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Higher education

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Original poster

Human geography degree?

30 replies

InterSteller · 11/12/2023 23:07

DS has always loved the 'human' side of geography rather than the physical. He's thinking about applying for a Human Geography degree. Other a levels are politics and economics.

Has anyone's DCs done a Human geography degree? Any unis to recommend? And what careers have they gone on to?

OP posts:
Bigfatsquirrel · 12/12/2023 10:51

I have a DC doing a geography degree, physical though (and loving it!). For Human look at BA degrees - Exeter, Nottingham, York, Newcastle, Kings, Durham etc. There's also Global Sustainable Development at Warwick or the Scottish Unis have both human and sustainable development degrees. What are your DCs predicted grades ? And town vs campus ? Good luck.

SandyIrving · 12/12/2023 11:24

My middle one did a geography degree at Glasgow and ended up (because of covid) doing Human Geography for entire final year including his dissertation (up to then he'd done a mix of physical/ environmental/ human each year). Would recommend Glasgow but note you can't avoid physical and environmental entirely in first few years (or at least you couldn't when he did it)

Works in ops management for large global company so not using his geography but happy in his career (funds lots of travel which is his thing).

Peanutcookies · 12/12/2023 11:27

I’m a town planner (but not trained in the UK). Most of my colleagues have a geography background and a master in planning.

possiblenow · 12/12/2023 13:33

Hi OP. For pure Human Geography, look at LSE, Lancaster (off the top of my head). Also, Bath has a course called 'BA International Development with Economics' which is quite similar to Human Geog in terms of the modules.

Having said this, most BA Geography degrees enable specialisation, so it's really not necessary to only apply for Human Geography Degrees specifically. Just go for a BA rather than a BSc (many unis eg, Durham, UCL and Exeter offer both). Bristol only has BSc and it's quite stats-orientated, so this may not be his kind of thing.

Any idea what his predicted grades might be? A good starting point could be the Complete Uni Guide (search under 'Geography' and then there are links to course specifications, grade requirements, etc).

Original poster
InterSteller · 12/12/2023 15:17

He was given predicted grades of ABB a few weeks into his a levels - but considering he's never studied 2 of the subjects before I'm thinking those could change once the teachers have had a chance to assess him properly?

OP posts:
Oldowl · 12/12/2023 18:27

My DD did BA Geography at LSE and enjoyed her degree. He will need AAA (ABB contextual offer) to apply. LSE also do BSc Environment and Sustainable Development (AAA or ABB contextual) which is a good match for your DS's A levels.

Dancingdreamer · 12/12/2023 21:27

I think Nottingham offer both a BA and BSc. I understand they also accepted people with offers who missed their grades last year and the courses were in clearing.

Original poster
InterSteller · 12/12/2023 22:02

This is all so helpful, thanks 😊

OP posts:
lkmbj · 12/12/2023 22:23

Geography is a wide ranging and numerate subject. The geography graduates I know went on to have various different careers.

Teacher
Vicar
Meteorologist
Town planner
Social scientist
University lecturer
Librarian

mynameisnotmichaelcaine · 13/12/2023 07:04

My DD's friend is doing Human Geography at Cardiff currently - she loves it. Grades are AAB I think (this is off the top of my head so do check).

GMsAWinner · 13/12/2023 14:35

DD was interested in human geography and ended up doing a Sustainable Development Degree at Uni of Edinburgh (at the time St Andrews, Edinburgh and Warwick had these courses, Leeds was going to follow the next year). She had to study another subject, some of the choices were sociology, philosophy and international politics, DD chose the latter. This course could be an option for your DS if he really enjoys politics.

When DD left she decided to look for jobs in sustainability, environment, management or possibly local government. She's started off in a job in management for an environmental company, but job hasn't worked out (not her, other factors in company), so they're moving her over to a role in connection with sustainability and environment.

hamstersarse · 13/12/2023 14:39

A friend's DD did Human Geography at Uni of Liverpool and it was pretty crap

Infected by lots of irrelevant content ,i.e. identity politics ideologies

tokesqueen · 13/12/2023 15:04

DS1 is third year doing Human Geography at Uni of Nottingham. He's loved it, and the city. Needed AAB.
Looking at transport planning or similar.

loobylou44 · 13/12/2023 15:30

My daughter has applied for Human Geography this year and her favourite is Lancaster. She has offers from Lancaster, Birmingham, Reading and Newcastle.

BarnacleB · 13/12/2023 18:19

My DD is the same as loobylou44's DD. She got her Lancaster offer this afternoon and so far has another offer from UEA. Lancaster is definitely her favourite.

Atishooooo · 14/12/2023 08:07

Most of the BA Geography degrees (Human) share a common first year with BSc (Physical) students. My DD was certain she did want any scientific (lab) content so looked only at universities which offer a straight HG degree - Lancaster, Cardiff (the Cardiff HG degree is unusual as it's a BSc and part of the town planning school, rather than aligned with Phys Geog which is part of the Earth Sciences) Swansea, LSE etc.

Leicester and Aberystwyth also do it and are good backups with lower entry tariffs.

Happy to discuss more by DM.

saraclara · 14/12/2023 08:26

My DD did human geography at Sheffield. End up being a teacher though that hadn't been her plan.

Monstermunchy · 14/12/2023 09:58

Nottingham uni offer BA and Bsc geog - but they get to choose from all the same modules (not just in first year) so it means you can pick bits of both and tailor your degree.
My dc is doing geog bsc at Leicester - like other unis the first year was pretty much the same as the BA but then they specialise in year 2 - many students swapped from one to the other after their first year.
My dc is interested in environmental consultancy but I’m not sure if that has a more Bsc slant than human

SemperIdem · 14/12/2023 10:00

My sibling did human geography at an RG, followed by an MA. Now works for TFL, planning and what not.

Peanutcookies · 15/12/2023 09:31

Sounds like a few others have gone down the planning route too. Might be worth him emailing your local council to see if he can do some work experience in the planning and in the economic development/ regeneration teams to see if he likes that kind of work

IDK2 · 15/12/2023 09:59

Have a look at Leeds University, too.

And what careers have they gone on to?
Looking forward, rather than back, GIS can lead to some newly-created jobs.

Alaimo · 17/12/2023 14:17

I did a degree in Human Geography (finished just over 10 years ago) and am now a lecturer in the subject (though not in the UK). I studied in Scotland which had the benefit of studying three different subjects in first year & two in second year. I continued with two, and have a joint degree in geography & politics.

If I think about class mates then, as well as the students I teach now, the types of careers people go into are really varied. Some go into expected directions (planner, teacher), some into very general areas (civil service fast stream, other grad schemes), quite a few with an interest in sustainability/environmental issues have ended up working for NGOs, consultancies, or sustainabilty divisions in larger corporations.

The upside and downside of a geography degree is that it is broad. Many students do a more specific Master's degree afterwards, such as Planning, GIS, or ecological economics for example.

gegs73 · 19/12/2023 21:13

DS GF studies Human Geography at Leicester, grades ABB. It’s a good department and they do BSc, BA and a have a Geology department so if he wants to diversify a little when he’s there he can.

Neighneigh · 19/12/2023 21:20

Human geography graduate here - king's London a long time ago, but I'm now a comms manager at a local authority, specialising in transport issues. Human geography is super interesting and opens a lot of doors, I'd highly recommend it.

NoraBattysCurlers · 20/12/2023 23:31

InterSteller · 12/12/2023 15:17

He was given predicted grades of ABB a few weeks into his a levels - but considering he's never studied 2 of the subjects before I'm thinking those could change once the teachers have had a chance to assess him properly?

Geography in Durham was available in clearing last August. Durham via clearing could be an option to consider if your DS achieves higher results than predicted.