Geography
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Geography
Essentials
Courses
BA (Hons) in Geography
BA (Hons) in Geography and Anthropology
BA (Hons) in Geography and International Development
BA (Hons) in Geography and International Relations
BA (Hons) in Geography with a Language
BSc (Hons) in Geography
Foundation year for non-EU students
If your qualifications (including English language)
do not yet meet our entry requirements for
admission direct to the first year of these courses,
we offer an international foundation year entry
route. Refer to page 34 for details
Related subject
International development (p93)
A levels and IB scores
(For other qualifications information, refer to
pages 144-146)
Typical A level offer range: AAB-ABB
For the BSc in Geography, A levels must include
Geography or another science subject
Typical IB diploma offer: at least 34 points
For the BSc in Geography, 34 points including
at least 5 in Higher Level Geography or another
science subject
What else do I need?
GCSE (or equivalent) Mathematics, grade C
Scholarships, fees and living costs
Refer to pages 151-154 and visit
www.sussex.ac.uk/study/money
English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall, with not less than 6.0 in each
section. Pearson’s Test of English (Academic) with
62 overall with at least 56 in all four skills. For
alternative English language requirements, refer
to page 146
Contact us
Department of Geography,
University of Sussex, Falmer,
Brighton BN1 9SJ, UK
E [email protected]
T +44 (0)1273 877238
www.sussex.ac.uk/geography
Open Days
Our Open Day dates for 2015 are 27 June,
5 September and 3 October. We also run regular
campus tours. Call 01273 876787 or book
online at www.sussex.ac.uk/visitors,
88
Why geography?
Geographers study the earth’s landscapes,
people and environment and the interactions
between them. Geography bridges the social
sciences (human geography) and natural
sciences (physical geography). It is concerned
with understanding the interactions between
natural processes and human activities,
developing ways to best deal with real-world
issues such as climate change, economic and
cultural diversity and international migration.
Why geography at Sussex?
• Our graduates are highly employable with
98 per cent in work or further study six months
after graduation (Destinations of Leavers
from Higher Education Survey 2013/14). In
the 2014 National Student Survey (NSS),
our students rated human geography at
Sussex 4th among comparable UK institutions
for satisfaction with organisation and
management.
• You gain a global outlook through our
teaching and our fieldtrips. We currently
offer one of the most ambitious choices of
fieldwork destinations of any UK geography
department. In recent years, our students have
visited California, Vietnam, Egypt, Morocco,
Thailand, Southern India, Dubai, China and the
Seychelles.
• All our faculty are research active, which
means that you learn from experts in their
field. In the 2014 Research Excellence
Framework, 98 per cent of our research was
rated as world leading, internationally excellent
or internationally recognised. Our research
ranked first in the country for the outstanding
reach and significance of its impact. As our
research underpins our teaching, you discuss
world-leading research directly with those who
conduct it.
David’s
faculty perspective
‘My research focuses on how developing
countries can grow economically using low
carbon technologies. This raises the possibility of
addressing climate change while simultaneously
addressing poverty – both global policy priorities. I
regularly advise international policy organisations,
such as the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change, on this issue.
‘This research feeds directly into my teaching,
helping me to bring the issues around climate
change to life and allowing me to connect the
relevant international policy debates with students’
learning experience at Sussex. For example, in one
of our seminars we recreate the UN climate change
negotiations – it’s great fun at the same time as
preparing students to make a difference in the world
when they move on from Sussex into their careers in
the global workplace.’
Dr David Ockwell
Senior Lecturer in Geography,
University of Sussex
Students on the Los Angeles field trip were taught
the art of graffiti by Vyal One, resident artist of
the East LA community organisation Self Help
Graphics and Art (SHGA)
BA core content
How will I learn?
We vary the way we teach so you experience
different learning styles. Lectures and seminars
might be combined with workshops, fieldwork,
tutorials or practical classes. Student-led seminars
are features of some modules, as are small-group
tutorials. You can also download a range of lecture
resources from dedicated e-learning module
websites, including podcasts of all lectures.
Modes of assessment can include learning diaries,
practical reports and presentations, in combination
with more conventional essays and examinations.
Single-honours courses: you get a grounding
in core aspects of geography and have the
flexibility to focus on your evolving areas of
interest by choosing complementary modules
Joint-honours courses: in Years 1 and 2, you
take core modules in both your subjects. In
your final year, you choose specialised options
from both subjects
Also refer to pages 32-36.
What will I achieve?
• transferable skills to help in your future career,
including report writing, presentation skills,
writing policy briefs, statistical analysis,
fieldwork skills, managing independent
research and the ability to use Geographical
Information Systems
• an understanding of the nature of human
and physical factors that shape places and
environments, and specialised knowledge in
your chosen fields of interest
• the ability to use geographical knowledge and
understanding in the development of solutions
to global problems. You will be able to collect
and analyse complex data, reason clearly, judge
evidence, evaluate theories and produce clear
findings and recommendations.
Career paths
Recent graduates have taken up a wide range
of posts including: assistant to the director,
Royal Geographical Society • community arts
developer, National Trust • associate head
hunter, Major Players • environmental advisor,
Groundwork UK • events and marketing intern,
Right To Play • geography teacher, Ridgeway
Secondary School • junior account executive,
BGB Communications • trainee producer, Icon
Films • project manager, British Waterways
• conservation worker, British Trust • policy
advisor, DEFRA • business administrator,
Rio Tinto • events manager, Come Play
• field technical assistant, Riedel Resources
Limited • assistant wind-farm project developer,
Gaoh Energy Ltd • risk analyst, Renaissance
Insurance Group • trainee ranger, East Sussex
Council Council • trainee reserves officer,
Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust.
Specific employer destinations listed are taken
from recent Destinations of Leavers from Higher
Education surveys, which are produced annually
by the Higher Education Statistics Agency.
With their broad range of numeric, literary,
practical and resource-management skills,
Sussex geographers are well-equipped to enter
a wide range of careers in the private and public
sectors.
Year 1
Year 1 modules introduce the main issues that
form the core of human and environmental
geography. They are also designed to introduce
you to the intellectual demands of universitylevel study and to develop the skills needed to
deal with theory and data, to work individually
and in groups (including fieldwork) and to
present your work in various ways
You are introduced to human and
environmental geography, and some optional
elements of physical geography. You study
topics such as place, space and landscape
• environmental management • environmental
risks and hazards • development and
inequality. In addition, you receive training in
geographical and study skills
You also choose complementary modules
drawn from related subjects such as
anthropology, cultural studies, international
relations and international development.
These modules give you greater breadth and
choice in your studies. Alternatively, you may
wish to substitute language skills modules for
some options
Year 2
You study two areas of human geography –
cultural geography and social geography.
You also choose from topics such as
international migration • climate change
science • development issues • GIS. You will
develop skills in geographical data collection
and analysis through specialist training and an
exciting field trip, overseas or in the UK
Year 3
You tailor your course towards your interests,
choosing from topics such as population
and development • land use • rural
livelihoods • social movements • labour
geography • globalisation and geopolitics
• transnationalism and identity • climatechange policy. You employ skills and concepts
acquired throughout your course to carry out
an individual research project (supervised by a
member of faculty) that forms the framework
for your undergraduate thesis
Sussex Choice
Broaden your studies, develop your interests and gain
a valuable career edge with Sussex Choice. Look out
for the icons:
electives or pathways (details on page 35)
placements (details on page 36)
study abroad opportunities (details on page 36)
Geography
Courses
Geography (BA)
BA (Hons), 3 years UCAS Code: L700
This course focuses on the relationships
between human societies and their
environments. You explore pressing global
issues such as climate change, migration,
poverty and international development, as well
as culture and history and their importance for
understanding the contemporary world.
You shape your degree to your interests – as
your studies progress, you can choose to focus
entirely on human geography or to take a variety
of options in physical geography, giving you a
solid grounding in a range of topics, skills and
approaches to geography.
Refer to the BA core content on the left.
Geography and Anthropology
BA (Hons), 3 years UCAS Code: LL76
This course brings together two disciplines
with a strong intellectual link stretching back
over 100 years. You study relationships
between human societies and cultures and the
earth’s environment, examining differences in
cultures, politics, economies, landscapes and
environments across the world.
Refer to the BA core content on the right; also
refer to the anthropology subject area on page
42.
Neelam’s
student perspective
‘As a geographer, Sussex’s location beside a
national park is absolutely perfect, but it’s also
the University’s reputation for critical thinking and
its progressive outlook that make it so appealing.
Sussex is always up-to-date.
‘Human geography is constantly changing and
I experienced this first hand on our field trip to
Vietnam. We travelled the whole country and
saw slums minutes away from luxurious new
developments, which was truly eye-opening and
confirmed the importance of studying our changing
planet.
‘During my course, I’ve been working with the charity
Development in Action, teaching Global Citizen
Workshops in schools. I teach complex development
issues to children in a straightforward way. The aim
is to inform them about small changes they can
make here that will have a big impact elsewhere
in the world. It’s great to see knowledge gained at
university put to positive use in the community.’
Neelam Rai
BA in Geography and
International Development
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Geography
BSc core content
Year 1
You are introduced to physical and
environmental geography, and some optional
elements of human geography. You examine
areas such as the climate system
• earth-surface processes • environmental
risks and hazards • ecology and ecosystems.
In addition, you receive training in
geographical methods of data collection and
analysis, as well as study skills
Year 2
In Year 2, you take more advanced modules.
You study two areas of physical geography –
climate-change science and global landscape
dynamics. You also choose from topics such as
Ice Age earth • sustainable development • GIS
• conservation biology. You have the
opportunity to combine these with one or more
human geography options. You also develop
your environmental research skills and go
on a field trip (overseas or in the UK), both of
which improve your observational, practical,
analytical and presentational skills
Students on the Vietnam field trip gain first-hand
experience of mountain geomorphology and land
use and management near Sapa
Geography and International
Development
BA (Hons), 3 years UCAS Code: LL79
In this course you explore the relationships
between geography and international
development, including issues of economic
development, cultural change and the
environment in a global setting.
Combining the study of geography and
international development allows you to focus on
the ways in which pressing global issues – such
as poverty, inequality and social justice – relate
to geographical issues. Studying these two
subjects together gives you the tools to work
in organisations tackling global challenges
worldwide.
Refer to the BA core content on page 89; also
refer to the international development subject
area on page 93.
Geography and International Relations
BA (Hons), 3 years UCAS Code: LL72
Geography and international relations,
with their shared interests in spatial and
environmental relationships at the regional and
global levels, have close links.
This course develops your understanding of the
core concepts of both subjects and an awareness
of the major practical, political and moral
challenges facing contemporary global society.
Refer to the BA core content on page 89; also
refer to the international relations subject area
on page 95.
Geography with a Language
BA (Hons), 3 years UCAS Code: L7RY
In this course you explore the relationships
between culture and the environment, with
particular emphasis on Europe within a global
setting.
Studying a language alongside geography helps
to give you a deeper appreciation of a region
and allows you to specialise on a region of your
choice. The language skills you gain, combined
with a solid grounding in geography, prepare you
for work in countries around the world.
Refer to the BA core content on page 89; also
refer to the Languages Pathway on page 100.
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Year 3
You tailor your degree towards your interests,
choosing from a wide range of specialist topics
such as coastal processes and management
• landuse and landcover change • past
environments and human impact • climate
sciences • conservation • climate-change
policy. You employ skills and concepts acquired
throughout your course to carry out an
individual research project (supervised by a
member of faculty) that forms the framework
for your undergraduate thesis
Geography field trip to China. This field trip
gives you the opportunity to learn about the
interaction of cultures with their environment, as
well as to witness the geological, climatological
and biological processes that contribute to the
evolution of a spectacular and ancient landscape
Geography (BSc)
BSc (Hons), 3 years UCAS Code: F801
This course allows you to study for a
specialist physical geography degree.
It provides an enhanced level of field
and laboratory science skills compared with
other geography courses. You also acquire an
understanding of the origins of the earth, and
develop detailed knowledge of climate science,
earth-surface processes and their interactions
with human society. A number of modules in
ecology and environment may also be included
for students with interests in biogeography.
Refer to the BSc core content on the left.
Tom’s
student perspective
‘Through the Geography course at Sussex I’ve grown
in confidence, developed my interests in the
environment and sustainability, and met some great
people.
‘The Geography Department is fantastic! The lecturers
are what really attracted me to Sussex, with their
specialism in climate change and sustainability, and
the facilities in the Department provide an excellent
space to work and socialise.
‘The course has enabled me to be more critical of the
world around me, leading me to be more focused, and
I now feel much more confident expressing my own
opinions and ideas.
‘Another great thing about Geography at Sussex is the
opportunity to go on a field trip in your second year.
I opted to go to Vietnam (with an additional stay in
Cambodia and Thailand) and, to date, those five
weeks have been the best of my life.’
Tom Rossiter
BSc in Geography