Northumbria University Newcastle - Physical Geography BSc (Hons)

Northumbria University Newcastle

Physical Geography BSc (Hons)

Dealing with diverse topics ranging from the top of the earth’s atmosphere to the ocean floor, our BSc Physical Geography degree is a specialised course that focuses solely on the physical sciences and how they apply to our surroundings.

Throughout this course you will learn how to map, monitor and understand the physical world by undertaking regular day and residential field trips within the UK and Europe. You will also have the option to complete a semester-based or year-long work placement, allowing you to put all of your recently acquired skills into practise.  

Entry Requirements

Standard Entry

120 UCAS Tariff points

From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.

Subject Requirements:

There are no specific subject requirements for this course.

GCSE Requirements:

Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.

Additional Requirements:

There are no additional requirements for this course.

English Language Requirements:

International applicants shoud have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).

Career Prospects

This course will prepare you for a broad range of careers as employers appreciate the transferable analytics, communication and presentation skills acquired by our students. Our graduates are renowned for having awareness of ethical considerations and display the attitudes and skills to engage and work constructively and sensitively in multi-cultural environments and teams.

Graduates will have the necessary skills to pursue a career in a range of specialist roles in organisations such as national parks, local Government, and water and energy companies. Many Physical Geography graduates also choose to work in environmental consultancy or policy, teaching or graduate training schemes.

Course Details

The BSc Physical Geography course allows you to concentrate solely on the physical sciences, including aspects of earth science, landscape surveying and resource management.

BSc Physical Geography utilises a range of teaching and assessment methods and a large part of this course is delivered via lectures, seminars, and practical activities in both the lab and field, to help you master core professional skills.

From the beginning you will be involved in big scientific debates, synthesising a wide range of topics in physical geography and earth science. You will also have the opportunity to tailor your course to your own areas of interest, undertaking laboratory work, fieldwork and IT workshops to develop new and further master your professional skills.

Year 1

Geography Fieldwork (Core,20 Credits)
Exploring Geographical and Environmental Data (Core,20 Credits)
Dynamic Earth (Core,20 Credits)
Academic Skills and Personal Development (BSc) (Core,20 Credits)
Introduction to Physical Environments (Core,20 Credits)
Environmental Challenges - Global to Local (Core,20 Credits)
Academic Language Skills for Geography (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Year 2

Cold and Palaeoenvironments (Optional,20 Credits)
Meteorology and Oceanography (Optional,20 Credits)
Earth Observation and GIS (Core,20 Credits)
Applied Geosciences (Core,20 Credits)
Academic Language Skills for Geography (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
Research and Fieldwork in Physical Geography (Core,20 Credits)
Coastal Monitoring and Management (Core,20 Credits)
Environmental Cycles: Air, Water, Soil (Optional,20 Credits)

Year 3

Year in International Business (This is made up of modules studied in Newcastle (Semester 1) & Amsterdam (Semester 2) (Optional,120 Credits)
International Academic Exchange 1 (Optional,60 Credits)
Academic Language Skills for Geography (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
Work Placement Year (Optional,120 Credits)
Study Abroad Year (Optional,120 Credits)
Work placement semester (Optional,60 Credits)

Year Four

Academic Language Skills for Geography (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)
Geography and Environment Dissertation (Core,40 Credits)
Cold Landscapes (Optional,20 Credits)
Modelling, Computation and Data Manipulation (Optional,20 Credits)
Palaeoecology and Biogeography (Optional,20 Credits)
Advanced Geospatial Applications (Core,20 Credits)
Public Health and Occupational Safety (Optional,20 Credits)
Environmental Pollution and Health (Optional,20 Credits)
Tropical and Coastal Research (Optional,20 Credits)

*The information’s are correct at the time of publishing, however it may change if university makes any changes after we have published the information. While we try our best to provide correct information, It is advisable to call us or visit university website for up to date information.

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