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Why Study Geography At University

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The Employment Prospects For Geography Graduates Are Vast

Why study Geography at the University of Exeter’s Streatham Campus?

Geography graduates can go into a range of occupations and areas of further study. In particular, human geography leads directly into urban and regional planning, which can occur within governments but also in the private sector. Skills acquired in geography can also be marketed on their own such as cartographic , Geographic Information Systems and data presentation skills into these same organisations. Many geographers are employed in major consulting firms, conducting innovative social research. They are also training further in urban and regional planning. There is also of course teaching, as the discipline is taught once more in primary and secondary schools. Physical geographers, who are also often involved in environmental management/consulting, can and do go into parks and other forms of nature management, as well as advise on climate change adaption in the public and private sectors.

Geography Careers In Town Planning

As a;town planning;professional, you may deal with the management and development not only of towns, but also cities, villages and rural areas. You will put your geography skills and knowledge into use to improve existing infrastructure and find solutions to environmental issues, as well as ensuring new developments are in line with various policies and regulations. A part of your job will be to satisfy the needs of businesses and local communities, ensuring that development is sustainable and natural environments are maximally preserved.

Space Vs Place Awareness

Studying geography helps us to have an awareness of a place. All places and spaces have a history behind them, shaped by humans, earth, and climate. Studying geography gives a meaning and awareness to places and spaces. It also helps students with spatial awareness on the globe. Understanding direction and where things are in the world is still a vital skill, despite having easy access to this information online.

  • Physical Geography: This is the study of the physical makeup of a land. It can include climate, landforms, soil and growth, bodies of waters, and natural resources.
  • Human Geography: Human geography, on the other hand, includes the study of people and culture and how they are distributed across the globe.

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The Clan Gregor Society Prize

The Clan Gregor Society are offering an award to new entrants to the University of Glasgow who descend from Clan Gregor. Prospective students will be asked to submit an application highlighting areas of consideration such as academic excellence and financial need. The award is open to both Undergraduate and postgraduate applicants.

Geography Degree Entry Requirements

Why study Geography at Birmingham?

Entry requirements vary depending on the type of course you are applying for. Courses that focus on human geography typically require either geography or a humanities subject at A level, Scottish Higher or equivalent. Courses that focus on physical geography often ask for either geography or a science subject. General studies and critical thinking are usually not included as part of university offers.

Ellen Drysdale, who graduated from Durham University in 2016 with a 2.1 in geography, found that the base knowledge she had from her geography A level was helpful but that the style of teaching and the content were very different so it was not essential.

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Geography Careers In Academia

Alternatively, you may choose to pursue a career as an;academic;in a higher education institution. This usually requires that you have successfully completed a PhD, or at least a research-based masters degree. Academic geography careers typically combine independent or collaborative research projects with lecturing, teaching and supervision of undergraduate and graduate students. You may have opportunities to collaborate with academics based at other institutions across the world, and to contribute to papers and books in your field of specialization.

Geography Careers In Teaching

You may choose to pass on your geography skills and knowledge to the next generation as a;geography teacher;in a secondary school, college or further education institution. Like other teaching roles, this will usually require completion of a specialized teaching qualification and/or study to masters or PhD level. Youll also need excellent communications skills, a basic understanding of youth psychology and lots of creativity.

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Visa Requirements And Proof Of English Language Level

It is a visa requirement to provide information on your level of English based on an internationally recognised and secure English language test. All test reports must be no more than 2 years old. A list of these can be found on the UK Border Agency website. If you have never taken one of these tests before, you can get an initial idea of your level by using the Common European Framework self-assessment grid which gives you a level for each skill However, please note that this is not a secure English language test and it is not sufficient evidence of your level of English for visa requirements.

Raphalle Vallet Sustainable Finance Manager The Green Investment Group

Why you SHOULD study geography at university

Raphaëlle Vallet

Growing up in France, Raphaëlle hadn’t even considered applying to a British university until her last two years of high school, where she joined an international school and studied alongside students from different backgrounds. When arriving at Oxford, Raph explains how it “felt like finding the education system I needed but didn’t know existed”. Here, she reminisces on her time at Oxford and how it led her to where she is today.

With a passion for the environment and the exploration of human-environment interactions, deciding to study Geography was not a difficult choice for Raph: “I loved the idea of a generalist degree that touched on social sciences, international relations as well as hard sciences like climatology or ecosystem dynamics”. This multi-disciplinary approach gave her space to explore what she enjoyed most, ultimately encouraging her to pursue a path focused on strategy and politics.

For Raphaëlle, there is something incredibly rewarding about her profession:

“What I think makes the green finance sector really special is that it delivers tangible outcomes. Especially at the Green Investment Group where we work predominantly on infrastructure projects: you can point at a wind farm and say, ‘I helped build that’“.

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What Degrees And Other Qualifications Do I Need Geography For

If you want to study Geography at university, youll almost certainly need to study it at A-level. Geography A-level is also required from some environmental science and planning courses.

According to the Russell Group, Geography A-level is useful for courses in: Archaeology, Civil Engineering, Geology and Sociology.

A GCSE or A-level in Geography could also be useful for apprenticeships in surveying, horticulture, agriculture, land based engineering or BTECs in environmental sustainability or environmental conservation, although it won’t always be required.

Where can I find out more?

Geographers Make A Difference In The World

Those who study geography have a unique perspective one that comes with the knowledge of many cultures and spatial awareness that is not replicated in other disciplines. This mix of knowledge can help geographers come up with significant and unique solutions that others may not be able to see.

Another way geography can have a positive influence in the world is by creating awareness of the effect of climate change. Geographers have intimate knowledge of weather patterns and climate changes throughout the course of history on areas of land. They also have studied how those changes have affected humans in those areas. That knowledge is shared with others to hopefully bring an understanding and global awareness of the effects of climate change on human society.

University of the People is committed to making a change towards sustainability as well. As a fully online university that also uses only free, open-source textbooks, University of the People cuts the need for printed and shipped materials, the need for fuel usage for transport of people and materials to campuses, and promotes quality education for people all over the world, no matter their physical location.

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Geographers Can Truly Make A Difference To The World

Geography is enormously important because it teaches a spatial perspective that is not available in any other discipline. It is also uniquely synthetic, bringing together the physical dimensions of the environment with the human side of things and, in this exercise, can offer unique and vital solutions to many of the local and more global problems of uneven development, socio-spatial inequality, building sustainable environments, and so on. There are also tools that are unique to the discipline, such as Geographic Information Systems and cartography, as well as others around reading landscapes and data presentation, which make it uniquely placed to assist in analysing and addressing local, regional and global problems.

If youre interested in learning more about geography, consider studying it at Deakin. Geography is offered as a major or minor within a number of courses.

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What It Was Like To Study: Geography At University

Geography

by Samantha Nichols | Jan 2, 2019 | Education, Students, University |

Hi Im Sam, I studied geography at the University of Portsmouth and Im one of the co-founders of Get My Grades! In this blog, Im going to tell you a little bit about what its like to study geography.

Throughout secondary school, my aspirations of what I wanted to be when I grew up changed dramatically! Whether it was going into law, finance or something more creative, I could never really make up my mind about what my future would look like. I always enjoyed my geography lessons at school, in particular, the physical side of the subject. So, when it came to choosing what I wanted to study at university, I chose geography as I knew that I enjoyed it and Id rather do a subject I enjoyed as it would be much more rewarding and easier to motivate myself!

My method for choosing universities was probably seen as ever so slightly dubious by some of my teachers; I had my heart set on Royal Holloway because when I went to their open day, one of their undergrads did their thesis study on a volcano. I just couldnt get the images of this student standing at the crater of a live volcano out of my head! How much fun would that be! My remaining four choices were taken up by universities situated on the south coast. Growing up in London, I thought it would be lovely to live by the sea for a while as I enjoyed sailing and scuba diving, and so this pretty much dictated my following four choices.

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What Kind Of Student Would This Course Suit

There is no typical Bristol geography student but all share a keen curiosity about our physical, social and cultural worlds. Some are highly numerical and able to develop mathematical models of the Earths climate; others enjoy using statistics to understand issues such as social segregation and the outbreak of war. Some students are passionate about contemporary social theory, while others are fascinated by the relationships between people and their environments.

Whether you are interested in the science of modelling, the uncertainties of future sea levels in Greenland and the Antarctic, or quantitative human geography and global development, Bristol offers a choice of courses that will enable you to pursue your interests to the leading edge of the subject.

Hilary Allison Head Of Ecosystem Assessment Programme Unep

Hilary Allison

“There was always a sense of inevitability that I would end up pursuing this career” begins Hilary’s story, “I knew that I needed a vocation rather than a job, one where I could try and make a difference”.

⦠and made a difference she has! The entirety of Hilary’s career has been dedicated to environmental conservation in one way or another, in working for the National Trust, the Woodland Trust, the Forestry Commission and now the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre . Her interest in biogeography as an undergraduate encouraged her to pursue an exciting, dynamic career in the conservation sector. Hilary shares with us what she has been up to since graduating from Oxford in 1980, demonstrating how a geographical understanding can help us face some of the most contemporary environmental challenges of our time.

The biosphere is the life support system on which we all depend, although, as Hilary contends, “in the developed world we often either take this for granted or forget about it completely”. At present, natural resources are being consumed at unsustainable rate, a rate that Hilary believes will lead only to “economic suicide”. For this reason, Hilary sees it essential to promote the protection and restoration of the environmental world – something that she has consistently lobbied for throughout her career.

Still to this day, Hilary stresses the value of her undergraduate teachings:

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Entry Requirements For Geography Degrees

Again reflecting the diversity of geography topics, entry requirements for geography degrees can vary, and are often relatively flexible in terms of the academic background required. Applicants will typically be expected to have studied some aspects of geography and achieved good grades at secondary level. Related science and social science subjects may also be an asset, including physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, sociology, economics, politics and history. Youll need to be able to explain why you want to study geography, perhaps with reference to potential future;geography careers;or topics youre especially passionate about. You may be asked to attend an admissions interview, while international students may need to submit proof of proficiency in the language used to teach the course.

Catherine Buckland Postdoctoral Research Assistant School Of Geography And The Environment Oxford

Why study Geography at Queen Mary University of London?

Catherine Buckland

“I completed the Oxford Geography course from 2008-2011 and particularly enjoyed the opportunity to engage with world experts on their specialist areas of research. Highlights were definitely fieldwork in the UAE and Georgia, and also studying the optional modules which give you a chance to go into the detail of the topics.

“The options I chose spanned both Human and Physical courses: African Societies and Dryland Environments. At the time I had no idea that >10 years later I would end up working as a researcher looking at bioeconomic opportunities in African drylands!

“My undergrad dissertation used a combination of lab and field techniques to look at changes in a peatland bog over the recent past. Taking on a field / lab-based dissertation was great and gave me a chance to immerse myself in conducting research at a university level. Not only did I meet a whole new group of researchers in the labs, I also relished becoming a “mini-expert” on my research question and learning new techniques which I ended up using in the coursework on my other modules.

“Key competences that I take away from the physical geography course include: a number of indispensable technical skills , and the ability to frame and know how to tackle research problems. These skills have been useful not only in my current research role and post-graduate research degrees, but also for helping me to previously work in a problem-solving numerate environment in corporate banking.”

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Geography Course Entry Requirements

A qualification;in geography will definitely help your application for further study, but its not always a requirement.

If youre studying physical geography, a science qualification could support your application. For human geography degrees, subjects like politics and sociology will help.

Many universities look for the right type of character, rather than the right academic background. So, you should demonstrate an open mind, along with a passion for problem-solving and analysis in your personal statement. And, of course, a strong interest in the natural and man-made world.

A levels Entry requirements range from CCC to AAA, with the universities and colleges most commonly asking for BBB.

Scottish Highers Entry requirements for Highers range from BBBB to AAABB, with universities or colleges most frequently requiring AABBB. Occasionally, universities ask for Advanced Highers to supplement Highers. If Advanced Highers are requested, universities or colleges typically ask for AB.

Vocational courses Other Level 3/Level 6 qualifications may be accepted as an alternative to A levels/Highers by some providers. Its essential that you check alternative entry requirements with universities or colleges.

  • Apply by 15 January
  • Submit a portfolio
  • Audition for a place

Joshua Lanham Postgraduate Student At Imperial College London

Joshua Lanham

“When I first started the degree, I thought of myself as more of a human geographer. But the first-year physical course was so good that I ended up following a much more physical pathway. I loved the climate science module in first year and went on to take modules in climate change and variability, climate change impacts and adaptation, and complexity. These modules were supplemented with a second year fieldtrip to Tenerife, which was a great opportunity to get some experience of research in a real-world setting. In my dissertation I used climate models to investigate climate change over southern Africa, and this inspired me to go on to do a masters in climate science in Reading. Next year I am due to start a PhD at Imperial College in London researching arctic climate dynamics. The interdisciplinary nature of the physical geography pathway at Oxford suited me really well – it situates scientific issues within the context of their meaning for a range of global societies.”

Why physical geography? “For me, physical geography provided a way to directly work on climate change issues with a number of inspiring people working at the forefront of some the biggest issues today.”

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