Our degree courses in Geography are flexible, allowing you to explore a broad range of geographical topics, and to focus on particular areas of interest.
The Department of Geography is a friendly and lively place to work and study, and is one of the leading departments in the UK for teaching, academic support and research.
We offer you the chance to experience and learn about different aspects of Geography in both the UK and overseas. We do this through a range of department-based teaching methods, the use of state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for both physical and human geography, and through exciting and varied field training.
Beyond your academic programme, our student-run Geography Society organises regular events and trips that really bring together our close, international community. It has been recognised by the Students' Union as the ‘Most Sociable Society’.
Read more in our Geography Undergraduate Studies brochure here
Choosing your degree
Our single honours degrees are accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers). Accredited degrees contain a solid academic foundation in geographical knowledge and skills, and prepare you to address the needs of the world beyond higher education.
You can choose from:
BSc Environment and Social Change (F660)
An interdisciplinary degree designed to address 21st century issues facing humanity and our planet.
Pathways
Geography engages with some of the most fundamental challenges facing the modern world, as well as opening up critical questions about our past, presents and futures, and here at Royal Holloway Geography Department we offer three exciting degree pathways with a focus on these important contemporary themes:
- BA Geography, Culture and Identity - L710
- BA Geography, Geopolitics and Global Affairs - L711
- BSc Geography, Environment and Climate - F810
Course structure
Each undergraduate degree is structured through a system of ‘course modules’, with students taking four modules in each of the three years. The individual modules comprise a range of teaching methods, including lectures, seminars, tutorials, fieldwork and practicals.
This diversity of teaching underlies the ethos of the department to teach students to ‘do’ geography as well as learning it. Key features of the undergraduate degree are:
- The ability to choose second and third year courses.
- The ability to choose modules in other departments in the second and third years, subject to availability and requirements.
- All second and third-year courses count towards your degree.
- Courses examined in the year in which they are taught.
Assessment
Your course is assessed through written examinations and/or coursework. Coursework is designed to assess a range of skills, with typical methods including essays, subject reviews, laboratory reports, oral & poster presentations, fieldwork reports, policy briefs and the final year dissertation. On a year-by-year basis, the balance between coursework and examinations is as follows:
First Year:
- Assessment is split 50% continuous assessment and 50% exams.
- There are four exams, all taken in the summer term.
- Coursework includes field and laboratory reports, based on the Spain field trip.
- You will also have small-group tutorial assignments.
Second Year:
- Overall weighting is approximately 63% continuous assessment (including field trip report) to 37% exams.
- Year 2 Geography option courses are 50% coursework and 50% exams.
Third year:
- Depending on the options taken, course units are either 50% coursework: 50% exam, or 100% coursework
- There are no Geography options which are 100% exam.
Academic support
Key features of the tutor system are:
- All students are allocated a personal tutor for the duration of your course.
- Tutorial groups usually number seven or eight students.
- In the first year, you’ll meet in your tutor group to develop key skills and for regular (at least fortnightly) group learning sessions to support the lecture courses.
- You’ll also have a one-to-one with your tutor at the start and end of every term.
- Tutors also provide pastoral support as appropriate.
- Further academic support is provided by the Director of Undergraduate Programmes and the Department's Education Support Officer.
We consistently receive high scores for the quality of our academic and learning experience from our students in annual National Student Surveys (NSS) read more
Teaching & research
The links between teaching and research are important for any contemporary degree environment. As a leading centre for geographical research and teaching, we have earned international recognition for advancing understanding of the challenges facing contemporary culture, the economy and the environment, and this makes an inspiring learning environment to become part of.
Geography graduates need experience in what is at the forefront of your subject (research-led teaching). You require an understanding of the processes involved in ‘doing’ Geography (research-oriented teaching), and the need to experience enquiry-based learning (research-based teaching).
Our Geography degree courses at Royal Holloway are designed to incorporate all of these elements.
Your future career
Throughout your degree, the combination of lab, field and desk-based learning, teamwork and GIS-mapping will equip you with invaluable transferable skills to take into the workplace.
We support your career development with a Careers Bootcamp in the summer term, careers advice sessions to enhance your employability, alumni talks and networking events.
As a graduate from Geography at Royal Holloway, you'll be in a unique position to address issues such as climate change, migration, environmental degradation, poverty and sustainable development in your career.
Read more on our Your future career section
