University of Southampton
UCAS Code: F800 | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)
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.
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.
Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
Typical offers : D3 D3 M2 or D3 M2 M2 if one or more preferred subjects* are included 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.
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 if one or more preferred subjects* are included 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.
Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
Typical Offers: H1 H1 H2 H2 H2 H2 or H1 H2 H2 H2 H3 H3 if one or more preferred subjects are included. Plus English and Maths Ordinary Level O4 or higher.
Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF)
DD in BTEC Diploma plus A in A-level subject 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 BTEC 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 National 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.
T Level
An overall distinction with grade A in the core element in the Science T-Level
Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (last awarded Summer 2024)
AA from two A levels and Grade B from the Advanced Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate.
UCAS Tariff
We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.
About this course
Geography offers an understanding of the processes that created our physical world.
On your three-year BSc Geography degree, you will study the natural and physical science aspects of geography and gain a better understanding of climate change; both in the past and how it might influence our world in the future. You will learn how to read a landscape and the processes that help to shape it, will gain an appreciation of our changing world, as viewed from space, and will discover how to use Geographical Information Systems (GIS) to interrogate and analyse spatial data.
Your year two overseas field course is an important milestone in developing your skills as a researcher, giving you the opportunity to study the landscape in more detail in locations such as southern Spain or Tenerife. The compulsory year two trip is included in course fees. Further optional overseas field courses allow you to hone these skills in the unique environments that alpine and tropical locations offer.
Your future employability is a key priority throughout your studies. This programme is accredited by the Royal Geographical Society, which enhances your future prospects in industry. 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 and 100% of our Geography graduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduation (Graduate Outcomes 2020/2021).
Geography at Southampton is ranked 6th in the UK in The Guardian University Guide, 2024.
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 (examples listed below) and choose additional optional modules each year to shape your degree to your interests.
Year One
Field work
Non-residential one-week field course, exploring the vegetation and stream dynamics of the New Forest.
Core Modules
A Global World
Dynamic Landscapes
Society, Culture & Space
The Earth System
Year Two
Field Work
One-week overseas field trip (compulsory and covered by your fees) previous trips have been to Tenerife and Spain.
Core Modules
Research Project Preparation
GIS for Geographers and Environmental Scientists
Remote Sensing for Earth Observation
Year Three
Field work
Optional field trips further afield. Previous trips have been to Switzerland and Cambodia
Core Modules
Research Project
The full list of modules is available on the course page on our website.
Please note: information included was correct at time of publication, March 2024.
Assessment methods
Your learning is delivered, and assessed, through a wide range of methods to ensure you develop a broad variety of skills that will set you up for success after graduation.
The learning activities for this course include lectures, classes and tutorials and coursework.
We’ll assess you through developing websites, essays, individual and group projects, oral presentations and written and practical exams.
Throughout, you'll be supported by a personal academic tutor, your peers, and have access to a senior tutor.
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 the overall teaching satisfaction score 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.
Physical geographical sciences
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.
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.
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.
£23k
£28k
£34k
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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Teaching Excellence Framework (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.
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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
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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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