Program Overview

BSc Geography and Economics (Regional Science) with Professional Experience

The BSc Geography and Economics (Regional Science) with Professional Experience degree is an interdisciplinary, four-year program that examines issues dominating the news and shaping the world. Led by experts from the Department of Geography and Environmental Science and the Department of Economics, this degree explores concepts of economics and human geography, including globalization, consumerism, sustainability, and the handling of epidemics and political and economic responses to climate change.

Overview

This program enables students to address challenges across various scales, from local to global, and develop their knowledge and expertise in critically analyzing how resources are allocated and used, the impact of consumerism and sustainability, issues of work, employment, and development, and the application of microeconomics and macroeconomics to globalization.

Learning Structure

The program supports students in developing subject-specific and transferable skills, including GIS and remote sensing, modeling and cartography, statistical and numerical analyses, research techniques, teamwork, communication, and leadership. Throughout the degree, students have the opportunity to shape their learning and follow individual interests through a wide range of optional modules.

Professional Experience

The degree includes an integrated year in industry between the second and final year, enabling students to gain valuable real-world experience in the workplace. Previous students have applied for placements with the Government Economic Service, accountancy or consulting firms, and other organizations to gain experience in the private sector.

Choose Geography at the University of Reading

The University of Reading is ranked 4th in the People and Planet University League for environmental and ethical performance. It is also top 20 in the UK for Geography and Environmental Science and top 150 in the world for Environmental Sciences.

Your Learning Environment

At Reading, students work with internationally renowned academics, and 99% of students said teaching staff are good at explaining things. The university addresses important and topical socioeconomic issues, creating research outputs used by policymakers.

Field Classes

One of the most popular aspects of the program is its field classes. The cost of the compulsory second-year field trip is included in the fees. Field classes are offered to various locations, including Stirling, Scotland, and Berlin, Germany.

Study Abroad

The Departments enjoy active links with approved partner universities in Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America. Students can apply to study abroad in the autumn semester of their final year.

Entry Requirements

• A Level: BBB
• International Baccalaureate: 30 points overall, including 4 in Maths at standard level
• BTEC Extended Diploma: DDM
• GCSE: Maths at grade B (6)
• English language requirements: IELTS 6.5, with no component below 5.5

Structure

The program is structured over four years, with compulsory and optional modules each year.

Year 1

• Compulsory modules include:
  • Global Challenges: A Planet in Crisis
  • Geographical Imaginaries
  • Approaching Human Geography
  • Principles of Economics 1
  • Principles of Economics 2
  • Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis

Year 2

• Compulsory modules include:
  • Intermediate Microeconomics
  • Intermediate Macroeconomics
  • Skills Training and Project Design
  • Field Class
• Optional modules include:
  • Energy Resources
  • Geographical Information Systems
  • Analysing Social Data: Techniques and Applications
  • Encountering Political Geographies
  • Business Economics
  • Games and Economic Behaviour
  • Economics of Social Policy
  • Economic History
  • Environment and Development
  • Living Together: Social and Cultural Geographies

Year 3 (Placement Year)

• Professional Placement Year

Year 4

• Compulsory modules include:
  • Dissertation
• Optional modules include:
  • Climate Change and Responsibilities
  • Consumption, Politics and Space
  • Deathscapes and Dark Tourism
  • Spaces of Care and Wellbeing
  • Human Geography Field Class
  • Water Resources
  • Remote Control
  • Public Economics
  • Environmental Economics
  • Behavioural Economics
  • Industrial Organisation
  • Financial Economics
  • International Economics
  • Development Economics
  • Money and Banking

Fees

• New UK/Republic of Ireland students: ｣9,790 for 2026 entry
• New international students: ｣25,850 for 2026/27
• Placement year fees: 15% of the usual tuition fee for that year

Careers

The BSc Geography and Economics (Regional Science) degree equips students with a wide range of transferable skills and experiences, preparing them for careers in various sectors, including the private sector, public sector, teaching, campaigning, consultancy, and more. Past graduates have gone on to work for employers such as Carbonxgen, Environmental Agency, Syngenta, Mott MacDonald, Storm Geomatics Ltd, Thames Water, JP Morgan, and PwC.