Geography Degree? What is your DC doing now?

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My son is looking to do a degree in Geography. Personal statement completed and has chosen his top 3 universities. Still undecided what last 2 should be.

DC considered engineering for a while, but didn’t do physics, considered economics but was unsure about doing a purely maths heavy degree. Considered joint honours Geography/Economics but the best degrees are at universities he doesn’t want to go to.

He feels it’s the most logical choice for him
as he is interested mostly in human geography in geopolitics, economics, foreign aid, sustainability. that sort of thing.

His A levels are Chemistry, Maths and Geography.
he began with Economics but had to drop an A level so he dropped economics although he did find it interesting and useful.

Predicted A* A A*

Won’t be applying for land economy at Cambridge although some people have said it’s the perfect degree for him. He prefers Oxford if he was to go to Oxbridge.

What does the future hold for him?

My son is an ecologist. Rubbish salary but he is happy.

I hace tried. We have visited both universities but because he always had it his mind would apply for Oxford and he always feels that has a better chance of getting in I suppose. No logic. I personally thought the way geography degree was presented at Cambridge was more suited to him. He would t go to land economy talk. He preferred Oxford as a place to live. Thought Cambridge was too small and oppressive…..

He thought about it very briefly last year

DS1 is a senior manager in a Big Corporate multinational. He read Geography at Newcastle and enjoyed it but given his time again would read Economics.

Too sciencey…. He thought about that one.

The Application is going to be sent in 2 weeks.

I work for the Environment Agency. We employ a lot of Geographers. Geographers and Geologists tend to have a broad understanding of the environment, which can be applied to a a lot of what we do - flood risk management, waster management, groundwater, contaminated land, asset management, hydrology, hydrogeology, catchment dynamics, habitat protection…

I am convinced that “Geos” are about to have their moment, with decarbonisation, climate change, water resources, oil and gas reserves, shipping routes, deforestation, food security, natural hazards mineral resources, geopolitics, increasing demands on land development..

Geology has given me a great career - DD(15) wants to do a Geography degree, and I am not worried.

My nephew did his Geography degree at Loughborough. He now works for an environment charity and loves it

Interested to read this. Dd has just started her geography BSc and this is the sort of thing I think she’d be really keen to do.

I’ve always thought of geography (whether human or physical, or a mixture) to develop a wide range of skills applicable to lots of different jobs. It’s a subject dealing with many of the world’s big challenges and how to solve them, so hopefully that means there will be some decent job opportunities. If I had my time again, I’d probably choose it!

DD was more of a physical geographer so most of her friends are more that side but they include 2 PGCEs, a town planner, management consultant, water manager and an environmental manager.

I’d echo PP’s town planning suggestion

Project management. Got on a competitive business grad scheme two years ago, the only other successful candidate in a room full of business grads had a Chemistry degree. He did Human Geog at Uni of Nottingham.

I did a masters in hydrology and work for consultancy in the water sector asset management department - a lot of analysing data, forecasting trends and investment plans, and producing client reports. Quite a lot of our geography grads at work go into sewer network modelling (woefully dull IMO) and quite a few have masters in town planning / urban design type fields and work in that department.
Of my uni mates another went to be an accountant, one worked at the Environment Agency, and one started work for the same company as me and ended up in the marketing team!
If you're not sure what career you want then it's definitely a subject that opens up a lot of opportunities and options.

Not my child, my younger sibling.

Did a masters in city planning after undergrad geography degree and now works in city planning in London.

And project management. But PMs with a technical background are very valuable.

The solutions to lots of land issues add often engineering solutions. Geographers just point out the issues! I do think geography is a great foundation degree and pay is decent if you move away from third sector roles. Environmental scientists are over supplied. Without physics, he’s not going to be a civil or environmental engineer or someone with technical expertise who can project manage.

Planners can work for LAs and also consultancies. The latter pay better. Surveyors get a variety of jobs too. Both surveyors and planners are land based jobs. We know lots who have gone down both routes. If he wants a decent salary, check out salary rates on Prospects or similar. Avoid anything where volunteering is a way in.

DH works in a large Aerospace company and is now very senior in his area of the business. He has been there since graduating. Companies like that don't just need engineers, there's a broad spread of roles, and they grads from a range of backgrounds are an asset.

I did Geography (albeit 20 years ago) and am now a partner in a top 10 professional services firm. My cohort went into a range of careers including audit, management consulting, law (real estate and criminal) banking, asset management, corporate governance, teaching, academia, marketing, and product development.

I gained a BSc Geography in 1989, followed by a PGCE a few years later and became an Early Years Teacher.

Has he looked at Earth Sciences at Oxford?

He filled the trigger and sent off application yesterday to Oxford, Durham and Bristol. Now he’s looking at possibly joint honours elsewhere!

meant to say he pulled the trigger!

now looking at
International development and economics Geography and economics
Politics and economics

My cousin did geography. She then got on a graduate scheme at a big retail firm in the HR department and used to administer psychometric tests.

DS was a senior manager in a multinational corporation, eventually moving to Europe with the same firm. He has now taken early retirement.

Wow. Did your DS do a masters?

My son would enjoy teaching but will not consider doing until later in life