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Human Geography

Course details
  • BA (Hons)
  • 3 Years
  • Full-time
  • 14 September 2026
  • Undergraduate
Course location
Main Site - Highfield Campus

Course summary

Summary:

Understand the forces shaping our world. On this BA Human Geography degree, you will explore how societies, economies and environments interact, and how global challenges affect people’s lives.

From inequality and migration to economic development, health and social justice, you will examine the issues that define our time. You will learn how these processes play out across different places and communities, building a deeper understanding of our interconnected world.

At Southampton, your learning combines theory with real-world application, preparing you for careers where insight, analysis and understanding of people and place matter.

Key features of the course:

Explore a wide range of human geography topics, including inequality, migration, labour markets and global development.

Take part in fieldwork opportunities locally and overseas, with options such as a residential field course in locations like Amsterdam included in your course fees.

Study urban and global change across diverse environments in Europe, Southeast Asia and South Africa.

Develop research skills using a range of methods, concepts and approaches to understand people and place.

Learn from academics whose research shapes the field and brings new perspectives into your studies.

Join a university where 100% of Geography graduates were in employment or further study 15 months after graduation, with 90% in professional roles (Graduate Outcomes 2022/23, published 2025).

Partnership Projects

Our Partnership Projects initiative gives you the opportunity to complete a Policy, Practice or Industry dissertation in collaboration with an external organisation.
You’ll work on a real brief set by the partner, applying your knowledge to a defined challenge.
Projects may include:
• ecological field studies
• social research into community sustainability initiatives
• identifying new locations for environmental or social charity work
Your research will focus on real-world issues and contribute to practical outcomes.

Student support:

Your Personal Academic Tutor will support you throughout your degree, helping you choose modules, plan your career and providing guidance when you need it.

You will also have opportunities to build your experience through internships, study abroad, a year in employment or by taking a minor, helping you shape your future.

Further information:

This course is open to UK and international applicants.

Modules

This course lets you develop in-depth knowledge and skills on key issues drawing from human geography disciplines. It offers a mixture of compulsory and optional modules each year, allowing you to tailor your degree according to your ambition.

Year 1: Foundation in Human Geography topics ranging from geopolitics, global processes, cultural spaces, hazards alongside developing core study skills, basic research techniques and field experience.
Year 2: Develop knowledge on various subfields of human geography, such as wellbeing, health, economies, cultural and urban geography. You have the option to take two modules in human geography or from outside geography, covering a wide range of subjects. You will also get training in research skills, with the option to learn GIS and go to Amsterdam.
Year 3: Develop specialisation from social justice, migration, creative economy to climate change, hazards, food security and health, alongside optional fieldtrips to International destinations. Delve into an independent research project to advance your enquiry in a specialised subfield of human geography.

For full list of all modules available, please visit the course page on our website.

Assessment method

Your learning is delivered, and assessed, through a wide range of methods to ensure you develop a broad variety of skills that will set you up for success after graduation.

The learning activities for this course include lectures, classes and tutorials and coursework.

We’ll assess you through essays, individual and group projects, oral presentations and written and practical exams.

Throughout, you'll be supported by a personal academic tutor, your peers, and have access to a senior tutor.

How to apply

Apply by
14 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:
S27
Campus name:
Main Site - Highfield Campus
Campus Code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1

Entry requirements

UCAS Tariff
Not accepted

A level
ABB

Grades ABB from 3 A-levels (excluding General Studies and Critical Thinking)

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DDM

DDM in the BTEC Extended Diploma

Access to HE Diploma
D: 30 credits M: 15 credits

60 credits with a minimum of 45 credits at Level 3, of which 30 must be at Distinction and 15 credits at Merit in a preferred subject.

Scottish Higher

We normally consider applicants who offer at least 1 Advanced Higher. Applicants presenting with only Highers will be considered on a case by case basis. Where Highers are taken over two years it might be expected that higher grades are achieved, particularly in any specific subjects required. For example, S5 – S6 (2 years): AABBB (A in specific subject) or S6 (1 year): ABBBB (A in specific subject).

Unless a more advanced level (Higher or Advanced Higher) is specified in the stated entry requirements, all applicants will be required to have achieved a pass in Mathematics and English at Standard Grade, Grade 3 or National 5, Grade C, the equivalent of GCSE Grade C/ Grade 4.

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
DD

DD in BTEC National Diploma plus B in A-level subject

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate (first teaching from September 2016)
D

D in the BTEC Extended Certificate plus A B from 2 A-level subjects

Pearson BTEC Extended Diploma (QCF)
DDM

DDM in the BTEC Extended Diploma

Pearson BTEC Diploma (QCF)
DD

DD in BTEC Diploma plus B in A-level subject

Pearson BTEC Subsidiary Diploma (QCF)
D

D in the BTEC Subsidiary Diploma plus A B from 2 A-level subjects

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
32 points

Pass with an overall minimum score of 32 points to include a minimum of 16 points at a higher level

International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP):
The University of Southampton accepts the IBCP for entry to their degree programmes, recognising the value of combining academic skills with practical skills, providing a solid preparation for university level work. Offers will be made on the individual components of the IBCP. Applicants not taking the full IBCP but presenting with a combination of a Level 3 vocational qualification and IB Certificates may still be considered.

Offers will be made on the individual Diploma Course subject(s) and the career-related study qualification. The CP core will not form part of the offer. Where there is a subject pre-requisite(s), applicants will be required to study the subject(s) at Higher Level in the Diploma course subject and/or take a specified unit in the career-related study qualification. Applicants may also be asked to achieve a specific grade in those elements.

Please see the University of Southampton International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP) Statement for further information. Applicants are advised to contact their Faculty Admissions Office for more information.

WJEC Level 3 Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales
B

AA from two A levels and Grade B from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales.

Extended Project
A

If you are taking an EPQ in addition to 3 A levels, your offer will be:

BBB and Grade A in the EPQ

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)
H2, H2, H3, H3, H3, H3

Typical offer: H2 H2 H3 H3 H3 H3

Plus English and Maths Ordinary Level O4 or higher.

Cambridge International Pre-U Certificate - Principal
D3, M2, M2

Typical offers : D3 M2 M2

Cambridge Pre-U's can be used in combination with other qualifications such as A levels to achieve the equivalent of the typical offer , where D3 can be used in lieu of A Level grade A.

T Level
D

An overall distinction with grade B in the core element in the Science T-Level

GCSE :Applicants must hold GCSE English language (or GCSE English) (minimum grade 4/C) and mathematics (minimum grade 4/C).

Find out more about qualification requirements for this course.

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6.5with no component below 6.0
All programmes at the University of Southampton are taught and assessed in the medium of English (other than those in modern foreign languages). Therefore, all applicants must demonstrate they possess at least a minimum standard of English language proficiency.

Find out more about the University’s English Language requirementshttps://www.southampton.ac.uk/studentadmin/admissions/admissions-policies/language.page

Contextual admissions

Universities and colleges consider more than grades when assessing applications and may make offers based on a range of criteria. Learn more about contextual offers.

Most of the students who enrolled on this course in previous years met their offer conditions at our published entry criteria, securing their place on their chosen course. We encourage all applicants with the potential to succeed, regardless of their background, to apply to study with us. Applicants who qualify for contextual admissions will be made an offer which is lower than the typical offer for that programme.

Learn more on the University of Southampton website

Historical entry grades data

This section shows the range of grades that students who received offers were previously accepted on to this course with (learn more).

It is designed to support your research but does not guarantee whether you will or won't get a place.

Admissions teams consider various factors, including interviews, subject requirements, and entrance tests. Check all course entry requirements for eligibility.

Not enough data available

We are unable to show previous accepted grades for this course. This could be because the course is new, it's a postgraduate course, there isn't enough historical data, or the provider has opted out of sharing their entry grades data for this course - learn more.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

Per year tuition fees

LocationFeeYear

* This is a provisional fee and subject to change.

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website.

Additional fee information

Please see our website for further details and updates: www.southampton.ac.uk/uni-life/fees-funding.page

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