Geography BA (Hons)
Course Code
UCAS Code: L700
International Code: EECU063
Location
Coventry University (Coventry)
Study mode
Full-time
Sandwich
Duration
3 years full-time
4 years full-time with study abroad / professional placement
Start date
September 2022
Course overview
Study level: Undergraduate
Explore the various geographical factors that contribute to the distribution of wealth, opportunities and privileges within society, engaging with key global issues including the sustainable provision of food, housing and livelihoods.
- You will have opportunity to learn about how diverse communities interact with pressing socio-economic, geo-political and environmental concerns, such as climate change, poverty, social exclusion, population growth and sustainable living in a competitive global economy.
- The course is designed to equip you with core knowledge, skills and expertise within the broad field of geography, together with a range of analytical abilities and transferrable professional skills to secure employment on successful graduation.
- Throughout your studies, you will have opportunity to undertake residential field trips* to apply geographical knowledge to real-world concerns.

Global Ready
An international outlook, with global opportunities
Teaching excellence
Taught by lecturers who are experts in their field
Employability
Career ready graduates, with the skills to succeedWhy you should study this course
Throughout your studies, you will have opportunity to undertake residential field trips* to apply geographical knowledge to real-world concerns. In the first year, all students are required to take part in a residential field trip, followed in the second year and final years by international field trips. In the past students, have visited The Gambia, Berlin and the Lake District to study social and cultural impacts of tourism, economic regeneration and impacts of people on landscape. Students have previously visited the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) in London to access the wealth of resources owned by the RGS and were able to see first-hand what student membership of the RGS can offer.
- To augment field trip experiences, our students will be taught in the Simulation Centre, which is currently the most advanced interactive people training and development centre in the UK. Its cutting-edge technology which is unique in the UK, its learning curve interactive screen and real-life scenarios using specially-trained actors not only help develop new ways of working in otherwise inaccessible environments.
- A large range of optional modules allows you to tailor your degree to suit your interests with topics such as climate change, development, consumption geographies, alternative subcultures and Geographical Information Systems (GIS), planning and sustainability.
- You will be enrolled for student membership of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) for the duration of your course, which includes a subscription to Geographical Magazine and access to their facilities in London, a programme of talks, as well as information and advice on career planning. Staff and students have previously presented talks at the annual RGS conference. Students are encouraged to be active members of the RGS Ambassador scheme, which promotes the subject by giving talks at schools.
Accredited by:

Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
This course is accredited by Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) up to and including the September 2022 intake.
Watch the video below to get a taste of one of our field trip experiences.
What you'll study
Our geography degrees are designed to develop your knowledge of the spatial organisation and evolution of the human and physical environment, within the broad field of geographical inquiry.
In all three years, you will be supported to develop your practical analytical and problem-solving skills, with appropriate training in how to conduct robust independent research in the field, as well as detailed critical analysis and methods of reporting. Our modular degree also allows for a strong element of personalisation. Students can tailor the course to their own interests and career aspirations through a range of bespoke modules.
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
How you'll learn
Actual teaching contact hours will vary depending on the level of study and the requirements of a particular semester. In a typical week your contact hours will be divided amongst:
- Personal tutorials and small group teaching.
- Medium group teaching (e.g. seminars, tutorial sessions, lab sessions and workshops).
- Large group teaching (lectures).
In addition, you will be expected to undertake significant self-directed study each week depending on the demands of individual modules. The number of contact hours may vary from semester to semester, however, on average, it is likely to be around 12-13 contact hours per week.
Assessment
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods include coursework reports, essays, practicals, presentations, posters, formal examinations, timed exercises, field notebooks, infographics and project work.
Coventry University assessment strategy endeavours to ensure that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.
The field trips, which occur in each year, provide an unrivalled opportunity to contextualise classroom-based learning and develop practical skills through real-life application. In addition to the residential field trips, you will have opportunity to undertake a range of day trips to gain practical experience of applying your knowledge*.
You will be taught by current experienced, qualified teaching staff who bring professional and research expertise into their teaching; for example, children’s geographies, development geographies, political, social and cultural geographies and consumption geographies particularly relating to the fashion industry and ethical fashion. In addition, your personal tutor will review and discuss your progress with you and will be available for advice during published hours.
Job ready
On successful completion, you will have knowledge of:
- The nature, practical value and application of human geography and its concepts, methods and techniques.
- The constitution and character of space, place and landscape.
- Concepts of spatial and temporal scale, variation and change in the human and physical worlds.
- Reciprocal relationships between physical and human aspects of environments and landscapes.
- Patterns, processes and consequences of uneven development, difference and inequality.
- The relationship between place, society and culture.
- Nature, mitigation and management of contemporary environmental problems and hazards.
On successful completion, you will be able to:
- Plan, design and execute a piece of rigorous research or enquiry using appropriate methods and strategies of acquiring, interpreting and analysing information.
- Conduct field and laboratory work effectively utilising data collection and associated investigative and analytical skills.
- Recognise the moral and ethical issues involved in debates and inquiries.
- Think critically and analytically about the world around you.
- Show awareness of how skills and training can be applied to work of a geographical nature.
- Observe, contextualise and analyse information through field and laboratory studies (including computational).
- Demonstrate a range of transferable professional skills including intellectual and problem-solving skills; effective teamwork; initiative and responsibility your own learning and development; self-reflection; time management and personal organisation, including working to deadlines; excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing.
International experience opportunities
Geography is a global subject and international themes are core to our teaching. As such, much of our teaching relies on the use of case studies from around the world; your lecturers will often draw on examples related to their research, such as child headed households in post-conflict Rwanda.
There are exciting international field trips* in your second and final year. Our students have previously had the opportunity to visit Berlin to explore themes such as memory, conflict and reconciliation. Final year students have previously had the opportunity to explore The Gambia in West Africa to experience first-hand the workings of village communities and the challenges they face in education and health. Students were given strategic briefings by government officials, investigate the relationship between trade, aid and development and conduct fieldwork in rapidly urbanising environments throughout the duration of this trip.
Entry requirements
Fees and funding
2022/23 Tuition fees
Student | Full time | Part time |
---|---|---|
UK | £9,250 per year | Not available |
International | £15,950 per year | Not available |
For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see The University’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.
We offer a range of International scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them. Find out what's included in your tuition costs.
Facilities
The faculty’s £50m Engineering and Computing Building and new £25m Beatrice Shilling Building are designed to support hands-on learning. Our Sir John Laing Building also houses a variety of industry-standard labs and equipment.

Geotechnics Laboratory
This specialist lab contains triaxial cells, direct shear box apparatus, a dimensional compression oedometer, California Bearing Ratio apparatus, soil classification equipment and Marshall test apparatus for asphalt mixes.

Simulation Centre
Our Simulation Centre uses an interactive screen and real-life scenarios to create a ‘virtual’ training environment. Role-play exercises are part of the course to help prepare you for situations in the workplace.

Informal Study Areas
You will have access to a range of informal study areas. These include hot-desk computers, with access to specialist software you may need for studying, and bookable spaces where you can meet with academics or work in small groups.
Careers and opportunities
Successful geography graduates should possess a number of skills that are highly valued by employers. They should be literate and numerate, experienced in solving complex problems and developing solutions for multiple stakeholders through the collection and analysis of information. As such, excellent employment prospects should be available to graduates.
Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university’s Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.
Where our graduates work
Recent examples of graduate employers include: Transport for London; KPMG; Barclays Bank; Grays Travel; Parsons Brinckerhoff; Football in the Community; Urban and Transport Planning; Network West Midlands; non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Concern Universal; and various graduate training schemes, including that of the Civil Service.
Further study
You can choose to continue your studies at Coventry University with the Agroecology, Water and Food Sovereignty MSc, Disaster Management and Resilience MSc or Sustainability and Environmental Management MSc. You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.
How to apply
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UK Students
Full-time students applying to start in September should apply for this course through UCAS. Part-time students should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
If you'd like further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.
Chat with our admissions team
Complete our contact form.
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International Students
Full-time students applying to start in September should apply directly to the university. Read our application pages to find out your next steps to apply.
How to applyFor further support for international applicants applying for an undergraduate degree view our International hub.
You can also download our International Guide which contains lots of useful information about our courses, accommodation and tips for travel.
Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.
Chat with our admissions team.
Complete our contact form.
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Disclaimer
Student Contract
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2021/22 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
Tuition fees
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.
For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.
Accreditations
The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.
Facilities
Facilities mentioned on this page may not be relevant for every course. Due to the ongoing restrictions relating to COVID-19, some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) and some non-academic offerings (particularly in relation to international experiences), may vary from those advertised and may have reduced availability or restrictions on their use.
Placements and study abroad opportunities
Please note that we are unable to guarantee any placement or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be subject to additional costs (e.g. travel, visas and accommodation etc.), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand the requirements in this regard, please contact the International Office for further details if you are an EU or International student.
Additional costs
This course may incur additional costs associated with any field trips, placements or work experience, study abroad opportunities or any other opportunity (whether required or optional), which could include (but is not limited to), equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas).