Geography BSc

Course overview

Why study at Leeds:

• This course is accredited by the Royal Geographical Society with IBG.
• Our  globally-renowned research here at Leeds has had a pioneering impact on current global agendas in environmental protection, public health and the economy and feeds directly into your course, shaping what you learn with the latest thinking.
• This course is highly flexible so you can tailor your degree to suit your interests. Optional modules allow you to specialise in either human geography or physical geography, or opt to study a mixture of both.
• Experience expert teaching delivered by a School that has taught geography for over 100 years and is made up of academics and researchers who specialise in a variety of geography disciplines.
• Access excellent teaching facilities, including specialist labs and a dedicated field store, fully equipped with research-grade equipment to support your learning and practical fieldwork.
• Put theory into practice with our fieldwork activities, where you’ll experience ‘real world’ learning that will advance your skills in research, project planning and teamwork, whilst gaining hands-on experience that is highly valued by employers in industry.
• Enhance your career prospects and give your CV that competitive edge before you graduate by undertaking our paid industrial work placements opportunities. Our close industry links have given previous students the chance to work at — and build professional relationships with — organisations such as Unilever, RSK, EDF Energy and Lloyds Bank.
• Gain invaluable life experience and advance your personal development with our exciting study abroad programmes, spanning across many universities worldwide.
• Make the most of your time at Leeds by joining our student society GeogSoc, which gives you the chance to meet like-minded students who share your passion for geography. The society organises a range of social activities and trips and has football and netball teams in the University’s intra-mural league.

Join our online taster course

Our two-week course introduces you to the processes of the hydrosphere, the geosphere, and the biosphere and explore the impact of human activity and climate change on our planet. Join today on Futurelearn.

Accreditation

Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

Accreditation is the assurance that a university course meets the quality standards established by the profession for which it prepares its students.

This course is accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).

Course details

Each year of this programme is designed around a combination of compulsory core modules, as well as opportunities to take optional modules in both physical and human geography. You can also choose discovery modules across the wider University that cover a range of subject areas.

Ask any of our students and they will tell you that taking part in field trips is one of the most enjoyable and memorable aspects of the geography programmes at Leeds.

In year 1, fieldwork is UK-based – you'll take part in a residential trip studying the landscape in the Lake District, and there are day trips looking at important environments. In future years, you'll have the option to undertake residential field classes in the UK and in Europe. Our fieldtrips are designed to be as sustainable as possible, and balance their carbon footprint with the learning outcomes of the trip. During field trips, you'll learn essential fieldwork and team working skills whilst building transferable skills that'll prove invaluable to your future career.

Each academic year, you'll take a total of 120 credits.

Course Structure

The course information shown below represents typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our terms and conditions.

Most courses consist of compulsory and optional modules. There may be some optional modules omitted below. This is because they are currently being refreshed to make sure students have the best possible experience. Before you enter each year, full details of all modules for that year will be provided.

For more information and a list of typical modules available on this course, please read Geography BSc in the course catalogue.

Year 1

Your first-year modules explore:

• the role of volcanos, glaciers and earthquakes in creating our landscapes
• how environments have changed during the history of our planet
• the response of ecosystems to global environmental change
• how interactions between humans and the environment determine the health of our planet
• key concepts, approaches, and knowledge in political and development geography
• social and cultural issues arising from changing populations

You'll also develop a grounding in the data analysis, writing, computer and laboratory skills that you'll need during your degree and beyond.

Compulsory modules

Planet Under Threat – 20 credits

This module focuses on the major environmental challenges facing humanity and the wider biosphere from both human and physical geography perspectives such as climate change and global warming, biodiversity loss and species extinction, deforestation and desertification, flooding and extreme weather, food and energy shortages, and resource and territory conflicts that generate climate refugees. You'll learn how to evaluate the range of political responses and potential solutions at different scales, assess the effectiveness of national and international environmental policies, and acquire a foundation for studying human and physical geography throughout the course.

Digital Geographies – 20 credits

This exciting module is a beginner’s guide to the important and rapidly changing world of geographical data analysis that blends new digital, mobile and spatial technologies with core numerical skills and conceptual understandings of how space and spatial relationships can be represented. You'll learn core practical skills essential to geography in the 21st century, including geographic information systems (computer cartography), data collection, data handling, data visualisation, hypothesis testing, statistics, analytics and mapping. It will teach you how to design online surveys and collect data using smartphones and other GPS-enabled devices, as well as the potential uses and applications of data from policing to planning, and new forms of data such as crowdsourcing. At its heart, the module seeks to give you the skills needed to make sense of the physical world by harnessing the power of geographic data.

Exploring the Physical Environment – 20 credits

This module uses a combination of fieldwork and small-group tutorials to develop essential understanding and skills for studying physical geography at university level. A residential fieldtrip to picturesque Blencathra provides practical illustration of concepts taught in the classroom, as well as hands-on experience of practical field techniques.

Optional modules

• Dynamic Landscapes* – 20 credits
• Living Earth* – 20 credits
• Population, Society and Space – 20 credits
• Global Geopolitics, Migration and Uneven Development – 20 credits

*Choose one or both

Year 2

Your second-year modules build on the themes you explore in Year 1 by developing your knowledge in more depth and teaching the advanced skills you need for your final year. You'll be able to choose from modules that explore themes such as natural hazards, the dynamics of the climate system, the future of the biosphere in the Anthropocene and environmental sustainability.

You'll learn advanced skills in programming for data analysis, GIS and remote sensing. You'll also have a choice of residential fieldwork where you'll learn new field techniques and develop and carry out a field research project as part of a group.

Compulsory modules

Career Skills in Geography – 10 credits

This module provides you with a suite of insights, skills and experiences that will better prepare you for how to use your geography degree in your future career. This includes: developing a professional CV; what to expect at graduate scheme selection days; understanding how the diverse skills possessed by geographers can be most effectively presented to employers; enhanced understanding of the range of employment and other opportunities available to geographers, and how geographical skills can be used effectively in a diversity of workplaces; gaining familiarity with the process of searching, applying and interviewing for a graduate job; and an opportunity to demonstrate skills possessed by geographers whilst undertaking an applied role-playing project and associated pitch presentation.

Skills for Physical Geographers – 40 credits

This module reinforces and builds upon the skills learnt at level 1, helping you to develop competency in research design, fieldwork, data collection, and specialist geographical analysis such as GIS and remote sensing which are the hallmark of a good geography graduate. In addition, the module helps you to develop high levels of literacy (critical writing skills), numeracy (statistics and modelling), and applied graphicacy (graphing and mapping of data). This module aims to ensure you have these skills and know how and where/when to apply them in a variety of real-world situations.

Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

You’ll choose one of the following field trip modules:

• European Alps Field Class – 10 credits
• Mallorca Field Class – 10 credits
• Portugal Field Class – 10 credits

You’ll also choose 60 credits of the following optional modules:

• Earth Surface Processes – 20 credits
• Ecosystems: Process, Pattern, and Change – 20 credits
• Climate Systems – 20 credits
• Sustainability: Living Within Limits – 20 credits
• Geographies of Economies - 20 credits
• Political & Development Geographies – 20 credits
• The Making of the Modern City – 20 credits
• Citizenship and Identity: Comparative Perspectives – 20 credits
• Natural Hazards, Human Disasters – 20 credits
• Discovery modules – 20 credits

Year 3

During the final year, you'll undertake an independent research project. You'll choose your topic, develop your research questions and execute and write up your project with the guidance of a member of academic staff.

Students design their own dissertations topics to pursue an aspect of physical geography that matches the interests and skills they have built up during their degree. Our students pursue dissertations in a diverse range of topics. Some examples of recent dissertation titles include:

• The effect of broad-crested weir geometry on downstream channel hydraulics
• To what extent does the invasive gecko Hemidactylus frenatus threaten the population of the endemic Phyllodactylus palmeus on Ulila Island, Honduras?
• Investigating the jökulhaup characteristics from proglacial ice-dammed lakes in Greenland
• Flooded heritage: a GIS analysis of the risks posed to archaeological sites by coastal processes following climate change in the Orkney Islands

You'll also choose from a broad range of modules that include topics such as the challenges of rewilding, the dynamics of the cryosphere, sustainable development in tropical forest landscapes, and management of hydrological systems. You'll also have the opportunity to customise your course further by undertaking a work, teaching or research placement and/or take a field course as one of your final year modules.

Compulsory modules

Physical Geography Dissertation – 40 credits

You will successfully plan, implement and write up an individual research project on a physical geography topic of choice. You will develop a broad range of skills including general communication, writing and project management skills, subject-specific skills, methodological skills that may include primary and/or secondary data collection, and various data analysis skills.

Optional modules (selection of typical options shown below)

• Physical Geography Field Research Project – 20 credits
• Water Science & Management – 20 credits
• Creating Alternative Futures – 20 credits
• Environment, Conflict and Policy – 20 credits
• The Cryosphere – 20 credits
• Tropical forests and sustainable development – 20 credits
• Hydrological Monitoring and Modelling – 20 credits
• Contested Cities – 20 credits
• Advanced Population & Health Geographies – 20 credits
• Geographies of Global Insecurities – 20 credits
• Spaces of Migration & Encounter – 20 credits
• Retail Location Planning – 20 credits
• Professional Work Placement – 20 credits
• Geographical Research Opportunities – 20 credits
• School and Educational Placements – 20 credits

One-year optional work placement or study abroad

During your course, you’ll be given the opportunity to advance your skill set and experience further. You can apply to either undertake a one-year work placement or study abroad for a year, choosing from a selection of universities we’re in partnership with worldwide.

Learning and teaching

Laboratory classes, project work and fieldwork allow you to gain first-hand experience investigating and applying material from your lectures and tutorials to real-life work situations. Together, they will equip you with in-depth knowledge, key practical skills and transferable skills that will help you secure a graduate job. Our close links with industry also mean that you have direct contact with industry and potential employers from an early stage in your course.

You’ll be assigned a personal tutor to guide you through your studies, and you'll receive support from fellow students through our peer mentoring scheme. Peer mentors are students who are on your course but are in years 2 or 3. They’ll help you when you arrive at University and throughout your first year. You’ll meet your peer mentors during your first week for a social activity.

Taster lecture

Watch our taster lectures to get a flavour of what it’s like to study at Leeds:

• Geographical perspectives of malaria transmission

On this course, you’ll be taught by our expert academics, from lecturers through to professors. You may also be taught by industry professionals with years of experience, as well as trained postgraduate researchers, connecting you to some of the brightest minds on campus.

Assessment

You'll be assessed via a range of methods, designed to allow students with different strengths and interests to excel. Some assessments are based around examinations and essay writing, while there are also reports, presentations, practical exercises, posters, blogs, vlogs, projects (such as the dissertation) and reflective logs.

All assessments are closely tied to the learning objectives of the course to ensure you graduate equipped with relevant knowledge and skills. They are structured to help you develop valuable transferable qualities that employers are looking for in the workplace.

Our assessments are reviewed annually to ensure they remain fair and inclusive, and to maintain an element of flexibility within module choices such that you can select a package of learning to best reflect your own learning style and long-term career goals.

Entry requirements

A-level: AAB including one of the following subjects: Biology; Chemistry; Computing/Computer Science; Design and Technology; Electronics; Environmental Studies; Geography; Geology; Life and Health Sciences (Double Award only), Marine Science; Maths/Pure Maths/Further Maths; Physical Education; Physics; Psychology; Science (applied); Sport Science; Statistics.

Excludes A-Level General Studies or Critical Thinking. Where an A-Level Science subject is taken, we require a pass in the practical science element, alongside the achievement of the A-Level at the stated grade.

GCSE: English Language and Mathematics at grade C/4 or above, or an appropriate English and Mathematics qualification. We will accept Level 2 Functional Skills English in lieu of GCSE English.

Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), International Project Qualification (IPQ) and Welsh Baccalaureate Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (ASCC): We recognise the value of this qualification and the effort and skills required to undertake it, where an applicant is taking the EPQ/IPQ/ASCC this may attract an alternative offer in addition to the standard offer. The EPQ/IPQ/ASCC taken with A-Levels, for example, could be ABB with an A in the EPQ/IPQ/ASCC.

Alternative qualification

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is a contextual admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and contextual admissions.

Typical Access to Leeds A Level offer: BBB plus a pass in the Access to Leeds scheme.

If you do not have the formal qualifications for immediate entry to one of our degrees, you may be able to progress through a foundation year. We offer a Studies in Science with Foundation Year BSc for students without a science background at A-level and an Interdisciplinary Science with Foundation Year BSc for applicants who meet specific widening participation criteria.

International Foundation Year

International students who do not meet the academic requirements for undergraduate study may be able to study the University of Leeds International Foundation Year. This gives you the opportunity to study on campus, be taught by University of Leeds academics and progress onto a wide range of Leeds undergraduate courses. Find out more about International Foundation Year programmes.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English
If you're an international student and you don't meet the English language requirements for this programme, you may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.

Fees

UK: £9,250 (per year)

International: £27,250 (per year)

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2025/26
In November 2024 the UK Government announced that the tuition fee cap may rise to £9,535 from £9,250.

The tuition fee cap for some foundation years may also reduce to £5,760 from £9,250.

This would start from the academic year 2025/26. However, this is subject to final confirmation from the Government. Once available, we’ll publish the fees for the 2025/26 academic year and individual offer letters shall be updated via email and post.

The foundation year courses affected are:
·         Business Studies with Foundation Year BSc
·         Arts and Humanities with Foundation Year BA
·         Interdisciplinary Studies with Preparation for Higher Education BA
·         Social Science (foundation year) BA

Tuition fees for international undergraduate students starting in 2024/25 and 2025/26
Tuition fees for international students for 2024/25 and 2025/26 are available on individual course pages.

Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students starting in 2024/25
Tuition fees for UK full-time undergraduate students are set by the UK Government and will be £9,250 for students starting in 2024/25.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation only, as a consequence of future changes in Government legislation and as permitted by law.
 

Tuition fees for a study abroad or work placement year
If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Additional cost information

Travel, accommodation and subsistence costs associated with compulsory field trips are covered by the university. However, you must pay for incidental or personal expenses. In addition, whilst we supply equipment such as wellington boots and waders, you may have to provide items such as waterproofs and walking boots.

There may be additional costs related to your course or programme of study, or related to being a student at the University of Leeds. Read more on our living costs and budgeting page.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Applying

Apply to this course through UCAS. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

We may consider applications submitted after the deadline. Availability of courses in UCAS Extra will be detailed on UCAS at the appropriate stage in the cycle.

Admissions guidance

Read our admissions guidance about applying and writing your personal statement.

What happens after you’ve applied

You can keep up to date with the progress of your application through UCAS.

UCAS will notify you when we make a decision on your application. If you receive an offer, you can inform us of your decision to accept or decline your place through UCAS.

How long will it take to receive a decision

We typically receive a high number of applications to our courses. For applications submitted by the January UCAS deadline, UCAS asks universities to make decisions by mid-May at the latest.

Offer holder events

If you receive an offer from us, you’ll be invited to an offer holder event. This event is more in-depth than an open day. It gives you the chance to learn more about your course and get your questions answered by academic staff and students. Plus, you can explore our campus, facilities and accommodation.

International applicants

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK students.

We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Read about visas, immigration and other information here.

If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Admissions policy

University of Leeds Admissions Policy 2025

This course is taught by

School of Geography

Contact us

School of Geography Undergraduate Admissions

Email: geo-ug-enq@leeds.ac.uk
Telephone:

Career opportunities

Studying geography at Leeds will open up a wide range of exciting careers. Whether your future career plans lie in environmental management, journalism, the financial sector or nature conservation, our degrees are structured to ensure you develop the key transferable skills sought after by graduate recruiters, skills such as: team-working, commercial awareness, report-writing, fluency in oral communication and presentation, numerical analysis, IT expertise and investigative skills.

Plus, University of Leeds students are among the top 5 most targeted by top employers according to The Graduate Market 2024, High Fliers Research.

Examples of recent graduate destinations include:

• Environment Agency
• Thames Water
• Tarmac
• WSP
• Leap Environmental
• Leeds City Council
• IBM
• KPMG

Read profiles of our alumni to find out more about where some of our graduates are working.

Careers support

At Leeds, we help you to prepare for your future from day one. Our Leeds for Life initiative is designed to help you develop and demonstrate the skills and experience you need for when you graduate. We will help you to access opportunities across the University and record your key achievements so you are able to articulate them clearly and confidently.

You'll be supported throughout your studies by our dedicated Employability team, who will provide you with specialist support and advice to help you find relevant work experience, internships and industrial placements, as well as graduate positions. You’ll benefit from timetabled employability sessions, support during internships and placements, and presentations and workshops delivered by employers.

You'll also have full access to the University’s Careers Centre, which is one of the largest in the country.

Study abroad and work placements

Study abroad

Studying abroad is a unique opportunity to explore the world, whilst gaining invaluable skills and experience that could enhance your future employability and career prospects too.

From Europe to Asia, the USA to Australasia, we have many University partners worldwide you can apply to, spanning across some of the most popular destinations for students.

This programme offers you the option to spend time abroad as an extra academic year and will extend your studies by 12 months.

Once you’ve successfully completed your year abroad, you'll be awarded the ‘international’ variant in your degree title which demonstrates your added experience to future employers.

Find out more at the Study Abroad website.

Work placements

A placement year is a great way to help you decide on a career path when you graduate. You’ll develop your skills and gain a real insight into working life in a particular company or sector. It will also help you to stand out in a competitive graduate jobs market and improve your chances of securing the career you want.

Benefits of a work placement year:

• 100+ organisations to choose from, both in the UK and overseas
• Build industry contacts within your chosen field
• Our strong connections with industry mean you’ll be in direct contact with potential employers
• Advance your experience and skills by putting the course teachings into practice
• Gain invaluable insight into working as a professional in a particular company or sector
• Improve your employability

If you decide to undertake a placement year, this will extend your period of study by 12 months and, on successful completion, you'll be awarded the ‘industrial’ variant in your degree title to demonstrate your added experience to future employers.

With the help and support of our dedicated Employability team, you can find the right placement to suit you and your future career goals.

Here are some examples of placements our students have recently completed:

• Global Supply Chain Planner, Unilever
• Category Analyst, Kantar
• Assistant Transport Planner, RSK
• Ecological Project Assistant, Middlemarch Environmental Ltd
• Water Management Consultant, Atkins
• Biodiversity and Geomorphology Industrial Placement, Environment Agency
• Weather and Climate Analyst, Arcus FM
• Environmental Safety Industrial Placement, EDF Energy
• Data Management Officer, Barnsley Council
• Risk Strategy Analyst, Lloyds Bank

During your industrial placement, you'll have an industrial supervisor from within the company, plus an academic supervisor who will keep in touch throughout your placement.

Find out more about Industrial placements.