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You'll explore global environmental issues alongside physical geography concepts and techniques. You will be introduced to glacial, volcanic, tectonic, slope, river catchment and coastal processes.

You’ll be introduced to the methods used to investigate and understand how environments and landscapes evolve and change. This includes field surveying, remote sensing and GIS analysis. You'll put this training into practice during a residential field course in the Lake District.

Modules

Compulsory Modules Credits
Geographic Information Systems (GIS) 10
Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) 10
Earth Observation 10
Environmental Issues 20
Physical Geography Field Course 20
Introduction to Physical Geography 20
Geographical Skills 20
Quantitative Geographical Analysis 10

You'll study modules in advanced research techniques and key methods. The remaining topics will be optional. This gives you the chance to engage the topics that interest you the most.

You will also choose your second-year field course. In recent years these have included Ireland, Iceland and the Netherlands.

Modules

Compulsory Modules Credits
Doing Physical Geography Research: Theory and Practice 20
Key Methods for Physical Geographers 20
Optional Modules Credits
Animals, Plants and People: an Introduction to Environmental Archaeology 20
GIS Methods and Applications 10
Satellite Earth Observation 10
3D Reality Capture 20
Ireland Field Course 20
Physical Geography Field course 2: Iceland 20
UK fieldwork research project 20
Global Environmental Change 20
Geography Fieldtrip for Module Pre-Registration 20
Glacial Environments 20
Biogeography 20
River Catchment Dynamics 20
Humans vs Nature in the Netherlands (Netherlands Field course) 20
Career Development for second year students 20
Geological Resources 10
Research Methods in Environmental Pollution 20

You'll have a wide choice of optional modules that are directly linked to the research work of our staff.

You'll also undertake your dissertation research project. This is a major piece of independent research, based on your interests, led by you with support from a dedicated academic mentor.

Modules

Compulsory modules
You take the following compulsory module (except those taking GEO3115 Exchange):
Dissertation (40 credits)
 
If you're taking GEO3115 (Student Exchange) you take the following compulsory module:
 
All students take one of the following fieldtrip modules: (also listed in optional modules)
OR
OR
OR

Modules

Optional Modules Credits
Residential GIS Fieldcourse 20
Geohazards and Deformation of the Earth 10
Ireland Field Course 20
Physical Geography Field course 2: Iceland 20
UK fieldwork research project 20
Geography Fieldtrip for Module Pre-Registration 20
Humans vs Nature in the Netherlands (Netherlands Field course) 20
Student Exchange Semester 1 40
Polar Environments 20
Landslides and Coasts 20
Palaeoclimates 20
Applied Fluvial Geomorphology 20
Career Development for final year students 20