BA (Hons)
Human Geography
Capturing the diversity of the human environment
Course Overview
Why take this course?
Discover and learn about current and pressing issues concerning environmental, economic, political, social and cultural processes that impact on all our lives.
On this course you’ll explore other diverse cultures, understanding how we live through the global to the local, and how we manage, support and conserve our environment. You'll also cover the major challenges that face human society in the twenty-first century.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Engage with the real world through field work or local urban regeneration schemes, including the project to regenerate large parts of Portsmouth’s historic waterfront
- Get a distinct flavour of some of the societies you may be studying with regular fieldtrips
- Go abroad to study through one of exchange links with universities in Spain, France and Poland
What opportunities might it lead to?
With your geographical skills and knowledge, alongside the transferable skills you’ll gain on this course, there’ll be lots of public and private sector roles open to you upon graduation.
You’ll be able to aim for a wide range of careers, including those in environmental and business management, the public service (including health authorities), local authorities and teaching.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- environmental consultancies
- geographical information science specialists
- working for the Environmental Agency
- working for the Ordnance Survey
The European fieldtrip to Barcelona is a definite highlight in the second year.
Mark Holton, BA (Hons) Human Geography student 2012
Key Facts
- UCAS Course Code:
- L722
- Duration
- 3 years full time
- Entry
280 points to include 180 points from A Levels or equivalent.
Other qualifications- Fees
UK/EU/Channel Islands and Isle of Man full-time students: £8,750 p/a*
International full-time students: £10,500 p/a*
*Please note that all fees are subject to annual increase.- Contact
- sci.admissions@port.ac.uk
+44 (0)23 9284 5550 - Department
- Department of Geography
Subject:
Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
Find out what our students say about studying at Portsmouth, including:
- Fieldtrips in the UK and abroad providing invaluable practical skills
- The open-door approach of the lecturers, many of whom have industry experience
- Superb careers advice and support that is part of your course
Visit us at our open day
Wed 10 Jul
Structure & Teaching
Year one
In the first year of your studies, you will be introduced to the breadth of geography.
Core units in this year include:
- Foundations of Human Geography and Population
- Resources and Environment
- Geographical Information Systems
Year two
In your second year, you can either choose to continue your studies on a broad basis or specialise in the aspects that interest you most. You’ll also get the chance to travel overseas for some field work.
Options to choose from in this year include:
- Social and Cultural Geography: Changing Cities
- Geographies of Development
- Spatial Data Acquisition
- Introduction to Historical Geography
- Creating Regions and Managing Change
- North American City
- Social Geography: Geographies of Wellbeing
- Geographical Data Modelling
Year three
Specialise further in your final year by choosing from a selection of optional units. A number of these will involve the real-world application of human geography through advanced field work giving you great first-hand experience of the places or environments you may be studying.
Options to choose from in this year include:
- Geographies of Health
- Rural Geographies
- Cultural Geography
- Workplace Geographies
- Europe in Transition
- The Historical and Regional Economic Development of the USA
- Geographical Information Science
- Environmental Management
Teaching and Assessment
Throughout your time with us, we will provide you with the support, enthusiasm and encouragement that you will need to reach your goals. You’ll be taught via a balanced structure of lectures, student-centred seminars, one-to-one tutorials and workshops.
How are you assessed?
Assessment is a mix of coursework and exams, roughly 60:40 respectively. However, your coursework can take a variety of forms including:
- contributions to electronic discussion forums
- web page design
- posters
- projects
- presentations
- portfolios
Tutor's view
Dr Liz Twigg
Geography
My teaching emphasises the importance of geography in helping us to understand social inequalities in health and other population outcomes. I tend to use my own research within teaching sessions and I strive to ensure your learning is a healthy mix of theoretical and applied material, using of a hands-on approach to ‘doing’ geography whenever possible.
Visit us open day
Facilities & Features
Specialist Software and Equipment
You'll have access to the latest specialist software and equipment
Field Trips
Fieldwork is an important part of our courses
University Library
Our library offers a wealth of information
Specialist Software and Equipment
We offer fully equipped physical geography, GIS and photogrammetry labs. Brimming with ultra-modern equipment, you’ll have access to our facilities for project work and interpreting field data. Here’s a taste of what is available to you:
- laser survey technology
- photogrammetry equipment
- an environmental simulation cabinet
- natural waters and materials testing equipment
Field Trips
Fieldwork is an important part of our courses. From looking at sustainable tourism to natural resource use and heritage conservation, some of our previous trips have included:
- Berlin
- Barcelona
- Poland
- The Netherlands
- Malta
- Zanzibar
University Library
Modern, comfortable and a great learning environment, our library offers a wealth of information including 400,000 books, DVDs, maps and thousands of online ejournals and newspapers. Many electronic resources are available anywhere, 24/7 and our friendly staff are always on hand to help.
Careers & Opportunities
Career prospects
As a geographer you will develop a detailed understanding of the diversity and range of the human environment. You’ll begin to understand your own place in this world and develop the kind of skills and abilities that employers demand. Increasingly, specialist agencies such as the Environment Agency, survey and mapping companies, local authorities and environmental and economic development consultancies are seeking the skills and abilities that geographers possess.
The communication, numeric and IT skills you will gain also make you a good candidate for business, commerce or education-oriented careers. A significant proportion of graduates also go on to postgraduate study.
Roles our graduates have taken on include:
- geographical information scientist
- environmental consultant
- spatial analyst
- coastal process scientist
- urban planner
- transport planner
Work experience
As well as many fieldtrips embedded throughout the course, we have exchange links with a number of universities in Europe and beyond, so you can take up the opportunity to study abroad for a few months. Current links include the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain), Universite du Havre, (Le Havre, France) and Adam Mickiewicz University (Poznan, Poland).
Not only will it be a fun and challenging experience, but you will also develop skills in languages, adaptability, resilience and the ability to communicate with a range of people. These qualities will undoubtedly set you apart to future employers.
Career planning
6.04 minutes
Finding a job is a competitive business, but the statistics show that 89 per cent of our 2011graduates went into employment, further study or training within six months of finishing their degrees.
To make sure you take the right steps on your career path, we’re here to give you help, support and advice throughout your study. Even after you’ve graduated, we continue to give you support for up to five years.
Employers tell us that they want graduates to be able to demonstrate certain skills when they come out of university. Our courses take account of this. We make sure we prepare you for employment through work-related learning, projects, placements and working in simulated environments that are designed to prepare you for the working world.
Open Day
Our next open day is Wed 10 July
VISIT US! Have a look around and get a feel for what it’s like to live and study here. We’ll be on hand to talk to you about your course interests and show you all of our amazing facilities. You’ll also get to meet tutors and other students…
Application, Fees and Funding — find out more