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Physical Geography and Geology

Entry requirements


A level

A,B,B-B,B,B

preferably including at least two from: Geology, Maths, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Use of Maths, Computer Science, Environmental Science, or Geography. We also consider one-science profiles with Geology, Maths, Biology, Chemistry or Physics.

Accepted alongside 2 science subjects at A-Level.

Access to HE Diploma

D:30

Access course should be in a relevant science subject. 45 Level 3 credits with 30 Distinctions required. Must include Level 3 credits in Physics, Chemistry and Maths.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal

D3,M2,M3

Must be in principle subjects. Including at least two from: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Use of Mathematics or Physics.

GCSE/National 4/National 5

GCSE Maths and English Grade C/4 or above required.

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme

30

including grade 5 in two science subjects at HL. Must include a minimum of grade 4 in SL Maths or 3 at HL if 4/C not held at GCSE. Must include a minimum of grade 4 in English A or 5 in English B if minimum of grade 4/C not held in English Language at GCSE.

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H2,H2,H3,H3,H3

Including at least two from: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Use of Mathematics or Physics.

Accepted alongside other qualifications. Must be in a relevant science subject.

Accepted alongside other qualifications.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

DDD

Must be in a science related subject. Please contact School regarding eligibility.

Scottish Advanced Higher

A,B,B

Including at least two from: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Use of Mathematics or Physics.

Scottish Higher

A,A,B,B,B

Including at least two from: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Mathematics, Use of Mathematics or Physics.

T Level

D

In Science (with an Occupational Specialism in Laboratory technician)

Accepted alongside 2 A-Levels in science subjects.

UCAS Tariff

120-152

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course


Course option

3years

Full-time | 2024

Subjects

Geology

Physical geography

This degree is for you if you have a broad interest in Earth Science and the environment, and you want to study at the boundary of physical geography and geology.

This course provides guides you through the functioning of planet Earth, from the distant past to the present. In this degree, carefully selected complementary modules from Physical Geography and Geology are structured to provide students with an understanding of Earth System functioning across a range of space-time scales. This includes knowledge of modern landscape processes, how insights from the modern world allow us to interpret the rock record (and vice-versa), and how the fossil record allows us to understand the patterns of life on Earth today. You will also investigate key contemporary processes and the challenges facing society today by studying topics like climate change, desertification, pollution and water quality. Studying both the past and present will enable you to reflect upon and tackle many of the environmental challenges facing the planet.

Modules

For more information on this course and a full list of modules, visit the course information page on our website.

Assessment methods

For more information on the methods of assessment on this course, visit the course information page on our website.

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£9,250
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni


Course location:

University of Leicester

Department:

School of Geography, Geology and the Environment

Read full university profile

What students say


We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

82%
Geology
75%
Physical geography

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Earth sciences

Teaching and learning

94%
Staff make the subject interesting
94%
Staff are good at explaining things
59%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
82%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

88%
Library resources
82%
IT resources
76%
Course specific equipment and facilities
76%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

89%
UK students
11%
International students
63%
Male students
37%
Female students
88%
2:1 or above
10%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
C
B

Physical geographical sciences

Teaching and learning

75%
Staff make the subject interesting
92%
Staff are good at explaining things
83%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
83%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

75%
Library resources
92%
IT resources
92%
Course specific equipment and facilities
83%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

97%
UK students
3%
International students
35%
Male students
65%
Female students
88%
2:1 or above
3%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

B
C
C

After graduation


The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Earth sciences

What are graduates doing after six months?

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.

£18,500
med
Average annual salary
95%
med
Employed or in further education
71%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

17%
Sales assistants and retail cashiers
14%
Natural and social science professionals
12%
Engineering professionals

The market for geologists is has been quite linked to the oil industry for some time now, and the drop in the price of oil has meant the industry has stopped recruiting as many people for the time being. Geologists are still in demand, though, so the main effect has been to reduce the opportunities - and salaries - for geologists working abroad. At home, the oil industry remains a big employer, and so are the mining, civil engineering, construction and consultancy industries, with geology graduates working as geologists, geophysicists, civil engineers and environmental professionals.

Physical geographical sciences

What are graduates doing after six months?

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.

£17,797
low
Average annual salary
97%
med
Employed or in further education
76%
high
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

28%
Sales, marketing and related associate professionals
13%
Conservation and environment professionals
11%
Teaching and educational professionals

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Earth 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.

£20k

£20k

£25k

£25k

£29k

£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.

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.

£20k

£20k

£25k

£25k

£29k

£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.

Explore these similar courses...

Higher entry requirements
University of East Anglia UEA | Norwich
Geology with Geography
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 128-153
Lower entry requirements
Edge Hill University | Ormskirk
Physical Geography & Geology
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 112-120
Same University
University of Leicester | Leicester
Geology
BSc (Hons) 3 Years Full-time 2024
UCAS Points: 120-152

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This is what the university has told Ucas about the course. Use it to get a quick idea about what makes it unique compared to similar courses, elsewhere.

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

We've received this information from the Department for Education, via Ucas. This is how the university as a whole has been rated for its quality of teaching: gold silver or bronze. Note, not all universities have taken part in the TEF.

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

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.

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

Have a question about this info? Learn more here

The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

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?

Have a question about this info? Learn more here