Geography

Program Overview

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Geography

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Explore the relationship between people and the planet. This flexible course will enhance your understanding of the challenges facing society and the world around you, while you acquire the knowledge and skills for a broad range of career options.

Start Dates

• September 2026
• September 2025

Degree Type

• BA

Course Length

• 3 years full-time

Location

• Durham City

UCAS Code

• L702

Typical Offers

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A Level

• A*AA

BTEC

• D*DD

International Baccalaureate

• 38

Course Details

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Looking to tackle real-world challenges, from climate change to conflict and social inequalities? Studying this research-led degree in human geography will help you develop the necessary skills and experience you’ll need for a broad range of employment opportunities.

Our flexible study programme at one of the world’s leading centres for geographical research puts you in control.

You can also apply to add a placement year or a year abroad to your degree, increasing the course from three years to four.

There is no such thing as a typical Geography career but if you want to make sure that you are highly employable with a variety of transferable skills, that prepare you for the global challenges of the 21st century, then Geography is a great choice.

The Geography BA course begins with a broad foundation, during which you are introduced to both human and physical geography.

In the second and third years, our modules lead progressively to increasing specialised content focused on the cutting-edge of human geography research. There is also the opportunity to study integrated modules that span the human/physical geography interface.

In the final year, you will undertake your own geographical research project.

Course Structure

Year 1 Modules

Core Modules:

• Human Geography: Space and Place in a Changing World
• Introduction to Geographical Research
• Physical Geography

Optional Modules:

• Planet Under Pressure
• Geographies of Crisis
• Introduction to Climate Change

Year 2 Modules

Core Modules:

• Social Research in Geography
• Theory and Concepts in Contemporary Human Geography

Optional Modules:

• Climate Change: Geographical Perspectives
• Economic Geography
• Geographies of Development
• Political Geography
• Social and Cultural Geography
• Urban Geography

Year 3 Modules

Core Modules:

• Dissertation
• Field trip modules:
  • Iceland: Field Research in Glacial Environments
  • The Arctic
  • Berlin: Culture, Politics and Contestation
  • Jerusalem: Political Geographies of Settler Colonialism
  • Chicago: Sites of Global Change

Optional Modules:

• Understanding Land Conflicts
• Global Urbanism
• Geographies of Humanitarianism and the Human
• East Asian Political Geographies
• Race and Racism in the Planetary Crisis
• Geographies of Money and Finance
• Feminist Geographies
• Postcolonialism, decoloniality and development
• Critical Resource Geographies
• Critical Geopolitics: Difference, Affect, and Power

Additional Pathways

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Students can apply to be transferred onto either the with Year Abroad or with Placement pathway. Places on these pathways are in high demand and if you are chosen your studies will extend from three years to four or four to five depending on course.

Learning

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Lectures, seminars, workshops, practical classes, tutorials, fieldwork, projects and presentations are supported by increasing emphasis on self-directed learning – research, reading, and writing – as you move from first to final year.

Classes are small enough to allow regular one-to-one interaction with our staff, while practicals and fieldwork allow hands-on experience of the work of professional geographers. You can also attend an extensive programme of research-focused seminars where staff and visiting scholars present their cutting-edge research.

This emphasis on research-led, small-group and practical teaching reflects a conscious choice to enhance the quality of the learning experience, transforming you from a consumer of knowledge in the classroom to a generator of knowledge, as you prepare for professional or postgraduate life.

Assessment

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Along with a final-year dissertation, modules are assessed by a diverse range of coursework, including essays, field work reports, practicals, presentations and posters and some may also have an examination.

Entry Requirements

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A Level Offer

• A*AA

Contextual Offer

• ABB

BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma/OCR Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma

• D*DD

IB Diploma Score

• 38 with 666 in higher level subjects

Alternative Qualifications

• Other UK qualifications
• EU qualifications
• International qualifications

English Language Requirements

• Country-specific information

Fees and Funding

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The fees for this academic year have not been confirmed yet.

The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full-time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government.

The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full-time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and will be subject to an annual inflationary increase expected to rise throughout the programme of study.

Career Opportunities

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Geography

Our degree courses will stimulate and challenge you while providing first-class support for your academic and personal development. You will graduate with a unique understanding and experience gained during your degree and a set of transferable skills – problem solving, teamwork, project planning and management – that are highly regarded by employers across a broad range of careers and sectors.

Many of our graduates have taken up roles that make a real difference to people and communities, such as environmental policy and climate science, urban planning, energy, tourism and local development. Examples of high-profile employers include Transport for London, the Met Office, Skanska, Ordnance Survey and KPMG.

Department Information

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Geography

Gain an understanding of real-world problems and how to address them, explore today’s global challenges and their relationship with society, and enhance your knowledge of the world around you when you study at this world-leading Department.

Geography at Durham is an exciting and diverse discipline that addresses some of the most significant challenges that confront the modern world – from climate change, natural hazards and sea-level change to urbanisation, geopolitics and culture. Our research-led approach to learning means you will be taught by human and physical geographers with specialisms that span a broad range of global social and environmental issues.

Rankings

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• 4th The Complete University Guide 2025
• 11th The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• 1st The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Staff

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For a current list of staff, please see our department web pages.

Facilities

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The Department of Geography is located on the main campus at Lower Mountjoy, close to other departments, colleges, the Bill Bryson library and the Teaching and Learning Centre. Founded in 1928, the Department is one of the leading centres of geographical research and education in the world.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview:

• Objectives:
• Explore real-world challenges, including climate change, conflict, and social inequalities.
• Develop skills and experience for a wide range of career opportunities.
• Enhance understanding of the relationship between people and the planet.
• Program Description:
• Research-led approach to learning from internationally renowned academics.
• Flexible program with pathways to suit individual interests and career goals.
• Combines human and physical geography with integrated modules.
• Emphasis on practical experience through fieldwork, workshops, and projects.

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Outline:

• Year 1:
• Core modules:
• Human Geography: Space and Place in a Changing World
• Introduction to Geographical Research
• Physical Geography
• Optional modules:
• Planet Under Pressure
• Geographies of Crisis
• Introduction to Climate Change
• Year 2:
• Core modules:
• Social Research in Geography
• Theory and Concepts in Contemporary Human Geography
• Optional modules (examples):
• Climate Change: Geographical Perspectives
• Economic Geography
• Geographies of Development
• Political Geography
• Social and Cultural Geography
• Urban Geography
• Year 3 (4 with placement or abroad):
• Core module:
• Dissertation
• Optional modules (examples):
• Berlin: Culture, Politics and Contestation
• Chicago: Sites of Global Change
• Geographies of Difference
• Geographies of Energy Transition
• Natural Hazards, Risk and Resilience
• Jerusalem: Political Geographies of Settler Colonialism
• Geographies of Humanitarianism and the Human
• Contesting Citizenship: Activism, Advocacy, Asylum

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Assessment:

• Final-year dissertation
• Diverse range of coursework, including essays, field reports, practicals, presentations, posters, and some examinations.

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Teaching:

• Emphasis on research-led, small-group, and practical teaching.
• Regular one-to-one interaction with staff.
• Access to an extensive program of research-focused seminars.
• Transformation from knowledge consumer to knowledge generator.

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Careers:

• High graduate employability with transferable skills applicable to various industries.
• Graduates pursue careers in environmental policy, climate science, urban planning, energy, tourism, and local development.
• 90% of graduates employed or in further study 15 months after graduation (2020-21).
• 93% of employed graduates in high skilled positions with average salary of £30,000 (2020-21).

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Other:

• World-leading Department of Geography at Durham University.
• Ranked 5th in The Complete University Guide 2024 and The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024.
• Extensive field trip opportunities to locations like the Arctic, Cape Town, Nepal, and Iceland.
• Fees and funding
• Admission requirements
It covers the program's objectives, structure, teaching methods, career prospects, and other relevant information.

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The tuition fees for 2025/26 academic year have not yet been finalised, they will be displayed here once approved. The tuition fees shown for home students are for one complete academic year of full time study and are set according to the academic year of entry. Fees for subsequent years of your course may rise in line with an inflationary uplift as determined by the government. The tuition fees shown for overseas and EU students are for one complete academic year of full time study, are set according to the academic year of entry, and remain the same throughout the duration of the programme for that cohort (unless otherwise stated).