Teaching and assessment
We teach you through a combination of:
- lectures
- practical classes
- field work
- small group tutorials
- online resources.
Some of our lectures are available for download as podcasts.
Assessment methods include:
- coursework
- written exams
- written assignments and reports
- class exercises
- oral assessment and presentation
- practical skills assessment.
Research-led teaching
Your final year will be spent carrying out a personal research project under the supervision of a member of academic staff allocated according to the topic you choose.
Our staff work on a wide range of research projects both in the UK and around the world. Our research feeds directly into your studies and our excellent equipment and facilities are available to our students during teaching and for final-year research.
Learn more about Professor Nicholas Branch's research into climate change in Peru
Learn from researchers who are making a positive impact
Professor Hannah Cloke's research on flooding focuses on developing techniques to help us prepare better for flooding by improving forecasting. It saves lives through improving early warning systems in flood-prone parts of the world, and reduces the impact of flooding on businesses.
Modules that prepare you for the workplace
Jonathan Cocks studied BSc Geography (Human and Physical) at the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø and developed his practical, applied skills and transferable skill set through the course.
Jonathan chose the Preparing for Floods module which was developed with input from organisations that hold a real stake in the issues explored in the course, including staff from the Environment Agency, Met Office and Red Cross Climate Centre.
Learning from professionals in the field allowed Jonathan to gain insight into a variety of potential sectors, organisations, and roles, helping to prepare him to enter the job market with a clear direction.
“Taking this module meant that I got to work directly with people who used the concepts I was learning about in their day-to-day roles, and really made it clear how relevant my course was to the issues I care about.”
Jonathan Cocks
BSc Geography (Human and Physical)
Placement opportunities
Gain invaluable work experience and explore your career options by undertaking a placement or year of professional experience during your studies*.
Placements offer an exciting opportunity to enhance work-related skills and develop a network of contacts, as well as strengthening career prospects and cultivating direct experience in a potential career field.
Year of professional experience
You will have the opportunity to take a year of professional experience following your second year. This is a fantastic opportunity to hone your skills in a real work environment, gain direct experience in your chosen field, and build up your CV.
Students have recently worked for:
- Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust
- Department for Education
- Hydro-Logic
- Dyer & Butler
- GSK
- Mott MacDonald
- Thames Water.
Research projects
We offer opportunities for you to work with partner organisations on research projects. These provide a fantastic opportunity for you to work alongside employers, on a topic about which you are passionate, and develop a network of contacts. Recent examples of organisations with whom students have worked include:
- Thames Water
- Environment Agency
- ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø Borough Council
- Earth Trust
- ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø Buses
- West Berkshire Wildlife Group.
Read how Professor Sally Lloyd-Evans has made placements part of her research
Placements within the University
Vacation placements are sometimes available within the University through schemes such as the ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø Internship Scheme (RIS). The Scheme offers you a wide variety of internships across a multitude of sectors, including research internships on campus. Internships run flexibly throughout the year – both part-time during the semester and full-time during the summer vacation.
The University's Careers Placement and Experience Centre provide all ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø students with information about a wide range of placement opportunities including:
- Summer Enterprise Experience & Discovery (SEED) internship scheme
- ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø Internship Scheme (RIS)
- ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø Experience and Personal Development (RED) Award.
*Programmes with a Professional Placement Year (also known as 'Year in Industry' or 'Placement Year') are fully dependent on students securing their own placement opportunity, normally through a competitive recruitment process. The University provides dedicated career and application support for placement year students.
Students who do not secure a placement or who are unable to complete the placement year due to extenuating circumstances, have the option to transfer to a three-year variant of their programme with agreement from their school/department.
Ben Jones
BSc Environmental Science with a year of professional experience
Field classes
Develop critical skills in field techniques, observation skills, data analysis and presentation both in national and international field classes.
Life in the Department
Join a welcoming, supportive community, where you'll have opportunities to get to know fellow students in field classes and group work, as well as at events hosted by the student-run GeogSoc.
Why study with us?
A degree in geography or environmental science opens the door to a large number of careers. Learn from internationally recognised academics and gain practical experience on study trips in the UK and abroad.