Geography suggestions

[Suffolker]

DD is keen to apply for geography and I’d be interested to hear about anyone’s recent experiences/recommendations.

We’ve already looked at Sheffield (which she liked a lot) and we’re also planning to visit York and Lancaster. She’s keen to go ‘north’ (but not Scotland) and doesn’t want to go to London. I think smaller cities would suit her best.

She’s also not much of a ‘party’ girl (at least, not yet😁) and seems to want to avoid cities/universities with a hardcore partying reputation. She has already discounted Leeds and Nottingham on this basis, but I’m not sure how accurate this is!

I would have thought Newcastle and Manchester are also quite big ‘party’ places, but I’m probably way out of date.

Grateful for any suggestions!

QUB is very good for Geography and Belfast is a small, compact, very friendly city. RG university.

Durham? DD is there reading Physical Geography. They do want high A level grades though.

It also isn't just location: what sort of course do they want to do? DD only looked at universities that offered modular courses where you could pick and choose elements (she hates anything human geography so did find those elements in the foundation year challenging), which meant despite liking Liverpool the course was not what she wanted.

Her other criteria was to avoid campus institutions as much as she could (she also applied to Newcastle, Nottingham, Edinburgh and Loughborough).

For geography I would look carefully at any field trips and how they are funded/the cost

Thanks all. I think QUB will be too far for her (that’s why she’s discounted Scotland). We are in Norfolk, so travelling almost anywhere is a bit of a challenge!

She’s keen on a modular course that allows a mixture of physical and human elements, and the Sheffield course sounds good for this. Good point about checking on field trip options and costs @AelinAG.

I’m not sure she’d have the grades for Durham and seems to think it wouldn’t have enough state school students (she’s worried about not fitting in).

DD was state educated (non selectively) all the way through but Durham is certainly private school heavy at the moment. They are trying to change this though as I know one of her student friends is part of the outreach team that goes out into state secondary schools to talk about the university.

From what I have seen with DD, field trips at Durham are included currently; no additional charges. Always worth checking though for future years.

Sounds like your dd is aiming for good grades, but if she wants a slightly lower option, my dc is at Leicester and has had a fantastic time doing Geog BSc there. There's lots of crossover with the BA early on and a good choice of modules so you can really shape the degree to suit you. It's a small, friendly department so the staff know the students really well, and the field trips are excellent (we had to make small contribution for 2 of the 3 compulsary ones - there's an optional 3rd year trip which you do have to pay for, if you want to go - but it's a fab trip)

Uni of Exeter has 2 campuses - the main campus (in actual Exeter, can't remember what it's called) offers Geog degrees at A star, A,A or A,A,A - but they actually will take students with lower grades. At least, this was what people were reporting a few years ago! But also, there is a campus in Cornwall (Penryn?) where they offer the same BA and BSc Geography courses at lower grades, like A,B,B - probably because the location is less popular? I know Cornwall is a long way, but it's not Scotland!

Bath used to do a course called International Development with Economics which, when you look at the modules, is basically human geography. That used to be A,B,B about 3 years ago.

Just mentioning these as alternatives to 'city' unis.

Presumably she's already discounted UEA as being too close to home?

What about Bristol?

Not my experience but I have a cousin whose child studied on the school of Geography at University of Birmingham.

from what she has said previously the academics are very approachable and passionate about their subjects and seem keen to offer pastoral support if a student needs that extra bit of support.

The student events team apparently offer events on site in the day/evening during term that offer an alternative to the night/drink scene.

she has previously mentioned quiz/craft afternoons sometimes food is provided - in her last year events included a movie night at the geology museum on site.

Students can take advantage of nightlife but I think they all tend to go to the city centre for that. Buses in general run fairly regularly and there is a lot of student accommodation within walking distance of the uni.

What about Reading?

It's got a lovely campus and lots of accommodation. DS is in the final year of a Geography and Economics degree there and has had a great time.

St Andrews is good for Geography and is very cosy and safe.

Royal Holloway great Geog department and great campus!

Certainly not a party animal uni!

Would recommend 100%

First year field trip to Spain is funded by the uni!!

DS did Geography at Southampton, and chose it as there was a mix of physical and human options. IIRC they offer both BA and BSc and the degree you get at the end depends on your mix of options. His reserve was Lancaster which was a close run thing when he made his choice.
Other DC went to Nottingham , not for geography, and still lives there. Wouldn’t describe it as a party Uni, and many of the societies were non alcohol based.Campus is lovely, very green, and fairly good access to Nottingham and Beeston , and reasonably priced accommodation .

@Suffolker Hmm. Sheffield is very party central. My friend’s DS from your neck of the woods did a load of partying and drinking. The whole flat did except one girl left to go home. To Leeds. Basically Sheffield has always been lively. DH went there.

A neighbour’s child went to Sheffield and did geography. I’ve known Dc go to Exeter for geography and a friend is a geographer from Durham. However I’d look at the courses because all RG plus Lancaster or Surrey would be good. Surrey might be quieter than Sheffield. Newcastle is still a party uni but a great place to be.

My DD is at Lancaster studying Geography. I would highly recommend for a number of reasons.

Lancaster runs a major/minor system (I think like US colleges), so that in the first year, everyone has to study a minor subject alongside their main degree subject. We didn't really understand this when she applied, but it's actually brilliant! You can choose from a whole range of minor subjects, and if you really enjoy it, you can continue it in years two and three as part of your degree and graduate with E.g. a Geography and Economics degree. Of course, you don't have to do this, you can just drop it after year one.

It has a collegiate system, which encourages bonding and socialisation between college groups. This has been so helpful to my DD, and allowed her to settle quickly.

Accomodation is plentiful and of a high quality, and the surrounding areas are beautiful.

It's not party central, but lots of socialising on campus, as each college has its own bar etc.

I could go on, but I would definitely recommend. It's not Russell Group, but Russell Group Plus (along with St Andrews, Bath and Loughborough). It seems to have its own unique approach and doesn't follow the herd. Top ten in Complete University Guide too. DD loves it.

Funnily enough @Ladybrows from what I’ve read of Lancaster, I think it would really suit her. Particularly the flexibility in doing another subject. It sounds similar to Scottish degrees, where for the first two (of four) years you choose two other subjects alongside your chosen degree, and it’s quite easy to swap to another subject. She’s really enjoying sociology so would probably like to continue with that if it’s an option.

Yes definitely too close to home!

My son is at Birmingham (but not UoB) and she’s not at all keen on the city, even though I’ve explained the campus is lovely! I might at least persuade her to take a look.

Yes, it does appear straightforward to swap subjects. Also should mention, in year 1, you have 90 credits that you must achieve. Sixty of this credits can come from minor subjects (so you could take two minor subjects rather than one if you wish). It's very very flexible system which surprised me. DD is delighted as she will continue with a minor and so graduate with joint honours.

DS1 did Geography at Nottingham. It's a lively enough city but I wouldn't say hard core party central. The campus most certainly not. It's a tram ride away. It's beautiful, almost like a country park. DS loved it there. Cheap and plentiful accomodation too.

if your DD enjoys sociology, she will enjoy Human Geography.

My DD graduated last year from Lancaster, with a Geography degree. She mainly did physical geography, but a couple of human modules and a human dissertation. She also studied Environmental Science in her first year. Lancaster has a lovely campus, and the city itself is really nice, would suit your DD if she's not much of a party-girl.

I went to Lancaster (not for Geography!) and now teach Geography at an RG and I would strongly recommend Lancaster based on her preferences, I came from a small town in East Anglia and it suited me perfectly, there was plenty on campus, super friendly college system, bars and sports. I minored in Geog & decided I loved it! There was also the little city nearby if you wanted to spread your wings.

travel time shouldn’t be that bad via Birmingham on the train

My daughter has a place at Lancaster to do Geography in September (deferred place). She's hoping to do Sociology as her minor.