Geography is a discipline that will both stimulate and challenge you. At Bristol you will work with renowned scholars in the fields of glaciology, hydrology, spatial modelling, political economy, historical and cultural geography and environmental change.

Why study Geography at Bristol?

We are entering an exciting new phase in global development where geography will steer great intellectual and practical change. Bristol is deeply involved with the people and debates that will lead those changes.

Our courses are taught in a stimulating environment in which we aim to inspire you and help you develop skills that will lead to a successful career when you graduate.

You will be able to choose specialist units in years two and three, comprising human geography, physical geography or both. Each specialist unit will help you engage with cutting-edge material and develop your knowledge and skills.

Field trips and practical work are key components of our courses. There are UK residential trips in year one, and in year two there is typically an overseas field trip.

The skills that you acquire throughout your studies will be applied in a self-directed dissertation project in your final year.

The School of Geographical Sciences is a partner in Bristol Q-Step, which is part of a national initiative offering enhanced skills training in the social sciences.

See the School of Geographical Sciences on film.

What kind of student would this course suit?

There is no typical Bristol geography student but all share a keen curiosity about our physical, social and cultural worlds. Some are highly numerical and able to develop mathematical models of the Earth’s climate; others enjoy using statistics to understand issues such as social segregation and the outbreak of war. Some students are passionate about contemporary social theory, while others are fascinated by the relationships between people and their environments.

Whether you are interested in the science of modelling, the uncertainties of future sea levels in Greenland and the Antarctic, or quantitative human geography and global development, Bristol offers a choice of courses that will enable you to pursue your interests to the leading edge of the subject.

How is this course taught and assessed?

There is a strong commitment to theoretical and conceptual work, with complementary and substantial training in collecting and analysing geographical data.

Lectures cover core topics, explain key concepts and help students to understand assigned readings. In tutorials, small-group discussions explore core and specialised material, and you will develop your writing and presentation skills.

Practicals provide training in research methods and skills, with hands-on exercises conducted alone and/or in groups. These skills are put to use in fieldwork away from the University, where you will collect original data.

Most units are assessed with both an unseen final exam and one or more pieces of coursework, some of which may be group based. The dissertation is an independently planned and executed research project supported by a supervisor.

What are my career prospects?

Our graduates excel in a variety of careers thanks to the specialist nature of our courses and the skills students acquire in computing, statistics, literacy and critical thinking.

Some of our graduates find work in areas directly related to geography, while others discover their knowledge and training provides them with a route into different professions or further study. Some of our recent graduates have gone into risk analysis, management and environmental consultancy, finance, technology, sales and marketing, communications and computer software development.

Find out more about what our students do after graduating.