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Geography at UEA
Find out more about studying Geography at UEA, and browse our other courses.
Find out moreBA (Hons) Geography with a Placement Year
Key Details
- Award
- Degree of Bachelor of Arts
- UCAS Course Code
- L704
- Typical Offer
- ABB
- Contextual Offer
- BBC
- Course Length
- 4 years
- Course Start Date
- September 2027
Other Course Options
Other Start Dates
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1st
In the UK for Research Quality in Geography and Environmental Sciences
The Times University Rankings 2025Course Overview
Why Geography at UEA?
Earn a geography degree in one of Europe’s largest and most prestigious schools of environmental sciences. Here, you’ll learn from world-leading researchers about how to tackle global social and environmental challenges, develop sustainable solutions, and impact policy at the highest levels.
Why choose UEA
- World-leading research: Learn from internationally renowned researchers in a school ranked first in the UK for research quality
- Interdisciplinary Learning: With over 40 optional modules offered across eight schools, you can shape your degree to match your interest and expertise
- Exceptional fieldwork and placement opportunities: Explore geographical research in real-world situations through a placement year or field courses to locations su
What is Geography?
Geography is concerned with addressing the most pressing challenges faced in the 21st century. From the climate emergency to unrelenting urbanisation, and from the persistent health crisis to housing shortage, you’ll explore how global challenges manifest locally and learn how they can be challenged through place-based action. Geography is interdisciplinary at the core, and you’ll become an expert in addressing challenges from multiple perspectives.
You’ll explore questions such as: What does a more justly and sustainable energy future look like? What are the best strategies for achieving Net Zero? How can we address the housing crisis? How can we tackle the climate and biodiversity crises? What forms or social organising and action can advance more just environmental futures?
Whether you’re interested sustainable energy transitions or local democracy, the Anthropocene or sustainable housing, our degree provides a fundamental understanding of how humans interact with their environments, giving you the practical skills and theoretical knowledge to address the world’s social and environmental challenges.
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Placement Year and Study Abroad
Your placement year will ensure you graduate with relevant work experience. Not only will you see first-hand how your chosen field operates, but you’ll boost your chances of progressing within that sector through valuable contacts and insight.
Your studies will benefit too as theory is transformed into reality – under the real pressures of time and money.
You’ll be expected to seek your own work placement. In the first two weeks of your second year, you’ll write a CV and apply to a range of organisations, which can include companies, government organisations or charities. Not only will this ensure that you work within your preferred field, but it'll also provide you with the essential job-hunting skills required after graduation. We’ll, of course, offer our guidance and support while you’re identifying and negotiating placement opportunities.
During this year, you’ll be supported by a placement supervisor and a mentor from the university. You and your industrial supervisor will give feedback during the placement to ensure that it’s progressing well, and your UEA mentor will visit you during the year.
Please note that we can’t guarantee a work placement, as this decision rests with potential employers.
If you’re unable to secure a work placement by the end of your second year, you’ll have the option to transfer onto the equivalent degree programme without a placement year.
Accreditations
This geography course is 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.
Careers
Career Pathways
With a BA Geography with a Placement Year degree, you could launch a career in:
- Environmental consultancy: advise organisations on how to manage energy transitions, conduct environmental impact assessments, and develop sustainability strategies
- Urban planning: shape urban development plans, housing or transport strategies, and monitor sustainable energy transitions
- Renewable energy advisory: advise decision makers and organizations on renewable energy transitions and strategise sustainable development
- Sustainability consultancy: develop strategies and policies to develop greener and more sustainable operations and processes
- Carbon management: advise decision makers across the public and private sector on how to decarbonise organisations and practice
Career Support
Employability is embedded across the degree and all our modules, helping you develop your career aspirations and skills throughout your course. We work closely with UEA’s careers service to help you track and reflect on your activities via the UEA Award. You’ll also have opportunities to meet employers, explore your career options, speak to industry mentors, and apply for internships, volunteering, and exciting graduate jobs.
After the Course
Upon graduating, you'll be a highly trained geographer, well-equipped to take up rewarding positions across the public and private sector where you can provide real-world solutions to today’s social and environmental challenges.
Study and Modules
Structure
This four-year course covers a broad range of topics in geography, moving from a first year that provides you with an essential foundation, to a more flexible curriculum in later years. The course culminates with an independent research project, and you’ll have regular opportunities to participate in field courses.
Your first year is designed to give you a broad understanding of the challenges facing people and the planet. This is underpinned by an introduction to fundamental research techniques, as well as the theories and methods that human and physical geographers use to analyse and understand the world.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
In the second year, you’ll be able to choose from several optional modules to study alongside the compulsory ones. These optional modules cover subject areas such as global health, economic development, environmental politics, climate change, energy transitions, and geographical information systems.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 60, Max Credits: 80)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 20)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
You’ll spend your third year on an industrial work placement lasting from nine to 14 months, gaining relevant experience and developing your skills and knowledge. We’ve established links throughout the UK and beyond, and we’ll help you identify and compete for appropriate positions.
Compulsory Modules
Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
Structure
In your final year, you’ll spend a substantial amount of time on your independent project, which accounts for a third of your final year’s assessment. This is your opportunity to put everything you’ve learnt throughout your geography course into practice, as well as a chance to specialise in a topic that really fascinates you, under the supervision of a world-class expert. There are also further optional modules to study, covering topics such as the Anthropocene, urban futures, biodiversity, conservation, energy politics, environmental psychology, migration, humanitarian crises, environmental consultancy and environmental economics. Your options could also include a field course – in previous years students have gone to Spain and Kenya.
Compulsory Modules
Optional A Modules
(Min Credits: 60, Max Credits: 80)Optional B Modules
(Min Credits: 0, Max Credits: 20)Important Information
Whilst the University will make every effort to offer the modules listed, changes may sometimes be made arising from the annual monitoring, review and update of modules. Where this activity leads to significant (but not minor) changes to programmes and their constituent modules, the University will endeavour to consult with students and others. It is also possible that the University may not be able to offer a module for reasons outside of its control, such as the illness of a member of staff. In some cases optional modules can have limited places available and so you may be asked to make additional module choices in the event you do not gain a place on your first choice. Where this is the case, the University will inform students.
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Teaching and Learning, and Assessment
Teaching and Learning
In the School of Environmental Sciences at UEA, you'll learn from experts rather than textbooks. You’ll have opportunities to bring social theory to life through the performing arts; curate your own Museum of the Anthropocene; write policy briefs to directly tackle some of the most pressing contemporary social and environmental issues; and work directly with local and national companies to solve on-the-ground challenges.
You'll learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and field courses. We’ll teach you how to formulate research questions, collect and interpret data, present results, write programming scripts, and develop practical transferable skills in a variety of settings.
You'll also work with your peers on group projects and develop your communication skills by giving presentations in class. You’ll work in small groups to solve real-world problems and debate important topics. You’ll learn to critique and defend theories in geography and develop your ideas to create new solutions to real-world problems. Independent study is a big part of your degree, and you’ll be encouraged to spend time researching in UEA’s state-of-the-art library, writing essays or carrying out practical work or projects.
Our teaching is modular with a standard pattern of three modules per semester of each 20 credits. Typically, a module will include two 50-minute lectures per week plus a two to five hour practical or seminar class where you'll deepen your understanding of the material.
Assessment
We use a variety of assessment methods across the different modules, contributing in various proportions towards your overall module mark. Alongside exams, coursework assessment methods include essays, class tests, field reports, audio assignments, policy briefs, presentations, posters, and blogs. We also use ‘formative’ assessment methods throughout each module so that you can gain feedback on your skills and understanding before completing your final or ‘summative’ work. All module credits contribute equally towards the mark for the year.
Entry Requirements
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or grade C.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies(opens in a new window) page.
- Contextual Offers
UEA are committed to ensuring that Higher Education is accessible to all, regardless of their background or experiences. One of the ways we do this is through our contextual admissions schemes(opens in a new window).
- Typical UK Entry Requirements
A levels
ABB.
Contextual offer: BBC.
BTEC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM
Contextual offer: DMM
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers
Access to HE Diploma
Pass Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 30 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 15 credits at Level 3
Contextual: Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Merit in 30 credits at Level 3 and pass in 15 credits at Level 3.
T levels
Obtain an overall Merit. We accept: Design, Surveying & Planning for Construction, or Science.
Foundation Year options:
If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes such as - BSc Environmental Sciences with a Foundation Year
- Further Examples of Typical Entry Requirements
International Baccalaureate
32 points overall
Irish Leaving Certificate
3 subjects at H2, 3 subjects at H3
Scottish Highers
AAABB
Scottish Advanced Highers
BCC
A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable
- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
- Recent Study
We would prefer you to be able to demonstrate evidence of recent academic study within 5 years of the start of the course. If your last qualification will have been completed more than 5 years ago by the time the course starts, please contact Admissions.
- This course is open to
UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.
We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.
You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.
- English and Mathematics
All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade 4 or grade C.
We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies(opens in a new window) page.
- Typical International Entry Requirements
A levels
ABB.
International Baccalaureate
32 points overall
We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. For specific details about your country, view our information for International Students(opens in a new window).
- UEA International Study Centre
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, UEA International Study Centre(opens in a new window) offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.
- English Foreign Language
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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IELTS: 6.0 overall (minimum 5.5 in all components)
We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies(opens in a new window) for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.
Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.
If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, UEA International Study Centre offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study:
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- Deferred Entry
We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.
- Admissions Policy
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
- Progression
Once enrolled onto a course at UEA, your progression and continuation (which may include eligibility for study abroad, overseas experience, placement or year in industry opportunities) is contingent on meeting the assessment requirements which are relevant to the course on which you are enrolled.
- Recent Study
We would prefer you to be able to demonstrate evidence of recent academic study within 5 years of the start of the course. If your last qualification will have been completed more than 5 years ago by the time the course starts, please contact Admissions.
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Fees and Funding
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
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UK Students: £10,050
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International Students: £29,300
We estimate living expenses at £1,171 per month.
Further Information on tuition fees can be found here(opens in a new window).
Scholarships and Bursaries
We are committed to ensuring that costs do not act as a barrier to those aspiring to come to a world leading university and have developed a funding package to reward those with excellent qualifications and assist those from lower income backgrounds. View our range of Scholarships(opens in a new window) for eligibility, details of how to apply and closing dates.
Course Related Costs
Field courses are available throughout your course. We fully subsidise the cost of one residential field course. The others are 50% subsidised and cost £250–£1,000, depending on destination and duration. These costs cover accommodation, meals, and transport.
Details for individual field courses are given on the information page for the relevant module.
You’re eligible for reduced fees during your placement year. Further details are available on our Tuition Fees webpages.
There may be extra costs related to items such as travel and accommodation during your year in industry, which will vary depending on location.
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of other course-related costs.
How to Apply
Apply for this course through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS), using UCAS Hub.
UCAS Hub is a secure online application system that allows you to apply for full-time undergraduate courses at universities and colleges in the United Kingdom.
Your application does not have to be completed all at once. Register or sign in to UCAS to get started.
Once you submit your completed application, UCAS will process it and send it to your chosen universities and colleges.
The Institution code for the University of East Anglia is E14.
View our guide to applying through UCAS for useful tips, key dates and further information: