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.

In fact she had a lovely chat with a lecturer at one of the unis who reinforced her decision to choose Geography as its such a broad subject. He had worked in US unis and said many UK degrees don’t offer the same breadth but that Geography does.
Isn't life funny? DS had a similar but very different encounter. He went to an Open Day at a University who-shall-be-nameless. The professor was going on about breadth and cross-curricular contacts but, rather than being a "lovely chat", it came across as a ranty, "I'd rather be hob-nobbing with the Biology people at Cambridge than talk to the Phys Geog people <shudder> in my own Department."
They were soon off the list!

Perhaps have a look on linkedin at new graduates in jobs which he might want to do and see which unviersities they chose. My son did a BSc geography at Bristol and qualified as a solicitor this year by the way. However that was BSc so not what you are after; even so, he did love the course and Bristol and did not have science A levels (did Geography, History and Economics A level (and music AS)) and managed fine on the BSc.

My Geographer DC was told by their A level teacher that Nottingham offered the best BA course. They loved it and has gone on to thrive in a career. Similarly based in SE and Nottingham was the furthest they were prepared to go!

Also to add that typically first year BA Geog dies include some compulsory Physical Geog modules which DC found tedious (lots of repetition I of A level syllabus) but this is designed to ensure everyone is at the same level as not all will necessarily have done Geog A level. After that though the choice of modules is wide and interesting so you can really make your degree bespoke to your interests.

DS completed his Geography BA at University of Liverpool. He did Human over Physical. We looked at 8 universities, his preferences were Liverpool/Newcastle/Leicester (who at the time offered a pure Human Geography degree with no crossover into Physical.) His offer was AAB he dropped a grade but was offered a place as he also had an EPQ.

His cohort are now all working in wide and varied roles from Banking, Accountancy, Politics, Media.

@SpentAll DS really didn't like Sheffield either. To be fair neither did I. The talks were dry and not engaging.

lol yes we went to a few that were snooty too! This guy was fabulous - the first time DD really engaged with a lecturer who spent ten minutes asking her questions and listening as well as chatting and really bigging up what a great choice Geography was. DD isn’t very self confident but she was just glowing afterwards.

We have loads of friends who are planners! Just a quirk of where we worked.

Some are employed by private companies, self employed planning consultants or working for LAs. Some moved sideways away from planning.

The ones who have the more interesting jobs did Geography at RG unis. Planning was always a polytechnic or new uni degree (eg Aston). The main reason for 4 year planning degree was to get direct membership or RTPI. The geographers had to do more study. The most boring person did 4 years of planning and that doesn't help if you fall out of love with planning in y3.

I would 100% do Geography. Planning is always there (if LAs ever recruit!) Then move to a company and look at loads of options!

Interesting, thanks - so you don't think joint geog & planning BA at a good RG uni is really worth it? Not enough geography in there?

My eldest is in the second year of Geography degree at Lincoln, he highly recommends it. I've been really happy with the experience from my side too.

@Monstermunchy

I think the issue is:

Does the planning element reduce geography options? This could matter for a future career that isn't planning.
It does narrow the geography element.

Does DC want to be a planner? It's an early career choice and he might change his mind.

Does degree exempt from RTPI exams for membership? Or not.

Who else values a planning element over more geography elements?

Having a geography degree doesn't stop anyone being a planner if they want that career. There's not enough planners in LAs. Much more money in commercial planning though!

@TizerorFizz thanks, yes all good points. We'll have to see what geography modules are still available under joint honours vs what planning modules look like - and maybe he'll apply for, say, 3 geog only and 2 geog & planning - to keep options open.

I think the ones he's looked at are RTPI accredited but all would require further study. I guess if he's careful about which geography modules he chooses, then a future employer might not mind that he did it with planning. But all food for thought, and I appreciate all input!

I think he just quite likes the idea of doing a degree that might tie in with a career, so gives his degree a bit of focus - but on the other hand, if planning isn't his thing, he still has a degree from a good uni at the end of it...

We'll have to see what geography modules are still available under joint honours vs what planning modules look like - and maybe he'll apply for, say, 3 geog only and 2 geog & planning - to keep options open.
Also, ask if the University allows movement between the joint-honours and single-subject i.e. can you change your mind once you are there? Though do be aware that things are often promised verbally, in advance ... and then you find that reality doesn't match the assurance.

Very good point, thanks

Thanks for starting this thread, Hedgehog. DD is a few years behind, but is considering Geography with Spanish. She likes physical and human equally, but definitely wouldn't be interested in ending up in a career like accountancy or media, she doesn't want to be desk-based.
Does anyone know how joint honours degrees are regarded nowadays? I have one, but in two subjects that are an obvious combo.

@Monstermunchy

I think you need to look at fully accredited courses and partially accredited courses. There is a difference between what further qualifications are needed. Therefore look at the RTPI web site for Licentiate members. I would doubt it's fully accredited as it's not 100 % planning related. Where are the courses? The RTPI lists the unis and the courses so I would double check. Only 6 RG unis offer courses that are fully accredited and several not at undergrad level.

@ClaudiaWinklepanda

I think Spanish is not the same as a career focused degree. When you say "with Spanish" is it fully joint or just a few credits for Spanish to keep the MFL department going? Can be the latter these days. Times have changed. Would the degree have the full literature/language options and is there a year abroad? To make it fully worthwhile the year abroad would be non negotiable for me!

I need to look into it further - he's earmarked liverpool, manchester, birmingham, sheffield and newcastle as starting points, but I think it's more the 4 year courses that have accreditations (joint hons). Will bear all of this in mind, thanks for your help

It's a bit early for us, we haven't look at specific courses yet. Good to know though. It seems quite a lot of geography courses also offer years in industry/abroad, presumably students combining both Geog and a language would need to choose a placement in, for example, Spain, to get the maximum benefit?

@ClaudiaWinklepanda

Since Brexit I believe many work opportunities have disappeared for Brits and dc now need visas. Plus the unis won't find dc a work placement abroad. My DD did MFLs and it's down to the student to find work. What they do have is links to universities. Therefore dc go to lectures in Spanish. Others will probably come along and say I'm wrong, but this is a big issue for students now.

I was also impressed with Sheffield - the accommodation is as another poster said a little way off but the city provides a super student experience and the geography department is first class.

@Monstermunchy

I've attached Newcastle's blurb. It's first year only and then you must transfer courses to the ones they mention. So hardly any geography. It's why the Geography and Planning degree isn't on the RTPI web site as accredited or partially accredited. It appears to be neither. It's a sort of accredited taster. I would therefore read RTPI and uni web sites very carefully.

My daughter is about to graduate from Leeds uni and has done a geography degree there. She's done 4 years as did a year's placement. (From which she's got a graduate job starting in September).
She's loved it, lively city and good university. Brilliant for students and future opportunities.

Well done to her! Was finding a year placement hard? I’ve heard mixed things. My ds tried to get a summer placement - he got through a few rounds but then they said they had no places in leeds (we live here he’s not at uni here) but would keep his details

She actually worked really hard to get her placement, going through tons of rejections before getting a place. She moved down south, 3 hours drive away, not knowing anyone so was a brave thing to do. I think it was the fact that she was prepared to move away for a year that helped.
Fortunately, the company she worked for also has an office in Manchester so she’s able to stay here after graduation. I am incredibly proud of her because she hasn’t had things easy (dyslexia) and has had to work hard for everything so I’m so glad that determination seems to be paying off.

I know a geography undergrad who did a placement with the NT. Granny gave her a car so she could do it. Renting somewhere costs money too. The difficulty arises when placement salary doesn't meet costs and parents cannot help with sufficient money. Many dc stay with placement organisation after graduation so it can be very worthwhile.