Physical Geography, BSc (Hons), with industry placement

The study of physical geography at Swansea University is increasingly vital, encompassing the exploration of landscapes, satellite Earth observation, GIS data, and environmental monitoring from space. This programme enhances employability by developing practical, numerical, and computational skills for careers in regional planning, environmental management, local authority roles, financial planning, computing, business, and retail management. Strong industry ties provide work placement opportunities, with support for securing and succeeding in these experiences. Fieldwork is readily accessible in nearby areas like the Gower Peninsula, Bannau Brycheiniog, and overseas destinations such as Austria, Malaysian Borneo, Mallorca, or Vancouver.In Years 1 and 2, students cover compulsory modules on global environmental change, data analysis, and physical geography methods, alongside options in GIS, glacial processes, and field trips. Year 3 involves a 40-week industrial placement, followed by Year 4 with a dissertation and advanced topics like glaciology, plate tectonics, and environmental modelling. Teaching includes lectures, seminars, and fieldwork, with assessments via exams, coursework, practicals, and a final dissertation.

In Year 1 you'll study several compulsory modules covering topics such as global environmental change, Earth in action and Earth's changing face. You will then choose from optional modules covering geographical skills and methods, writing skills and personal development planning and practical field projects, and topics such as sustainability, people place and nation, colonial and postcolonial geographies, mobilities and migration and geology. In Year 2, you'll choose from a range of optional modules covering data analysis, approaches to physical geography and environmental research methods, and topics such as geographic information systems, glacial environments and processes, the Earth from Space, quaternary environmental change, global vegetation patterns and dynamics, urban modelling, Earth history and geological record of past environments. You'll also have an opportunity to take part in an overseas field trip. In Year 3, you'll spend a minimum of 40 weeks in an industrial placement in a UK company. Occasionally, opportunities may arise outside of the UK. You'll receive support from our placements team during your 2nd year to help you prepare for and secure a relevant industrial placement. In Year 4, you'll undertake your dissertation and choose from a range of optional modules covering topics such as glaciology, humid tropical environments and landscapes, meteorology and atmospheric science, plate tectonics and global geophysics, environmental modelling and the climate of the last 1,000 years. You'll also have the opportunity to undertake an interdisciplinary field trip to the Indian Himalayas (Sikkim).