Program Overview

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Geography BSc

Course Overview

Are you passionate about creating a sustainable future for our world? If so, then our BA/BSc Geography course is perfect for you.

We'll dive into topics like climate change, globalisation, and our relationship with the earth. Moreover, you'll gain skills to analyse data related to the world in which we live.

With many fascinating and inspiring optional modules to choose from, you'll have the opportunity to put your knowledge into practice on field trips both in the UK and overseas. You can choose to analyse the impact of humans on the world's physical and built environments. You can explore the development of the global economy or solve geospatial problems. The choice is yours.

You'll have the option to spend a semester or year studying abroad. Our partner institutions are based in locations such as Canada, Europe and the USA or at our campuses in China or Malaysia. Another option is to spend a year in industry.

You’ll study at our 300 acre, environmentally sustainable University Park campus; our largest, award-winning campus set around a lake in extensive greenery.

At the end of this course, you'll have the knowledge and skills you need for your professional career. Join us in working towards a more sustainable and just future and make a difference in the world.

Why Choose This Course?

• Accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers)
• Field trip opportunities in the UK and overseas refine your practical skills
• Study abroad opportunities in locations such as Canada, Europe and the USA
• Access to a range of facilities including dedicated laboratories, computer room and a geographical map collection - all located within the geography building
• Study at our environmentally sustainable campuses, which have won many awards including the prestigious Green Flag Award
• Gain real experience with our placement and internships programme
• Be taught by world-leading experts in their field

Key Information

• UCAS Code: F800
• Duration: 3 years full-time
• Fees: £28,200 per year (£9,535 for UK students)

Entry Requirements

• Qualification: BSc Hons
• Entry Requirements: AAB
• Start Date: September 2026
• UCAS Code: F800
• Duration: 3 years full-time
• Fees: £9,535

International Students

• IB Score: 32 points overall or 665 in 3 HL certificates
• IELTS: 7.0 (no less than 6.0 in any element)

English Language Requirements

• As well as IELTS (listed above), we also accept other English language qualifications. This includes TOEFL iBT, Pearson PTE, GCSE, IB and O level English. Check our English language policies and equivalencies for further details.

High School Qualifications

• Check our country-specific information for guidance on qualifications from your country.

A Level

• Required Subjects: AAB
• Required Subjects: GCSE maths and English grade 4 (C) or above
• Excluded Subjects: General studies, and critical thinking.

Additional Entry Requirements

• Please note: Applicants whose backgrounds or personal circumstances have impacted their academic performance may receive a reduced offer. Please see our contextual admissions policy for more information.

Non-UK Entry Requirements

• All candidates are considered on an individual basis and we accept a broad range of qualifications. The entrance requirements apply to 2026 entry.

Alternative Qualifications

• We recognise that applicants have a wealth of different experiences and follow a variety of pathways into higher education.
• Consequently we treat all applicants with alternative qualifications (besides A levels and the International Baccalaureate) on an individual basis, and we gladly accept students with a whole range of less conventional qualifications including:
  • Access to HE Diploma
  • Advanced Diploma
  • BTEC HND/HNC
  • BTEC Extended Diploma

RQF BTEC Nationals

• RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Diploma DDD
• RQF Level 3 BTEC National Diploma DD plus one A level grade A
• RQF Level 3 BTEC National Extended Certificate D plus two A levels grades AB

Access to HE Diploma

• Applications are assessed on an individual basis. Where an offer is made, our standard requirements are:
  • Access to HE Diploma 30 Level 3 credits at Distinction and 15 Level 3 credits at Merit

EPQ

• If you have already achieved your EPQ at grade A you will automatically be offered one grade lower. If you are still studying for your EPQ you will receive the standard course offer, and also an alternate offer with a condition of one grade lower if you achieve an A grade in your EPQ.

Contextual Offers

• We make contextual offers to students who may have experienced barriers that have restricted progress at school or college. Our standard contextual offer is usually one grade lower than the advertised entry requirements, and our enhanced contextual offer is usually two grades lower than the advertised entry requirements. To qualify for a contextual offer, you must have Home/UK fee status and meet specific criteria – check if you’re eligible.

Notes for Applicants

• We are looking for students who have the ability and motivation to benefit from our courses, and who will make a valued contribution to the school and the university. Candidates are considered on the basis of their UCAS application.
• All applications are considered equally on merit and students are usually selected on the basis of academic excellence and personal qualities. We do not rely on predicted grades alone but take into account the broader context of your achievements, primarily as reflected by your engagement with geography beyond studying it as an academic subject - as evidenced in your personal statement and reference. Applicants are not routinely interviewed.

Mature Students

• At the University of Nottingham, we have a valuable community of mature students and we appreciate their contribution to the wider student population. You can find lots of useful information on the mature students webpage.

Study Abroad

• On this course, you can apply to study abroad at one of our partner institutions or at University of Nottingham China or University of Nottingham Malaysia.
• If you are successful in applying to study abroad, you will get the opportunity to broaden your horizons and enhance your CV by experiencing another culture. Teaching is typically in English, but there may be opportunities to study in another language if you are sufficiently fluent.
• You can choose to study similar modules to your counterparts in the UK or expand your knowledge by taking other options.
• The school you are joining may also have additional study abroad options available. Please visit the school website for more information.

Optional Placement Year

• If your course does not have a compulsory placement, integrated year in industry or compulsory year abroad where there is already an opportunity to undertake a work placement as part of that experience, you may be able to apply to undertake an optional placement year. While it is the student’s responsibility to find and secure a placement, our Careers and Employability Service will support you throughout this process. Contact us to find out more.
• The school/faculty you are joining may also have additional placement opportunities. Please visit the school/faculty website for more information.

Key Information

• Please be aware that study abroad, compulsory year abroad, optional placements/internships and integrated year in industry opportunities may change at any time for a number of reasons, including curriculum developments, changes to arrangements with partner universities or placement/industry hosts, travel restrictions or other circumstances outside of the university’s control. Every effort will be made to update this information as quickly as possible should a change occur.

Additional Costs

• All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.
• As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses.
• You should be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or more specific titles.
• If you choose to take optional field trips, the costs vary depending on location but could range from £15 to £1,500.
• Please note that these figures are approximate and subject to change.

Scholarships and Bursaries

• The University of Nottingham offers a wide range of bursaries and scholarships. These funds can provide you with an additional source of non-repayable financial help. For up to date information regarding tuition fees, visit our fees and finance pages.

International Students

• We offer a range of international undergraduate scholarships for high-achieving international scholars who can put their Nottingham degree to great use in their careers.

Tuition Fees 2026/27 (UK Undergraduate Students)

• This is the UK undergraduate tuition fee for the academic year 25/26. It may increase for the academic year 26/27 and we will update our information once we have received confirmation of the fee from the UK Government.
• For full details including fees for part-time students and reduced fees during your time studying abroad or on placement (where applicable), see our fees page.

Additional Costs

• All students will need at least one device to approve security access requests via Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). We also recommend students have a suitable laptop to work both on and off-campus. For more information, please check the equipment advice.
• As a student on this course, you should factor some additional costs into your budget, alongside your tuition fees and living expenses.
• You should be able to access most of the books you’ll need through our libraries, though you may wish to purchase your own copies or more specific titles.
• If you choose to take optional field trips, the costs vary depending on location but could range from £15 to £1,500.
• Please note that these figures are approximate and subject to change.

Scholarships and Bursaries

• The University of Nottingham offers a wide range of bursaries and scholarships. These funds can provide you with an additional source of non-repayable financial help. For up to date information regarding tuition fees, visit our fees and finance pages.

Home Students

• Over one third of our UK students receive our means-tested core bursary, worth up to £1,000 a year. Full details can be found on our financial support pages.

Course Overview

Are you passionate about creating a sustainable future for our world? If so, then our BA/BSc Geography course is perfect for you.

We'll dive into topics like climate change, globalisation, and our relationship with the earth. Moreover, you'll gain skills to analyse data related to the world in which we live.

With many fascinating and inspiring optional modules to choose from, you'll have the opportunity to put your knowledge into practice on field trips both in the UK and overseas. You can choose to analyse the impact of humans on the world's physical and built environments. You can explore the development of the global economy or solve geospatial problems. The choice is yours.

You'll have the option to spend a semester or year studying abroad. Our partner institutions are based in locations such as Canada, Europe and the USA or at our campuses in China or Malaysia. Another option is to spend a year in industry.

You’ll study at our 300 acre, environmentally sustainable University Park campus; our largest, award-winning campus set around a lake in extensive greenery.

At the end of this course, you'll have the knowledge and skills you need for your professional career. Join us in working towards a more sustainable and just future and make a difference in the world.

Why Choose This Course?

• Accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers)
• Field trip opportunities in the UK and overseas refine your practical skills
• Study abroad opportunities in locations such as Canada, Europe and the USA
• Access to a range of facilities including dedicated laboratories, computer room and a geographical map collection - all located within the geography building
• Study at our environmentally sustainable campuses, which have won many awards including the prestigious Green Flag Award
• Gain real experience with our placement and internships programme
• Be taught by world-leading experts in their field

Language Study as Part of This Degree

You may be able to choose to study a language as part of this degree.

Learning another language can open career opportunities around the globe and enriches your CV. It could also help you in your studies by being able to access learning materials in other languages.

If you are planning to travel or work abroad it will help you to broaden your cultural understanding.

Our Language Centre offers many languages, and you may start as a beginner or at a more advanced level.

Module Information

Year One

• Careers Skills for Geographers
• Exploring Human Geography
• Geographical Field Course
• Interpreting Geographical Data
• Introduction to Geographic Information Systems
• Planet Earth: Exploring the Physical Environment
• Tutorial
• Global Challenges

Year Two

• Dissertation Preparation
• Research Tutorial
• Techniques in Geography
• Cultural and Historical Geography
• Earth Observation
• Economic Geography
• Living with Hazards
• Patterns of Life
• Political Geography
• Rivers in the Landscape
• Rural Environmental Geography
• Urban Geography

Year Three

• Dissertation in Geography
• Advances in Remote Sensing
• Animal Geographies
• Critical Human Geography
• Environment, Development and Livelihoods
• Environmental Modelling
• Fashion and Food
• Freshwater Management
• Geographies of Money and Finance
• Global Climate Change
• Health Geographies
• Landscape, Culture and Politics
• Third Year Geography Field Course
• Tropical Environments in the Anthropocene

How You Will Learn

Teaching is via a range of methods and approaches including seminars, tutorials, and laboratory, practical and field trips.

Field trips are an exciting opportunity for you to gain hands-on experience in a range of topics and enhance the skills and techniques you'll need for your professional career. There are a number of field trips throughout years two and three depending on your module choices.

Our Cartography Unit offers student support, whether it's sourcing maps, designing maps or drawing maps. You will be taught the fundamentals of good map design and all students are encouraged to map their own research.

Teaching Methods

• Field trips
• Lectures
• Seminars
• Tutorials
• Computer labs
• Labs

How You Will Be Assessed

We use a wide range of assessment methods including formal examinations, essays, project reports, lab reports, field notebooks, posters, verbal presentations, video diaries, and dissertations. Overall, most of our graduates will have experienced about 60-70% coursework and 30-40% examination assessments.

Assessment Methods

• Dissertation
• Essay
• Examinations
• Field books
• Lab reports
• Presentation
• Project work

Contact Time and Study Hours

In your first and second year, you can expect to receive an average of 9 to 11 hours of contact time via lectures, seminars, tutorials (with your academic tutor), practicals and other small group teaching. This can increase when taking into account optional field courses, laboratory work and our open door policy that allows you to meet up with academic staff in an informal one-to-one environment.

In your third year, you spend, alongside lectures, a greater proportion of your time on independent research as part of your undergraduate dissertation projects – supported throughout by your dissertation supervisor.

For the rest of the time you will be working independently, doing the necessary reading in preparation for tutorials, writing essays or working on seminar presentations.

Careers Overview

Geography graduates are very popular with a diverse range of employers who appreciate the personal and transferable skills they offer.

You'll gain valuable skills including data analysis and statistics, field work techniques and quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Our first-year Careers Skills for Geographers module includes guest lectures from organisations such as the Royal Geographical Society, and a programme of career networking events.

Graduate Destinations

Our graduates go on to a wide range of careers. Some enter roles that have a direct correlation to their degree, including conservation and heritage protection and land surveying. Others utilise their transferable skills in sectors such as management consultancy, PR, marketing and financial services.

Recent graduates have gone on to work for organisations such as the British Geological Survey, Capita, Historic England, Network Rail, Swiss Re, Teach First, and Tesla Motors.

Job Prospects

• 85.70% of undergraduates from the Faculty of Social Sciences secured graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation. The average annual starting salary for these graduates was £29,197.
• HESA Graduate Outcomes cohorts). The Graduate Outcomes % is calculated using The Guardian University Guide methodology. The average annual salary is based on graduates working full-time within the UK.

Careers Advice

Studying for a degree at the University of Nottingham will provide you with the type of skills and experiences that will prove invaluable in any career, whichever direction you decide to take.

Throughout your time with us, our Careers and Employability Service can work with you to improve your employability skills even further; assisting with job or course applications, searching for appropriate work experience placements and hosting events to bring you closer to a wide range of prospective employers.

Have a look at our careers page for an overview of all the employability support and opportunities that we provide to current students.

The University of Nottingham is consistently named as one of the most targeted universities by Britain’s leading graduate employers (Ranked in the top ten in The Graduate Market in , High Fliers Research).