Program Overview

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Introduction to the BSc Geography Program

The BSc Geography program at Birkbeck offers students the skills and knowledge to understand our changing physical and social environment and how this impacts our contemporary world's challenges. Led by leading researchers in the field, this geography degree will help students discover the multiple connections between space, place, human culture, and physical landscapes in which we live.

Course Overview

Our BSc Geography gives students the skills and knowledge to understand our changing physical and social environment and how this impacts our contemporary world's challenges. The program is designed to provide a complete grounding in human, environmental, and physical geography, as well as develop students' skills using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Why Choose This Course?

• Our geography teaching is research-led, offering a complete grounding in human, environmental, and physical geography, as well as developing students' skills using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• We offer several field trips to offer students hands-on experience exploring a variety of themes in human and physical geography.
• Students will study in a supportive learning environment interacting in small classes with classmates, some of whom are already working in relevant sectors and are keen to share their experience and expertise.

What You Will Learn

Students will learn key geographical skills in their first year and then tailor their degree to their interests and career goals, by drawing from a range of option modules in the fields of human, physical, and environmental geography, GIS, and international development. These modules cover a range of subjects from globalization to food security, water resources to gentrification, and culture and development to nature conservation.

How You Will Learn

This BSc Geography combines classroom-based activities in seminars and workshops, with online learning, computer practicals, and field teaching. We also offer online pre-recorded lectures to complement our on-campus classes in many of our modules. Students can choose to study the BSc Geography either full- or part-time, with classes taking place in the evening.

Foundation Year

If students opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare them for undergraduate study. It is ideal if students are returning to study after a gap, or if they have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if they didn't achieve the grades they need for a place on their chosen undergraduate degree.

Key Information and Modules

Geography BSc (Hons): 3 years full-time, on campus, starting October 2026

• Year of entry: October 2026
• Duration: Three years
• Full-time or part-time: Full-time
• Style of study: On campus
• Location: Central London
• UCAS code: F840
• Status: Fully Approved
• Awarding body: University of London
• Attendance: Two evenings a week plus some weekends and field trips, October to July

Geography BSc (Hons): 4 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2026

• Year of entry: October 2026
• Duration: Four years
• Full-time or part-time: Part-time
• Style of study: On campus
• Location: Central London
• Status: Fully Approved
• Awarding body: University of London
• Attendance: Two to three evenings a week plus some weekends and field trips, October to July

Geography with Foundation Year BSc (Hons): 4 years full-time, on campus, starting October 2026

• Year of entry: October 2026
• Duration: Four years
• Full-time or part-time: Full-time
• Style of study: On campus
• Location: Central London
• UCAS code: F84F
• Status: Fully Approved
• Awarding body: University of London
• Attendance: Two evenings a week plus some weekends and field trips, October to July

Geography with Foundation Year BSc (Hons): 6 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2026

• Year of entry: October 2026
• Duration: Six years
• Full-time or part-time: Part-time
• Style of study: On campus
• Location: Central London
• Status: Fully Approved
• Awarding body: University of London
• Attendance: One to two evenings a week, October to July

Highlights

• Our geography teaching is research-led, offering a complete grounding in human, environmental, GIS, and physical geography, as well as a wide range of option modules that let students tailor their degree to their interests.
• Our geography specialists are actively involved in the Birkbeck Centre for Environment and Sustainability, and host annual events students can attend such as the Birkbeck Climate Festival.
• Students will develop the social and technical skills they need for both academic research and the workplace, including data collection and analysis, and GIS.
• Our campus in London offers students the chance to explore one of the world's great multicultural cities, and access to world-class libraries and institutions like the British Museum and the British Library.

Entry Requirements

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge, and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgment of academic potential.

UCAS Tariff Points

• 3 years full-time: 112 points (e.g., A-levels BBC)
• 4 years full-time with Foundation Year: 48 points

Foundation Year Degrees

Our 'with Foundation Year' route is designed to give students extra support as it provides them with an additional year (full-time) or two years (part-time) of supported study.

Alternative Entry Routes

• 3 years full-time or 4 years part-time: Access to Higher Education Diploma with a minimum of 15 credits achieved at Merit or Distinction in humanities or social science units.
• 3 years full-time: Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma - DMM

English Language Requirements

If English is not the student's first language or they have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.

Fees

Geography BSc (Hons): 4 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2026–27

• Part-time home students: £7,335 per year
• Part-time international students: £13,875 per year

Geography BSc (Hons): 3 years full-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2026–27

• Full-time home students: £9,790 per year
• Full-time international students: £18,500 per year

Geography with Foundation Year BSc (Hons): 4 years full-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2026–27

• Full-time home students, Year 1: £5,760 per year
• Full-time international students, Year 1: £18,500 per year
• Full-time home students, Year 2+: £9,790 per year
• Full-time international students, Year 2+: £18,500 per year

Geography with Foundation Year BSc (Hons): 6 years part-time, on campus, starting in academic year 2026–27

• Part-time home students, Year 1&2: £2,880 per year
• Part-time international students, Year 1&2: £9,250 per year
• Part-time home students, Year 3+: £7,335 per year
• Part-time international students, Year 3+: £13,875 per year

Teaching

At Birkbeck, most courses are taught in the evening, and all teaching is designed to support students who are juggling evening study with work and other commitments.

Methods of Teaching on This Course

Teaching methods are wide-ranging: students will participate in fieldwork, computer-based analysis, seminars, group work, and lectures.

Assessment

Assessment is an integral part of university studies and usually consists of a combination of coursework and examinations.

Methods of Assessment on This Course

Most modules are assessed by a combination of unseen examinations and coursework. The final-year independent literature review or research project is assessed purely by project work.

Careers and Employability

On successfully graduating from this BSc Geography, students will have attained an array of important transferable skills, including effective workload management skills, critical-thinking skills, written and oral presentation skills, hands-on experience with GIS, and project management and reporting skills.

Course Structure

Course Structure Listing

Course Structure and Modules for Geography BSc (Hons): 4 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2026

Students must complete modules worth a total of 360 credits.

• Years 1 and 2: three compulsory modules in each year
• Year 3: a compulsory module and a Level 5 and Level 6 option module
• Year 4: either a 30-credit literature review and two Level 6 option modules or a 60-credit research project and one Level 6 option module

Course Structure and Modules for Geography BSc (Hons): 3 years full-time, on campus, starting October 2026

Students must complete modules worth a total of 360 credits.

• Year 1: four compulsory modules
• Year 2: three compulsory modules and a Level 5 option module
• Year 3: either a 30-credit literature review and three Level 6 option modules or a 60-credit research project and two Level 6 option modules

Course Structure and Modules for Geography with Foundation Year BSc (Hons): 4 years full-time, on campus, starting October 2026

For the Foundation Year, students take three core modules and an option module to a total of 120 credits. If students successfully complete the year, they will automatically advance on to the three-year, full-time, evening study BSc Geography.

Course Structure and Modules for Geography with Foundation Year BSc (Hons): 6 years part-time, on campus, starting October 2026

Our part-time Foundation Year degrees allow students to spread out their Foundation Year studies over two years. As the 'Foundation Year' is made up of 120 credits, as a part-time student, they can take 60 credits in each of their first and second years before starting the main four-year BSc Geography.