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Geography with Foundation Year at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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There are other course options available which may have a different vacancy status or entry requirements – view the full list of options

Birkbeck, University of London has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Course summary

Our BSc Geography gives you the skills and knowledge to understand our changing physical and social environment and how this impacts our contemporary world's challenges. Led by leading researchers in the field, this geography degree will help you discover the multiple connections between space, place, human culture and physical landscapes in which we live, addressing issues such as climate change, the causes and impact of inequalities, and how we live together in an increasingly urban world. Why choose this course?

  • Our geography teaching is research-led, offering you a complete grounding in human, environmental and physical geography, as well as developing your skills using Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
  • We offer several field trips to offer you hands-on experience exploring a variety of themes in human and physical geography.
  • You will study in a supportive learning environment with classmates, some of whom are already working in relevant sectors and are keen to share their experience and expertise.
What you will learn You will learn key geographical skills in your first year and then tailor your degree to your interests and career goals, by drawing from a range of option modules in the fields of human, physical and environmental geography, GIS and international development. You will acquire knowledge, practical skills, and research and project management experience, all of which will enhance your employability. How you will learn This BSc Geography combines classroom-based activities in seminars and workshops, with online learning, computer practicals and field teaching. We also offer online pre-recorded lectures to complement our on-campus classes in many of our modules. You can choose to study the BSc Geography either full- or part-time. It has an evening timetable with classes taking place in the evening. Foundation Year If you opt for the Foundation Year route, this will fully prepare you for undergraduate study. It is ideal if you are returning to study after a gap, or if you have not previously studied the relevant subjects, or if you didn't achieve the grades you need for a place on your chosen undergraduate degree. Highlights
  • Our geography teaching is research-led, offering a complete grounding in human, environmental, GIS and physical geography, as well as a wide range of option modules that let you tailor your degree to your interests.
  • Our geography specialists are actively involved in the Birkbeck Centre for Environment and Sustainability, and host annual events you can attend such as the Birkbeck Climate Festival.
  • You will develop the social and technical skills you need for both academic research and the workplace, including data collection and analysis, and GIS.
  • Our campus in London offers students the chance to explore one of the world’s great multicultural cities, and access to world-class libraries and institutions like the British Museum and the British Library.
  • We are proud of our vibrant research culture, powered by a shared passion for learning and intellectual engagement among our academics and students. We have a strong commitment to social justice, which is demonstrated in much of our research.
Careers and employability On successfully graduating from this BSc Geography, you will have attained an array of important transferable skills, including:
  • effective workload management skills
  • critical-thinking skills
  • written and oral presentation skills
  • hands-on experience with GIS
  • project management and reporting skills.
Some graduates are now employed at organisations such as the Marine Management Organisation and Electricité de France. Studying this course will prepare you for a career in fields such as:
  • the corporate sector
  • local and national government
  • planning and policy-making
  • the environmental sector
  • education
  • development.

Modules

For information about course structure and the modules you will be studying, please visit Birkbeck’s online prospectus.

Assessment method

Most modules are assessed by a combination of unseen examinations and coursework. The final-year independent literature review or research project is assessed purely by project work.

How to apply

29Jan

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Application codes

Please select a course option – you will then see the application code you need to use to apply for the course.

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Foundation

International applicants

If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

We welcome applicants without traditional entry qualifications as we base decisions on our own assessment of qualifications, knowledge and previous work experience. We may waive formal entry requirements based on judgement of academic potential.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students
65%
Employment after 15 months (Most common jobs)
90%
Go onto work and study

The number of student respondents and response rates can be important in interpreting the data – it is important to note your experience may be different from theirs. This data will be based on the subject area rather than the specific course. Read more about this data on the Discover Uni website.

Fees and funding

Tuition fees

England £9535 Year 1
Northern Ireland £9535 Year 1
Scotland £9535 Year 1
Wales £9535 Year 1
International £18060 Year 1

Tuition fee status depends on a number of criteria and varies according to where in the UK you will study. For further guidance on the criteria for home or overseas tuition fees, please refer to the UKCISA website .

Additional fee information

Students are charged a tuition fee in each year of their course. Tuition fees for students continuing on their course in following years may be subject to annual inflationary increases.
Geography with Foundation Year at Birkbeck, University of London - UCAS