BSc Geography with Study in Continental Europe

Case study

Gemma Kyle, Geography with Study in Continental Europe, Université Joseph Fourier, Grenoble.

"I spent my year abroad in Grenoble, a small alpine town in the south-east of France, and studied at the Institut de Géographie Alpine (the Geography Department for Université Joseph Fourier). Aside from improving all aspects of my French, I think self-sufficiency is the most valuable skill I learned during the placement. Help is always available from Bristol and the host institution, but it is very much up to you t’installer à l’étranger: from finding accommodation to arranging an internet connection to enrolling at the university (all in a foreign language!)."

With this degree you follow a 4 year programme and Year 3 is spent studying geography with a partner institution in continental Europe. Few other British Universities offer a degree in Geography that integrates the study of Geography with a year in Continental Europe and which provides the required language training necessary to benefit from this year.

Degree structure

The degree structure is very similar to that offered by the 3-year BSc Geography, the only difference being that in Years 1 and 2, a 20 credit point language unit is taken in preparation for the year spent studying Geography abroad. On return from abroad, students follow the same course as Year 3 BSc Geography.

Language training

Language training is an integral part of this degree and is essential for you to fully benefit from the year abroad. In Years 1 and 2, you will attend classes in the relevant language at the University Language Centre. These classes are assessed by examination and continual assessment. Students may choose to continue studying a language in which they have prior qualification or start ab initio in a new language. During your time abroad, you may also opt to continue with language training.

The year abroad

During Year 3, you will study a range of Geography courses at one of the Universities approved by the School, currently Barcelona, Bonn, Grenoble, Paris Science PO, Bologna, Venice and Salamanca.

Your study programme abroad is arranged on an individual basis, set out in a formal learning agreement and approved by the School of Geographical Sciences in Bristol. Your progress during this year is monitored both by a member of staff in Bristol and the host institution. You will take the appropriate local examinations, and your results will be assessed in Bristol. Your performance during this year contributes approximately 10% towards your final degree classification.

More information about the scheme can be found on the Study Abroad web site.

Entry routes

We aim to have up to 10 students on the course in any one year. Only direct entry can guarantee you a funded place.

a) Direct entry via UCAS
Direct entry requirements are similar to those for the 3 year BSc Geography programme, the only difference being that you should usually have a good pass in the relevant language (currently French, German, Spanish or Italian) at GCSE level or equivalent. For students with no demonstrated ability in the relevant language, evidence of a high standard of learning in another non-native language must be presented.

b) Transfer onto/off the programme
It is possible to transfer on to the programme from the 3-year BSc and MSci Geography programmes in Year 1, subject to availabilty of places. Pre-requisites are that you have 20 credit points of language training in Year 1 and attain a mark of > 60% in the Year 1 examinations. To continue on the programme from Year 2 to Year 3, you must attain 60% in your end of year Geography examinations and 60% in language units. You may transfer off the Geography with Study in Continental Europe to the Geography BSc or MSci programme during Years 1 and 2 (a mark of 60% in Year 2 exams is required to transfer to the MSci).

Prospective Undergraduates