Geography, BA (Hons), with industry placement

Course summary

Our BA (Hons) Geography degree explores the impacts of humans on societies, mobilities and environmental governance. All our geography degrees provide students with the knowledge and skills to understand and tackle the biggest global challenges facing the planet and humanity; and our modules do this by engaging with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.You will learn from expert, accessible, and supportive staff who are skilled researchers in their field. Your learning has a strong emphasis on applied skills and career development, with an optional placement year offering work experience. Plymouth is the ideal setting as a vibrant urban environment surrounded by iconic rural and coastal landscapes. All of our degrees are fully accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).

• Your degree pathway is flexible, as you can choose physical geography (GGP) modules, even if you have entered to study BA (hons) (human geography).

• A BA (Hons) Geography degree would comprise more human geography (GGH) option modules than physical geography option modules.

• Teaching is innovative and student-centred. You will learn through lectures, seminars, practicals, national and/or international residential fieldwork, tutorials and one-to-one dissertation support.

• Learn to use Geographical Information Systems to analyse and communicate complex spatial data.

• Take the opportunity to spend your second year studying abroad in Europe, Canada, Australia, USA or elsewhere through our bilateral and ISEP exchange programme.

• Our focus on employability and applied geography supports students to pursue a range of career opportunities.

• Choose an optional work placement programme providing skills, experience and contacts in a wide range of employment sectors.

• Benefit from our unique location, in the heart of the historical city of Plymouth, bordered by Dartmoor National Park as well as the Tamar Valley and South Hams Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Devon and Cornwall have glorious beaches, coasts, rivers and estuaries.

• In your first year, modules will introduce you to the latest developments in human and physical geography. Undertake residential fieldwork and develop your practical and applied skills through lab work. You’ll also take part in small group tutorials.

• In your second year, you’ll deepen your knowledge with a wide range of optional modules in human and physical geography and core modules in theories, practical skills and careers development. You’ll also have the chance to take overseas field courses (recent courses have run in Morocco, USA, Iceland, Australia and Sweden).

• Choose an optional year working in industry to improve your knowledge of applied geography and gain invaluable work experience. Our employability service will help you find a placement from our extensive network across all sectors.

• In your final year, you’ll write a dissertation on any aspect of human or physical geography. There’s a wide range of optional modules in human or physical geography, plus the option of taking a work experience module to prepare you for your first job.