Geography with placements

Geography occupies a unique position among the academic disciplines, sitting at the intersection of the natural and social sciences. It asks how physical environments are formed and how they change, how human societies have shaped and been shaped by the landscapes they inhabit, and how geographical patterns of inequality, migration, climate change and urbanisation are interconnected. The discipline combines field observation, quantitative data analysis, GIS and spatial thinking with qualitative and theoretical approaches drawn from the social sciences and humanities.

At Brunel University London you will explore a broad range of geographical topics across physical geography, human geography and the connections between them. The programme is designed to be flexible, allowing you to follow themes and questions that interest you across the three years of full-time study. You will engage with contemporary issues including climate change, environmental sustainability, global development, urban processes and social inequality, bringing geographical methods and perspectives to bear on problems that matter in the real world.

The course title indicates that placements are a feature of this programme, giving you the opportunity to apply geographical skills in a professional or research environment and to develop the practical experience that employers value.

You will develop skills in fieldwork, data collection and analysis, spatial reasoning, academic writing and the critical evaluation of evidence from multiple sources. Geography graduates are well known for their versatility, combining technical competence in areas such as GIS and environmental monitoring with the broader analytical and communication skills needed across many professional fields.

Graduates from geography programmes move into careers in environmental consultancy, urban planning, sustainability, international development, the public sector, transport planning, data analysis and education. The breadth of the discipline means geography graduates are found across an unusually wide range of sectors. Postgraduate study in geography, environmental science, urban planning, international development or related fields is also a well-established pathway.