Geography
University of Aberdeen
UCAS Code: F800 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
Entry requirements
A level
A minimum of 3 A Levels at BBB - at least 2 from Science or Maths subjects. To be considered for entry into Second Year, a minimum of 3 A Levels at ABB, with AB from 2 science or maths subjects (including the subject(s) nominated for Honours - an A in the subject for Single Honours or AB in the subjects for Joint Honours). Also required: GCSE at C or above in English or English Language, Mathematics and in either Chemistry, or Physics or Dual Award Science.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
A minimum of 32 points, with a minimum of 5 points at HL required from 2 Science or Maths subjects. For Second Year entry: a minimum of 34 points with a minimum of 6 at HL in the subject(s) nominated for Honours. A minimum of Standard Level English and Maths also required.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
A minimum of 5H with 3 at H2 AND 2 at H3 OR AABB including a minimum of H3 or BB from two Science or Maths subjects. The grading within band B must be at B2 or above. O in English, Mathematics and in either Chemistry or Physics.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
A minimum of DDM with the main subjects being Science or Maths. Also required: GCSE at C or above in English or English Language, Mathematics and in either Chemistry, or Physics or Dual Award Science.
Scottish Advanced Higher
For Second Year entry a minimum of 3 AH at ABB, a minimum of two must be Science or Maths subjects (including the subject(s) nominated for Honours). Standard Grades 1, 2 or 3 or Int 2, or National 5 at grades A, B or C in English, Mathematics and in either Chemistry or Physics.
Scottish Higher
Applicants who achieve AABB or better over S4 and S5 are likely to be made an offer of admission. This may be unconditional or it may be conditional, dependent upon academic profile. Good performance in additional Highers / Advanced Highers may be required. Note: we do not double count a Higher and Advanced Higher in the same subject, but we do consider that a B at Adv Higher is equivalent to an A grade at Higher. Higher Maths at BB from 2 Science or Maths subjects Also National 5 at grades C or above in English, Mathematics (but not Applications of Mathematics) and in either Chemistry or Physics
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Geography is key to understanding and resolving many of the most pressing problems faced by society, including climate change, poverty, energy transitions, sustainable development and environmental conservation. Our degree programmes reflect these modern-day challenges, with core and optional courses aimed at producing highly skilled graduates who can think critically and develop solutions to tackle these problems.
**Human Geography at Aberdeen is ranked 1st in the UK for student satisfaction by the 2022 National Student Survey, with an overall satisfaction score of 100%.**
Our teaching is research-led, delivered by staff who are actively investigating some of the most important problems facing the world today – problems with social and environmental dimensions which geographical knowledge can help us understand and resolve.
In the First Year of your Geography degree, you will study two courses that provide an introduction to Geography in all its diversity. Both courses incorporate a workgroup programme alongside a lecture series covering aspects of Human and Physical Geography.
- Creating the Anthropocene reflects upon the role humans have played in creating the Anthropocene (the epoch we are now living in) and modifying the world we currently live in.
- The UN Sustainable Development Goals looks at how we address the contemporary global challenges that we are facing today. This course builds on the Anthropocene, and introduces the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as a global call for action.
In Second Year and Third Year, you will begin specialising in the areas of Geography that most interest you or align with your career aspirations. In the Fourth Year, you will pursue an individual piece of geographical research in your Dissertation Project, often field-based, and choose courses that reflect the truly cutting-edge research strengths of the Department of Geography and the Environment in Aberdeen.
**BSc or MA?**
At Aberdeen, you can choose to study Geography through either the Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Master of Arts (MA) degree programmes. The main difference between the BSc and MA programmes is the other subjects you will study alongside Geography. For the BSc, these will be mainly science subjects, while MA students can choose subsidiary courses from across the humanities and social sciences. Both the BSc and MA Geography degrees are accredited by the Royal Geographical Society.
Modules
View all modules on the programme page to find out more about what you will be studying and when. University of Aberdeen modules are designed to give you breadth and depth to your degree. The range of modules you study will allow you to become proficient in all subjects which are directly relevant to your degree giving you greater career options.
Assessment methods
Students are assessed by any combination of three assessment methods: Coursework such as essays and reports completed throughout the course; Practical assessments of the skills and competencies they learn on the course; Written examinations at the end of each course. The exact mix of these methods differs between subject areas, years of study and individual courses.
Honours projects are typically assessed on the basis of a written dissertation.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
Extra funding
View the University of Aberdeen Online Prospectus programme page to find out about any scholarships and funding you may be able to apply for.
The Uni
University of Aberdeen
School of Geosciences
What students say
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How do students rate their degree experience?
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Physical geographical sciences
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Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
After graduation
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Physical geographical sciences
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This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.
Top job areas of graduates
What about your long term prospects?
Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.
Physical geographical sciences
The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.
£22k
£25k
£29k
Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.
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Post-six month graduation stats:
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It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.
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While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?
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