Geography

Geography is a wide-ranging and fast-moving subject that addresses many of the world’s most pressing environmental and social problems. Studying geography requires both effective numeracy and literacy, and Bristol’s distinctive course is supported by world-leading expertise in both human and physical geography. Studying Geography will enable you to acquire a range of important skills valued by employers, from computing and statistics to the ability to think critically and analytically about arguments and evidence.

Geography courses

Why study Geography at Bristol?

We offer a distinctive and challenging degree that is very well respected both within the UK and internationally. You will choose three out of six pathways through the course, comprising all human geography, all physical geography, or a mix of the two. Each pathway will develop your knowledge and skills to the point where you will be able to engage with cutting-edge material in your final year.

The course’s content reflects the school’s world-leading expertise in fields as diverse as glaciology, hydrology, spatial modelling, political economy and environmental change.

You can pursue either a BSc or MSci, irrespective of the balance between human and physical geography.

Lecture and seminar material is supplemented by practical work and field courses; in the first and second years, residential courses are held in the UK and overseas, respectively. The many skills acquired over the course of the degree are put to work in a self-directed, individual dissertation project, which comprises a large part of the whole degree.

What kind of student would this course suit?

There is no single type of Bristol geography student. Some are highly numerical, and feel at home developing mathematical models of the Earth's climate, or using statistics to understand topics such as access to education, social segregation, or the outbreak of civil wars. Others are more passionate about contemporary social theory, and philosophical debates about culture, identity, power, and the relationships between people and their environments. Still others enjoy getting their hands dirty while collecting data in the field, or analysing samples in a squeaky clean laboratory. Geography is a diverse discipline, and geography students are equally diverse, though they all evidence a keen curiosity about the world around us.

How is this course taught and assessed?

There is a strong commitment to theoretical and conceptual work, allied to substantial training in the collection and computer-based analysis of geographical data. Lectures cover core topics, explain key concepts, and help students to understand assigned readings. In tutorials, small-group discussions of selected topics help students further grasp core and specialised material, and contribute to the improvement of writing and presentation skills. Practicals provide training in research methods, and allow for hands-on exercises conducted alone and/or in groups. Fieldwork provides opportunities to put research skills to use away from the university, in collecting original data. The dissertation is an independently planned and executed research project, supported by one-on-one advising.

Most units are assessed with both an unseen final exam and one or more pieces of coursework (some of which may be group-based), though methods units for example have no exam.

What are my career prospects?

Our graduates are highly marketable because of the specialist nature of our geography courses. Recent graduates have gone into careers as diverse as computer software development, river authority management, teaching, banking and finance. The degree course provides a wide range of transferable skills valued by employers. In addition, particularly given the high research profile in the school, a significant number of graduates proceed to higher degree courses either in the UK or internationally.