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UEA is ranked 1st overall for research quality in Development Studies
Times Higher Education REF 2021Of graduates go on to work and/or study within 15 months after the course
Graduate Outcome Survey 2020in the UK for research quality in Geography and Environmental Science.
The Complete University Guide 2026Why BA Geography and Global Development with a Year Abroad at UEA?
The world is more interconnected than ever before, and is facing urgent global challenges such as food insecurity, conflict, social justice and the environmental crisis. Now, more than ever, there’s a need for geographers with a truly global perspective. Our BA Geography and Global Development with a Year Abroad prepares you to think globally and work towards a just and sustainable future.
What is Geography and Global Development?
In this degree, you'll address urgent global issues like climate change, migration, urban planning and humanitarian aid.
Fusing geography and international development, you’ll gain first-hand experience through field trips in the UK, with the option to travel to East Africa, develop a broad range of specialist skills and graduate with highly sought-after transferable skills. In your third year, you’ll study at one of our partner universities overseas.
A UEA geography degree gives you a truly global perspective and will set you up to work in a vast array of sectors.
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Gain hand-on experience through our various Development Work Placement options in the UK or oversees.
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Adrian Martin’s research focussed on environmental justice, wellbeing, and sustainable governance.
You'll spend your third year studying at one of our partner universities around the world before returning to UEA for your final year. This gives you the opportunity to explore geography from a different perspective and gain valuable cross-cultural understanding.
We currently offer a wide range of partner institutions to choose from, including universities in higher-income countries such as the Netherlands and Japan, as well as partnerships in the Global South, including Ghana and Mexico. Your time abroad will provide valuable international experience that is highly attractive to future employers.
All of our geography courses are accredited by the Royal Geographical Society.
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.
With a BA Geography and Global Development with a Year Abroad, you could launch a global career in:
UEA students have access to a range of personalised support from the UEA Careers Service, helping you explore career options, refine your CV, prepare for interviews, and plan your next steps after graduation. There are plenty of career related events that help you with networking and support your post-graduation journey.
Find out how the School of Global Development helps you build strong employability skills, and how UEA supports your career journey beyond graduation.
You can pursue careers in a wide range of fields, including humanitarianism, civil service, planning, finance, education and local government. You’ll be able to use UEA’s careers service after graduating too, to help you kick-start your graduate career.
The core modules of your first year will provide you with a strong foundation in the key principles of human geography and key earth processes, and you’ll learn to apply this knowledge to contemporary global development challenges. You’ll have the opportunity to extend your understanding of broader social, economic, political, environmental, and cultural perspectives. You’ll also have the opportunity to take part in a residential field course and short field trips this year.
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.
In your second year, you’ll advance your knowledge of human geography and develop practical field and research skills for the study of global development. You’ll broaden your understanding of the subject through a wide range of optional environmental, regional, and cross-disciplinary modules. You'll have a compulsory week-long field trip that emphasises partnering with community organisations, and the real-world application of geographical skills.
In either year two or year three, you'll have the option to take the learning outside the classroom with a field trip to East Africa.
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.
In your third year, you’ll study overseas at one of our partner universities before returning to UEA to complete your final year. This opportunity allows you to select a destination where the modules align with and extend your studies at UEA, deepening your academic learning while gaining a broader international perspective.
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.
In your final year, you’ll be able to choose freely from a range of more specialised modules, allowing you to deepen your understanding of critical global geographical issues in a flexible manner. This year also places greater emphasis on employability and independent study. You can select a 7-10-week work placement and choose to write a dissertation, enabling you to engage in independent research around your own particular interests.
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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Fieldwork is central to Global Development at UEA, with opportunities to develop practical research skills through local residential trips, UK community-based field courses, or a subsidised experience in East Africa.
Explore Fieldwork OpportunitiesTeaching and Learning
Throughout your degree, you’ll receive valuable feedback on your work from staff and fellow students. This will help you to identify areas for improvement, ensuring you’re getting the most from your work. We tailor assessments to stimulate real-world deliverables you may see in a workplace setting. This makes the assessments valuable opportunities for personal and career development.
In year One, you'll learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and field courses. We’ll work together on how to collect and interpret data and engage in place-based enquiries. You'll also work with your peers on group projects, with real-world applicability.
In year two, you'll continue to learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars, workshops and field courses.
Your year abroad will shape your learning in year three, offering valuable new academic and cultural experiences.
In year Four, you have options of developing independent study and transferable skills, through the final-year dissertation and/or engaging with a 7-10-week work placement in the UK or overseas.
Assessment
The modules across this degree utilise a range of assessments that help develop your transferable skills. We provide consistent feedback throughout the module and opportunities to practice assignments. The final, or 'summative' assessments are designed to prepare you for careers after university.
In year one, you’ll be assessed through a mixture of essays, presentations, course tests, and exams. Assessments differ depending on your optional module choices in all years.
In year two, you’ll be assessed through a mixture of essays, field project reports, presentations, exams, and through creative outputs.
In year three, your assessment types will depend on your Study Abroad destination.
In your final year, you’ll be assessed by similar methods as years one and two. You may also choose to write a dissertation.
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.
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.
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).
ABB
Contextual offer: BBC
Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM
Contextual offer: DMM
BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers
Pass Access to HE Diploma with Distinction in 30 credits at Level 3 and Merit in 15 credits at Level 3
Contextual offer: Pass the Access to HE Diploma with Merit in 30 credits at Level 3 and Pass in 15 credits at Level 3
Obtain an overall Merit.
Any subject is acceptable.
If you do not meet the academic requirements for direct entry, you may be interested in one of our Foundation Year programmes such as - Geography with Global Development with a Foundation Year (opens in a new window)
32 points overall
3 subjects at H2, 3 subjects at H3
AAABB
BCC A combination of Advanced Highers and Highers may be acceptable
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.
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
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.
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.
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.
ABB
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.
If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, UEA International Study Centre 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.
Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading):
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.
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.
Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.
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.
Tuition fees for the Academic Year 2027/28 are:
UK Students: £10,050
International Students: £24,250
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.
Please see Additional Course Fees for details of course-related costs.
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Find out more about studying Global Development at UEA, and browse our other courses.
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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:
Geography with Global Development with a Year Abroad starting September 2027 for 4 years
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