Geography

A degree with global relevance

Geographers study some of the biggest challenges facing our planet, from food security, climate and biodiversity emergencies to pandemics and globalisation, and social inequalities and urbanisation to volcanoes and melting ice sheets. Our Geography course tackles these issues. You do not have to choose whether to specialise in physical or human geography as you can do both in all three years.

Facilities and resources

Our library, at the heart of the Department, contains around 20,000 books, journals and periodicals, and is also a fantastic study space. You will also work in our computer suite and physical geography labs, with some teaching taking place at the Scott Polar Research Institute, another integral part of the Department.

Fieldwork and travel

We are committed to fieldwork, a fundamental part of the course, providing an enjoyable way to develop research skills. There are one-day excursions each year, depending on your choice of papers and a compulsory field class of five to eight days in either September at the start of the second year, or in the second year Easter vacation. Recent locations include destinations in both mainland Europe and the British Isles and we are aiming to reduce the carbon footprint of these trips. Students are required to contribute to the cost of residential field trips, but the costs are very substantially subsidised, and financial help is available for eligible students.

Course costs

Tuition fees

Information on tuition fee rates for Geography is available on the tuition fees page.

Additional course costs

All years

• Waterproof clothing and footwear - for fieldtrips students are strongly recommended to have waterproof clothing and appropriate footwear (eg walking boots or walking trainers) for walking over sometimes rough terrain. Costs for these items will vary, largely depending on personal preference and choice over supplier and brands.
• General printing costs - undergraduates are provided with printing credit in the Department (eg for essays and coursework). In recent years this has been £7 per term or the equivalent of 175 black and white pages. This is usually sufficient for a student's needs.
• Students are not required to buy any books in support of their studies, as these are very well provided by the Department, University, College and other Faculty libraries. 

Years 2 and 3

• Residential and multi-day field classes - students are asked to contribute to the costs of their second year trip. We expect this contribution to be about £150. This covers all transport, accommodation and meals. If there is a case of financial need then students can apply to their College for support.
• Students are free to choose their dissertation topic and therefore the place of data collection/work and whether this is in the UK or abroad. Costs therefore vary from one dissertation to another. Costs are usually incurred in the summer between the second and third years when data collection/analysis usually takes place.

Often students are able to apply for some support, and for travel awards, which may be available through the University and/or their College.

Some Department funding is available to support partial dissertation costs. Further information can be provided by the Department of Geography.

Changing course

Students may transfer into Geography after completion of either one or two years of another subject. Depending on their first subject, most students usually join the second year of the Geography degree, which provides them with good preparation for the third year. It is also possible to complete two years of another subject and join the third year of Geography directly. A student who joins in the third year submits a 10,000 word Critical Review Essay in place of the dissertation.

Some students also change to another subject after completion of either their first or second year of Geography. In recent years students have transferred from Geography to Human, Social and Political Sciences, and to Management Studies.

To be able to change course, you need the agreement of your College that any change is in your educational interests, and you must have the necessary background in the subject to which you wish to change – in some cases you may be required to undertake some catch-up work or take up the new course from the start/an earlier year. If you think you may wish to change course, we encourage you to contact a College admissions office for advice. You should also consider if/how changing course may affect any financial support arrangements.

Careers

Cambridge Geography graduates are highly skilled in dealing with complex problems, in information retrieval, data management, statistics and specialist software, and are used to working independently and communicating efficiently. Your geography degree opens many career doors, allowing you to compete alongside those with degrees in STEM as well as the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences.

Our graduates enter many different careers, including industry and commerce, social enterprises and charities, planning, teaching, finance, social and community work, environmental management and conservation, the media, politics, and the Civil Service.