Geography BSc (Hons) (4 year route including a Foundation Year at Carmel College)

Interested in studying for a BSc (Hons) Geography degree, but feel that you lack the appropriate science background or have a non-standard academic background? Then here is a programme that’s been designed for you.

Your Foundation Year is spent at Carmel College, after which studies transfer to the main University site. The College offers small class sizes and high standards of academic achievement that are moderated by University staff. For more information contact E: degree@carmel.ac.uk

Programme in detail

You will gain a solid grounding in a range of science subjects including geography and mathematics and will have a choice of chemistry, physics, information technology or biology modules.

On completing the Foundation Year, you will then choose modules from the Geography BSc (Hons) programme and be based at the main University campus with the option to transfer onto the F6F8, FF78 or F800 programmes.

Year by year

Your first year (Year Zero) is based at Carmel College, St Helens, about nine miles from the main University campus. The programme, which is moderated by University staff, comprises introductory modules in geography, mathematics and one module chosen from chemistry, physics, information technology and biology.

In Years Two, Three and Four you follow your chosen modules from the BSc Geography list on the main University campus.

Department Key Facts

Number of first year students

200 Year One undergraduates across BA and BSc Geography

Graduate prospects

95% of students graduated with a First Class or 2:1 degree in 2016

National Student Survey

• 92% of our students find that they received sufficient advice and support with their studies (National Student Survey 2016)
• 92% of students agree staff are good at explaining things (National Student Survey 2016)

Why this subject?

Benefit from an award-winning learning environment

We have invested heavily in teaching facilities, including the £23 million award-winning Central Teaching Laboratories (CTL). This state-of-the- art learning environment includes a dedicated laboratory and access to computing and flexible teaching spaces. The CTL houses much of our industry-standard equipment, providing a superb learning environment. Our Geographical Information Systems/Cartography suite houses a computing centre and is one of the few staffed map collections in the country, containing over 100,000 maps, 600 atlases and access to digital data.

Shape your degree with flexible programmes and choice of modules

Both our BA and BSc degrees in Geography offer flexibility. You can choose to specialise in physical or human geography, or to maintain a mixture throughout your degree. You can also take modules from outside Geography, and many students value the opportunity to keep up an interest in another subject area as part of their Geography degree.

RGS-accredited degree programmes

Our BA and BSc Geography programmes have been accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in geographical knowledge and skills, and prepare graduates to address the needs of the world beyond higher education. The accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from accredited programmes meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical ability and transferable skills.

Study a subject with relevance to the world now

A recent graduate summarised our Geography degree as “a programme that not only teaches you about the world but makes you want to change it”. All of our academic staff are involved in research that relates to, and is informing, contemporary policy debates and challenges. This research feeds into our teaching, so studying a Geography degree at Liverpool means that you will learn about, and develop the techniques and understanding to address key contemporary political, societal and environmental concerns.

Study in a city ideal for Geography

Liverpool as a city has undergone significant change in recent years. Previously the European Capital of Culture, it has the fastest growing productivity of any major city in the UK outside London. Liverpool is situated alongside a fascinating and dynamic marine and coastal environment, including the world-renowned Sefton Dunes and River Mersey. Liverpool is both an exciting place to live and work, and the ideal place to study human and physical geography as the dynamic physical, social and political landscapes are evident within the city-region itself.

Be part of a friendly and supportive community

Geographers at the University of Liverpool are not only leaders in their fields, but according to current students are also friendly, enthusiastic and supportive. Teaching is of equal importance to research in the Department and academic staff at all levels are engaged in undergraduate teaching.

Enhance your studies with fieldwork

We are renowned for the unparalleled fieldwork experience we offer our undergraduates. From your first week to your final year, field classes are an integral part of your learning. In addition to making the most of Liverpool’s location we boast excellent field trips to destinations including Santa Cruz (California), Singapore, Barcelona, Iceland, Lorca (Spain), Portugal, Glasgow, Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, the Lake District and mid-Wales. Field classes are not only important for learning skills and developing geographical knowledge, but also help foster a strong geographical community of students and staff. There is also the opportunity to undertake final year dissertation fieldwork abroad.

Students have, in recent years, accompanied staff on research expeditions to Iceland, Sweden and Norway and others have arranged their own dissertation research (with the support of staff) in countries including the USA, India, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Germany, and many others.