Geography Degree

A Geography degree will open you up to plenty of different geography degree jobs and will also set you up with a good knowledge of different earth sciences and scientific experiments that are used in the world today.

What to do with a geography degree

There are plenty of jobs that are available with a Geography degree, whether that be becoming a geophysicist, geologist, sedimentologist, hydrogeologists or a geochemist. Whether you have a normal Geography degree or you have a human geography degree or a geography and economics degree, there will always be roles available for Geography degree graduates.

There are plenty of other careers with a geography degree that are available too, however, a lot of students overlook the possibility of becoming a Geography teacher. Of course, jobs with geography degree such as this usually require a PGCE degree as well. But inspiring the hearts and minds of many young people for the future is never a bad career choice either!

What can you do with a geography degree?

There are plenty of geography degree careers available, and they will usually involve some kind of scientific basis. A number of people start off by collecting samples for labratory analysis and then work their way up from there. While a Geology degree focuses on the study of pressure and time, Geography focuses on the meticulous nature of research and analysis.

Geography is not just about studying the physicals of the natural world, there are also issues such as noise pollution, regular pollution and issues facing human settlements. With a degree in geography, you would be able to find a number of different careers in town planning, for instance. Many settlements have issues with foot traffic and also with planning for construction, those with a Geography degree, could prove to be a valuable asset to any council as a result.

Quite apart from the various career options that are open to students upon graduating, there are also opportunities for students to study at a postgraduate level too, maybe by studying a masters degree in geography or by exploring the possibilities of other postgraduate courses.

What A Levels do I need?

The Geography degree entry requirements will change depending on the year, university and course that you're applying for, but the UCAS Tariff Points are the main thing to focus on, as the aforementioned geography degree requirements change all the time.

When it comes to the A Levels that would be best for you to have prior to application, then it would be best to have the obvious Geography A Levels, but it would also be useful to have things like Biology, Physics, Sociology, Government & Politics or Anthropology.

These A Levels are renowned for their focus on social elements as well as physical elements and also introduce an element of scientific analysis and research into your average degree.

What are my study options?

There are plenty of options when it comes to a Geography degree. Plenty of students decide to study their degree as part of a sandwich course or have a placement year which allows them to get into the world of work and study their degree while also gaining valuable, on-the-job experience and see what the world of Geography careers look like.

Another alternative for students, is to study their degree, as part of a combined degree course, this means that students can combine their Geography degree with a degree like English, to have a Geography and English degree, or maybe study something like a business and geography degree, a geography with economics degree (usually known as a economics and geography degree), a geography and politics degree, a geography and geology degree, a geography and maths degree, a history and geography degree, a geography and planning degree or even a geography and biology degree.

How will I be assessed?

This again depends on the university that you're studying at, but for the most part, a student will be marked through a series of coursework assignments, exams and practical work. With all of these, students will have to demonstrate knowledge of a particular discipline or procedure and may be asked to perform these under test conditions and in a laboratory.

All university degrees will require you to carry out an element of independent study or research and this is no different. With something like an environmental geography degree, you will be required to collect samples and then report on your findings. There will be plenty of graphing, noting and picture-taking for these kinds of elements.

What skills will I learn from studying Geography?

These kinds of degrees tend to lean more into the analytical side of things and those of you that enjoy this will find a home here. Geography will make you aware of the issues that are currently facing the planet as well as the various ways that you can collate data.

While collating data for a geography and management degree may not seem like it would be useful for you, you would be surprised. It can often enhance your organisation skills and your presentation (not just of data) skills will be improved markedly as a result.

When taking on a job, your presentation skills will be key, especially if you're working in an office and this degree will be perfect for helping out with that.

What happens after I graduate?

There are plenty of careers available after completing any of the geography degree courses that you might study at university. Plenty of students go on to become teachers, geologists, scientists, environmental protection agents, cartographer, surveyor, environmental manager, landscape architect or even a geomatics manager.

Postgraduate options are there too, all of which can help enhance your career as well. A Masters is a great way of ensuring that your degree goes that much further. While a normal undergraduate degree takes anywhere from three-to-four years, a masters degree can add another three years or so onto that.

What can I study after a Geography degree?

There are always MA, MEnv or MSci degrees available in other areas as well, such as Climatology, Biogeography, Citizenship and Environmental studies.

These degrees will all have a similar focus to a Geography degree (and a distance learning geography degree) and will all open you up to a great series of jobs with a geography degree UK.