The flexibility of this course offers you the opportunity to take papers covering key issues in both physical and human geography, honing in on one of the two from your second year onwards. At Cambridge, you will have access to a vast amount of library resources, computer suites, labs, and field equipment for your own research. The flexibility of this degree allows you the space to focus on your personal interests, explore theoretical issues more deeply, and gain valuable hands-on experience. The course is a midsized one, with an average of 116 places being given out over the last few years. It also has a relatively balanced gender ratio – with only slightly more females than males.
In first year, you study two mandatory core papers – ‘People, Place and the Politics of Difference’ (human geography) and ‘Environmental Processes and Change’ (physical geography). All students sit a ‘Living with Global Change’ module in their second year, alongside three chosen papers (from a choice of six). These cover a variety of human and physical issues, ranging from climate change to public policy. You will also complete field/lab/computer projects, depending on the modules you have selected.
In your second year, you will have a compulsory 5-8 day field trip within Europe – the cost of this is subsidized by the faculty. This is designed to prepare you for your final year dissertation, which requires you to develop your own research topic and carry out your own fieldwork. You can usually apply for funding to help with this, particularly if your work will be abroad. In your third year, you will take four papers from a vast selection, allowing you even more opportunity to choose according to your interests – previous papers have included a range of geographic locations (from the Arctic to volcanoes) and theoretical focuses (from politics to decolonization).
In all three years, end-of-year assessments are a combination of coursework and examinations. Not all colleges require you to take A-Level (or equivalent) Geography, but this is something you should double-check before applying. Taking this course will demonstrate an ability to problem-solve, analyse data, and research effectively (both independently and in groups). This opens up doors to careers in industry, teaching, community engagement, environmental work, and journalism.
