Is Geography a good degree to study?

My experience of studying Geography

Matthew Hoult is a second-year geography student at Coventry University. Here he shares his experiences, highlights the opinions of studying the subject.

I would recommend studying a geography degree to friends. It is such a broad subject exploring a range of topics and contemporary challenges from both the humanities and sciences, so can be shaped by different interests. Equally, fieldwork is a highlight for both academic and social reasons and is very common at Coventry University with most modules including at least a day trip or field class.

Why I chose Geography BA (Hons) at Coventry University

One of the main reasons I chose to study geography BA at Coventry University was the support available from the department and across the university. The academics are always happy to chat in person or online and there is a real sense of community that was reflected at Open Days.

The first year Lake District field trip reflected this as it functioned, as both an academic and social trip, which enabled students and academics to get to know each other in our first semester. There are also loads of other services across the university too, such as Success Coaches and the Talent Team which I have met with for regular meetings. Success Coaches in particular seem unique to Coventry and have been a great point of contact for goal setting and referring me to other academic services.

What I enjoy the most about my geography degree

What I enjoy the most about my geography course (more human geography focused) and I’m particularly interested in social and cultural geographies, so the range of modules like “Society, Culture and Space”, “Sex, Drugs and Rock ‘n’ Roll” and “Living on the Edge” – which are specific to research expertise in the department – are definitely a highlight. “Society, Culture and Space” is a notable module for me as it explored theories of landscape, heritage, power, and performance with lectures on, for example, popular geopolitics and the rural idyll. It also involved a day trip to Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum to explore themes of colonialism and heritage.

The facilities at Coventry University

The geography department has access to plenty of facilities such as the hydraulics lab (including a flume and wave tank), computer labs (for GIS and remote sensing workshops) and the map library (a study and resource area) within the John Laing building.

These are really great facilities that you genuinely get to use even in your first year and are not just reserved for final year projects. As a geography student at Coventry, I have also been offered a free membership to the Royal Geographical Society which has given me access to online and in-person lectures and conferences.

The library is also one of my favourite places to study as there are designated silent and quiet floors as well as bookable group study rooms which are great for group projects or rehearsing presentations. I have also found that most suggested references from module reading lists are available online enabling me to work remotely which is great as a commuting student. The Centre for Academic Writing is also a valuable department in the library, who I have met with as part of online workshops and one-to-ones to advise me on my writing style and dissertation planning.

My most memorable moment at Coventry University

Probably one of my most memorable moments was part of a second-year module, “Development, Culture and Change”, where we completed an immersive workshop in the Simulation Centre. Since it would be difficult to visit a real refugee camp, this facility simulated one using a curved projection screen and actors. In groups, we practised research methods such as interviews and participant observation in a setting which simulated different events such as flooding, aid deliveries and violence from rebel groups. A particular challenging exercise involved interviewing an actor playing an American journalist with strong views, but this enabled us to reflect on our interviewing techniques and how to approach interviews in future research projects.

My overseas trips on the course

As well as domestic visits to London, Oxford, Manchester, and the Lake District, I have also travelled internationally to Tenerife in my second year – and will be heading to Sicily next year. In Tenerife, some of the highlights from the five days were visiting the Pyramids of Güímar Ethnographic Park, Puerto de la Cruz Botanical Gardens and San Cristóbal de La Laguna to explore themes of heritage, culture, regeneration, and identity. The trip was also heavily subsidised by the university and the small cost for students included flights, coach trips, accommodation and breakfast which made it more accessible for all students.

My placement experience

I have completed two short placements whilst at university which were supported by the Students’ Union and Phoenix+. Firstly, I volunteered in my first year with a British Heart Foundation charity shop in Coventry where I restocked and reorganised bookshelves and improved soft skills. More recently, I completed a research placement with the Centre for Arts, Memory and Communities where I conducted a literature review on motivations and support for older entrepreneurs focusing on age and gender interrelations to support the Gendered Innovation Living Labs (GILL) European project.

I have also tried to take advantage of a lot of the enrichment activities offered by Coventry University – a lot of which have been collated into the new Phoenix+ co-curricular programme.

Most notably, I have attended multiple visits organised by the Talent Team to BBC Cymru in Cardiff, Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull and Legoland Windsor Resort which gave me an insight into industries I may have not seen as appealing beforehand and were inherently fun day trips.

I have also attended workshops teaching British Sign Language and about Deaf culture which were engaging, interactive and helped me develop a new skill. Finally, E-Xplore the Globe webinars have been valuable for networking with students from across Coventry University and international partner institutions and have included a range of themes from Japanese popular culture to global career opportunities.

How geography has prepared me for the world of work

My course has prepared me for the world of work as it has helped me develop skills for a range of professions.

The “Applied GIS and Remote Sensing” module was specifically useful in giving me access to specialist software and developing employable skills. This module was grounded in challenging practical workshops where we used a variety of data to generate meaningful outputs like a map depicting deprivation indices compared to population in Coventry.

As well as these technical skills, soft skills have been developed throughout seminar discussions, assignments and field trips which can be applied to a range of career paths – including postgraduate study, which I am considering.

Advice for someone considering studying a geography degree

The main advice I would give to someone considering geography is to have a look at the course content and try and visit the university to make sure you are interested in what you will be taught and like the feel of the university. Degrees are shaped by research expertise within the department so making sure your interests are covered in possible modules will make sure you enjoy what you are studying. Equally, visiting the university for a tour or open day and exploring the city helps you decide whether you can see yourself studying and, possibly, living in Coventry.