Geography BA (Hons)

Through real world examples, fieldtrips and workshops you'll be introduced to contemporary human geography, exploring how geographical thinking helps explain the world around you. you'll examine relationships between people and places at local and global scales, and investigate how social, cultural and economic processes shape different parts of the world.

You'll take part in in-class and independent study activities, building skills in critical thinking and understanding how geographical knowledge is created.

On this module you'll explore how the physical environment functions by analysing it as a connected system, you'll investigate processes operating in a range of environments and discover how they work together to shape our planet.

You'll then apply these ideas to smaller-scale systems, building your understanding of key concepts, terminology and processes that influence the environments we experience every day.

Throughout the module, you'll develop the skills to interpret environmental data, explain spatial and temporal patterns and account for why physical systems vary and change over time.

This module takes you on a journey through global environmental challenges, exploring the nature and extent of human impact on the environment, and the complexities of managing environmental, population and resource change at local and global levels.

The module emphasises the multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches that must be taken to understand and solve environmental issues.

Through in-depth lectures and workshops, you'll begin to develop the critical thinking skills needed to begin to tackle real-world environmental problems to shape a better future.

This module will introduce you to a wide range of exciting fieldwork, data collection, and data analysis techniques that are essential for geographers.

You'll learn practical skills for collecting and analysing geographical data using both quantitative and qualitative methods. you'll do activities involving map-making, remote sensing, field surveying, experimental design, laboratory work, social science research methods, and basic statistics.

You'll also learn how to use key software such as excel, adobe illustrator, and arcgis. the module includes a mix of fieldwork, lectures, workshops, and computer- and laboratory-based sessions to help you apply what you learn in practice.

In the physical geography option you can learn about the controls of weather and climate in the northern hemisphere, how to read and interpret weather maps and climate information, and how climate change is impacting extreme weather events.

You'll then apply this to understand coastal erosion and the need for climate adaptation and mitigation.

In human geography option, you can explore key issues in global north urban planning and design including city centres, neighbourhoods, housing and recreational spaces.

Then you will shift geographical focus to the challenges facing societies in the global south.

This module will take you from the theory of environmental sustainability to the challenges of its real-world implementation. 

You'll explore the ethics of everyday products to help you develop your critical thinking skills. 

Sustainable environmental management connects your personal consumption to the status of the local, regional, and global environment.

You'll explore a variety of contrasting natural hazards and their impact on landscapes and ancient and modern civilisations.

Throughout the module, you will engage in a mixture of lectures, workshops, and hands-on laboratory activities that use examples of past and modern disastrous natural hazards, while examining the associated monitoring methods and risk management strategies.

With the special focus on volcanic systems and climatological hazards such as storms, droughts and wildfires, you'll experience a deeper understanding in today's most pressing issues in relation to interactions between natural hazards and societies.

On this module, you'll step outside the classroom and into how geography is impacting the world around us. on this week-long field class tailored to your course, you'll explore exciting destinations, work outdoors with fellow students, and collect real‑world geographical data using a range of qualitative and quantitative techniques.

During and before the trip, you'll develop independence, teamwork and career‑ready skills that prepare you for final‑year study and a wide range of impactful geography‑related careers.

Throughout this module you'll explore how rivers behave, evolve and transform the landscapes around us. through real-world case studies, you'll learn to interpret river processes and understand why they change over time.

You'll develop the skills to analyse fluvial systems - how rivers move water and sediment and shape the land - and apply this knowledge to environmental management problems, helping you understand how professionals protect, restore and work with river environments.

This module also gives you the opportunity to gain experience evaluating data, assessing river behaviour, and making informed recommendations - skills widely used in environmental consultancy, hydrology, and conservation.

You'll gain hands-on experience using the same gis and remote sensing software that professionals rely on in geography, environmental and earth science careers.

Through working with real-world data, you'll learn core theory before exploring the capture, interpretation and analysis of geographical and environmental data around topics such as wildlife habitats and natural disasters.

Along the way, you'll develop valuable digital, analytical, and problem-solving skills that will give you a strong advantage in the job market.

You'll be introduced to the exciting world of human geography through direct conversations with the lecturers who research and teach it.

you will create your own interview questions to explore how your geography lecturers investigate issues such as space, society and culture, and discover what academic life and research really involve.

Each session then dives into a lecturer's favourite own-publication, giving you a fascinating insight into real geographical research and helping you develop confidence, curiosity and critical thinking as a geographer.

You'll plan and deliver an independent research project guided by your interests and career ambitions. 

Through structured supervision and self-directed enquiry, you'll strengthen your ability to frame research questions, work with evidence, and evaluate findings critically. 

The module helps you build confidence as an emerging professional, preparing you for postgraduate study or graduate roles that require independent thinking, problem solving and clear communication.

On this module you'll explore how transport might shape more sustainable, fair and liveable futures for cities, regions and societies.

You'll investigate real‑world debates around climate change, transport modes, active travel, and policy, while developing your own solution to a transport issue based on your personal interests.

With guest speakers from the transport sector, this module will highlight how you can make a real difference beyond university.   

The impacts of climate change and natural hazards are one of the most pressing issues facing humanity in the 21st century.

The first part of this module investigates a plethora of geophysical (e.g., earthquakes, landslides and tsunamis), hydrological (e.g., storms and flooding), and climatological (e.g., droughts and wildfires) hazards and how they affect the landscape and ancient civilisations through a range of spatial and temporal scales.

The second part of this module explores the basic science of the climate, the evolution of the climate and the signature of human influence on earth's systems in recent times.

The methods employed in climate modelling are discussed, and climate models are used to investigate global and regional climate futures. vulnerabilities and impacts are explored, and measures that may be adopted in mitigation and amelioration are investigated in the context of a self-directed, supervised regional vulnerability study.

You'll examine the development of core theories and practices that underpin the social, economic and environmental management of coastal areas and the activities that take place within them. you'll then apply these concepts to a broad range of real-world issues including sustainable development, land and sea use planning, ecotourism, climate change, conservation, and the management of recreational and leisure activities.

The module is geared towards your professional career. you'll take part in applied tasks based on real-world case studies, as well as going on mini fieldtrips to see coastal management in practice.

You will also hear from a range of industry speakers - many of whom are alumni of the university of portsmouth - about their professional experiences and career development.

Mountain regions are changing rapidly as a result of factors such as climate change, the retreat of glaciers and population pressures. through lectures and interactive workshops, you will critically assess how mountains and glacial environments have evolved and changed over time, and also examine future trends as a result of global climate change.

You will learn about the complex interactions between mountain climate, tectonics, geomorphology, ecology (different ecosystems at different elevations) and human factors.

This module is research-led, with case studies discussed closely reflecting the research interests and field experience of the teaching staff. current locations include kilimanjaro, arctic mountains in scandinavia, and the himalayas and tibetan plateau.

In this module, you'll explore how power and politics work through gender in everyday life and around the world.

You'll learn how identity shapes political participation, leadership, policies, and protest, and look at power not just in governments but also in homes, workplaces, and social movements.

You'll explore topics like gender and leadership, conflict and peacebuilding, reproductive rights, and how gender connects with race, class, and sexuality, through a mix of lectures, discussions and practical work.

The aim of this module is to enable students to understand and apply a variety of applied approaches to environmental management. the techniques include carbon auditing, waste management, ecological mapping and impact assessment. these applications are used in the world of work and the module is designed to enhance the student's employability skills. the assessment is via reports which are representative of the types of report graduates will be expected to produce.

Through real-world examples and discussions, you'll explore how developments aimed at controlling nature have social and environmental consequences.

A key part of your learning on this module will be assessing the effectiveness of protest movements on environmental sustainability.

You will be supported in articulating your own set of environmental values and gain insights into how positivity and activism can be a force for positive change.

You'll explore the rich quaternary geological record of the british isles, to understand how sediments and landforms can be used to reconstruct glaciers and ice sheets which would have covered much of the country during past ice ages.

The module will also see you consider other past environments such as periglacial and glacio-fluvial systems and the economic importance of these quaternary deposits.

You will learn by taking part in lectures and hands-on' practical based classes and workshops.

Through real world examples, fieldtrips and workshops you'll develop your understanding of conservation, habitat restoration and protected areas management.

You'll explore conservation challenges from a range of perspectives and learn how to develop tailored and targeted environmental messaging for diverse stakeholders.

In a supportive environment, you'll develop your own environmental code and vision for conservation.

Experience and understand the arctic and its response to climate change first hand through fieldwork and real-world examples as you visit a cold environment location.* you'll explore urban living and how life is adapted to sub zero temperatures.

By examining the role of snow and ice in finnish lapland, you'll learn how this shapes the livelihood of reindeer herders and the sami people.

You'll undertake a climate field campaign to collect and analyse micro-climates and their impact on local ecology and wildlife. you will gain skills in fieldwork and completing a research investigation.

*Subject to change and fees, this module will include a winter fieldtrip to provide first-hand experience of climate change in cold environments. previous locations include arctic lapland and helsinki