Geography
Entry requirements
A level
AAB if no preferred subjects* are included ABB if one or more preferred subjects* are included *Geography, Biology, Psychology, Economics, Sociology, Environmental Science, Geology and Politics A Pass in science practical is required where relevant science A Levels are taken. General Studies is excluded for entry.
Access to HE Diploma
Typical Offers: 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 39 must be at Distinction and 6 credits at Merit or 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit in a preferred subject. We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants?who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
Typical offers : D3 D3 M2 or D3 M2 M2 with a minimum of one preferred subject. Cambridge Pre-U's can be used in combination with other qualifications such as A levels to achieve the equivalent of the typical offer , where D3 can be used in lieu of A Level grade A. We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants?who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
Extended Project
If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, your offer will be: ABB and Grade A in the EPQ, if no preferred subjects are included or BBB and Grade A in the EPQ, if one or more preferred subjects are included.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
Typical offers : Pass with an overall minimum score of 34 points to include a minimum of 17 points at a higher level or Pass with an overall minimum score of 32 points to include a minimum of 16 points at a higher level with a minimum of one preferred subject at Higher Level. International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP): The University of Southampton accepts the IBCP for entry to their degree programmes, recognising the value of combining academic skills with practical skills, providing a solid preparation for university level work. Offers will be made on the individual components of the IBCP. Applicants not taking the full IBCP but presenting with a combination of a Level 3 vocational qualification and IB Certificates may still be considered. Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements. Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information. We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants?who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
Typical offer: H1 H2 H2 H2 H2 H2 or H1 H2 H2 H2 H3 H3 with a minimum of one preferred subject Plus English and Maths Ordinary Level O4 or higher. We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants?who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF)
DD in BTEC Diploma plus A in A-level subject or DD in BTEC Diploma plus B in a preferred A-Level subject.
Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)
DDD in the BTEC Extended Diploma
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DD in BTEC National Diploma plus A in A-level subject or DD in BTEC National Diploma plus B in a preferred A-Level subject.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
D in the BTEC Extended Certificate plus A A from 2 A-level subjects or D in the Extended Certificate plus AB from 2 A-level subjects including at least one preferred subject.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DDD in the BTEC Extended Diploma
Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)
D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus A A from 2 A-level subjects or D in the Subsidiary Diploma plus AB from 2 A-level subjects including at least one preferred subject.
We normally consider applicants who offer at least 1 Advanced Higher. Applicants presenting with only Highers will be considered on a case by case basis. Where Highers are taken over two years it might be expected that higher grades are achieved, particularly in any specific subjects required. For example, S5 – S6 (2 years): AABBB (A in specific subject) or S6 (1 year): ABBBB (A in specific subject). Unless a more advanced level (Higher or Advanced Higher) is specified in the stated entry requirements, all applicants will be required to have achieved a pass in Mathematics and English at Standard Grade, Grade 3 or National 5, Grade C, the equivalent of GCSE Grade C/ Grade 4" We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner's potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
T Level
An overall distinction with grade A in the core element in the Science T-Level
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
AA from two A levels and Grade B from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate. We are committed to ensuring that all learners with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, are encouraged to apply to study with us. The additional information gained through contextual data allows us to recognise a learner’s potential to succeed in the context of their background and experience. Applicants?who are highlighted in this way will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Geography can be used to understand the complexities of our world.
On your three-year BA Geography degree you will learn how economic, social, and cultural processes affect health and wellbeing. You’ll study human-environment relations and the market-economy. Using tools such as Geographical Information Systems (GIS) you will explore the similarities, differences and challenges of people living across our inter-connected planet. You will also be able to adapt your degree programme to fit your interests and academic passions after successful completion of year one.
You will travel to a location such as Amsterdam for your year two compulsory overseas field course (included in course fees). This field trip is an important milestone in developing your skills as a researcher, giving you the opportunity to undertake human geographical research in international cities. Further optional overseas field courses allow you to hone these skills in the diverse and unique environments that European and South East Asian locations offer.
Your future employability is a key priority throughout your studies and all University of Southampton geography programmes are accredited by the Royal Geographical Society. Southampton graduates work in a range of careers including public policy, teaching, environmental consultancy, financial services, retail, marketing, town-planning, GIS-related and government advisory roles.
Geography at Southampton is ranked 5th in the UK in The Guardian University Guide, 2022.
Modules
Field work is an important element of your degree and you will have the option to participate in projects in each year of study.
You will also complete core modules (listed below) and choose additional optional modules each year.
Field work is an important element of your degree and you will have the option to participate in projects in each year of study.
You will also complete core modules (listed below) and choose additional optional modules each year.
Year One:
Field work,
Non-residential one-week field course, looking at both human and physical geography topics.
Core Modules:
A Global World,
Curiosity, Creativity and Communication,
Dangerous World,
Dynamic Landscapes,
Society, Culture and Space,
The Earth System
Year Two:
Field Work,
One-week overseas field trip (compulsory and covered by your fees) previous trips have been to Amsterdam.
Core Modules:
Introductory GIS systems,
Remote sensing for Earth Observation,
Practising Human Geographical Research,
Researching Human Geography.
Year Three:
Field work,
Optional field trips further afield. Previous trips have been to Berlin and Cambodia.
Core Modules
Geography Research Project
The full list of modules is available on the website course page: https://www.southampton.ac.uk/courses/geography-degree-bsc#modules.
Assessment methods
The learning activities for this course include the following: lectures, classes and tutorials and coursework.
We’ll assess you using: developing websites, essays, individual and group projects, oral presentations and written and practical exams.
Tuition fees
Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:
The Uni
Main Site - Highfield Campus
Geography and Environmental Science
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.
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.
Human geography
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Resources and organisation
Student voice
Who studies this subject and how do they get on?
Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)
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.
Human geography
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.
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.
Human geography
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
£28k
£31k
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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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.
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Graduate field commentary:
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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?
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