BA(Hons) Geography
This course is open for applications
Accreditations and partnerships:
97% of Geography students are satisfied with the teaching of their course overall.Guardian University Guide 2026
5th university in the UK for Geography courses.Guardian University Guide 2026
90% of Geography and Environmental Science graduates were in graduate-level employment or further study 15 months after graduating.The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026
This course is accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). Take a sandwich year and study with one of our international partners in locations such as the US or Canada.
About
Why study geography?
Geography integrates the social sciences with the natural sciences. It's about understanding the earth's peoples and their impact, as well as its landscapes, places and environments.
Our course will set you up for a valuable and important career helping to address the big issues we face in the modern world.
Why UWE Bristol?
This BA(Hons) Geography course in human geography is strongly applied, meaning you'll look beyond the theories to explore their real-world application.
You'll broaden your geographical experience through field trips investigating innovative projects, such as industrial change in Wales and urban development in places like Mallorca.
Our strong industry links mean you'll undertake inspiring learning opportunities outside the classroom: whether it's a work placement, a study year abroad, or an international research opportunity.
And because our geography tutors come from a variety of academic and industry backgrounds, your learning will be inspired by real-world experiences and different perspectives. Teaching and assessment are designed to embrace a range of formats, including training, briefings, creative visual design and group work, so all learning styles are catered for.
As well as mastering specialist techniques such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) you'll develop transferable skills which are valued by employers, such as communication, creative thinking and problem-solving.
You'll also tailor the course to your interests through optional module including migration and the regeneration and transformation of cities.
Where can it take me?
As a Geography graduate, your skills will equip you to pursue a career in a wide range of areas. These include regeneration and renewable energy, local and central government, food and waste, third sector organisations, global geopolitics and securities, the NHS, the Civil Service and beyond.
Past students have gone on to become town planners, property developers, sustainable transport consultants, water, environmental and energy consultants, GIS and data analysts, civil servants, teachers and researchers.
Student showcase
Watch: Welcome to the School of Architecture and Environment at UWE Bristol
Entry
Typical offers
You will need to meet the following Level 2 requirements:
- GCSE: Grade C/4 in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.
In addition to the above Level 2 qualifications, you'll need to achieve the published tariff points from your Level 3 studies prior to entry. Below is an indicative list of the main qualification types. However, we will consider any Level 3 qualifications towards meeting our entry requirements.
- Tariff points: 112
- Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
- English Language Requirement:
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The University accepts a large number of UK and International qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you'll need in our English language section. Please visit our English language requirements page.
- A-level subjects: No specific subjects required.
- EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: No specific subjects required.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
- Access: No specific subjects required.
- Baccalaureate IB: No specific subjects required. We accept the IB Career-related Programme in conjunction with other Level 3 qualifications.
- Irish Highers: No specific subjects required.
- Welsh Baccalaureate: We accept tariff points achieved from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in conjunction with other Level 3 qualifications.
- Cambridge Technical: No specific subjects required.
- T Levels: No specific subjects required.
Entry requirements
International applicants
If you're applying to UWE Bristol from another country or region, visit the international study pages for tailored application information. If you're an international student and don't meet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.
If you're applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our pre-sessional English Programme.
Read more about entry requirements.
How to apply
Read more about undergraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
For further information
- Email:
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.ukInternational/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk - Telephone:
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644
Structure
Content
The optional modules listed are those that are most likely to be available, but they may be subject to change.
Year one
You'll study:
- An Introduction to Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing
- Environmental Challenges
- Field Study in Human Geography
- Contemporary Global Issues
- People, Places and Change.
Year two
You'll study:
- Applied Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
- Professional Development
- Social and Environmental Research.
Plus, four optional modules from:
- People and Nature
- City Regeneration
- Climate and Environmental Justice
- Geographies of Security
- Geopolitics of Migration
- Transport and Mobility.
Placement year (if applicable)
If you study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend your third year away from the University either on a work placement or study abroad year.
Depending on which you choose, you'll either complete a placement learning or learning and development module.
See the Placements and Fees sections for more information.
Final year
You'll study:
- Extended Independent Project.*
Or
- Professional Experience* and Independent Project.
*If you complete the four year (sandwich) course, these modules won't be available to study, so only the Independent Project module will be available.
Plus, three optional modules from:
- Advanced Geographical Expedition**
- Contemporary Security Issues
- Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing Applications
- Sustainable Transport: Technologies and Behaviour
- Transforming Global Cities
- Water and Energy Futures.
**If you study this module it will involve an additional cost on top of the course tuition fee.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.
Learning and Teaching
As active researchers and industry consultants, our knowledgeable and approachable lecturers bring the latest insights to your learning experience
Learn through a blend of lectures, seminars, small group work, debates, laboratory classes, local and residential international fieldwork, practical GIS work and conference organisation.
Gain a solid grounding in geography before you choose specialist areas. These include resource management, urban studies and sustainability, transport and mobility, global geopolitics, and cultural geographies such as migration, identity and tourism.
Attend presentations from visiting professionals to learn about industry challenges and decide which field to go into. Develop in-demand analytical, communication and business skills for the workplace.
You'll be assigned to a dedicated tutor throughout to provide pastoral and academic support, as well as professional references for your future career.
For more details see our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Socialise and network
Meet fellow geographers and campaign on environmental issues in our thriving Geography and Environment Society. Attend regular events, including hosted geography talks, regular geography student social nights, student-led field walks, and annual geography balls to celebrate the end of the year.
Showcase your work
Demonstrate your environmental ideas at the annual degree show.
Study time
Lectures, workshops and seminars, group project work and tutoring account for 12 hours of contact time each week.
You'll be expected to spend at least twice as much time studying independently and studying for assessments.
Staff have an open-door policy, so you'll receive extensive support during your studies and get your questions answered.
Assessment
Our industry-relevant and applied assessments are designed to train you for real-world professional practice. We've moved away from the traditional exam and essay formats, and towards creative, exciting assignments that'll engage you in developing in-demand skills.
Assessment takes a range of formats so that all learning styles are catered for. These include projects, professional report writing, GIS mapping, spatial and statistical analysis, policy briefings, strategies and plans, essays, presentations, group work, creative visual design, and much more.
Modules are assessed through a combination of coursework, essays, projects, presentations and field exercises.
You'll complete most coursework individually but there are some group assignments.
Support is available if you have difficulties with numeracy, IT, literacy and study skills.
Through our Student Rep Staff Forum, you'll help shape assessments and play a role in codesigning the course.
Learn more about assessments.
Fees
Full-time; Sandwich course
Indicative Additional Costs
Supplementary fee information
Your overall entitlement to funding is based on how long the course is that you're registered on. Standard funding is allocated based on the standard number of years that your course lasts, plus one additional year.
You'll apply for funding each year that you study and Student Finance will take into account how long the course is in each year that you apply. So if you register for the four year course and then transfer to the three year course, the number of years you can apply for funding will change. Student Finance will reassess your funding based on how many years you have been in study, not just those years for which you received student finance.
Always seek advice before taking any action that may have implications for your funding.
Additional costs
This refers to items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.
For this course, the cost of the optional Advanced Geographical Expedition module will be an additional cost and is not covered by the tuition fee.
Features
Professional accreditation
This course has been accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG), giving you access to talks and events across the country. During the course, you'll have the opportunity to attend and present at the RGS annual conference.
Placements
Students who get work experience tend to graduate with better degrees. Placements, study abroad and internships hone your skills, industry knowledge and professional network, making you a sought-after graduate.
If you choose to study on the four year (sandwich) course, you'll spend a year away from the University on a work placement after Year two.
As an alternative, you can study the Professional Development module, which enables you to gain 30 days of work experience alongside your studies, whilst still completing your degree in three years.
Studying geography opens up a wide range of careers. Placements reflect this, with past students completing placements with GE Electric to local authorities.
You'll get help to find your placement and support throughout from School staff and our award-winning careers service.
Study year abroad
You'll also have opportunities to study overseas at locations such as Canada and Hong Kong on courses that are taught in English and are relevant to your degree. The study year abroad is not a paid placement.
Fieldwork
Geography is a real-world discipline and our students train in social and environmental research methods through our regular fieldwork activities, both in the UK and internationally. We regularly review our destinations, and current examples are given below.
Year one
A field trip studying themes such as post-industrial issues, World Heritage sites and tourism, urban issues, sustainability and rural landscapes. In recent years this has been at Margam Park Discovery Centre near Port Talbot in South Wales. This field trip is currently included in the course fees.
Year two
The residential field trip focuses on developing geographical research methodologies by exploring themes such as urban development, rural change, tourism development and impact and World Heritage landscapes. In recent years, this has been completed on the Spanish island of Mallorca. This residential field trip is currently included in the course fees.
Final year
You may elect to complete self-directed research on an advanced geographical expedition overseas in Lanzarote, an island with a range of very important human geographic issues. You'll study a range of environmental, social and economic issues at the expedition destination.
Study facilities
Learn in modern, well-equipped facilities, including our physical geography laboratories our GIS lab and other geography spaces.
Study and collaborate on group assignments in our dedicated Project Room and the Hive shared study space.
Conduct spatial enquiry and analyse data using industry-standard GIS and statistical software in our computer labs.
This mix of traditional and creative learning environments enables you to learn essential knowledge and real-world skills, standing you in good stead for your professional career.
Take a personalised virtual tour of the Geography and Environmental Management facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.
Personalised virtual tour
There's no need to visit us in person to explore our facilities and campuses. Take a personalised virtual tour and discover it all for yourself from wherever you are.
Take a virtual tourCareers
Careers / Further study
Studying geography can lead to a range of careers, in areas including sustainable transport and energy consultancy, food and waste, GIS and data analysis, third sector organisations, Civil Service, health services like the NHS, and teaching.
If you're an aspiring teacher and you're interested in teaching geography at secondary school level, this degree is a good foundation for UWE Bristol's PGCE Secondary Geography.
You could also apply your skills and knowledge to careers in in logistics, business management or finance.
As a geography student, you'll benefit from studying a specific careers-focused module Professional Development alongside your geography modules. Through this module, you'll gain skills to prepare you for the professional world, such as interview techniques, use of AI, report writing, and more.
You'll also attend our Meet the Employers Event, exclusively for geography students, which brings in a range of local employers (including past graduates). These inspiring events will give you some ideas for your future career, and advice for how to get there. This event is run by the Employability team, and we have a dedicated Employability Lead within our Geography staff. The Employability Lead will support you to find opportunities for future employment opportunities following your degree.
Get inspired
Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and help you find graduate jobs, placements and global opportunities.
We can also help find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.
Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.
Life
Accommodation
An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.
Bristol
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
Sports, societies and activities
There is more to your experience here than study. Choose to make the most of it and try new things.
Health and Wellbeing
We provide support in the way you need it.
Campus and facilities
Discover our campuses and the wealth of facilities provided for our students.