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Geography (Professional Placement Year) at Bath Spa University - UCAS

Course options

2025 - 2026
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Bath Spa University has participated in the Teaching Excellence Framework. These ratings were awarded in 2023, for four years.

Open days

11Jan
Bath Spa University undergraduate open day
Undergraduate

Course summary

Develop the knowledge and skills to understand our complex world with a degree in Geography.

  • Gain fieldwork experience in international destinations such as Italy and Spain as well as on our beautiful Newton Park campus and in the world heritage city of Bath.
  • Tailor your studies to specialise in either human or physical geography, or combine both.
  • Develop specialist skills and knowledge to prepare for a wide range of careers and postgraduate study opportunities.
On this Geography degree, you’ll engage with some of the most complex and challenging issues facing contemporary society including: climate change, migration, urbanisation, hazards and disasters, social and economic inequalities, coastal and river management, and conservation. Through fieldwork opportunities in the UK and overseas you’ll learn how to work in different contexts and to appreciate the links between local issues and global challenges. You’ll also develop specialist skills and learn how to apply the latest geotechnologies to real world contexts, preparing you for a range of careers and further study opportunities. You’ll be part of our supportive Geography community, and you’ll be taught by our team of expert lecturers who are actively engaged in research. More about the Professional Placement Year A Professional Placement Year (PPY), traditionally known as a sandwich year, is where you undertake a period of work with an external organisation for between 9-13 months. The placement occurs between your second and final years of undergraduate study. You can engage in multiple placements to make up the total time and are required to source the placement(s) yourself, with support from the Careers team.

Modules

Year one Your first year helps you to transition to university-level Geography by establishing foundational skills and knowledge. You’ll develop these basic skills and knowledge through modules in both human and physical geography covering topics such as cities, environmental change and sustainable development. Year two In your second year, you’ll develop more specialist knowledge and skills. In core modules you’ll develop your understanding of the discipline of geography, learn how to apply geotechnologies to real-world challenges and develop skills that can be used in a wide range of careers. Optional modules enable you to specialise in topics in human or physical geography, such as:

  • climate change
  • environmental hazards
  • global development and environment
  • migration
  • race and social justice
  • politics and policy making, or
  • environmental management.
You’ll also start to plan for your career, with an opportunity to undertake an optional work placement module. The optional field trip to Italy offers a unique opportunity to explore geographical themes in a highly dynamic, real-world context. On this trip you’ll learn about a range of topics such as earthquake disasters, flood hazards, air quality and pollution, climate change impacts and vulnerabilities, regional development, sustainability, and urban geographies. You’ll also have opportunities to experience the regional diversity, food and culture of Italy. Please note that some of our field trips may incur additional costs on top of your course fees. Financial support for field trip costs may be available via the Bath Spa University International Travel Fund. You can choose to undertake an optional Professional Placement Year between your second and final years. Year three is your Professional Placement Year. Final year You’ll complete a final year independent research project (supervised by one of our expert lecturers), allowing you to conduct a piece of original geographical research on a topic of your choosing. Students have undertaken their final year dissertation projects in locations across the UK, as well as in countries such as Canada, Kenya and Uganda. You’ll have a choice of optional modules that give you the opportunity to continue to specialise in human or physical geography, exploring topics such as:
  • disaster risk reduction
  • identities and inequalities
  • coastal and river management
  • environmental practice
  • gender in society
  • conservation politics
  • plants and people
  • environmental justice.
An optional field trip to Spain allows you to study a range of topics in both human and physical geography such as environmental hazards, climate change, city planning, urban sustainability and social inequalities. Please visit our website for full details of modules available to you.

Assessment method

You’ll be assessed through a variety of engaging and challenging assessment formats designed to help you to develop key skills and to prepare for your future career or postgraduate study. Your assessments will depend on the modules you choose, but may include a mix of essays, projects, reports, posters, presentations, video clips, field or lab-based activities, reflective commentaries or online tests. Most modules are assessed primarily through coursework and assessment rather than tests or exams. You'll complete many of your assessments as an individual, but there are also some group projects designed to help you to develop essential collaborative working skills. In addition to the help provided by your subject lecturers, you can also access extensive support for your assessments through ASk, the Academic Skills Service.

Professional bodies

Professionally accredited courses provide industry-wide recognition of the quality of your qualification.

  • Royal Geographical Society

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

Course code:
F801
Institution code:
B20
Campus name:
Main Site
Campus code:
-

Points of entry

The following entry points are available for this course:

  • Year 1
  • Year 2
  • Year 4

Entry requirements

Qualification requirements

English language requirements

TestGradeAdditional details
IELTS (Academic)6IELTS 6.0 - for visa nationals, with a minimum score of IELTS 5.5 in each element.

Student Outcomes

Operated by the Office for Students

There is no data available for this course. For further information visit 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
Channel Islands £9535 Year 1
Republic of Ireland £9535 Year 1
EU £16460 Year 1
International £16460 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

No additional fees or cost information has been supplied for this course, please contact the provider directly.
Geography (Professional Placement Year) at Bath Spa University - UCAS