Physical Geography and Environment
Physical geography and environment is the scientific study of the Earth's surface, the processes that shape it and the environmental systems that sustain life on it. It examines glaciers and ice sheets, rivers and floodplains, coastal environments and sea-level change, soils and vegetation, climate systems and the hazards that arise when natural processes interact with human populations. Understanding these systems at the physical level is essential for addressing the environmental challenges of our time, from climate change adaptation to flood risk management and biodiversity conservation.
At the University of York this three-year programme develops your scientific understanding of physical geography and environmental systems through a combination of fieldwork, laboratory work and quantitative analysis alongside academic study. You will explore glacial and periglacial environments, geomorphology, hydrology, coastal dynamics, ecology and the science of climate change, developing the technical and analytical skills to investigate environmental processes using remote sensing, GIS, statistical modelling and field measurement. A sandwich year, work placements and a year abroad are built into the programme, providing professional experience and international field perspective that are particularly valuable in a discipline where direct engagement with different physical environments is part of the education.
Graduates work in environmental consultancy, sustainability management, conservation, flood risk and water management, climate policy, coastal management, environmental regulation and research. Government agencies such as the Environment Agency and Natural England, local planning authorities, conservation charities, infrastructure companies and international development organisations all recruit physical geographers. Some graduates go on to postgraduate study in environmental science, physical geography, climate science or related disciplines, deepening their technical expertise for research or professional roles.