BSc Geography
About this course
BSc (Hons) Geography is a three-year full-time undergraduate degree in geography. Core topics include Research Methods and Fieldwork. The degree is modular, with optional modules available from the first year, and the final year includes a compulsory Dissertation. Residential fieldwork in the UK takes place in the second year, with third-year field trip options covering Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Nepal. The first year introduces the foundations through Physical Geography, Human Geography: Space and Place in a Changing World, Introduction to Geographical Research and Introduction to Climate Change. First-year optionals have included Geographies of Crisis and Planet Under Pressure. The second year develops research design and data-handling skills through Scientific Research in Geography, including residential fieldwork in the UK, and Handling Geographic Information, which covers the analysis of geographical data. Optional second-year modules span Carbon and Biogeochemical Cycles, Glaciers and Glaciation, Managing River Catchments and Reconstructing Environmental Change. The third year is built around the compulsory Dissertation, an extended research project undertaken independently, and offers a field-trip choice from Iceland: Field Research in Glacial Environments, The Arctic (Norway), Alpine Landscapes and Climate Change (Switzerland) and Mountain Hazards (Nepal). Further optionals cover River Dynamics, Remote Sensing, Catchment Modelling and Risk, Science and Communication.
Written by AI from the university's course page and module list. It can get details wrong, so check the official course page before you rely on it.
Entry requirements
A level: AAA or A*AB including Geography or a science subject. IB: 36 with 666 or 765 in higher level subjects, including one science subject or Geography.
See the highest paying Geography & Environmental Science degrees in the UK →
Admissions (2022 entry, home applicants)
Offer rate 74%: 285 offers from 385 applications, from the university's Freedom of Information return.
What students say
Based on about 50 final-year students who answered
- Teaching on my course: 94%
- Learning opportunities: 90%
- Assessment and feedback: 83%
- Academic support: 91%
- Organisation and management: 91%
- Learning resources: 88%
- Student voice: 87%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 125 students who started
- Continued on course: 95%
- Left higher education: 3%
- Moved to a lower qualification: 2%
What graduates do next
Based on about 42 graduates who answered
- Working: 67%
- Working and studying: 10%
- Further study: 10%
- Unemployed: 7%
Most common jobs
- Business and public service associate professionals: 15%
- Conservation and environment professionals: 15%
- Elementary occupations: 10%
- Finance Professionals: 10%
- Administrative occupations: 5%
- Find their work meaningful: 85%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 70%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 40%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 135 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 8%
- North West: 8%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 7%
- East Midlands: 4%
- West Midlands: 7%
- East of England: 14%
- London: 27%
- South East: 17%
- South West: 8%
- Wales: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 110 students who started
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Silver overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Physical Geography - 20 credits
- Human Geography: Space and Place in a Changing World - 20 credits
- Introduction to Geographical Research - 40 credits
- Introduction to Climate Change - 20 credits
- Example optional modules
- Scientific Research in Geography - 40 credits
- Handling Geographic Information - 20 credits
- Example optional modules
- Dissertation - 40 credits
- Example optional modules
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BSc Geography at Durham University earn?
The median salary is £30,000 after 15 months, £29,000 after 3 years, £38,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £33,000 and £48,000. The £38,500 median after five years is £6,500 more than the UK median for Physical geographical sciences.
What do graduates of BSc Geography at Durham University do next?
87% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BSc Geography at Durham University?
94% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BSc Geography at Durham University?
The typical offer is AAA at A level. The average entrant had 167 UCAS points.
What is the offer rate for BSc Geography at Durham University?
74% of home applicants received an offer for 2022 entry: 285 offers from 385 applications, according to the university's Freedom of Information return.
Does BSc Geography at Durham University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has an optional placement year and an optional year abroad.
How many students continue on BSc Geography at Durham University?
95% of students continued into their second year, and 3% left higher education.