Program Overview

Geography and Economics (Placement Year) BA Hons

The Geography and Economics (Placement Year) BA Hons program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of both geography and economics. This four-year degree program includes a placement year, which enables students to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned and gain invaluable experience that will inform their studies and future career.

Overview

The program explores the most pressing social and environmental challenges of our time, including the economic impact on human society and the impact on the modern world. Students will develop the skills and knowledge needed to advance professionally in a range of sectors, including energy, food and agriculture, construction and housing, financial management, environmental consultancy, local and national government, urban planning, and landscape architecture.

What to Expect

In the first year, students will develop a fundamental understanding of both disciplines, undertaking a range of modules that introduce key themes in geography and economics. In the second year, students will build upon the principles explored in the first year, undertaking practical work to gain analytical and research project skills. As students progress into the fourth year, they will complete further optional modules in advanced topics, alongside embarking on national and international residential field trips.

Getting Out in the Field

The program's location near major urban centers, rivers, coasts, and the Lake District World Heritage Site provides students with the opportunity to explore beyond the campus and gain hands-on experience through fieldwork. This may include studying the use of salt marshes and sand dunes for coastal flood defense, exploring inter-connections along Lancaster's River Lune, and examining glacially carved landscapes and cave systems.

Your Placement

In the third year, students will undertake a placement that will enable them to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned and gain invaluable experience. Although it is up to the student to find their placement, the university's Careers Service will provide guidance on CVs, applications, interview techniques, and creating a digital profile.

Personal Development

In addition to subject knowledge and field experience, students will gain essential communication and geographic information systems skills. They will become familiar with data generation through qualitative techniques, as well as data handling, environmental sampling, and analysis. With a year's experience added to their CV, students will be well-prepared for their future career.

Careers

Lancaster's graduates in Economics and Geography develop a unique and insightful perspective on global issues, along with excellent analytical skills. This combination of knowledge and skills is highly valued by employers in many areas, including planning, teaching, research, marketing, tourism, banking, the civil service, management consultancies, and major national and international companies.

Entry Requirements

The typical grades required to study this course are AAB at A level, with recommendations that this includes Geography or alternative cognate subjects. Other qualifications, such as the Access to HE Diploma, Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales, BTEC Extended Diploma, International Baccalaureate, and Scottish Highers and Advanced Highers, are also considered.

Course Structure

The program is divided into four years, with the first year focusing on foundation skills, global human geography, and introducing research in geography. The second year builds upon the principles explored in the first year, with modules such as geography, development, and the majority world, and intermediate macroeconomics. The third year is spent on a placement, while the fourth year includes modules such as current issues in economics, writing geography and economics, and optional modules like challenging cities in the 21st century, eco-innovation for sustainable development, and food and agriculture in the 21st century.

Fees and Funding

The annual tuition fee for Home students is ｣9,790, while the fee for International students is ｣28,515. There may be extra costs related to the course, such as books, stationery, printing, and photocopying. The university offers various scholarships and bursaries, including the Lancaster Bursary, Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship, and International Undergraduate Excellence Scholarship.

Similar Courses

Similar courses offered by the university include Economics, Business Economics, Geography, Human Geography, and Physical Geography.