Geography
BA (Hons) or BSc (Hons)
Key facts
UCAS code
F840
Start dates
September 2023 / September 2024
Location
Course length
Full time: 3 years
Part time: up to 6 years
Department
Accreditation(s)
This programme has been accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in geographical knowledge and skills, and prepare graduates to address the needs of the world beyond higher education.
UCAS Tariff Points
104
Overview
Study the most pressing issues facing the world today - from the climate crisis and extinction, to 21st century cities.
On this course, you can become an authority on the issues you care about most - and that matter to the world around you. You’ll gain a grounding in both physical and human geography - and you can specialise, if you want.
You’ll have the flexibility to follow your interests. You could study progressive conversation approaches, like rewilding. You could investigate desertification and resource scarcity. Or you could analyse urban protest movements, like Extinction Rebellion.
Your learning will centre on the areas:
- Environmental issues, society and sustainability
- Fieldwork
- Geographical research skills
You’ll learn directly from expert researchers - and you’ll be closely supported all the way through.
You’ll also carry out fieldwork - both in the UK and abroad. You’ll build hands-on skills, and you’ll investigate important issues - from coastal erosion to cultural tourism.
Joint honours options
You can also study this course as part of a joint honours degree. This course can be joined with:
How to apply
Wherever possible we make our conditional offers using the UCAS Tariff. The combination of A-level grades listed here would be just one way of achieving the UCAS Tariff points for this course.
Standard offer
UCAS Tariff Points: 104
A Level: BCC
IB Points: 29
BTEC: DMM
Contextual offer
UCAS Tariff Points: 88
A Level: CCD
IB Points: 27
BTEC: MMM
Further offer details
For combined honours, normally the offer will lie between the offers quoted for each subject.
Applications are also welcomed for consideration from applicants with European qualifications, international qualifications or recognised foundation courses. For advice on eligibility please contact Admissions: admissions@brookes.ac.uk
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
If you do not meet the entry requirements for this degree, or if you would like more preparation before you start, you can take an international foundation course. Once you enrol, you will have a guaranteed pathway to this degree if you pass your foundation course with the required grades.
If you only need to meet the language requirements, you can take our pre-sessional English course. You will develop key language and study skills for academic success and you will not need to take an external language test to progress to your degree.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
Credit transfer
Many of our courses consider applications for entry part-way through the course for students who have credit from previous learning or relevant professional experience.
Find out more about transferring to Brookes. If you'd like to talk through your options, please contact our Admissions team.
Application process
Full time Home (UK) applicants
Apply through UCASPart time Home (UK) applicants
Apply direct to the UniversityInternational applicants
Apply direct to the UniversityFull time international applicants can also apply through UCAS
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Please note, tuition fees for Home students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students in line with an inflationary amount determined by government. Tuition fees for International students may increase in subsequent years both for new and continuing students.
Oxford Brookes University intends to maintain its fees for new and returning Home students at the maximum permitted level.
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Compulsory costs
Additional costs | Amount (£) |
---|---|
You'll participate in compulsory field trips in your first and second years. All travel and accommodation costs for these trips are covered by the university. You are responsible for your living costs while on field trips. |
£0 |
You will need to have sensible footwear and a weatherproof jacket for field trips. | £0 |
Optional costs
Additional costs | Amount (£) |
---|---|
Travel and associated costs if relevant when undertaking work placements. | £30-700 per year |
If you choose to participate in any additional, optional trips, you are responsible for any associated costs. |
£10-150 |
It’s your responsibility to cover print / binding costs where coursework submission is required. Please note that a lot of the coursework is now submitted online. |
From £30 |
You may choose to purchase books to support your studies. Many books on our reading lists are available via the Library, or can be purchased secondhand. | £20-60 per book |
Accommodation fees in Brookes Letting (most do not include bills) |
£94-265 per week |
Accommodation fees in university halls (bills included, excluding laundry costs) |
£122-180 per week |
Graduation costs include tickets, gowning and photography. Gowns are not compulsory but typically students do hire robes, starting at £41. |
Typically £0-200 |
Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes. BrookesBus travel is subsidised for full-time undergraduate students that are on a course with a fee of £9,250 or more, or living in an Oxford Brookes hall of residence. There is an administration fee for the production of a BrookesKey. |
From £8 |
Funding your studies
Financial support and scholarships
Featured funding opportunities available for this course.
All financial support and scholarships
Learning and assessment
In your first year you’ll study a mix of human and physical geography. You’ll acquire skills like river surveying, geomorphological mapping, and social research skills like interviewing. You’ll learn about sustainability and sustainable development. And you’ll go on a fieldwork trip within the UK.
In your second year you’ll examine global challenges like environmental hazards and disasters. You’ll also be able to follow your interests in more specialist areas - like environmental change, geopolitics, the carbon cycle, or heritage management. And you’ll go on an international fieldwork trip.
In your final year you can specialise in physical or human geography - or continue to study a mix of both. You’ll have the flexibility to shape your learning entirely around your interests.
If you focus on physical geography, you might examine:
- Changing oceans and marine pollution
- Desertification and deforestation
- Atmospheric science and climate change policy
Or if you specialise in human geography, you might explore:
- The future of cities and urban life
- Our cultural relationship to nature

Learning and teaching
You’ll learn in many different ways as you study. This will make the most of your skills - wherever your strengths lie and whatever your learning style.
You’ll experience teaching methods like:
- Seminars and lectures
- Field investigations
- Lab experiments and analysis
- Simulations
- Research conferences
- Debates
- Interactive field trails
- Group work
- Visiting speakers
Field trips
On this course, you’ll carry out field work both in the UK and overseas.
In your first year, if you’re a single honours student, you’ll go on a three-day field trip in the UK, where you’ll examine key geographic issues, on-site. You might analyse river quality or river flow. You might explore changing mountain environments - like areas once covered by glaciers. You might examine national identities and sense of place. Or you might learn about urban regeneration and the politics of changing landscapes.
In your second year, you’ll carry out field work overseas. You’ll work with a small project team to research a specific issue. You might examine issues like:
- Coastal erosion
- Water management
- Management of UNESCO World Heritage sites
- Cultural tourism
You’ll be guided all the way through by one of your tutors - and you’ll emerge with confident research, project-management and team working skills.
You’ll really get to know your coursemates and your tutors well during your fieldwork. You’ll be part of a close-knit course community, and you’ll build supportive relationships with your tutors. You’ll start to feel more comfortable sharing your perspectives, and you’ll become more confident collaborating with your coursemates on projects and coursework.
The costs of travel and accommodation on all compulsory field trips are covered by the University.
Assessment
Assessment methods used on this course
Your learning will be assessed by coursework. And you’ll carry out your coursework both individually, and in small groups. You’ll run project investigations, write reports and essays, create digital stories, compile portfolios and compose learning journals. You’ll also have the chance to use dedicated data analysis software, like Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
Your coursework will be directly relevant to the changing world around you. You might write a report assessing carbon levels in our atmosphere. Or you might make a short film on sustainable development and climate action.
Study abroad
You may be able to go on a European or international study exchange while you are at Oxford Brookes. Although we will help as much as we can with your plans, ultimately you are responsible for organising and funding this study abroad.
After you graduate
Career prospects
You’ll graduate with the skills and knowledge to launch your career. You’ll have confident scientific and lab skills, and you’ll know how to research and interpret data. You’ll have keen environmental and social awareness, practised fieldwork techniques and a knowledge of GIS.
You might progress into fields like environmental management, conservation, leisure and tourism or teaching. And our graduates work in areas like:
- Environment and sustainability consultancy
- AI automation logistics
- Urban planning
- Specialist GIS roles
You might start a career fighting slavery and trafficking at an NGO. Or you might work in conservation at a world heritage site. Or you might even found your own social media brand. Our graduates work in all of these areas.
You’ll also graduate with a set of sought-after transferable skills - like data analysis, project management, team working and collaboration. This will equip you for careers in areas like advertising, finance, the civil service, and arts and media.
Further study
Many geographers continue on to postgraduate study at Oxford Brookes or other universities including the University of Oxford and University College London, on courses such as Archaeology, Environmental Hazard Management, Modernity, Space and Place, and River and Coastal Engineering.
Our geography academics support a small group of research students studying for master’s and doctoral qualifications, and encourage new applicants.
Student profiles
Our Staff
Dr Joseph Williams
He is an expert in a range of field and laboratory based sediment core analyses, including; ecological surveys, core retrieval, processing and description, chronological establishment, fossil pollen/spore, charcoal and macroinvertebrate identification, geochemical determination, and the associated ecological interpretations of palaeolimnological records.
Read more about JosephFree language courses
Free language courses are available to full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students on many of our courses, and can be taken as a credit on some courses.
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Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.