BSc Geography (Placement Year)
About this course
BSc Hons in Geography (Placement Year), a geography degree centred on human, physical, and environmental geography. Core topics include Data Analysis, Statistics, Research Methods, Fieldwork, Environmental Analysis, Communication & Writing, Critical & Analytical Thinking, Entrepreneurship, and Human Behaviour. The four-year programme includes an integrated professional placement year spent working in a graduate-level role. The first year covers core foundations through Foundation Skills for LEC, Global Human Geography, Introducing Research in Geography, and Reading the Landscape, alongside optional modules like Atmosphere, Weather and Climate. The second year advances core knowledge through Geographical Data Science, Living with the Landscape, and Physical Geography in Practice, while offering optional studies in subjects such as Atmospheric Science, Ecology and Conservation, and Glaciology. The third year consists of a full-time professional placement role in industry. The final year centres on an independent Dissertation project, supported by specialist optional modules addressing topics like Climate Change, Environmental Pollution: Management and Remediation, and Spatial Data Analysis.
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: BBB. We recommend that this includes Geography, or alternatively you should have one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Classics, Economics, English Literature, Environmental Studies, Geology, History, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Psychology, Religious Studies, and Sociology. IB: 30 points overall with 15 points from the best 3 HL subjects including Geography or alternative cognate subject at HL grade 6
See the highest paying Geography & Environmental Science degrees in the UK →
What students say
Based on about 8 final-year students who answered (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Teaching on my course: 93%
- Learning opportunities: 90%
- Assessment and feedback: 80%
- Academic support: 95%
- Organisation and management: 95%
- Learning resources: 97%
- Student voice: 83%
Do students stay on the course?
Based on about 20 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- Continued on course: 100%
What graduates do next
Based on about 40 graduates who answered, across similar courses at this university
- Working: 65%
- Working and studying: 14%
- Further study: 9%
- Unemployed: 6%
Most common jobs
- Teaching Professionals: 15%
- Engineering professionals: 15%
- Conservation and environment professionals: 15%
- Architects, Chartered Architectural Technologists, Planning Officers, Surveyors and Construction Professionals: 10%
- Business, Research and Administrative Professionals: 10%
- Find their work meaningful: 85%
- Feel on track for their future plans: 75%
- Use what they learnt on the course: 50%
Where graduates work (5 years on)
Based on about 210 graduates, across similar courses at this university
- North East: 1%
- North West: 34%
- Yorkshire and the Humber: 12%
- East Midlands: 5%
- West Midlands: 8%
- East of England: 5%
- London: 14%
- South East: 9%
- South West: 8%
- Wales: 3%
- Northern Ireland: 1%
Who gets in
Based on about 15 students who started (a small group: a rough guide only)
- A levels: 100%
Accreditation & quality ratings
TEF 2023 (whole university): Gold overall, Silver for student experience, Gold for student outcomes.
Modules
- Foundation Skills for LEC
- Global Human Geography
- Introducing Research in Geography
- Reading the Landscape
- Atmosphere, Weather and Climate
- Biodiversity and Global Change
- Society and Place
- Geographical Data Science
- Living with the Landscape
- Physical Geography in Practice
- Atmospheric Science
- Ecology and Conservation
- Environmental Geography
- Glaciology
- Hydrology and Water Quality
- Political and Economic Geography
- Soil Science
- Sustainable Hebrides: Field Course
- Placement
- Dissertation
- Challenging Cities in the 21st Century
- Climate Change
- Cryosphere in a Changing Climate
- Eco-Innovation for Sustainable Development
- Environmental Pollution: Management and Remediation
- Food and Agriculture in the 21st Century
- Geographies of Transformation in the Global South
- Geological Hazards
- Governing Socio-Ecological Systems in Tropical Asia Field Course
- Health Geographies
- Interdisciplinary Conservation Science
- Managing the Energy Transition
- Political Ecology
- Spatial Data Analysis
- Sustainable Agriculture
- Teaching, Outreach and Public Engagement
- The Politics of Urban Futures: Field Course
- Water Resources Management
Questions about this course
How much do graduates of BSc Geography (Placement Year) at Lancaster University earn?
The median salary is £29,000 after 15 months, £26,000 after 3 years, £32,500 after 5 years. After five years the middle half of graduates earn between £27,000 and £40,000.
What do graduates of BSc Geography (Placement Year) at Lancaster University do next?
88% were in work or further study 15 months after finishing (Graduate Outcomes 2023-24).
Are students happy with the teaching on BSc Geography (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
93% of final-year students were positive about the teaching in the National Student Survey 2025-26.
What grades do I need for BSc Geography (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
The typical offer is BBB at A level, or 30 points in the IB. The average entrant had 144 UCAS points.
Does BSc Geography (Placement Year) at Lancaster University include a placement year or year abroad?
The course has a compulsory placement year.
How many students continue on BSc Geography (Placement Year) at Lancaster University?
100% of students continued into their second year, and 0% left higher education.