Human Geography

While physical geographers look at the features and processes that make up our physical world, human geographers concern themselves with the ways in which humans interact with and are affected by our environment.

Study Human Geography at Royal Holloway, University of London and you’ll explore topics including culture, economics and geopolitics, developing an advanced understanding of our relationship with the planet.

This flexible programme lets you tailor your learning through a variety of optional modules, allowing you to choose your perfect balance between the twin disciplines of human and physical geography. You’ll enjoy a range of fieldwork opportunities in the UK and abroad as part of a close, supportive community with an excellent staff-to-student ratio.

Royal Holloway Department of Geography was ranked 2nd in the UK for research by the Research Excellence Framework 2014, which means you'll benefit from world-class research-led teaching from our expert academics.

Graduate with a degree in Human Geography and you’ll enjoy strong employability prospects, with the portfolio of knowledge and skills you build during your studies making you an attractive prospect to employers in a variety of sectors. Recent Department of Geography graduates have gone on to careers in environmental conservation, media relations and more, and you will also be well placed to pursue postgraduate study.

Course 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

• Becoming a Geographer

• Geographical Research and Field Training 1

• 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:

• Political Geography

• Cities: Economies and Ecologies

• Cultural Geographies of the Modern World

• Perspectives on Development

Year 3. You will take one from the following:

• Dissertation

• Independent Placement-Linked Dissertation

You will take four from the following:

• 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

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

• Earth Surface Processes and Hazards

• Environmental Change

• Biogeography

• Society and Space: Politics, Identity and Justice

Year 3

• 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

https://www.royalholloway.ac.uk/studying-here/undergraduate/geography/human-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 versatility 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'll write a 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 and individual and group presentations to coursework essays and examinations. In your final year you will have the opportunity to write a research-led dissertation.

A personal tutor will work with you in providing guidance and support throughout your three years and a member of staff will act as your dissertation advisor to provide support throughout the research and writing-up process.