- Depositional Processes and Environments
- An Introduction to Past Global Climate Changes
- Geographical Information Science
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 the third year of the BSc studying abroad at one of our partner institutions or working in an industrial placement. Alternatively, you can opt to continue studying at the University and complete your degree in three years.
Year Abroad
We’ll make sure you have everything you need for your future career: not just by awarding you a high quality degree, but also by helping you to develop the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to make your mark in the world as a Citizen of Change. One way you can do this is by opting to take a Year Abroad between Years 2 and 3 of your degree.
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 a career in the private, public or third sector - or plough your own furrow as an entrepreneur – you will find the experience invaluable.
For more information, including a list of destinations, please visit our Study Abroad website.
Please note
- A year spent abroad still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding tab of this page for details.
- You may be eligible for a travel grant from Student Finance England.
- Places are offered on a competitive basis, and eligibility is dependent on your academic performance in Years 1 and 2.
- Language courses, at beginners or advanced level, are available through our Languages at Leicester scheme.
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.
A year in industry still incurs a tuition fee, but this is much lower than for a normal year at Leicester. See the Fees and Funding tab of this page for details.
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 independent research. You will select a topic to research in your dissertation and choose from a wide range of optional modules.
Option modules
Choose six option modules from:
- Environmental Geoscience
- Crustal Dynamics
- Water Quality Processes and Management
- Understanding Ecosystems and Environments of the Distant Past
- Geological Application of Microfossils
- Stable Isotopes in the Environment
- Planetary Science
- Research Communication
- African Drylands
- River Dynamics
- Earth Science in Education
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
Fieldwork
Fieldwork is an important part of a Geoscience degree. In the field, you will develop new skills and apply learning from the classroom to real world problems. The course includes fieldwork to the Isle of Arran in Year 1, and the UK (Lake District) and Spain (Almeria) in Year 2. In the first year you will receive basic training in geological field skills, while in Year 2 you will explore the arid landscapes of southeast Spain, investigating the distinctive geomorphology and ecology of this unique area. A residential trip to the Lake District at the start of year 2 provides an introduction to second year Physical Geography material (Catchment Systems).
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, computer activities, 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 our social study spaces in halls of residence.
Your contact hours will depend on the option modules you select.
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 our 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 Physical Geography and Geology | Qualification BSc | Duration 3 years | UCAS Code F8F6 | Availability How to apply |
Course Physical Geography and Geology with Year Abroad | Qualification BSc | Duration 4 years | UCAS Code F8F6 | Availability How to apply |
Course Physical Geography and Geology with Year in Industry | Qualification BSc | Duration 4 years | UCAS Code F8F6 | Availability How to apply |