About This Course
Geography is the subject of our time, dynamic and constantly evolving as the world around us changes. It bridges the gap across social and natural sciences, and at Bangor we take an interdisciplinary approach. Our degrees allow you to explore the physical processes that shape the Earth, the social, cultural and economic processes that influence people and places, and the human-environment relationships. Our students develop their knowledge and a broad understanding of geography, alongside professional and transferrable skills that allow them to compete successfully for jobs in a range of careers and sectors.
Placement Year
This course is available as a 4-year ‘with Placement Year’ option. Please apply for Geography (with placement) BSc F806. Find out more about 'with Placement Year' courses here.
The placement year provides you with a fantastic opportunity to broaden your horizons and develop valuable skills and contacts through working with an organization relevant to your degree subject. Previous and current students have worked with a wide variety of placement providers, ranging from private companies to educational organizations, charities, government authorities and non-governmental organizations. Our students who have undertaken a placement year have highlighted how the experience has helped them to develop invaluable networks, confidence and life experience as well as subject knowledge and skills that have boosted their employability.
The Placement Year is undertaken at the end of the second year and students are away for the whole of the academic year. The minimum period in placement (at one or more locations) is seven calendar months; more usually you would spend 10-12 months with a placement provider. You would normally start sometime in the period June to September of their second year and finish between June and September the following year. Placements can be UK-based or overseas and you will work with staff to plan and finalise the placement arrangements.
You will be expected to find and arrange a suitable placement to complement your degree, and will be fully supported throughout by a dedicated member of staff at your academic School and the University’s Skills and Employability Services.
Watch - Making Snowdonia, Field Course at Cwm Idwal
Why choose Bangor University for this course?
- Our BA/BSc and MGeog programmes offer you flexibility, you can pick and chose modules that allow you to focus on the physical side, the human side, or the interactions between them.
- You will be taught by research-active staff and award-winning teachers, who will support and guide you throughout your studies in a welcoming environment.
- Our multidisciplinary team of staff have expertise that span glacial and riverine environments to food geographies and rewilding.
- Many of our modules also offer half and full-day field excursions, taking advantage of Bangor’s unique location, which is set against the backdrop of the dramatic north Wales coastline, Menai Strait, and the mountains of Snowdonia National Park.
- Fieldwork allows you the opportunity to go outside the lecture theatre. We run field courses in Snowdonia and SW England in Years 1 and 2, with the option to go to southern Spain or Tenerife in Year 3.
- Boost your employability with an optional work placement, either through our Professional Placement module or through a year-long Placement.
- Gain international experience by studying at one of our partner institutions abroad as part of your degree.
- Our degrees are accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).
Course Content
Your learning will take place in a range of different settings from lectures and laboratory classes and field classes to seminars and small-group tutorials. Seminars provide the opportunity for you to discuss and analyse new material, ideas and concepts with other students and the tutor. Small-group tutorials may be structured around study skills development or problem solving, but also give you the opportunity to ask questions, raise issues or explore material taught in lectures. Field work is an integral part of our Geography programmes, and there will be lots of opportunity to get into the field and learn valuable skills. You will have access to the University’s ‘Blackboard’ virtual learning environment, which hosts learning resources, course documents and lecture capture recordings (where available) for your modules.
You will be assessed in a variety of ways: essays, oral or poster presentations, reports, exams, practical tasks, etc. Some assessments may involve group work. Modules generally have an average assessment split of 60% coursework and 40% examination.
What will you study on this course?
You will study 120 credits in each year. Our programmes are modular, with some compulsory and some optional. Our BA, BSc and MGeog programmes begin with a broad foundation, spanning human and physical geography topics. Years 2 and 3 have increasing choice so you can specialise in the topics that interest you most. Our programmes focus on key global challenges, such as Climate Change, Natural Hazards, Sustainability and Governance. Our programmes introduce you to a range of research methods and IT, GIS, and statistical skills. You will develop professional and transferrable skills that employers value. During your final year you will conduct your own research under staff guidance, allowing you to showcase your abilities developed throughout your studies.
Year 1 and Year 2
The first year focuses on key knowledge and skills. Students are able to switch between BA and BSc courses at the end of the first year if they wish.
The second year will provide you with deeper subject knowledge, introduce you to specialist techniques and fieldwork skills, and developing your own research. Students may convert onto the MGeog at the end of Year 2.
Year 3
In your final year you can select from a range of modules that allow you to specialise in areas that most interest you. you will conduct your own research (Honours Project) under staff guidance, allowing you to showcase the abilities you developed throughout your studies.
Advanced field skills and training is available through our optional Year 3 field courses to Tenerife or southern Spain (Barcelona).
Modules for the current academic year
Module listings are for guide purposes only and are subject to change. Find out what our students are currently studying on the Geography Modules page.
Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.
Course Costs
Mandatory Costs:
Suitable clothing and equipment for fieldwork will be required e.g. walking boots and waterproofs, rucksack. The cost for these will vary. Approximate cost: £50-£80.
Appropriate stationary for note-taking during classes, e.g. notepad, pens and pencils. The cost for these will vary. Approximate cost: £5-£15.
Necessarily Incurred Costs:
Students are required to provide their own lunch and evening meals on the Year 2 residential fieldcourse. The cost for these will vary. Approximate total cost: £50-£70.
Materials for the preparation of academic poster for assessment. The cost and number of these will vary. Approximate cost: £10-£15.
Travel costs to undertake any fieldwork as part of Year 3 Honours Project research. The cost will vary by project (and may not even be incurred). Approximate cost for a UK-based project in a student’s home area: £15-£20.
Optional Costs:
Cost for optional residential Year 3 fieldcourse. The cost will vary by trip. Approximate cost £550-£600.
Daily travel costs for optional Professional Placement module. The cost will vary by placement. Approximate daily cost: £5.
Purchase of Wellington Boots for fieldwork. The cost for these will vary. Approximate cost: £10-£20.
Costs of any visas and vaccinations required if the student opts to undertake a professional placement or project work overseas. The cost for these will vary.
Notes:
Copies of all required reading materials are provided via the University Library.
Where required, laboratory coats are provided.
General University Costs
Home (UK) students
- The cost of a full-time undergraduate course is £9,000 per year (2021/22 entry).
- More information on fees and finance for Home (UK) students.
International (including EU) students
Additional Costs
There are also some common additional costs that are likely to arise for students on all courses, for example:
- If you choose to study abroad or take the International Experience Year as part of your course.
- If you attend your Graduation Ceremony, there will be a cost for gown hire (£25-£75) and cost for additional guest tickets (c.£12 each).
Course-specific additional costs
Depending on the course you are studying, there may be additional course-specific costs that you will be required to meet. These fall into three categories:
- Mandatory Costs: these are related to a particular core or compulsory module that you’ll be required to complete to achieve your qualification e.g. compulsory field trips, uniforms for students on placement, DBS Check.
- Necessarily Incurred Costs: these may not be experienced by all students, and will vary depending on the course e.g. professional body membership, travel to placements, specialist software, personal safety equipment.
- Optional Costs: these depend on your choice of modules or activity and they are shown to give you an indication of the optional costs that may arise to make sure your choice is as informed as possible. These can include graduation events for your course, optional field trips, Welcome Week trips.
Entry Requirements
For 2021 entry:
GCSE: Grade C/4 in Mathematics and English Language or Welsh.
Offers are tariff based, 80 - 120 tariff points from a Level 3 qualification* e.g.:
- A Levels: (including a C grade or above in A2 Geography)
- International Baccalaureate Diploma (including grade H5 or above in Geography at the Higher Level)
- Access: Science or Environmental/Landbased or Humanities course (merit grade required in the Geography element)
- BTEC National/Extended Diploma in Countryside Management or Applied Science: MMP -DDM
- City & Guilds Extended Diploma (720) in Countryside Management: Distinction - Distinction*
- City & Guilds Advanced Technical Extended Diploma (1080) in Forestry & Arboriculture: MMP - DDM
- Cambridge Technical Extended Diploma in Laboratory Skills: MMP - DDM
- Welsh Baccalaureate is accepted.
International Candidates: school leaving qualifications and college diplomas are accepted from countries worldwide (subject to minimum English Language requirements), details here.
We also welcome applications from mature applicants
*For full details go to our website and for a full list of accepted Level 3 qualifications, go to www.ucas.com
General University Requirements
We accept students with a wide range of qualifications and backgrounds and consider each application individually.
All students need to have good basic skills and the University also values IT and communication skills.
As part of the University’s policy we consider applications from prospective disabled students on the same grounds as all other students.
To study a degree, diploma or certificate course you’ll be asked for a minimum of UCAS Tariff points. For a fuller explanation of the UCAS Tariff Points, please see www.ucas.com
We also consider applications from mature students who can demonstrate the motivation and commitment to study a university programme. Each year we enrol a significant number of mature students. For more help and advice about being a mature student at Bangor, please visit the Study at Bangor site.
Specific entry requirements can be seen on the individual course pages.
EU and International students' entry requirements
For information and further detailed guidance on entry requirements for EU and International Students, including the minimum English Language entry requirement, please visit the Entry Requirements by Country pages. International applicants can also visit the International Education Centre section of our website for further details.
Bangor University offers International Incorporated Bachelor Degrees for International students whose High School qualification is not equivalent to the UK school leaving qualification. The first year (or Year 0) is studied at Bangor University International College, an embedded College on our University campus and delivered by Oxford International Education Group.
More information
Home/EU students and International UCAS applicants
E-mail for General Admissions: admissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to:
Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF
Telephone: +44 (0)1248 383717
International students (non-UCAS applicants)
Email to International Admissions: internationaladmissions@bangor.ac.uk or write to
Admissions Office
Bangor University
Gwynedd
LL57 2TF
Telephone: +44 (0) 1248 382028
Careers
Geography graduates are highly employable and are in demand due to the transferable skills and subject knowledge they develop during their studies. You will graduate with a widely-respected degree that opens up career possibilities in both the private and public sectors. Bangor graduates have gone on to careers in environmental consultancy, management, teaching and many more. Geography degrees also provide the foundation for further postgraduate study and research. Geography students can enhance their employability by registering for the Bangor Employability Award.
Opportunities at Bangor
The University’s Skills and Employability Service provides a wide range of resources to help you achieve your graduate ambitions. Developing your personal skills and enhancing your employability while at university is becoming increasingly important in today’s job market.
The Bangor Employability Award (BEA) and Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR)
The Bangor Employability Award enables students to build on their transferable skills through the recognition of activities they become involved in during their university life. Students can gain points towards the award through extra-curricular activities such as volunteering, attending workshops or actively participating in the Students’ Union’s clubs and societies.
The HEAR is a final graduation report that all undergraduates receive. The report itemises all academic achievements and additional extra and co-curricular achievements. Academic achievements appear on the report automatically and students are able to note their eligible activities by using the online platform ‘My Employability Hub’. This ensures that future employers are made aware of the additional skills the student has gained outside of the curriculum.
The Award is open to everyone and taking part in the scheme can make a major difference to your performance in the graduate job market.
Internships
Bangor University runs undergraduate and postgraduate internship schemes twice a year, which allow students to work in a professional environment while learning relevant skills and earning money.
Internships offer valuable experience in a professional workplace and there are a range of internships you can get involved in.
Student Volunteering
Not only is volunteering worthwhile – it also improves your employability and widens your experience.
The Students’ Union has a dedicated Student Volunteering Office (SVB) which currently contributes a total of 600 hours each week, promoting a close relationship between the university and the local community. Find out more on the Student Volunteering pages of the Bangor Student’s Union website.
TARGETconnect - Working while you Study
The Skills and Employability Service offers support to students searching for employment during and after their studies.
TARGETconnect advertises the following opportunities:
- Graduate jobs – Local, National and International
- Full-time, part time, permanent and temporary jobs
- Work experience / internships
- Voluntary opportunities
