BSc (Hons)
Geography with Geographical Information
Learn through hands-on experience in our GIS and photogrammetry labs
Course Overview
Why take this course?
Geographical Information Science (GIS) is about creating, handling and analysing spatial data. It is a booming business with an estimated £100 billion being spent on spatial information in the UK every year.
If you have an interest in the world around you and its spatial patterns, this course has a great mix of GIS alongside general physical and human geography topics.
What will I experience?
On this course you can:
- Get hands-on experience of using instruments such as GPS, Total Stations and 3D laser scanners
- Gain professional insight by visiting key employers such as the Ordnance Survey and the Office for National Statistics
- Go abroad to study through one of exchange links with universities in Spain, France and Poland
What opportunities might it lead to?
Governments, councils, public utilities, health authorities, environmental and conservation agencies, commercial companies and many other organisations rely on GIS as part of their planning and decision-making processes. So you’ll find plenty of employment opportunities within these areas once you graduate.
Here are some routes our graduates have pursued:
- environmental consultancies
- geographical information science specialists
- working for the Environmental Agency
- working for the Ordnance Survey
Geography has access to regularly available computer facilities. There are also specialised labs and equipment for certain modules.
Ashley Purchase, geography student 2013
Key Facts
- UCAS Course Code:
- L7F8
- Duration
- 3 years full time
- Entry
280 points to include 160 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*
*The same fee applies each year of your course with a minimum annual increase in line with inflation.- 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
Alongside the more general aspects of human or physical geography, environmental management and computing, you’ll begin to explore the theory and practice of GIS.
You will study in the following subject areas:
- Geomatics
- Geographical Data Analysis
- Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
- Database Management
Year two
Core units in this year include:
- Applied Spatial Data Analysis
- Cartography
- Geographical Research Methodologies, Techniques and Practice
- Geography Tutorial Level 5
- Residential Field Class
Some optional units you could choose from this year include:
- Economic and Political Geography 1:North American City
- Environmental and Climate Change: Practice
- River and Coastal Forms and Processes: Practice
- Social Geography: Geographies of Wellbeing
- Sustainable Environmental Management
- Work and Place
Year three
Core units in this year include:
- Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
- Geographical Information Systems in the Workplace
- Independent Study
- Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
Some optional units in this year include:
- Applied Coastal Geomorphology
- Economic and Political Geography: Europe in Transition
- Environment: Theory and Assessment
- Gender and Development
- Mountain Climates
- Regional Economic Development in the NE USA 1850–1900
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
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
- high precision GPS
Field Trips
Fieldwork is an important part of our courses. From soil study to mountain climates, some of our previous trips have included:
- Berlin
- Colorado
- Barcelona
- Malta
- The Netherlands
- Belgium
- Finland
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
You will be well placed to take up a career in this expanding market. It's a fast-growing and well-paid field in which the demand for well-qualified graduates so far outstrips supply.
Past graduates now work for organisations such as the Ordnance Survey, the Environment Agency, local authorities, health authorities, insurance companies, the Ministry of Defence and various retailers.
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
Example of what one of our graduates has gone on to do:
- Gas Network, Geographical Information Technician – gas pipe mapping
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 stand 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