Study Geography

Geographical MAGAZINE OF THE ROYAL GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY (WITH IBG)

Study

YOUR 24-PAGE GUIDE TO CAREERS AND COURSES

Geography UNDERSTAND THE WORLD

FIND OUT WHERE A GEOGRAPHY DEGREE CAN TAKE YOU

University Directory • Career paths • Applications

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Courses available Geography Physical Geography Human Geography Environmental Earth Science BSc Environmental Science BSc Daearyddiaeth (Welsh-medium) BA Sociology BSc BSc BA BSc

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www.aber.ac.uk/ood

MSc Environmental Change, Impact and Adaptation MSc Remote Sensing and GIS MA Practising Human Geography

All of our geography degree schemes are accredited by the Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers.

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Geographical

Welcome

G

eography truly is the subject of today. Covering so many of the issues that dominate the modern world, from climate change and flooding to migration and gender politics, it enables students to explore a vast range of important and fascinating topics. So too does an exciting future await geography graduates – just take a look at our careers pages for a small taster. In this special issue of Study Geography we hope to share with you the joy of geography and the exciting world that awaits its students.

Katie Burton Editor, Geographical

CONTENTS 5 7 8 10 11 12 13 15 16 19 20

Joe Smith, RGS-IBG Director Choosing geography Hear from students What happens next?

Careers: Education & Research Careers: Environment Careers: Government & Transport Careers: Charity Careers: Finance & Consulting Application tips University Directory

2020 . 3

EXPLORE TODAY’S GLOBAL CHALLENGES. CREATE SUSTAINABLE FUTURES.

If you are fascinated by the relationship between people and places, taking Geography at Bath Spa will equip you to understand key global challenges.

From climate change to sustainable development, from hazard and disaster management to identities and social justice, our degree programmes enable you to develop your geographical knowledge and skills and contribute to debates about our physical environment and the ways we interact with it. We offer a diverse range of study options including lectures, workshops, laboratories, training in industry standard software and equipment, and options to undertake residential fieldwork at all levels.

BSc (Hons) Geography BSc (Hons) Geography (Physical)

@bathspageog

BA (Hons) Geography (Human) BSc (Hons) Global Development and Sustainability

Visit www.bathspa.ac.uk/open to find out more at our Autumn Open Days on 10 and 31 October, and 21 November 2020.

Geographical

Choose Geography ‘A knowledge of geography is an essential tool in understanding the enormously consequential and dizzyingly rapid changes our planet is going through.

Geography is the one subject that looks at the whole story.’

T

hese are extraordinary times. Today’s world is very different from the one we lived in even a few years ago, and in the past few months it has been turned completely on its head. A global pandemic, climate change, racial inequality and Brexit are just a few of the issues facing our world – and all of them are inherently geographical. Geography has never been more relevant as a subject to study and it has never been more important. For anyone considering a degree in geography, this guide is essential reading. It provides helpful insights into the types of universities offering geography and the differences in their courses, it illustrates just some of the successful careers that geographers pursue, and it gives practical advice on the UCAS process and personal statements.

Independent research and data provide clear evidence that geography degrees are popular – year on year ever increasing numbers of students choose geography – while those enrolled on geography courses express among the highest levels of satisfaction with their courses, stick at them and do well. In addition, the employment opportunities at the end of a

geography degree are strong, varied and well paid.

Geography degrees are also varied, so no matter what your interests – whether it be sustainability; the environment; natural disasters; societies and communities; landscapes or flooding; GIS and all the new mapping technology; transport and planning; international development or lots more – you can find your place in geography. So read this guide – and the additional advice and resources provided on www.rgs.org/choosegeography – to explore the wide range of options and choose the one which is right for you.

The world needs geographers, now more than ever, to create a sustainable future for generations to come and to make a real difference in today’s uncertain world.

Professor Joe Smith, Director, Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) For more information visit: www.rgs.org/choosegeography 2020 . 5

Geographical

Study Geography With more than 80 UK universities offering over 1,400 geography-related degrees, there are a number of factors to consider when choosing to study geography...

G

eography is considered one of the broadest subject areas open to students at undergraduate level. As a result, it has one of the highest employability rates of all undergraduate degrees and is also one of the few subjects offered as both a bachelor of arts (BA) and a bachelor of science (BSc).

Deciding between the two is the first step for most prospective geography students. Both BA geography courses and BSc geography courses tend to include elements of human, physical and environmental geography. However, a course labelled as a BA tends to focus on the social, economic, cultural and historical elements of geography, while a course labelled as a BSc will typically focus on the natural aspects of geography.

There are also specific physical or human geography courses on offer for those already devoted to one path.

Many students make their choice based on their educational background, as the entry requirements for each course are often different. A BSc usually requires a scientific focus in your A-levels while a BA requires humanities. Nevertheless, many universities allow students registered for a BA degree to take some BSc modules and vice versa – there’s room for movement.

Largely, the choice comes down to whether you want to focus on physical geography, human geography or both.

Physical geography: Physical geography is the branch of natural science which deals with the study of processes and patterns in the natural environment, as opposed to the cultural or built environment.

Each university tends to have its own specialities, but common topics include: - plate tectonics - glacial environments - erosion and volcanology - climate change and environmental issues - river systems and hydrology - geomorphology - biogeography and soil - meteorology

Human geography: Human geography is all about how people interact with their environment and focuses on the cultures, economies and societies that make up the world. Common topics include: - urban, environmental and rural development issues - culture and identity - economy and society - gender and power - geographies of biomedicine and global health - geopolitics - globalisation and international development - social justice Both BA and BSc courses tend to include fieldwork – one of the top reasons why people are drawn to the subject.

In addition to geography, several UK universities offer more niche degrees in related fields, many of which can be studied in tandem with geography, or can be chosen for a single module.

Some of the most popular include:

Environmental science: The study of humanity’s effect on nature as well as how physical, chemical and biological processes maintain and interact with all life on Earth.

Geophysics: The study of the physics that underpins the history, structure and dynamics of Earth systems.

Geoscience and Environmental geoscience:­ The study of environmental conditions on Earth and the processes that maintain and modify them, covering the natural processes that have controlled Earth’s history and how modern human activities are affecting the planet today.

Geology: The science of the planet’s evolution, including how it was formed, how it has changed over time, and how the processes that shape our planet affect life on it.

2020 . 7

Geographical

Current students share their views Thinking about studying geography? Here’s what a few geography students have to say

Francisca Rockey

Sarah Hui Ann Tan

Katie James

Bsc Geography York St John University

BA Geography The London School of Economics and Political Science

Environmental science University of Greenwich

I always knew I wanted to continue with my education. When I was looking at what subject I wanted to study I wasn’t thinking about what’s going to make me the most money – I thought: what do I actually have a passion for? I’m most interested in physical geography, but I do like human modules as well and I can do both with a BSc. I want to go on to do an MSc in disaster management and resilience when I finish my undergraduate, because the area of geography that I’m most interested in is natural hazards and management of them. The area of the world I’m interested in is Southeast Asia. I want to be equipped with everything I need to know to be able to actually go and help in areas of the world where there are disasters occurring, and maybe take away some of the more western ideas of management as well.

8 . 2020

Intuitively, I knew I was more of a human geographer. Hence, when it came to researching universities and modules I was most attracted to the BA Geography programme. Opportunities to engage with independent research has been for me, the best part. The biggest highlight was definitely my experience as an Undergraduate Research Fellow in my second and third year, working with Dr Thomas Smith. From brainstorming initial ideas and conducting fieldwork, to writing manuscript drafts, and ultimately, submitting a manuscript and responding to peer reviewers and editors, the Fellowship was an extremely meaningful experience. Another memorable highlight was our programme’s fieldwork trip to Havana, Cuba in second year.

I had an incredible week exploring a new environment and conducting independent fieldwork.

I took a few years out of studying to decide what I wanted to do. I had a key interest in working within the natural sciences and so I attended an open day and spoke to Dr Peter Burt, the programme leader for Environmental Science and Geography at Greenwich. It was his enthusiasm which made me choose Greenwich. I can honestly say I enjoyed every moment of my degree. Being taught by the researchers who actively research environmental issues and how to work towards global development instilled in me a deeper understanding and appreciation for the field. I am currently undertaking my PhD at the University of Greenwich in: ‘The role of species-combination pollination systems in crop production, crop stress responses and fruit/vegetable quality’. I am focusing on how different pollinators interact with one another and how this can affect crop yields and quality in England and Tanzania.

Geographical

Charlie Pugh

Madeleine Davies

Ellie Harvey

BSc Geography Aberystwyth University

BA Geography with Placement Year Durham University

BSc Geography University of Nottingham

My main passion is travelling, which I do at every opportunity. I always try to immerse myself in different cultures and traditions where possible and explore new places, therefore I decided to study geography. The mixture of the modules at Aberystwyth allowed me to study interactions and concepts surrounding people, while also allowing me to get my hands dirty in the lab when learning about environmental processes.

In my opinion, geography is a hidden treasure in the academic world. A subject many people pass off as ‘just about rivers’, the reality of studying geography is quite different. I chose human geography because it is one of the most academically diverse disciplines you can study, covering everything you can imagine from cultural studies, to philosophy, to politics and urban governance, and a million more things besides.

Studying geography has expanded my view of the degree in terms of how truly multi-disciplinary this subject is.

Through geography I have been able to chase my aspirations of working in botany and conservation. Being positioned in the middle of the country has enabled trips to the Peak District, Lake District and Yorkshire Dales, which has helped to translate theory into surveying and data collection skills.

Jamie MacManaway

Louis Smith-Lassey

Matthew Earp

BSc Geography University of the Highlands and Islands

BSc Geography University of Liverpool MA Urban Design and Planning Southbank University

Bsc Geography University of Derby

From the physical processes responsible for forming the landscapes around us, to the way that human societies are shaped by (and shape) their environments – geography has it all. I was drawn to study as a mature student after a decade of working in adventure tourism and outdoor education. Over that time, I became increasingly interested in issues surrounding environmental sustainability, and decided that I’d like to actively pursue a career in that field.

I was very fortunate at my university to be able to do planning modules. Luckily, I’ve been able to do some internships within planning this year, especially within green space, which is what I really enjoy – bringing natural and urban environments together. Being able to take everything that I’ve learned and put it all into a career is a very fortunate thing to be able to do.

After I completed my A-Levels I was unsure where I wanted my career to go. I chose geography due to its range of interesting topics that are heavily applicable in day-to-day life, as well as being increasingly relevant to current global issues (climate change, pollution, renewable energy). I believed this would give me a wide range of potential career paths, a thought which proved true after I joined a ‘Career Preparation for Geographers’ course in my second year.

2020 . 9

Geographical

What happens next?

Geography is routinely considered to be one of the most employable degrees available to students.

So, what happens once you graduate?

Working full-time in the UK

46.1%

Working part-time in the UK 10.1% Outcomes six month after graduating

Working overseas

3.1%

Working and studying

5.3%

Further study (*see below)

23%

Unemployed

5.4%

Other

7%

Source: AGCAS 2018 Report: What do graduates do?

Type of course for those in further study

69.8%

Studying for master’s

14.8%

Studying for doctorate

9.1% 3.9%

% of geography graduates interested in an employment sector % of geography graduates interested in a sector

0.8%

Studying for postgraduate qualification in education Studying for other postgraduate diplomas Studying for a professional qualification

16

12

Proportion of recent geography graduates interested in a sector Source: Trendence UK Graduate survey 2018

8

4

0

Energy Energy and u6li6es and utilities

10 . 2020

Charity and Engineering, Construction, Charity and not-for-proďŹ t civil engineering, not-for-profit design & manufacture surveying

Public sector

Public sector

Geographical

Careers: Education and Research A degree in geography can provide you with employment options across a broad array of sectors. We look at the careers a selection of graduates have pursued, starting with those in education and research...

Shajiyah Begum, Geography Teacher Academy in South London

Dr Damien Mansell, Senior Lecturer in Geography and GIS

Sarah Bonar, Geography Teacher and International Rugby Player

Degree: Geography, Queen Mary University of London

University of Exeter

Degree: Geography, Loughborough University

After completing a PGCE at the Institute of Education, I obtained my current job as a geography teacher at an Academy in South London. Now a newly qualified teacher, I teach geography to Key Stage 3 and 4 pupils. Day to day I contribute to the planning of lessons and resources in the department, which are shared amongst the Humanities team, and set assessments, monitor pupil progress and record data on the system according to the Academy guidelines.

I chose geography because it allows you to gain a better understanding of the world we live in, and how human and physical interactions shape our landscape.

I personally believe studying geography will make you a well-rounded person, as the subject contains aspects of different subjects such as science and history.

Degree: BSc Geography, University of Sheffield As a glaciologist, I have field experience in Greenland, Svalbard and Iceland and am passionate about teaching and the use of GIS to understand spatial data, patterns and trends. Much of my work involves teaching students GIS skills to understand spatial data such as GPS recordings, satellite images, maps or drone photography. One of the resources that I am currently designing is an immersive environment computer gamestyle virtual fieldtrip tool, which allows educators and learners to explore virtual environments.

Everything must happen somewhere and in geography we can better understand this by exploring the interactions of what is happening in both space and place.

I enjoy working with young people so that was my biggest drive to get into teaching, but I also really enjoy geography – as cheesy as that sounds! After graduation, I worked for a sports charity and trust, it was a good experience but it wasn’t as hands on with young people as I wanted it to be. That was when I realised that teaching would be a good career to go into. During rugby season my day-to-day usually involves a weight session in the morning before getting into work around 7.30am. I then prepare and teach my lessons for the day, and then I’ll do some marking and lesson planning. After work I’ll head to training in the evening, then depending on how busy it is, I will do a little marking before bed – so it’s a pretty full-on schedule. But when I’m out of season it’s not that bad!

2020 . 11

Geographical

Careers: Environment Nothing is more important than safeguarding our planet’s natural habitats, and no subject is better suited to provide you with the skills necessary to make a difference than geography...

Dr Richard Jeffries, Principal Geomorphologist

Chris Speight, Principal Consultant

Zoe Collins, Sustainability Data Manager

The Environment Agency

OHES Environmental

Fresca Group

Degree: Geography, Southampton University

Degree: Geography & Geology, University of Leeds

Degree: Geography, Royal Holloway, London

I got to be a principal scientist because I pursued a subject I really enjoyed, one that has fascinated me for my whole life.

I now work at the Environment Agency in the national geomorphology team. I spend time visiting rivers, surveying their forms and features to understand what they are like now, and how they might be restored. Recently I have been reviewing geomorphology technical assessments for a hydro power project to check the environmental impact is okay. I also analyse LIDAR data in ArcGIS and run models to check the impact.

Be open to opportunity: choose geography because it matters in a globallyconnected world. It matters now, and it will matter even more in the future when society will need your geographic skills to manage major environmental issues.

I started off at Arcadis, a company that specialises in contaminated land. If you have some land that because of its use could be contaminated, such as a petrol station, chemical works, landfill etc, you need to make sure there’s no groundwater, contaminated soil, or that any gas has been emitted before you can sell it.

I then began working for the company I now work for – we deal with spills of oils, chemicals or any hazardous substances.

We get all sorts of jobs, from domestic oil spills, train crashes, even helicopter crashes, such as the Leicestershire helicopter crash, where the aviation fuel had potentially got into the aquifer that they use for drinking water. Even now, at 15 years experience, I still get to go out twice a week, so I have a really nice balance of office work and fieldwork.

My role is to make the company (a fresh produce supplier) more sustainable by ensuring environmental and human rights considerations are integral to how we do business. This involves making our ethical systems more robust and mapping how climate change will affect our supply chain in order to enhance food security and producer resiliency. I’m also researching plastic-free packaging alternatives, reducing our site’s carbon footprint, helping to develop our diversity and inclusion strategy and updating our pesticide approval lists based on changes in regulation and new research outputs.

Being a geographer makes me incredibly inquisitive and means that I interrogate the complexities of our global supply chain in order to identify social and environmental risks.

12 . 2020

Geographical

Careers: Government and Transport Geography’s emphasis on seeing connections between differing aspects of society is a highly prized skill among those working in and around the halls of power...

Patrick Rickles, Head of Business Intelligence and Spatial Data Science HM Courts and Tribunal Services Degree: MSc Geographic Information Science, UCL I was curious about the public sector and how I might be able to apply my skills and knowledge to positively impact policies and decision making. I am currently at HM Courts and Tribunals Service (an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice), leading teams on data visualisation, solutions architecture and spatial analyses, such as travel time calculations. The main part of my role is to manage a team and more widely promote best practice in data visualisation and incorporate GIS to enrich outputs. I am actively building the organisation’s geospatial data capabilities and repositories, training people across the Ministry of Justice and acting as the department’s representative for Esri, Ordnance Survey and Microsoft.

Tom Grahamslaw, Associate WSP Degree: Geography, University of Leeds Following graduation, I joined WSP as a Graduate Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Consultant. I have developed a career within ITS focusing on application of technology to enable operational and safety benefits to transport projects. I have been involved in the development of various Smart Road concepts and currently lead the operational safety delivery of a programme of smart motorway schemes.

Leadership, communication and technical ability, alongside critical geographical knowledge are the skills that enable success in my role. Very few industries are moving at such a pace.

Geographical knowledge is applied to my work on a frequent basis. A geographical background provides a unique position for any career, enabling us to understand complex issues and how these impact the world around us.

Cengizhan Sehir, Global Trade Programme Manager for Americas and Turkey Foreign and Commonwealth Office Degree: Geography and Economics, Aberystwyth I lead on regional activities for the Global Trade Programme in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). The programme’s primary objective is to utilise economic diplomacy to promote global prosperity, growth and gender impacts whilst alleviating poverty in our partner countries. I lead on these developments within the Americas geographical region as well as with Turkey.

Geography is part and parcel of working at the FCO. Having an understanding of the world is what our job is all about, both the human and physical side of things. Having a wide variety of skills and knowledge that geography develops as well as just being able to operate with different people.

2020 . 13

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Geographical

Careers: Charity and Not-for-profit Working to directly benefit others is one of the most rewarding career choices open to you, and when it comes to charitable enterprises, geography’s multidisciplinary nature helps you see all angles...

Dr Anjana Khatwa, Programme Manager for Learning

Krista Cartlidge, Executive Director

Jurassic Coast Trust

Degree: BSc Geography, Loughborough University

Degree: BSc Earth Science, Kingston University I have worked for 15 years at the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, developing and building learning programmes that help people of all ages understand why this is a very special place. Contrary to popular belief I am not always out on the coast every day gazing out to sea or looking for fossils! During a typical week, I spend time developing content for our media and communication channels.

Geography and earth science underpin everything in how we manage our relationship with nature and evaluate the impact we have on the world around us.

From plastic pollution to global climate strikes, if you have a background in geography you are empowering yourself to be equipped with the skills you will need for an uncertain future.

MYTime Young Carers

After completing a BSc in geography at Loughborough University I undertook a PGCE in geography at the University of Leicester. I spent the next 13 years working in a variety of different schools across the UK. I was then offered the opportunity to lead MYTime Young Carers, a charity which provides support for young carers across the Dorset area.

Young carers are children aged between 5 and 18 who provide care such as nursing, cooking, cleaning and emotional support for another member of their family who might be physically or mentally ill. Young carers can experience issues of loneliness, high rates of absence from school, stress and poor physical and mental health. At MYTime Young Carers we are working hard to help address these issues and to help empower these often

invisible children, ensuring they can go on to lead happy and successful lives. As Executive Director it is my responsibility to lead the organisation and develop the charity’s strategic direction. I work closely with the board of trustees and ensure the charity is compliant with all laws.

Geography plays a key role in the work I do for the charity, it is particularly useful when applying for grants as it helps us as an organisation to understand the socio-economic needs of particular communities. It has also allowed us as an organisation to develop a clearer understanding of the challenges young carers might face depending on the area they live in. For example, our young carers in rural locations can find it much more difficult to engage with services provided by the local authority; we have been able to work with them to overcome these barriers.

My advice to students who would like to work in the charity sector is to spend time finding your passion.

I loved my career in teaching; it is where I developed my unshakeable belief that no child’s destiny should be defined by their start in life. This belief is at the core of everything we are now doing as an organisation.

For more career profiles, visit: www.rgs.org/iamageographer 2020 . 15

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DISCOVER A story 4.5 billion years in the making.

The Geographical website is launching a new section dedicated to studying geography at university and all the benefits that brings.

Explore Explore our our planet planet with with Geography Geography and and Geology Geology degree degree programmes programmes at at Edge Edge Hill Hill University.

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-- Fully-funded Fully-funded field field trips, trips, carefully carefully selected selected to to reduce reduce our our carbon carbon footprint footprint -- Training Training in in industry-standard industry-standard field, field, laboratory laboratory and and computing computing equipment, equipment, such such as as drone drone and and laser-scanning laser-scanning technologies technologies

Check in at:

www.geographical.co.uk for regular updates on university courses, student testimonials, career guidance, application tips and much, much more.

-- Career-focused Career-focused learning learning and and employability employability activities activities embedded embedded across across all all three three years years

Discover Discover more: more:

ehu.ac.uk/discover Follow Follow us: us:   @EHU_Geo @EHU_Geo

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Careers: Finance and Consulting

From modelling catastrophes for insurers, to advising huge corporations on geopolitical risks, geography offers opportunities in some of the most forward-looking sectors...

Dr Tina Thomson, Head of Catastrophe Analytics EMEA West-South

Kate Edwards, CEO and Principal Consultant

Willis Towers Watson Degree: Geomatic engineering, UCL

Degree: Geography, University of Washington (US)

My background is in catastrophe model development. As Head of Catastrophe Analytics at Willis I am responsible for the analytical service offering to a wide range of reinsurance clients across the West and South region of Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). I am responsible for a team of over 30 staff from diverse backgrounds and different geographical locations including the UK, France and India.

The job keeps me challenged and there is always something new to learn, whether this is expanding into the various natural perils (seismology, hydrology, structural engineering, and atmospheric sciences); different lines of business such as property, life and cyber; to the more commercial, presentation and client-facing skills.

I have been obsessed with maps and travel since a very young age. Every summer found our family on a road trip to some new place in the US and beyond. After initial studies in aerospace engineering and industrial design, I ultimately opted to pursue geography and cartography as I’ve always had a strong interest in the subjects.

While pursuing my doctoral work, I was recruited into Microsoft to work as a cartographer on Encarta Encyclopedia.

That role evolved from being the cartography lead on Encarta, to Encarta World Atlas and then into a new role as the company’s first Geopolitical Specialist within the Geography Business Unit – to help the company with geopolitical sensitivities on maps (Kashmir, Taiwan, etc.).

16 . 2020

Geogrify

When the company had a significant faux pas with two products in 1997, I created the Geopolitical Strategy team to protect the company from geopolitical and cultural content risks. This led to my involvement in most of Microsoft’s video game projects, and in that work, I found my true calling – performing a hands-on, critical risk assessment of how creative decisions in digital content may affect a company’s global business. After managing this team for seven years, I departed Microsoft and created my own consulting company, Geogrify, that has provided culturalisation services to many companies, including Google, Facebook, Amazon, Electronic Arts, Bioware, Ubisoft, LEGO, and many others.

Very few companies will ever have openings for a ‘geographer’ so with guidance from mentors in the tech and video game fields and some trial and error experience, I was able to eventually discern how my skills and perspective could benefit companies. The work that I do on a daily basis relies upon my ability to view the world through a geographer’s lens. From logistical travel knowledge, to discovering a potentially offensive symbol or gesture, to understanding the importance of a historical event in a specific locale, to comprehending the folk costumes of a local culture and how they might be leveraged by a creative designer – all of these aspects (and many more) are reliant on geography.

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Time to apply Some tips and tricks for that vital application

A

s you’ll probably already know, all university applicants are allowed a maximum of five choices (either at different universities, or different courses at the same university). While many universities offer geography degrees they will all have slightly different specialisms and different field trip opportunities, so do plenty of research and attend open days (whether in person or virtually).

Common advice is to apply for two or three courses that normally offer the sorts of grades you realistically expect to get, and two or three others which offer lower grades than you hope to get. Ultimately you will only be able to hold two offers; these tend to be the university you most want to go to, and one other safety-net offer for lower grades in case things go less well in examinations.

Take care to put together a strong personal statement as this could be used to distinguish between two candidates with similar predicated grades. One of the best things you can do in your application is to include evidence that you have read around your subject ­– many applicants will look no further than the A-level syllabus. But most importantly of all, make it personal and make it clear why you want to study geography.

Oh, and proof read! Take a look at what some of the people who really matter have to say on the subject...

‘The test of a really good personal statement is always this – by the end of reading it does it answer this question: “Why do you want to spend three years of your life studying Geography?” Explain your passion and love for the subject and do that as much as possible with references to your experiences and your life.’

Professor Ian Candy – Professor in Geography at Royal Holloway University of London

‘The key to a great personal statement is that first word: personal. Your statement should be an authentic reflection of you, your personal interest in geography and why you want to pursue the study of geography for three years at University. I know that sounds really obvious, right? But statements have a habit of being drafted and redrafted, edited by well-meaning teachers and careers advisors, then drafted again, and what pops out the other end can sometimes be more of a generic statement than a personal one. So, keep it personal, keep it authentic and let your own voice ring through.’

Dr Alasdair Pinkerton – Professor in Geography at Royal Holloway University of London ‘In personal statements, we want to see your enthusiasm and passion for Geography. You should include evidence that demonstrates this, which could take many different forms. For example, you could write about places that you have visited, topics that excite you, your engagement with your local community, experiences when working or volunteering, books that you have read, or anything else that draws on your personal experience.’

Dr Rebecca Hodge – Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Durham University ‘I look at the personal statements. Not so much the content (“everybody” wants to save the planet/whale/ whatever), but if the statement is poorly written with typos and grammatical issues that tends to ring alarm bells for future work and assessments (unless the candidate has a declared disability which could affect their writing of course).’

Dr Peter Burt – Programme Lead for Geography at Greenwich University 2020 . 19

Geographical

University Directory A comprehensive list of places to study geography in the UK...

Key: Teaching quality % Student experience % Entry standards (UCAS) Graduate prospects % Sources: Teaching and students: National Student Survey (NSS) UCAS: This is the average new UCAS tariff score for new students under the age of 21 taken from HESA data for 2017-2018 Graduate prospects: This is the percentage of graduates undertaking further study or in a professional job in the annual survey by HESA six months after graduation

Aberdeen Teaching: 78.9 Experience: 79.2 UCAS: 186 Prospects: 68.3

UCAS: 180 Prospects: 84.8

Aberystwyth Teaching: 87.2 Students: 88.0 UCAS: 115 Prospects: 83.8

Cambridge UCAS: 207 Prospects: 83.3

Durham Teaching: 84.6 Students: 79.7 UCAS: 193 Prospects: 85.0

Canterbury Christ Church Teaching: 88.4 Students: 86.0 UCAS: 110 Prospects: 48.1

East Anglia Teaching: 81.2 Students: 80.8 UCAS: 147 Prospects: 66.6

Cardiff Teaching: 76.2 Students: 79.1 UCAS: 148 Prospects: 73.3

East London Not included in surveys

Bangor Teaching: 80.8 Students: 84.1 UCAS: 123 Prospects: 65.4 Bath Spa Teaching: 61.7 Students: 63.1 UCAS: 107 Prospects: 53.3

Brunel Not included in surveys

Birkbeck, London Not included in surveys

Central Lancashire Teaching: 82.5 Students: 77.9 UCAS: 118 Prospects: 56.5

Birmingham Teaching: 80.3 Students: 81.4 UCAS: 157 Prospects: 85.8

Chester Teaching: 83.0 Students: 80.9 UCAS: 106 Prospects: 67.5

Bishop Grosseteste Not included in surveys

Coventry Teaching: 91.0 Students: 92.1 UCAS: 124 Prospects: 73.8

Bournemouth Teaching: 81.7 Students: 79.8 UCAS: 103 Prospects: 54.3 Brighton Teaching: 89.1 Students: 85.0 UCAS: 102 Prospects: 51.0 Bristol Teaching: 78.3 Students: 80.4 20 . 2020

Cranfield Not included in surveys Cumbria Not included in surveys Derby Teaching: 83.0 Students: 86.2 UCAS: 112 Prospects: 78.3

Dundee Teaching: 81.5 Students: 87.4 UCAS: 168 Prospects: 74.8

Edge Hill Teaching: 71.1 Students: 73.4 UCAS: 111 Prospects: 62.0 Edinburgh Teaching: 79.4 Students: 77.6 UCAS: 175 Prospects: 69.3 Exeter Teaching: 80.7 Students: 82.0 UCAS: 167 Prospects: 82.6 Glasgow Teaching: 80.3 Students: 79.3 UCAS: 182 Prospects: 78.3 Gloucestershire Teaching: 85.3 Students: 86.5 UCAS: 114 Prospects: 60.4 Greenwich Teaching: 82.9 Students: 77.7

Geographical

Prospects: 79.2 Harper Adams Not included in surveys Heriot-Watt Not included in surveys Hertfordshire Teaching: 79.9 Students: 77.8 UCAS: 105 Prospects: 75.5 Highlands and Islands Not included in survey Huddersfield Not included in surveys Hull Teaching: 87.6 Students: 86.2 UCAS: 117 Prospects: 70.4 Keele Teaching: 89.2 Students: 87.3 UCAS: 118 Prospects: 63.1 Kent Not included in surveys King’s College London

Teaching: 77.4 Students: 78.0 UCAS: 154 Prospects: 64.0 Kingston Teaching: 76.8 Students: 76.6 UCAS: 106 Prospects: 72.7 Lancaster Teaching: 81.4 Students: 81.6 UCAS: 157 Prospects: 87.3 Leeds Teaching: 76.8 Students: 78.5 UCAS: 162 Prospects: 82.9

Liverpool Hope Teaching: 83.2 Students: 80.9 UCAS: 108 Prospects: 94.6 Liverpool John Moores Teaching: 86.3 Students: 85.4 UCAS: 125 Prospects: 65.5 London School of Economics Teaching: 77.7 Students: 72.6 UCAS: 179 Prospects: 87.7 London South Bank Not included in surveys

Leeds Beckett Teaching: 77.9 Students: 79.6 UCAS: 103 Prospects: 61.8

Loughborough Teaching: 88.9 Students: 92.1 UCAS: 149 Prospects: 83.3

Leicester Teaching: 80.5 Students: 80.3 UCAS: 127 Prospects: 77.0

Manchester Teaching: 85.3 Students: 84.9 UCAS: 161 Prospects: 77.9

Lincoln Not included in surveys

Manchester Metropolitan Teaching: 81.8 Students: 83.0 UCAS: 113 Prospects: 69.6

Liverpool Teaching: 83.9 Students: 87.2 UCAS: 140 Prospects: 74.8

Newcastle Teaching: 82.3 Students: 83.8 UCAS: 159 Prospects: 80.5 2020 . 21

Geographical

University Directory (...continued) Newman Not included in surveys Northampton Teaching: 82.3 Students: 76.3 UCAS: 86 Prospects: 57.7 Northumbria Teaching: 85.5 Students: 87.0 UCAS: 131 Prospects: 61.2 Nottingham Teaching: 81.1 Students: 84.8 UCAS: 154 Prospects: 81.2 Nottingham Trent Teaching: 80.8 Students: 78.1 UCAS: 113 Prospects: 76.8

UCAS: 127 Prospects: 70.4 Royal Holloway, London Teaching: 86.8 Students: 88.8 UCAS: 137Prospects: 72.4 Salford Teaching: 94.8 Students: 85.4 UCAS: 109 Prospects: 61.5 Sheffield Teaching: 84.2 Students: 86.2 UCAS: 150 Prospects: 75.0 Sheffield Hallam Teaching: 81.0 Students: 84.0 UCAS: 106 Prospects: 60.7

Oxford UCAS: 210 Prospects: 80.4

South Wales Teaching: 91.9 Students: 89.1 UCAS: 111 Prospects: 49.8

Oxford Brookes Teaching: 75.6 Students: 75.6 UCAS: 121 Prospects: 58.8

Southampton Teaching: 84.8 Students: 83.6 UCAS: 153 Prospects: 71.8

Plymouth Teaching: 82.3 Students: 82.3 UCAS: 121 Prospects: 65.4

Southampton Solent Not included in surveys

Portsmouth Teaching: 85.4 Students: 86.0 UCAS: 113 Prospects: 76.3 Queen Mary, London Teaching: 73.4 Students: 72.9 UCAS: 129 Prospects: 69.7 Queen’s University Belfast Teaching: 76.9 Students: 77.1 UCAS: 138 Prospects: 63.7 Reading Teaching: 75.9 Students: 76.3 22 . 2020

St Andrews Teaching: 93.6 Students: 92.5 UCAS: 203 Prospects: 77.2 St Mary’s, Twickenham Not included in surveys Staffordshire Teaching: 96.3 Students: 92.3 UCAS: 97 Prospects: 74.4 Stirling Teaching: 82.5 Students: 82.2 UCAS: 164 Prospects: 73.8

Sussex Teaching: 75.0 Students: 76.2 UCAS: 147 Prospects: 76.6 Swansea Teaching: 82.6 Students: 86.0 UCAS: 129 Prospects: 80.2 Ulster Teaching: 89.3 Students: 90.9 UCAS: 112 Prospects: 62.7 University College London Teaching: 81.7 Students: 77.3 UCAS: 171 Prospects: 73.3 UWE Bristol Teaching: 90.5 Students: 90.5 UCAS: 113 Prospects: 63.8 West of England Not included in surveys Westminster Not included in surveys Winchester Teaching: 80.1 Students: 77.9 UCAS: 97 Wolverhampton Not included in surveys Worcester Teaching: 87.1 Students: 82.9 UCAS: 106 Prospects: 57.8 York Teaching: 83.0 Students: 80.5 UCAS: 150 Prospects: 77.2 York St John Not included in surveys

You can study Geography at Aberdeen as a MA or a BSc, focusing on Human Geography (MA), Physical Geography (BSc), or following a Joint Honours programme. If you study single Honours Geography you will get a degree accredited by the Royal Geographical Society. The curriculum introduces many of the most pressing problems faced by society today and ways in which those problems may be understood and resolved.

We have a varied approach to course delivery: lectures, small group teaching, labs, computer-based practical classes and you will attend residential field courses in Years Two and Three. Honours courses link directly to staff research interests ensuring you are taught at the cutting edge. These include, for example; rural studies, population change, urban development and sustainability, environmental change, glaciology and hydrology. The Aberdeen Geography degree provides you with training in a suite of skills transferable to the job market, maximizing your employability. This is reflected in the excellent record of our students at securing graduate-level employment.

We are a friendly and expanding Department, staff doors (physical or virtual) are open and there is a vibrant student-led Geography Society that runs events throughout the year. Come and study Geography at Aberdeen, the fifth oldest university in the UK, as this highly ranked Department celebrates its centenary.

Here is what our students say: “The skills acquired throughout my Geography degree placed me ideally for beginning a career in transportation.”

“The various fieldtrip opportunities offered are also fantastic. I was lucky enough to spend these trips with a great group of friends and had a fantastic time!”

“I gained a large skill set which has served me well in gaining my current job, acquiring environmental skills, writing skills and the dissemination of large amounts of information.”

Open Days: Saturday 3rd October 2020 Offer Holder Day: 24th March 2021 When conditions permit book a campus visit Email: geography@abdn.ac.uk for further information

EXPAND YOUR HORIZONS Study at the University of Greenwich Physical Geography BSc Hons Environmental Science BSc Hons

I find it really exciting being taught by someone who has just come back from a farming community in Malawi and is giving us the latest knowledge on how our subject is being applied in the world.

- Katie James, BSc Student

Arrange a visit:

Attend one of our virtual Open Days:

10th Oct 2020: Virtual Open Day 21st Nov 2020: Open Day - on Campus

study-at-NRI@gre.ac.uk

https://www.gre.ac.uk/events/opendays

University of Greenwich, Medway Campus, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TB t: +44 (0)208 331 9000 e: courseinfo@gre.ac.uk w: https://www.gre.ac.uk/campaigns/engsci/nri# @nrinstitute N250-15

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