Program Overview

MSc Human Geography: Society and Space

Overview

Human geography is a dynamic discipline that has a profound influence on current debates in the social sciences and humanities. Human geographers focus on the relationships between space and society, particularly the interconnection between environment, place and identity; knowledge; globalisation processes; social justice; and a variety of other vital themes relevant to the contemporary world.

This programme provides you with a rigorous grounding in social theory and mainstream debates and techniques in human geography. It also offers a thorough training in qualitative and quantitative methods. Options allow for the development of specialisms in historical-cultural themes, postcolonial and decolonial geographies, spatial modelling, and debates surrounding environmental conflict and science and technology.

You will join a School ranked first in the UK for 'Geography and environmental studies' research (analysis of REF 2021). This programme is closely linked to the University's Cabot Institute, which brings together multidisciplinary research into all aspects of global environmental change.

Key Information

• Programme duration: One year full-time; Two years part-time.
• Start date: September 2025
• Application deadline: Overseas applicants: 25 July 2025; Home applicants: 8 August 2025
• Delivery method: On-Campus
• Location: Clifton
• Awards available: MSc

Programme Structure

The programme has three mandatory units, which introduce key ideas and techniques and provide foundations for your research during the dissertation in the summer months. You also select three optional units, which provides you the opportunity to shape your MSc programme to suit your research interests.

World-leading Research

• The University of Bristol is ranked fifth for research in the UK (Times Higher Education).
• 94% of our research assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Entry Requirements

You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or international equivalent in:

• Anthropology
• Architecture
• Communication Studies
• Criminology
• Cultural Studies
• Economics
• English Literature
• Environmental Humanities
• Geography
• History
• International Relations
• Philosophy
• Politics
• Psychology
• Social Work
• Sociology
• Teaching

If you are currently completing a degree we understand that your final grade may be higher than the interim grades or module/unit grades you have achieved during your studies to date. We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree.

We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing details of your relevant qualifications:

• Evidence of relevant paid or unpaid work experience in think tanks, public sector research agencies, work in social/political research institute or a foundation degree or diploma in social sciences, philosophy, humanities, cultural studies, or social theory.
• A relevant postgraduate qualification in Social Sciences or from one of the accepted subjects listed above.

English Language Requirements

If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level B.

Fees and Funding

• Home: full-time £14,400 per year
• Home: part-time (two years) £7,200 per year
• Overseas: full-time £31,700 per year

Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.

Alumni Discount

University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.

Funding and Scholarships

Students from developing Commonwealth countries may be eligible to apply for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme, University of Bristol Think Big Postgraduate Scholarship, and the School of Geographical Sciences Phyllis Mary Morris Bursaries.

Career Prospects

This programme equips you for a career in high-level public research, business or the creative industries, and provides outstanding academic training for prospective PhD students and those seeking a master's-level qualification.

Graduates from this programme have progressed to a variety of careers, including academia, journalism and writing, urban and town planning, housing justice, food poverty initiatives, creating startup businesses, the third sector and research. Around 40% of our graduates go on to pursue further research training, for example through a PhD.