Geography
Ranked 4th for Human and Social Geography in the UK
The Sunday Times University League Table
The Department
Geography embraces the humanities and the social and natural sciences. It equips students with the skills that are demanded by many of today’s employers.
With 25 academic staff and over 400 undergraduate students, the Department offers a variety of courses and an exciting range of modules in human, physical and environmental geography.
Facilities
The Departmental facilities, have recently undergone a £1M expansion and refurbishment. They allow for the development of specialist skills and include a suite of Environmental Diagnostics Laboratories for the analysis of water, soil and sediments.
Skills
During your time at Loughborough University there will be many different opportunities to develop your skills and personal qualities. Self reflection and an awareness of your own progress will play an important role in improving your performance and in planning for your career and future development.
Your personal tutor will introduce you to the idea of personal development planning and support you in the compilation of a Higher Education Progress File that records your achievements, both academic and non-academic, during your time at University.
Selection
Conditional offers are made following UCAS applications. Those offered a place are invited to attend one of our Departmental Open Days. We welcome applications from mature students. Students with qualifications other than A-Levels seeking admission will be considered on an individual basis, and may be invited for interview.
How you will be taught
All students are placed in small tutorial groups that meet regularly during the first academic year. Students are placed in groups with others studying the same degree. Tutors also maintain a supportive role with their tutees during subsequent years of their degree course.
Modules are taught through a balanced combination of lectures, seminars (discussion groups), practical classes and fieldwork. Field classes are available in a range of UK and overseas locations and in recent years these have included Crete, New York, Paris, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland and Wales.
Course Structure
We specialise in four areas of geography, each of which is directly reflected in the structure and content of our courses.
In human geography we focus on globalization (especially relating to world cities) and geographies of social and political differences in the West and non-West; in physical geography the emphasis is on geomorphological processes and on environmental systems and their management.
Undergraduates benefit directly from staff research expertise through the modular choices available. While most of our degree courses lead to the BSc award, you may specialise in human or physical geography, although many students combine both.
Years 1-3
In the first year (part A) we introduce you to the major current debates and research areas in both human and physical geography. In this way everyone has a firm grounding in contemporary geography and has the opportunity to meet almost all academic staff in the Department.
In year two (part B) there are core areas of human and physical geography which you follow, but there is also a degree of choice that allows you to lean towards either side of the subject if you wish. The final year (part C) affords you a wide choice of modules. You can specialise in human or physical geography or you can maintain a balance between the two.
Study Abroad
There are opportunities for students on all courses to spend a year abroad between their second and final year studies. These include studying at a European University through the Erasmus course, studying further afield such as in Australia, Singapore or the USA, or working with community organisations in the majority/ ‘third world’ through the Youth for Development Course offered by Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO).
Dissertation
The dissertation module is compulsory for Single Honours and optional for most Joint Honours students and you will begin to prepare for this in year two. The dissertation is a major piece of independent study for which you undertake your own research in your chosen area. For many students it is a most enjoyable experience and a rewarding piece of work, which can help with decisions on a future career.