Physical Geography

Physical geographers explore and are inspired by all aspects of our physical environment – from the atmosphere that protects us to the terrain beneath our feet and the living ecosystems that surround us.

Study Physical Geography at Royal Holloway, University of London and you’ll develop a deep understanding of the atmosphere, geosphere and biosphere and their interactions with one another, as well as the physical processes that shape and affect our world.

You’ll benefit from world-class, research-led teaching in a Department ranked 2nd in the UK for research by the Research Excellence Framework 2014. The Department has a friendly and inclusive community reinforced by a range of fieldwork opportunities in the UK and abroad, and an excellent staff-to-student ratio to support your learning.

This flexible programme gives you the chance to tailor your studies with a range of optional modules in years 2 and 3, to suit your interests and career ambitions. You’ll gain a range of skills and knowledge to take into your future career, making you a highly employable candidate in a number of sectors.

Course Modules

Core Modules

Year 1

• The Dynamic Planet: Introduction to Physical Geography

• Introduction to Human Geography

• Global Environmental Crises

• Living Planet: Global Biodiversity and Sustainability Challenges

• Geographical Techniques

• Human Geography Research Techniques

• Geographical Research and Field Training 1

• Becoming a Geographer

• Academic Integrity

Year 2

• Geographical Techniques 2

• Geographical Field Training 2

• GIS and Geospatial Data Analysis

• Contested Geographies

You will take two from the following:

• Environmental Systems: Processes and Sustainability

• Earth Surface Processes and Hazards

• Environmental Change

• Biogeography

Year 3 You will take one of the following:

• Dissertation

• Independent Placement-Linked Dissertation

You will take four from the following:

• Coast and Estuarine Management

• Global Warming

• Wetland Environments: Process and Policy

• Managing River Environments

• Glacial Environments

• Digital Landscapes

• Arid Africa

• Mammals in a Changing World

• Volcanoes

Optional Modules

Below is a taster of some of the exciting optional modules that students on the course could choose from during this academic year. Please be aware these do change over time, and optional modules may be withdrawn or new ones added.

Year 1

• All modules are core

Year 2

• Political Geography

• Cities: Economies and Ecologies

• Cultural Geographies of the Modern World

• Perspectives on Development

• Sustainability

• Society and Space: Politics, Identity and Justice

Year 3

• Regeneration and Urban Policy

• Geography of Commodities

• Post-Capitalist Cities

• Geopolitics of Media and Communications

• Exploration, Science and Making of Geography

• Geography, Museums and Collections

• Creative Geographies

• Gender & Development

• Cities and Development in the Global South

• Mobilities

• Challenging Development? Disasters, Conflict and Human (in)Security

• Critical GIS

• Atmosphere: Art, Science, Politics

https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/undergraduate/geography/physical-geography/

The course has a modular structure, whereby students take four course units per year. Some course units are compulsory while others are options thereby offering flexibility and choice. Assessment is by a mixture of coursework and end-of-year examination in varying proportions, depending on the course units you choose to take. In the final year, you will write a 10,000 word dissertation on a topic of your choice which you will research and write with individual guidance from your tutor. The first year is foundational and marks do not count towards your final degree. The second year and final year marks do count, with more importance being given to the final year marks in order to reward progress and achievement.

You will be taught through a combination of lectures and small seminar groups, tutorials and practical workshops. The department has a substantial and varied programme of field training and laboratory work, giving you the opportunity to apply your skills and knowledge in a practical setting. Private study and preparation are essential parts of every course, and you will have access to many online resources including the University’s comprehensive e-learning facility, Moodle, which provides a wide range of supporting materials.

We use a range of assessment models to suit different learning styles, from fieldwork exercises and reports, individual and group presentations to coursework essays and examinations.  In your final year you will have the opportunity to write a research-led dissertation.