Whether your future job lies in the environmental sector, business, education, the natural or social sciences, in geospatial industries or in travel – our highly practical geography degree opens a range of career options.
in the UK for student satisfaction
of students said staff made the subject engaging
Accredited programmes contain a solid academic foundation in geographical knowledge and skills, and prepare you to address the needs of the world.
First for jobs
The University of Worcester is first in the UK for sustained employment, further study or both, five years after graduation (excluding specialist institutions) - Longitudinal Educational Outcomes Survey 2024. Read more.
Overview
This four-year programme has the same structure as our Geography BSc course, but you’ll spend your third year studying at an English-speaking university and return to Worcester for your fourth and final year of study. You’ll remain in regular contact with your personal academic tutors in Worcester throughout your year abroad. Study abroad locations currently include a range of European countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and the USA.
With practical, hands-on learning from day one and an eye-opening programme of field trips, our graduates are highly valued by employers for their insights into social, economic and environmental issues as well as their research, problem-solving and project management skills. By the time you graduate, you’ll have extensive fieldwork experience and be confident with using industry-standard equipment and software.
Our small group sizes mean more opportunities for interactive learning with cutting-edge field and laboratory equipment, all of which is available for regular student use. You’ll develop specialist skills in earth observation, surveying, and river monitoring, and learn how to fly drones and collect, process, and analyse their data.
You’ll have a range of modules to choose from so you can tailor your degree by picking the topics that most interest you. During your year abroad, you’ll also be able to choose freely from our partner university’s Geography module offerings.
We make the most of the region around us, from the historic city of Worcester to the iconic Malvern Hills National Landscape.
Placements
You’ll have many opportunities to gain real-world experience and enhance your CV by carrying out voluntary work, or by completing a professional placement in your final year. We have well-established links with government organisations, such as local authority planning departments, and environmental and conservation agencies.
Fieldwork
While in the UK, you’ll have the opportunity to experience fully-funded residential field trips, taking you further afield to investigate other environments and cultures. Recent locations have included the Lake District, the Scottish Highlands, Provence, and the Swiss Alps.
We also make the most of the region around us. This historic city of Worcester is the perfect base for fieldwork, with easy access to a diverse range of urban and rural settings, including the Malverns, the Cotswolds, and Birmingham.
Course content
Each year you will study a mix of mandatory and optional modules. This flexible course lets you explore different subjects and career paths in geography before choosing to specialise in your final year.
Optional modules will run if they receive enough interest. It is not guaranteed that all modules will run every year.
Optional modules
Careers
You’ll graduate with subject-specific knowledge and skills in areas like climate change, cartography and GIS, as well as a wide range of transferable skills, such as working in a team and data analysis. So, you’ll be highly employable, both in the environment sector and in the wider employment market.
An extensive guest lecture programme, seminars and conferences give you the opportunity to network with potential employers throughout your degree.
Recent graduates have secured positions in the following fields:
- Environmental management and consultancy
- Geographical Information Systems (GIS)
- Flood risk management
- River science
- Urban and rural planning
- Local government
- Data management
- Conservation
- Tourism
- Earth observation
- Teaching
- Surveying
- Corporate responsibility and sustainability
You may also choose to take your learning further and progress onto postgraduate study. Relevant postgraduate degrees at Worcester include:
Course highlights
Teaching and assessment
You’ll be taught through a combination of interactive workshops, lectures, seminars, fieldwork, and practical laboratory activities.
There are no exams on this course. Instead, you’ll be assessed using applied methods designed to prepare you for the world of work. These include consultancy reports, planning enquiries, strategy developments and individual or group presentations.
Teaching and assessment contents
The University emphasises enabling students to develop independent learning capabilities that will equip them for lifelong learning and future employment, as well as academic achievement. A mixture of independent study, teaching and academic support from Student Services and Library Services, and also the personal academic tutoring system enables you to reflect on progress and build up a profile of skills, achievements and experiences that will help you to flourish and be successful.
You are taught through a diverse range of teaching methods, including, lectures, seminars, laboratory practical sessions, practical activities, and project work. Seminars enable the discussion and development of understanding of topics covered in lectures. Laboratory practicals are focused on developing subject-specific skills and applied individual and group project work.
The university is a close-knit community and we adopt a very personal approach with an open-door policy allowing you easy access to teaching staff who will offer advice and feedback on your assessed work. You will be assigned a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) who will support your academic progress and will assist you with any issues throughout your time at the university.
Student stories
Jessica Jones
"I currently work for one of the world's most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies as an Environmental Scientist within the Contaminated Land and Hydrogeology team. I joined as a graduate on the graduate development programme. My degree at the University of Worcester made all this possible, I developed report writing skills and the ability to analyse data that are paramount to my day to day job and it gave me a broad understanding of the environmental sector."
Saffron Ferreira
Using the skills she’s learned at university, including the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) software, Saffron will be playing a key role in developing the region’s transport network for the future.
"On my placement, I got involved in a variety of things, like cycling in Birmingham to assess the roads, which was absolutely terrifying,” she recalls. “I’ve only ever cycled in parks and safe places, and I was being confronted by buses and all sorts. But it showed me the issues within the transport network that we’re trying to fix so that was really important.”
Emily Bratt
"I applied to do BSc Geography at Worcester because it was clear to me that it was a student-focused course. With their ‘open door’ policy and being assigned a Personal Academic Tutor, they are extremely invested in their students, wanting them to achieve the best grade possible through incredible amounts of support, The course also allows all Geography students to get hands-on with the kit meaning it’s not just for show, you really get to use it!"
Elizabeth Bisp
"Geography at Worcester has all of the benefits of a smaller course. During my time at Worcester, I have taken part in several field trips and fieldwork. It would be easier for lecturers just to lecture, however by taking us out to the field both through fieldwork in nearby areas, such as Worcester City Centre, the Cotswolds, Gloucestershire as well as residential field trips, including the Lake District, the Scottish Highlands, and even France, it has enhanced my learning and overall experience. Having spoken to friends who have studied geography at different universities, I have realised what a unique experience this was and how much I have benefitted from them."
Ragnar Mularczyk
I am one of three sabbatical officers, elected by the students, for the benefit of students. My time studying BSc Geography at Worcester University provided me with the confidence I needed to put myself forward as an electoral candidate for the position I am now in. It is the transferable skills that I have enhanced through my time at university that have assisted me most in my current job. I would recommend the course to any prospective students!
Jessica Jones
"I currently work for one of the world's most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies as an Environmental Scientist within the Contaminated Land and Hydrogeology team. I joined as a graduate on the graduate development programme. My degree at the University of Worcester made all this possible, I developed report writing skills and the ability to analyse data that are paramount to my day to day job and it gave me a broad understanding of the environmental sector."
Saffron Ferreira
Using the skills she’s learned at university, including the use of Geographic Information System (GIS) software, Saffron will be playing a key role in developing the region’s transport network for the future.
"On my placement, I got involved in a variety of things, like cycling in Birmingham to assess the roads, which was absolutely terrifying,” she recalls. “I’ve only ever cycled in parks and safe places, and I was being confronted by buses and all sorts. But it showed me the issues within the transport network that we’re trying to fix so that was really important.”
Entry requirements
UCAS tariff points required: 112
| Qualification | Grade |
|---|---|
| A-level | BBC |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DMM |
| T-level | Merit |
We do accept Access to HE Diplomas and other qualifications which may not exactly match the combinations above. Work out your estimated points with the UCAS tariff calculator.
Any questions?
If you have any questions about entry requirements, please call our Admissions Office on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk.
Fees
Fees contents
UK and EU students
The Government has announced that it will increase tuition fees and maintenance loans by 3.1% from the 2025/26 academic cycle. Subject to approval, the University intends to increase our tuition fees in line with this and as per our terms and conditions. This means that from September 2025 the standard fee for full-time home and EU undergraduate students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees will be £9,535 per year.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
International students
The standard tuition fee for full-time international students enrolling on BA/BSc/LLB degrees and FdA/FdSc degrees in the 2025/26 academic year is £16,700 per year.
For more details on course fees, please visit our course fees page.
How to apply
How to apply contents
Applying through UCAS
UCAS is the central organisation through which applications are processed for full-time undergraduate courses in the UK.
Read our how to apply pages for more information on the application process, or if you’d like to apply for part-time study.
Geography with International Year Abroad BSc (Hons) - L705
Contact
If you have any questions, please get in touch. We're here to help you every step of the way.
Admissions Office
admissions@worc.ac.uk01905 855111More to explore
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