Geography

Geography at degree level provides a broad education leading to a range of opportunities to pursue a career doing further research or finding employment in a range of sectors, from London’s financial services industries to non governmental organisations in areas such as development and environmental justice. The College’s Careers Service ensures that a very high percentage of graduates find suitable employment on leaving the programme. Recent graduates have found employment as…. • Account Executive, Mind Share • Analyst, GPM Trading Ltd • Company Director, a garden equipment company • Executive Risk Assessor, a risk management company • Marketing Internship, Jimmy Choo • Public Relations, Marriott Hotels • Research Assistant/Economics and Planning consultant, a consultancy company • Management Training Programme, network rail

One of the largest geography departments in the UK, we provide state-of-the-art BSc and BA Geography programmes taught by acknowledged leaders in their fields. We use a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials together with workshops, laboratory sessions and field trips to teach a very wide range of modules covering all areas of geography. This means that students are taught large volumes of information, yet have the opportunity to process, synthesize and discuss what they have been taught in small groups and one-to-one sessions with academic staff. Combinations of one-term and two-term modules are available with greater emphasis on optional modules as you progress through the degree.

Students take and pass 120 credits each year comprising 30 credit and 15 credit modules. After a set of core introductory modules in the first year, students have the opportunity to specialise by following research-rich pathways in human, physical, development and integrative geography. In the final year, all students undertake an independent geographical study which is research-based and for which they receive individual tutorial support from an expert in their field. Modules are assessed by a combination of examinations, coursework and presentations designed to make up a variety of assessment types. All students receive a dedicated personal tutor drawn from the faculty to advise and support them throughout their degree experience.

In the first year all students study the same modules but from year two you will specialise in one of five different pathways: Development Geography; Human Geography; Spatial Analysis and Technologies; Physical Geography; and Society Environment and Geography. Each pathway consists of specialist modules and field work. These pathways provide opportunities to follow your own specific interests in different fields of the subject. They also allow you to learn advanced analytical and technical skills that can be applied to understanding a range of real world issues. You will leave at the end with a defined set of skills, determined by your pathway and appropriate to specific careers where your learning is valued and used.

In 2006 the Department of Geography moved into extensively refurbished accommodation in the King’s Building on the Strand. This refurbishment programme has created a state-of-the-art environment for the Department’s teaching and research activities and the maximization of the student experience. Examples include high-level provision of lecture theatres, laboratories, computer suites and social facilities, all right in the centre of London.

London provides an unrivalled set of learning opportunities. We use London in many different ways to explore the physical and human geography of the city. The Field Activity week in year one is an opportunity to explore different facets of London’s geography and to try out some field work techniques. London is also the focus of several modules, ranging from its historical development to the challenges posed for the city by climate change. Field trips accompany these modules and several take place linked to specific modules in human geography. Our methods teaching in all years use geographical data relating to London as a way of learning new analytical and mapping techniques as well as finding out about the city itself. In these many ways, London is our laboratory.

All students undertake a compulsory field trip in the second year. Currently we offer four: Morocco (for Geography BSc), Kerala, Paris and San Francisco (for Geography BA). There are also opportunities to take a term or a year abroad during the second year of study on one of our exchange programmes to Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Singapore, or the USA.