In the first year of Human Geography we introduce the range of our research specialisms and research methods, including fieldwork. The majority of modules in the second and third year focus on human geography’s sub-disciplines and social science methods. The second and third year elective modules progressively lead to material that is at the cutting-edge of research and include optional overseas fieldwork. In the second and third year, you may take integrated modules (with a mixture of human and physical geography) and one module from Geography BSc (subject to timetable).
Year 1
Compulsory modules:
Human Geography
Introduction to Climate Change
Introduction to Geographical Research (BA)
Physical Geography.
Examples of optional modules (choose two):
Geographies of Crisis
Planet under Pressure
Understanding Earth’s Principles
Module(s) offered by another department, subject to approval.
Year 2
You will develop further practical and human geographical research skills. These include our integrated modules that span the human/physical geography interface.
Compulsory modules:
Social Research in Geography (includes compulsory residential fieldwork in the UK)
Theory and Concepts in Contemporary Human Geography.
These form the required foundation for your Dissertation in the third year.
Examples of optional modules (choose three):
Climate Change: Geographical Perspectives
Contested Environments
Economic Geography
Geographies of Development
Political Geography
Social and Cultural Geography
Urban Geography
One module from the Level 2 BSc list or from another department (with permission and subject to timetable).
Year 3
You will undertake your own Research Project (Dissertation), supervised by a member of staff. You will also choose from modules that involve material at the cutting-edge of contemporary research.
Compulsory module (40 credits):
Dissertation (individual Research Project based on an approved human geography topic) – double module.
Examples of optional modules (80 credits from the following):
20 credits:
Berlin: Culture, Politics and Contestation (field trip)
Cape Town: Geographies of Energy Transition (field trip)
Territory and Geopolitics (Jerusalem field trip)
The Arctic (Norway field trip)
Chicago: Sites of Global Change (field trip)
Geographies of Difference
Natural Hazards, Risk and Resilience
Philosophy and Geography
Feminist Geographies.
10 credits:
Antarctic Environments
Global Environmental Politics
Europe: Geographies of Integration & Disintegration
Urban Governance
Geographies of Life and Living
Critical Resource Geographies
Unfreedom in Labour Relations
Geographies of Money and Finance
Neoliberal Life
Understanding Land Conflicts.
Up to 20 credits from the Level 3 BSc list (with permission and subject to timetable).
Study Abroad
You will have the opportunity to study abroad for a year between the second and third years. Places are allocated on a competitive basis. Past geography students have studied abroad at the following universities:
National University of Singapore
University of British Columbia
Queen's University, Canada
University of Otago, New Zealand.
University of Hong Kong
University of Melbourne.
Placement Year
You also have the opportunity to do a placement year with an organisation outside of the University between your second and third year. This additional year extends your degree making it four years in total. Students who are interested in doing a placement year should get in touch with the Department placement year convenor and the Faculty Placement Officer who will help guide them through the process. You don’t need to commit to a placement year prior to starting at Durham, you will make that decision during your second year. The Department, Faculty Placement Officer and Careers and Enterprise Centre support students before, during and after their placement year and students retain their student status for the year on placement.
Course Details - Modules
Year 1
Compulsory modules:
Human Geography
Introduction to Climate Change
Introduction to Geographical Research (BA)
Physical Geography.
Examples of optional modules:
Choose two optional modules from:
Geographies of Crisis
Planet under Pressure
Understanding Earth’s Principles
Module(s) offered by another department, subject to approval.
Year 2
In the second year, you will develop further practical and human geographical research skills and, through your choice of modules, may start to specialise in a number of themes or may choose a broader approach. These include our integrated modules that span the human/physical geography interface.
Compulsory modules:
Social Research in Geography (includes compulsory residential fieldwork in the UK)
Theory and Concepts in Contemporary Human Geography.
These form the required foundation for your Dissertation in the third year.
Examples of optional modules:
Choose three modules (the modules may vary from year to year but this is typical of the range):
Climate Change: Geographical Perspectives
Contested Environments
Economic Geography
Geographies of Development
Political Geography
Social and Cultural Geography
Urban Geography
One module from the Level 2 BSc list or from another department (with permission and subject to timetable compatibility).
Year 3
In the third year, you will undertake your own Research Project (the Dissertation), supervised by a member of staff. You will also choose from a selection of modules that involve material at the cutting-edge of contemporary research.
Compulsory module (40 credits):
Dissertation (individual Research Project based on an approved human geography topic) – double module.
Examples of optional modules (80 credits from the following):
(The modules may vary from year to year but typical options include):
20 credits:
Berlin: Culture, Politics and Contestation (field trip)
Cape Town: Geographies of Energy Transition (field trip)
Territory and Geopolitics (Jerusalem field trip)
The Arctic (Norway field trip)
Chicago: Sites of Global Change (field trip)
Geographies of Difference
Natural Hazards, Risk and Resilience
Philosophy and Geography
Feminist Geographies.
10 credits:
Antarctic Environments
Global Environmental Politics
Europe: Geographies of Integration & Disintegration
Urban Governance
Geographies of Life and Living
Critical Resource Geographies
Unfreedom in Labour Relations
Geographies of Money and Finance
Neoliberal Life
Understanding Land Conflicts.
Up to 20 credits from the Level 3 BSc list (with permission and subject to timetable compatibility).
Course Details – Assessment Method
Assessment Methods are not listed for this Course.
Course Details – Professional Bodies
Professional Bodies are not listed for this Course.
How to Apply
26 January This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.
Application Codes
Course code:
L702
Institution code:
D86
Campus Name:
St Aidan's College
Campus code:
Points of Entry
The following entry points are available for this course:
Year 1
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry (Year 2 and Beyond)
Entry Requirements for Advanced Entry are not listed for this Course.
International applicants
Standard Qualification Requirements
Specific subjects excluded for entry:
General Studies and Critical Thinking.
Information:
Applicants taking Science A-levels that include a practical component will be required to take and pass this as a condition of entry. This refers only to English A Levels.
Departments will normally make offers based on Advanced Highers. In the absence of 3 Advanced Highers, where these are not offered by the applicant’s school, offers comprising of Advanced Highers and Highers or a number of Highers may be made on a case by case basis.
We require 60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at level 3 (or equivalent).
General information on subjects/grades required for entry:
To include 6, 6, 6 from Higher Level subjects.
Our contextual offer for this programme is A level ABB (or equivalent). To find out if you’re eligible, please visit: www.dur.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/contextualoffers/.
Please click the following link to find out more about qualification requirements for this course
https://www.dur.ac.uk/study/ug/apply/entry/
Minimum Qualification Requirements
Minimum Further Information are not listed for this Course.
English language requirements
Test
Grade
AdditionalDetails
Durham University welcomes applications from all students irrespective of background. We encourage the recruitment of academically well-qualified and highly motivated students, who are non-native speakers of English, whose full potential can be realised with a limited amount of English Language training either prior to entry or through pre-sessional and/or in-sessional courses.
It is the normal expectation that candidates for admission should be able to demonstrate satisfactory English proficiency before the start of a programme of study, whether via the submission of an appropriate English language qualification or by attendance on an appropriate pre-sessional course.
Acceptable evidence and levels required can be viewed by following the link provided.
