Bachelor of Arts (BA)

BA Geography with International Study

Join one of the top ten Geography departments in the UK (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024).

  • Duration: 4 years
  • Year of entry: 2025
  • UCAS course code: LF78 / Institution code: M20
  • Key features:
  • Study abroad

Full entry requirementsHow to apply

Fees and funding

Fees

Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £31,000 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.

Additional expenses

Overseas fieldwork is subsidised by the University but, depending on the location, you may need to contribute to the cost of the trip.

Policy on additional costs

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Scholarships/sponsorships

We are committed to attracting and supporting the very best students from all backgrounds to study this course.  

You could be eligible for cash bursaries of up to £2,500 to support your studies. 

Find out about our funding opportunities

Course unit details:
Dynamic Earth

Course unit fact file
Unit code GEOG10422
Credit rating 10
Unit level Level 1
Teaching period(s) Semester 2
Available as a free choice unit? Yes

Overview

What is Physical Geography and what does it mean to be a Physical Geographer? The Earth is an ever-changing system and driven by dynamic processes and remarkable events. Currently the planet faces many challenges - climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, natural hazards, land use and management, declining resources to name a few.

Building on the themes introduced in Semester 1 (e.g. GEOG10401 Environmental Processes and Change), we will explore the role of Physical Geography in tackling some of these ‘grand challenges’ and discover how geographical research is expanding our understanding of key processes.
 

Aims

By the end of the module, students should:
• Be familiar with ideas around Earth System Science 
• Gain a robust understanding of fundamental Physical Geography processes.
• Understand the range of scientific approaches used in Physical Geography.
• Relate these concepts and approaches to a range of case studies from leading researchers in the Geography department.
• Explore the role of the Physical Geographer in an ever-changing world.

 

Syllabus

After an introductory lecture, the course will be delivered through a series of topical lectures focusing on a specific topic each week. A range of Physical Geography staff members will teach on the course each giving a week’s lecture and associated reading on specialist and topical research topics. Indicative topics are: wildfires; landslides and mass movements; human impacts on the landscape; flooding; pollution; dust in the environment.

Teaching and learning methods

The course is primarily lecture-based. Each week the two-hour lecture will include class discussion and activities. Students will be expected to complete assigned readings between lectures. A high level of attendance is expected and will ensure that you are well supported for the course assessment. The module will be supported by a comprehensive Blackboard site including extended reading, supplementary materials, and online resources.

Knowledge and understanding

Demonstrate the key elements of Earth System Science
Demonstrate a scientific understanding of a range of physical geography processes
Recognise the different approaches and methods of investigation in Physical Geography.
Demonstrate your knowledge of Physical Geography through use of key case studies.
 

Intellectual skills

Recognise potential areas for your own future research (e.g. dissertations).  

Practical skills

Reading and analysis of scientific literature.

Transferable skills and personal qualities

Critical engagement with non-scientific material e.g. media articles.

Identification of areas of interest in physical geography and links to courses in YR2 & 3, as well as possible dissertation ideas.
 

Assessment methods

Assessment task

Length

How and when feedback is provided

Weighting within unit (if relevant)

End of semester exam

 

2 hours 

Online open book exam feedback is released after the summer exam period. 

Feedback on exam performance is discussed in second year academic advisor meetings.

 

100%

Recommended reading

Readings will be assigned from a range of sources and each week there will be a dedicated list of essential reading. Wider reading is essential in order to do well in the final examination.

Whilst there is no core textbook for this module, a useful text for the course is: 
Holden, J. (ed.) (2017) An Introduction to Physical Geography and the Environment. 4th Edition. Pearson.

 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 20
Independent study hours
Independent study 80

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
William Fletcher Unit coordinator

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