
Human Geography BA (Hons)
What makes Human Geography at Worcester special?
Never have questions of social, economic, cultural and political change been so central to our lives as they are today - in our hyper-accelerated culture, change is fast and dynamic. Human Geography is your opportunity to answer some of the great questions of our time, questions of people and planet.
Whether being challenged by the elements in the Cairngorms, or using a Roman arena in France as an impromptu presentation venue, you’ll have plenty of chances to immerse yourself in the greatest learning resource of all, our world.
Key features
- All fieldwork opportunities are free, from day trips to overseas adventures
- Small classes allow for intensive fieldwork and more rewarding exploration of ideas
- Excellent resources, including a new digital mapping and visualisation suite, and laboratories
- Strong links with employers enable innovative third year projects

"Everything I was able to do whilst here enhanced my experience. I feel that I have learned a lot from the staff here and I am looking forward to my future studies."
Zuzka Majcova, BA Human Geography graduate.
This programme has 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.
It's not too late to apply!
Entry requirements
What qualifications will you need?
Entry requirements
104-120 UCAS Tariff points
The University will consider each application on its individual merits and will recognise a range of qualifications not currently included in the Tariff, including pre-2002 qualifications such as GNVQ. Please note that shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview
Other information
If your qualifications are not listed, please contact the Admissions Office for advice on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk for advice.
Further information about the UCAS Tariff can be obtained from http://www.ucas.com
If you are an international student who does not have the relevant entry requirements for direct entry onto this course, our pathway courses at University of Worcester International College could be the right option for you and enable you to still graduate with this degree. To find out more visit the Science and Health & Social Science pathways page.
Course content
What will you study?
Here is an overview of current modules available on this course. Regular updates may mean that exact module titles may differ.
Year 1 |
Mandatory
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Optional
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Year 2 |
Mandatory
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Optional
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Year 3 |
Mandatory
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Optional
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In your first year you will explore the fundamentals of this exciting and dynamic subject, learning subject knowledge and skills essential for more advanced study. Modules at this level allow you to find out more about the fascinating research and consultancy activities undertaken by staff.
What really sets this course apart from others is its practical, hands-on emphasis. As a student at Worcester, you will enjoy a generous fieldwork programme, seminars, computer-based practicals and a friendly and supportive learning environment. These activities help you to understand subject knowledge and develop a wide range of specialist and transferable skills, invaluable for employment or further study. This approach, repeatedly praised by external experts, is complemented by an assessment strategy that focuses on coursework rather than formal examinations.
Read our 'Guide to Geography'
Teaching and Assessment
How will you be taught?
We enable you to develop the independent learning capabilities that will equip you for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement.
A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support through the personal academic tutoring system enables you to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will enable you to flourish and be successful.
Teaching
All modules within the BA Human Geography programme aim to encourage learners to engage in discussion of key issues and application of key concepts. Students are taught through a combination of fieldwork, seminars, presentations, tutorials, laboratory work, project work, and online activities.
In addition, meetings with personal academic tutors are scheduled on at least 4 occasions in the first year, and three occasions in the second and third year of the course. You have an opportunity to meet with your personal academic tutor on more occasions if you wish. A key aim of the academic tutorial programme is to provide you with support for your academic studies.
In the second semester in the second year of your course, you have an option to study abroad for a semester at a university either in Europe or in an international location. Previous students have studies abroad for one semester at an American, Canadian, Australian and Spanish university. Other destinations are also available.
During your course, you will have access to a wide range of specialist resources, including a fully equipped GIS Mapping and Visualization Suite, which provides access to high-end computers, industry standard GIS (ArcGIS), statistical analysis software, and other mapping and remote sensing software. You will also have access to a variety of field equipment, laboratories for teaching and research, and industry-standard design software to prepare you for future employment.
Contact time
In a typical week, you will have approximately 12-16 contact hours of teaching. The exact contact hours will depend on the optional modules selected. In the final year, you will normally have slightly less contact time in order carry out more independent study. The type of teaching activities varies per module, but an example of teaching activities for a first year module for one semester are:
- 20 hours of (large group) lectures
- 12 hours of seminars
- 12 hours of discussion groups
- 4 hours of fieldwork activities
Independent self-study
In addition to the 12-16 hours of contact time, you are expected to undertake approximately 21-25 hours of personal self-study per week respectively. Typically, this will involve visiting the library and carrying out recommended reading, planning and writing assignments, and undertaking group work.
Independent learning is supported by a range of excellent learning facilities, including the Hive and library resources, the virtual learning environment, and extensive electronic learning resources.
Teaching staff
You will be taught by a teaching team whose expertise and knowledge are closely matched to the content of the modules on the course. The team includes professors in human and physical geography, senior academics with industry experience, demonstrators and technicians. Postgraduate research students who have undertaken teacher training may also contribute to the teaching of seminars under the supervision of the module leader.
Teaching is informed by the research and consultancy, and a very high percentage (85+%) of course lecturers have a higher education teaching qualification or are Fellows of the Higher Education Academy. You can learn more about the staff by visiting our staff profiles.
Assessment
The course provides opportunities to test understanding and learning informally through the completion of practice or ‘formative’ assignments. Each module has one or more formal or ‘summative’ assessments, which are graded and count towards the overall module grade.
Assessment methods include written examinations and a range of coursework assessments such as essays, written assignments (including planning statements), journals, practical investigations, practical reports, portfolios, individual and groups presentations, posters, and a final year independent studies project.
The precise assessment requirements for an individual student in an academic year will vary according to the mandatory and optional modules taken. You will not be expected to complete all assignments list below (i.e. the exact pattern of assignments depends on your optional modules); however, a typical formal summative assessment pattern for each year of the course is:
Year 1
1 essay
4 written assignments
1 within module test
1 practical report
2 individual or group presentations
Year 2
3 essays
6 written assignments
3 individual or group presentations
2 formal examinations of 2 hours duration
2 practical reports
1 research proposal
1 poster and discussion
Year 3
3 essays
1 practical assessment
4 written assignments
1 journal
5 individual or group presentations
3 projects
1 practical report
1 poster and discussion
1 independent study of approximately 10,000 words
Feedback
You will receive feedback on practice assessments and on formal assessments undertaken by coursework. Feedback on examination performance is available upon request from the module leader. Feedback is intended to support learning and you are encouraged to discuss it with personal academic tutors and module tutors as appropriate.
We aim to provide you with feedback on formal course work assessments within 20 working days of hand-in.
Careers
Where could it take you?
Employability
The knowledge and skills acquired in Human Geography, together with the ability to think critically about the world we live in, are useful in many different careers.
This course will prepare you for a range of interesting and diverse careers, including, geographical information systems (GIS) management, local government and planning (e.g. town and country planning, regeneration managers, tourism officers, climate change development officers, data managers, community service managers), research and teaching.
Geography graduates have a good track record in gaining employment in a wide range of professions and organisations, as a result of the broad range of skills developed through hands-on learning activities centred on the analysis of real world issues and processes.
Alternatively, you may wish to continue to postgraduate study and other professional qualifications.
Costs
How much will it cost?
Full-time tuition fees |
UK and EU studentsThe standard tuition fee for full-time UK and EU students registering in the academic year 2018/19 will be £9,250 per year. For more details, please visit our course fees page. |
International studentsThe standard tuition fee for full-time international (non-EU) students registering in the academic year 2018/19 will be £12,100 per year. For more details, please visit our course fees page. |
Part-time tuition fees |
UK and EU studentsThe standard tuition fees for part-time UK and EU students registering on this course in the academic year 2018/19 will be £1,156 per 15-credit module, £1,542 per 20 credit module and £2,313 per 30-credit module. For more details, please visit our course fees page. |
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Additional costs |
Every course has day-to-day costs for basic books, stationery, printing and photocopying. The amounts vary between courses. |
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Accommodation |
Finding the right accommodation is paramount to your university experience, and our welcoming student communities are great places to live and study. We have over 1,000 rooms across our halls of residence. With rooms to suit every budget and need, from our 'Traditional Hall' at £98 per week to 'En-suite Extra' at £159 per week. For full details visit our accommodation page. |
Apply
How do you apply?
Applying through UCAS
Human Geography BA (Hons) - L701 BSc/HG
UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for entry onto full-time undergraduate courses in Higher Education in the UK.
Read our How to apply pages for more information on applying and to find out what happens to your application.
Get in touch
If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.
Admissions office
01905 855111
admissions@worc.ac.uk
Head of Geography and Archaeology
Dr Cheryl Jones
01905 855425
c.jones@worc.ac.uk
Departmental Office
Lisa Hopkins
01905 855201
l.hopkins@worc.ac.uk