Geography Programs
You must have used Google Maps at least once in your life. If you have, then you must understand the need for accuracy while making maps. Typically, we associate, Geography with map making, but there is a lot more than you can learn through studying geography. Through studying geography, you will be able to plot Maps and more. In the subject, you will learn about the practical, social, economic and environmental issues currently in front of us. You will also learn about social surveys and interpretative methods for plotting accurate diagrams of landscapes and maps. If you specialize in quantitative analysis methods, then your study may be focused on population geography.
The United Kingdom has one the most geographically diverse landscapes globally; thus, a study of geography is pretty popular. The high quality of education and cutting-edge competition in the field also indicate why the UK is one of the most sought-after places to study geography in the UK. In the initial years, you will be getting rudimentary knowledge regarding geography and associated social sciences. You will also get a chance to go on practical studies. There is a trend in the schools of the UK to take their students on practical tours to study the landscapes of different places in the UK.
As mentioned above also, the scope of studying geography is only increasing. With digitalization and maps on one’s mobile phone, there is always a demand for tech-savvy geography graduates. Essentially, there will be ample opportunities available for you if you graduate from the United Kingdom.
Career in Geography
The direction of your career is mainly dependent upon the specialization that you may take up. There is a plethora of specializations you can take up from the sub-group of physical or human geography. It is highly recommended that you apply for an internship regularly, as this would aid you in making connections and learning the practical skills of the profession. If you choose a field in the initial year of your course, try to intern and work in the same area only, this will greatly help you get the due exposure.
In your course, fieldwork should be carried out by you as it is bound to teach you multiple practical skills. Moreover, this would look good on your profile. It is also a useful way of developing your contact and making a reputation for yourself. There will be many opportunities for you to indulge in fieldwork; you just need to be quick about them.
If you ever feel like not working in the field of geography per se, you can explore other options. Geography is a social science degree. Thus it teaches you many skills to take over to other professions like commerce, industry, transport, tourism and public sectors.
- Income Cartographer
- Commercial/residential surveyor
- Environmental consultant
- Geographical information systems officer
- Planning and development surveyor
- Secondary school teacher
- Social researcher
- Town planner of Mechanical Engineers
Income of Geography graduates
After completing the undergraduate course on geography (Bachelor of Arts (BA) Geography) Degree, you can expect to get around £31,000 – £42,000 on average. This salary is indicative of the salary that graduates get from working in geography-centric fields like cartography.
It should also be kept in mind that, through pursuing a course in geography from the UK, you will get equipped with various skills, which prospective employers in the field such as commerce, industry, transport, tourism and public sectors.
Numerous employers take up geography graduates. Some of the employers have been enlisted below -
- The Civil Service
- Environmental consultancies
- Environmental protection agencies
- Information systems organizations
- Local government
- Ministry of Defence
- Police service
- Private companies
- Utility companies.
Universities to Study Geography in the UK
There are a plethora of great places where you can study for your degree in geography. Your preference should depend upon your specialization, location choice and course type. Some of the universities which you can look into have been enlisted below –
- University of Cambridge
- University of St Andrews
- University of Oxford
- London School of Economics
- Durham University
- The University of Manchester
- Cardiff University
- Queen’s University Belfast
Other popular universities to study geography is - University of Leicester and Swansea University.
Degrees offered by Universities in Geography
In the United Kingdom, there are around 60 specializations that you can choose from. There are various post-graduate courses which you can also take up. Further, you can even pursue your doctorate from the UK. Some of the most popular Geography Degrees Courses in the UK have been enlisted below –
Degrees at Bachelor Level
- BA (Hons) Geography
Degrees at Postgraduate Level
- MA Geography
- MSc in Environmental Geography
- MSc in Applied Geography
- MSc in Cultural Geography: Tourism Geography and Planning
Degrees at Doctorate Level
- PhD Geography
Entry Requirements for Geography
We shall provide you with a detailed breakdown of the entry requirements which most universities may require. It shall be kept in mind that every university has its way of selection, owing to which their way of selection is bound to differ. The given breakdown is provided just to give you an idea of what most universities expect from you to grant admission. Please visit the website of your preferred universities to get further information regarding the eligibility criteria.
Some major requirements for Indian International students have been enlisted below –
Firstly, you should have an average of 75% in your designated 12 Standard if given by a State Board. On the other hand, you will have to secure at least 70% and above if you have given your 12th through a Central Board. You should also have geography as one of your core subjects in 12th, some universities may also require you to have Maths as one of your core subjects in 12th.
If you are planning to Post-Graduation from the UK, then you should have secured 65% and above marks during your Under-Graduation degree.
The IELTS requirement for most universities do differ, but on average you would be required to score around 6.5-7.0 to get an admission.
We have also tried enlisting the types of requirements that you may be required to fulfil in regards to some UK’s standards –
- A-Levels
Since you will be applying for a geography course, most universities require you to study geography at A-Level. Other subjects required at A-Level are biology, chemistry, computer science, environmental science, environmental studies, geology, maths, physics or psychology.
- BTECs
BTEC stands for the Business and Technology Education Council. BTEC’s diplomas are given for getting specialist work-related qualifications. Having a diploma through BTEC can greatly help in securing a seat in the UK.
- GCSEs
You may be required to give five GCSEs where your minimum grade of C/4/
These requirements have been listed below-
Type | Minimum Grades/Points Required (with Foundation Year) | Minimum Grades/Points Required | Maximum Grades/Points Required | Average Grades/Points Required |
UCAS Points | 32 | 80 | 152 | 104 |
A-Levels | EE | CDD | A*AA | BCC |
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma | PP | MMP-DM | D*DD | DMM-D*D |
International Baccalaureate | 24 | 26 | 42 | 29 |
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