Human Geography

BA Human Geography Code L700 Attend an Open Day Attend an Open Day

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Key Facts

L700

UCAS Tariff

120 - 96
Course duration

3 years

Aberystwyth University’s Department of Geography and Earth Sciences is the most established and experienced department of its kind. Aberystwyth University offers you the unique opportunity to study geography in one of the most picturesque locations in Europe.

Set on the coast of Cardigan Bay and surrounded by a great diversity of beautiful environments, including marine, moorland, mountain and grassland, the Department of Geography and Earth Sciences is uniquely placed to make the most of the stunning landscapes that surround it, providing you with a fabulous variety of fieldwork and recreational opportunities. This degree accredited by Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) will equip you with the skills, abilities and expertise to face and engage with the challenges facing society today.

Course Overview

Why study Human Geography at Aberystwyth University?

This programme has been accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).

As a large dynamic Geography community we are able to offer you an extremely broad range of geographical specialism, opportunities and facilities:

current trends in Geohazards
urban sustainability
regional development
political and cultural geography
fieldwork opportunities in New Zealand, Crete, New York, and Ireland
travel awards available each year to fund your own adventures (up to £400)
state of the art teaching facilities with the latest technology to enhance learning
fully stocked laboratories with an array of analytical instruments e.g. mass spectrometers and core scanners of which can be used for fieldwork and independent study.

Our Staff

Department of Geography and Earth Science: lecturers are all qualified to PhD level or working towards a PhD.

Modules September start - 2024

Please note: The modules listed below are those currently intended for delivery during the next academic year and may be subject to change. They are included here to give an indication of how the course is structured.

Core

Module Name	Module Code	Credit Value
Conflict and Change: the making of urban and rural spaces *	GS10220	20
Living in a Dangerous World *	GS10020	20
Place and Identity	GS14220	20
Researching the World: data collection and analysis	GS13020	20

Options

Module Name	Module Code	Credit Value
Earth Surface Environments	GS10520	20
How to Build a Planet *	GS11520	20
Key Concepts in Sociology	GS16120	20
Thinking Sociologically	GS15120	20

Core

Module Name	Module Code	Credit Value
Concepts for Geographers	GS20410	10
Human Geography and Sociology Research Design and Fieldwork Skills	GS21520	20
Placing Culture	GS22920	20
Placing Politics *	GS23020	20
Quantitative Data Analysis	GS23810	10
Social Research Methods *	GS20510	10

Options

Module Name	Module Code	Credit Value
Geographical Information Systems	GS23710	10
Geographical Perspectives on the Sustainable Society	GS28910	10
Understanding (in)equality and (in)justice	GS24220	20

Core

Module Name	Module Code	Credit Value
Geography Dissertation *	GS34040	40

Options

Module Name	Module Code	Credit Value
Contemporary Global Migration	GS39120	20
Everyday Social Worlds	GS33320	20
Memory Cultures: heritage, identity and power	GS37920	20
The Global Countryside: Geographical and Sociological Perspectives	GS36820	20
The psychosocial century	GS30020	20
Urban Risk and Environmental Resilience	GS37520	20

* Also available partially or entirely through the medium of Welsh

Careers

What can I do with a degree in Human Geography?

Our graduates have, for example, found employment as environmental consultants, planners, civil servants, surveyors, and in education amongst many other things.

Employability is embedded within all courses provided by us. Our degrees provide a solid foundation for a vast array of careers across a range of sectors. In a rapidly shifting global economy, our graduates are adaptable and able to draw on a range of transferable skills, ensuring that they are always in demand.

The skill sets include:

enhanced mathematical and computational skills
effective problem solving and creative thinking skills
information technology skills
the ability to work independently and as part of a team
time-management, organisational skills
communication skills both written and oral
self-motivation and self-reliance.

Further opportunities

Work Opportunities:

If you are interested in undertaking valuable work experience during your degree, then perhaps our sister course (L703) may be some interest to you. This course combines the identical syllabus as L700, however you will undertake your work placement in-between your second and final year.

International Opportunities:

If you would like to study abroad during your degree, then our sister course (L704) may be for you. You will have the opportunity to study in any of our partner Universities across the world in- between your second and final year.

DGES has also established Erasmus Exchange Programmes with the University of Bergen, the University of Oulu, Finland, and the University Centre in Svalbard, giving students the unique experience of studying in one of the world’s most extreme environments. We also have strong links with a number of universities in North America, where students can complete their second year of study. In recent years, our Exchange Co-ordinator has overseen placements at Purdue University (Indiana), the University of Alabama, the University of Georgia, the University of Montana and the University of Ottawa in Canada.

Teaching & Learning

What will I learn?

The breakdown below will provide you with an illustration of what you may study during the three year degree scheme.

In your first year you will be introduced to:

key concepts in geographical study
issues and techniques in the collection, analysis and presentation of geographical data
climate change
economic development
globalization
global environmental change.

In your second year you will develop further in:

computer research skills in preparation for your independent research project
how to analyse qualitative data sets
producing maps and other graphical representations of geographical data.

You will also participate in a residential field trip in the UK or overseas, and you can choose optional modules to specialise or simply maintain a broad interest across Geography.

In your third year:

you will undertake an independent research project involving collection, analysis and interpretation of your own data
you will be allocated your own advisor who will provide guidance
optional modules as diverse as urbanisation, rural change, and regional policy will enable you to tailor your study to suit your interests.

How will I be taught?

Our courses are taught through lectures, seminars, computer practical classes, small group tutorials, field courses, and individual supervision of project work.

How will I be assessed?

We assess our students through a different range of methods. Some modules are assessed in part through traditional exams, but some have elements of coursework. We also have some modules that may require the student to produce practical reports, oral presentations, the design of web pages, production of short films, or contribution to online discussion forums. Some modules, notably the tutorials and field courses are assessed entirely through coursework.

Student Testimonials

I love it! I have been exposed to a variety of different subject areas and it has allowed me to choose modules to fit with my own interests. The tutors are great, approachable and friendly. I would recommend the course and Aberystwyth to anyone considering doing human geography. Ashley Wilding

I love my Human Geography course because it has made me look at the world around me in a different and more interesting way. I can understand why it is like it is, and what it might look like in the future. It has really opened up my eyes to the different processes which shape our modern society. Rebecca Priest

My course - L700 Human Geography - allows you to look at the world from a different perspective, appreciating the idea of place and the way a sense of place shapes everyday life. I now can sit on a park bench and 'people-watch'; analysing how people act in public spaces, but under the title of ethnography. Human geography takes into account the spatial relations of areas that have not been considered before, or have been taken for granted. It is like looking through a pair of epistemological glasses. Florence Genis

Typical Entry Requirements

UCAS Tariff 120 - 96

A Levels BBB-CCC

GCSE requirements (minimum grade C/4):
English or Welsh

BTEC National Diploma:
DDM-MMM

International Baccalaureate:
30-26

European Baccalaureate:
75%-65% overall

English Language Requirements:
See our Undergraduate English Language Requirements for this course. Pre-sessional English Programmes are also available for students who do not meet our English Language Requirements.

Country Specific Entry Requirements:
International students whose qualification is not listed on this page, can check our Country Specific Entry Requirements for further information.

The University welcomes undergraduate applications from students studying the Access to Higher Education Diploma or T-level qualifications, provided that relevant subject content and learning outcomes are met. We are not able to accept Access to Higher Education Diplomas or T-levels as a general qualification for every undergraduate degree course.
Our inclusive admissions policy values breadth as well as depth of study. Applicants are selected on their own individual merits and offers can vary. If you would like to check the eligibility of your qualifications before submitting an application, please contact the Undergraduate Admissions Office for advice and guidance.

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