Geography degrees

[Hedgehoghairy]

Hi, my son is interested in studying Geography at Uni - leaning towards human but happy with a bit of physical so a BA. He will hopefuly get AAB or ABB so not Cambridge etc. We are looking at Exeter, Loughborough, Southampton and Swansea - can anyone recomend any others? He is looking for a good social life/campus. We are south east. Thank you.

Hey op I know about Loughborough (uni not geography degree) - good uni, lively campus, range of prices in halls accomm, 2nd and 3rd year good cheap accommodation too.

Uni is big but town is small, so social life centres on uni. Ds2 who is there is v sporty so his sport is his focus. But there are lots of other things like drama and music. Just don’t expect major gigs or buzzing nightclubs.

Mind you that’s true to some extent if your other suggestions- none is a bustling metropolis. I know two dc at Swansea who love it.

Would also suggest Newcastle (tho a long way from you) Leicester (not one campus but accommodation area is lovely) or Nottingham? But grades may not be enough for Notts (tho ds had AAB there). This is for unis that are campus or more or less and not the highest offers. I don’t know about geog specifically

I would suggest Lancaster, Sussex, York and perhaps Reading. My dc has firmed Exeter and insured Lancaster for this coming September for human Geog.

Both really helpful, thank you.

I think that Lancaster and Sussex offer ABB usually.

AAB is the usual Exeter offer. Also look at Southampton. Think they offer BBB with the EPQ.

If he is specifically drawn to campus unis, do not overlook U of Birmingham (Geog AAB) which is a compact campus set-up only a short train ride from the city centre.

Good to see U of Southampton on the list as it is strong on various aspects like demography. It also is effectively a 'campus in the suburbs' and, unusually, guarantees first year accommodation for those insuring as well as firming.

As a general degree, esp if you go down the Geog BA route, making sure you come out with a rounded package of experiences can be important for onward employability. So considering placement year or year abroad course variants, breadth and vitality of uni societies, placement and career support will be important in the decision 'mix'. Some of the (larger) locations cited will offer better opportunities for term time employment if that is also a consideration.

I do find it slightly overwhelming. When I chose a university 30 years ago, I read a prospectus, liked the look of it and that was it!
Thanks for all your help - are the year abroad/working considered valuable by employers?

Year abroad/placements per se are not necessarily what boosts employability but rather they provide an opportunity to mature, understand own strengths and ambitions more clearly, offer evidence in interview in relation to required competences etc. It is perfectly possible to get on in the world without either of those but they might help if the opportunities presented are grasped.

In relation to placements, job offers can ensue from these but obviously by the beginning of second year you would need to have a pretty good idea of type of employer and role you are interested in (as that is when you typically apply) and have successfully secured a placement.

That makes sense, thank you.

Leeds. Respected University, buzzing city, reachable by train or motorway.

Birmingham - nice and central. DD loved it and did well (geography).
I thought you were going to ask what DS will do with it. DS worked in Civil Service Dept of Transport before becoming a teacher. DD worked in communications/ publicity for a large movie company and now is Head of Communications for a charity. It’s a wast of time asking them where any river or mountain is.

That is one of the main reasons for choosing Geography as well. He likes it and there are so many job avenues afterwards - especially as he doesn't know what he wants to do for a job, it keeps things open - as your children proved!

Leeds offer is AAA - AAB so maybe aspirational but nothing wrong with one such on your form tbh.

How far from home tho? People I know whose dc are a very long way away have found it a bind. You say you are SE @Hedgehoghairy so I guess that might mean London which is easy enough to N England or Kent which is more of a pain.

Nottingham is AAB
Exeter depends what you are predicted. DD is predicted AAA and so that is her offer.
Southampton is ABB if studying the right A levels (usually AAB)
Birmingham is AAB but they say if you firm them they likely will accept a dropped grade

Leeds isn’t a campus uni

Leeds isn’t a campus uni
But it fills the brief of "good social life".

Leeds uni is all on one campus - I went there and still live close by.

I know grades wise your dc can set their sights on courses requiring higher grades but for what it’s worth, my dc is studying geog bsc at Leicester (it wasn’t his first choice…) and it’s a lovely smallish department where lecturers know students well, great field trips, and seems like good teaching quality - he’s absolutely thriving there

Also York does a BA in Human Geography and Environment (AAB typical offer), and Cardiff does a BSc Human Geography (AAB-ABB).

Get him to ask at school / college if they have a copy of HEAP. It lists, by subject, degrees in order of entrance requirements. So can then start ruling courses in / out and see what you’re left with.

Thank you everyone. So much choice - with the right grades! I don't think he wants too far north - 4 hours or so maximum from where we are and not London either as it is expensive and not great for campus life.

I think of yours, Southampton is the one with the excellent human geography. They do a whole degree in population studies.

A girl I teach applied to Sheffield, Loughborough, Exeter, Southampton and Lancaster. After weeks of agonising over firm and insurance, she has firmed Sheffield and put Southampton as insurance.

DH and I were bowled over with the Geo dept at Sheffield, and really really wanted DD to like it. But she didn’t. Sadly we went on a rainy day and spent ages queuing for a bus to go to see the accommodation which is a way from the city campus, so it put her off. The Geo department seemed up to the minute, supportive and really exciting and engaging.

That’s interesting - my younger dc is thinking of geography with planning and Sheffield ranks well. Although he’s not excited at the idea of Sheffield, we are going to look round

My son did his at Nottingham. Offer was AAB. He got ABB but they accepted him with that. He really loved it. Fantastic trips throughout. He led him to a great job.

Ooh we went for a talk and it was the head of the Planning & Geo - he was exceptional. We have been on eleventy million open and offer days with the DC and he is the one I will always remember. Really inspirational.

oh brilliant - thanks for letting me know - I think he likes the idea of adding planning on so it has a slightly more vocational twist - we haven’t got much further than that!