Geography

A Brighton Geography BA(Hons) degree prepares you for a variety of careers in areas such as environmental consultancy, urban planning, sustainability policy and conservation.

At Brighton you’ll be part of a supportive community that helps you grow, no matter your background. This course is full of opportunities to build real-world experience – whether through field trips in the UK and overseas, live research projects, placements with local councils, charities and environmental organisations or community volunteering. Our inclusive approach to learning means we’ll help you play to your strengths and learn in ways that suit you best.

Brighton graduates go on to work for organisations such as the Environment Agency, Natural England and Oxfam, as well as in local government, consultancies and international NGOs.

Top reasons to choose this course

• Explore the relationships between people, places and environments, and develop the critical and practical skills to address global challenges like climate change, inequity, migration and sustainable development.

• Get a degree that’s professionally accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) – giving you confidence in the quality and industry relevance of your course.

• Learn field skills on day trips and residential field trips. Travel and accommodation are included in the fees for mandatory residential trips to locations such as Wales and Sicily.

• Boost your CV with work experience throughout the course including the option of a placement year and community volunteering with Brighton non-profit organisations.

• Access funded internship schemes like the Brighton Student Research Experience Scheme.

• Contribute to research in areas such as climate and environmental justice, sustainable futures and net zero, LGBTQ and feminist activisms, Black geographies and coloniality, and support building inclusive societies and healthy environments.

• 100% of our research impact is assessed as ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ in terms of its reach and significance – 2021 Research Excellence Framework.

• Build professional skills using industry-standard GIS software, undertake qualitative and quantitative research and study environmental assessment and planning.

Why Brighton is a great place to study Geography
Brighton & Hove sits between the South Downs National Park and the sea, so you’ll have access to diverse coastal, rural and urban environments.

Named as one of the best cities on the planet and the third best city in the UK by Time Out, Brighton is a vibrant location with a history of activism and a strong sustainability and community focus. And its position provides easy access to varied UK field sites and international study destinations.

Course Modules

Year 1
From your first year, you’ll gain a strong foundation in both human and physical geography. You will develop your field skills through practical investigations and explore the processes shaping our planet. You’ll address urgent global issues and study human geography to understand social, cultural and economic dynamics worldwide. The year will build your skills in data interpretation, and support your transition to university-level study.

Core modules
Exploring Environments: An Introduction to Geographical and Environmental Fieldwork
Statistical and Spatial Data Analysis
Fundamentals of Physical Geography
Global Challenges: Climate Change and Environmental Degradation
Human Geography
Academic Learning for Geography and Environmental Studies

Year 2
In your second year, you’ll focus on professional and research skills and field work will take you overseas to investigate environmental and social issues first-hand. Option modules let you specialise in areas such as pollution, sustainability, GIS and remote sensing and physical geography.

Core modules
Professional Practice for Global Challenges
Geography and Environmental International Field Work
Research Design and Advanced Data Analysis

Options*
Earth Surface Processes
Environmental Pollution
Sustainable Futures
Political and Economic Geography
Ice Age Earth
Social Justice in Cultural Spaces
GIS and Remote Sensing: Principles and Practice

Optional Placement Year
You can also take an optional placement year for hands-on experience and to build confidence and a network of contacts. Our students have been on placements with companies such as the Department for Energy and Climate Change, Transport for London, the Field Studies Council, as well as with environmental firms and consultancies.

Final year
Your final year is your opportunity to specialise. You’ll complete a dissertation on a topic of your choice, supported by an academic supervisor. Options include a placement where you work directly with an organisation to apply your skills to real-world challenges before you graduate.

Core modules
Dissertation

Options*
Geographies of Genders and Sexualities
Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing
Community Placement
Political Ecology: Contested Environments
Environmental Impact Assessment
The Frozen Planet
Water, Sanitation and Health
Confronting Coloniality and Racism: Political Geographies of Territory and Security
Current Topics in Aquatic Environments

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.