Geography | BSc (Hons) | University of Lincoln

Course Overview

The Department of Geography is focused understanding the 'safety and health of the inhabited Earth'. Our mission is to deliver a degree that is relevant for environmental and societal challenges in the 21st century.

The BSc (Hons) Geography explores environmental change and sustainability from local to global scales. We encourage students to develop the analytical, critical, and collaborative skills needed to work across broad interdisciplinary issues. We focus on the unity of geography emphasising the links between human and physical Geography as an integrative subject. Physical Geography provides the intellectual tools necessary to understand the relationship between human society and its environment, and the issues that challenge our future.

This course is designed to develop subject understanding and geographical skills progressively in the context of real-world problems, enabling students to apply their learning to contemporary global challenges. A belief in the importance of interdisciplinary knowledge to address major issues is at the heart of our approach.

Course Overview

From climate change to health inequalities, and from food security to natural hazards and disasters, geography is at the heart of many of humanity's greatest challenges. At Lincoln, we believe that meeting these challenges requires a focus on the unity of geography to understand the links between humanity and the environments we inhabit - a theme that runs through our teaching and research.

BSc (Hons) Geography explores environmental change and sustainability from local to global scales. We encourage students to develop the analytical, critical, and collaborative skills needed to work across broad interdisciplinary issues. We focus on the unity of geography emphasising the links between human and physical geography as an integrative subject. Physical geography provides the intellectual tools necessary to understand the relationship between human society and its environment, and the issues that challenge our future.

This course is designed to deepen students' understanding and appreciation of geography. Students can develop a cutting-edge skill set by using the latest geographical technologies to tackle real-world problems and by applying their learning to contemporary global challenges. A belief in the importance of interdisciplinary knowledge to address major issues is at the heart of our approach.

Why Choose Lincoln

Accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)

A range of optional modules

Informed by world-leading research

Placement opportunities with industry partners and public organisations

Opportunities to undertake field work in the UK and abroad

Links with local industry and environmental regulatory agencies

How You Study

At Lincoln we believe in 'Student as Producer' approach which puts students at the heart of your learning. Our academics are experienced researchers and teachers investigating key issues in global development across the spectrum of physical and human geography. Our 'Student as Producer' initiative encourages a collaborative approach between academics and undergraduates in all aspects of learning.

In the first year, BSc and BA Geography students follow a common integrated central pathway. This pathway introduces the key concepts and skills required for a 21st century geographer laying the interdisciplinary foundation upon which you will build.

In the second and third years, students will have the opportunity to specialise by selecting optional modules from both the BSc and BA programmes. During the degree students can develop many core transferable skills including data analysis; field and laboratory work; working with practitioners in placements; undertaking and presenting research; and working with Geographical Infromation Systems (GIS). This aims to help students apply geographical knowledge to real-world settings and put theory into practice to take on today's global challenges.

During the degree students will be taught in many different formats including lectures, seminars, small group tutorials, practical teaching of analytical skills through field and laboratory classes, as well as group project work under close personal supervision.

How You Study

At Lincoln we believe in 'Student as Producer', which puts the student at the heart of their own learning. Our academics are experienced researchers and lecturers investigating key issues in global development across the spectrum of physical and human geography. Our 'Student as Producer' ethos encourages a collaborative approach between academics and undergraduates in all aspects of learning. In the first year,

BSc and BA Geography students follow a common integrated central pathway. This pathway introduces the key concepts and skills required for a 21st century geographer, laying the interdisciplinary foundation upon which they will build. In the second and third years, students will have the opportunity to specialise by selecting optional modules.

During the degree students develop many core transferable skills including data analysis; field and laboratory work; working with practitioners in placements; undertaking and presenting research; and working with Geographical Information Systems (GIS). This aims to help students apply geographical knowledge to real-world settings and put theory into practice to address today's global challenges.

During the degree, students will be taught in many different formats including lectures, seminars, small group tutorials, practical teaching of analytical skills through field and laboratory classes, as well as group project work under close supervision.

Modules

† Some courses may offer optional modules. The availability of optional modules may vary from year to year and will be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed. Optional module selection may also be affected by staff availability.

A Sustainable Lincolnshire 2023-24GEO1005MLevel 42023-24Lincolnshire has a diverse physical geography and faces a number of human and societal challenges making it an excellent laboratory to study global issues related to the health and safety of the inhabited earth within the Universitys local to global remit. Local fieldwork introduces students to contemporary issues in the social and natural environment through in-depth studies in the county of Lincolnshire. We visit three types of environment the urban, the rural and the coastal to study environmental hazards and economic and ecosystem sustainability and the interactions between these processes.CoreEarth Observation & GIS 2023-24GEO1006MLevel 42023-24The aim of this module is to teach students the fundamental theory and practical applications of Earth observation (remote sensing) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Geospatial technologies (involving remote sensing and GIS) have changed the way businesses and policymakers solve problems and the way scientists understand Earth system processes and hazards. These technologies are routinely used by people in their work and their daily life (e.g. via Google Earth). This module aims to introduce students to some of the important sources of geospatial data and the technologies underpinning them, and will highlight ways in which they are used both within geographical science and more widely. In addition students can gain hands-on, skills-based experience in processing and analysing data using GIS and Remote Sensing software. These are vital tools that will enable students to more rigorously assess the safety and health of the inhabited Earth.CoreEarths Changing Surface and the Anthropocene 2023-24GEO1008MLevel 42023-24This module aims to provide a grounding in the key aspects of Geomorphology, including fluvial, coastal, glacial, and hillslope geomorphology, and looks to build a firm foundation in understanding surface processes and hazards. It outlines a local to global framework of Earth surface processes and variability over space and time, drawing on case studies from both locally and across the world. There is therefore excellent complementarity with its sister module The Earth System Processes and Hazards, but with a stronger focus on Geomorphology and mass movements. These two modules taken together aim to develop essential knowledge and understanding that underpin the Department of Geographys distinctive and unifying flavour of the Safety and Health of the Inhabited Earth. The importance of taking the long view (e.g. Holocene and longer perspective) in order to understand Earths changing surface in the context of anthropogenic climate change will be emphasised.CoreFoundations of Human Geography 2023-24GEO1004MLevel 42023-24This module will help students to better comprehend what it means to do geography, think like a geographer, and be a geographer. It examines the fundamental notions that distinguish human geography as a unique social science and chronicles how human geographers have come to identify themselves, starting from the ground up. It explores why the history of geography is so important to understanding how human geographers examine and ask questions about the world. This module provides geographical context to the more particular subject modules found in later years of the degree programme. Students will be able to recognise evolving notions employed by geographers in their attempts to comprehend human-environment linkages after completing this module. Learners will also comprehend and apply fundamental map and mapping principles. Students will be able to think about how people and societies perceive and act in their surroundings, as well as the interactions that result from such views. Learners will also be able to grasp the crucial role that ecological thought has had in the formation of human geography, as well as examine the shifting uses of natural resources and environmental adaptations that have happened across cultures and time periods.CoreLearning From Geographical Engagement 2023-24GEO1002MLevel 42023-24The aim of this module is to introduce students to how geographical knowledge is created, developed and communicated. Students will engage with a series of weekly lectures that focus on key skills and knowledge that students will require throughout their degree. You will be introduced to the tools required to search and evaluate academic literature relevant to your studies, the philosophical constructs around which geographical knowledge is based and how to effectively communicate using approaches that you will encounter during your degrees such as essay writing, report writing, posters and presentations. Students will also engage with a series of weekly seminars in which journal articles on different geographical topics will be introduced. These will cover cutting edge topics and be delivered by a combination of staff from the Department.CorePeople, Places, Patterns and Processes 2023-24GEO1007MLevel 42023-24Certain forces are shaping the structure of human populations and societies in the 21st century. The aim of this module is to help students gain foundational understanding of these different forces as well as their effects on human population structure. Students will get an opportunity to explore different aspects of population dynamics across developed and developing societies. From this quantitative starting point, students will be progressed into qualitative exploration of different place identities and attachments, cultural changes, and representations of places at a global scale. Teaching sessions will focus on people, their individual and collective characteristics, spatial distributions, and the undercurrents that account for these spatial patterns. In a broad sense, the module reflects the diversity of geography and it is closely aligned to spatial demography. Consequently, in addition to gaining insights into theoretical basis of population geography, students will also be exposed to the technical foundations of demographic data analysis through hands-on software training.CoreSustainable Environments & Ecosystems 2023-24GEO1001MLevel 42023-24The aim of this module is to introduce students to the links between ecosystems and human health. The module focuses heavily on the role of human activities in changing ecosystems, covering aspects of human impacts on ecosystems as well as policy and regulatory actions to improve and safeguard vital ecosystems. Impacts are assessed in terms of both human and wider environmental factors such as quality of life and access to safe and healthy resources as well as biodiversity, landscape assets and climate resilience. Local and global case studies will be drawn to assess issues such as the sustainable design of built environments, sustainable approaches to waste management and threats linked to overconsumption of natural resources and excess pollution. By exploring a range of relevant case studies we will question assumptions about environmental/ecosystem interactions and equip students with the necessary critical knowledge and overview for deriving real-world solutions to a representative range of current environmental problems.CoreThe Earth System: Processes & Hazards 2023-24GEO1003MLevel 42023-24The aim of this module is to provide an introduction to the general principles of physical geography for students with diverse backgrounds. Using a systems-based approach to physical geography, four environmental systems will be examined: geosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. The final part of the module will consider the interactions between physical systems and also the causes and consequences of system change, such as climate change, over time and space. The occurrence and impacts of some key natural hazards (earthquakes, volcanoes, floods and droughts) will also be considered, which will facilitate an improved appreciation of the safety and health of the environment.CoreClimatology and Quaternary Science 2024-25GEP2011MLevel 52024-25This module will examine the environmental changes, particularly climate, at global, regional, and local scales of the past and present. Students will gain an understanding of these changes and processes that have implications for past, and present climate and environments. The first part of this module will cover climate and environmental change over the last 2.6 million years of Earths history (Quaternary period). Students will gain knowledge in how natural variability can be distinguished from human activity, and the contribution of both observational analysis and modelling to understand environmental change. The second part of this module will give students an understanding of global climatology and meteorology on contemporary (present-day) timescales. It covers the main characteristics of, and processes behind, climate and weather from global through regional to local scales. A field excursion, practicals and seminar sessions will provide tools and techniques to investigate climatology and Quaternary science. The critical appraisal collected field and practical datasets will develop students critical thinking and analysis skills of past, and present climate and environmental change.CoreCultural, Historical and Economic Geography 2024-25GEO2004MLevel 52024-25Geography examines the relationship between societies and the natural and cultural landscapes they inhabit. Cultural and historical geographies explore the roots of contemporary challenges within societies, including in colonial and post-colonial contexts. From this perspective, students will consider how historical processes of marginalisation persist in the modern world, and how todays social and environmental challenges can be more fully understood through a cultural lens. Economic geography explores the economic processes that influence the relationship between societies and wider landscapes, including sites of production and consumption and economic disparity. Factors that influence the economic landscape of regions include traditional economic factors (land, labour, and capital) as well as social, cultural, behavioural, and institutional factors. Thus, in addition to cultural and historical factors, students are also introduced to traditional as well as more contemporary ways of thinking about economic landscapes. Overall this module synthesises diverse perspectives to equip students with in-depth understandings of the interrelated factors that produce contemporary inequalities, and explain colonial and post-colonial legacies of inequality.CoreEarth Observation, Modelling & Visualisation: Representing Reality & Understanding Change 2024-25GEO2002MLevel 52024-25The ability to model the behaviour of natural and human systems, and their interaction, is an increasingly vital tool in understanding both these systems and the consequence of changes such as population growth or climate change; it is therefore essential for assessing the safety and health of the inhabited Earth. This module uses lectures and computer practicals to introduce the numerical modelling of geographical processes and systems. The science and art of model formulation, construction, and testing will be covered in detail. Students will use a number of specially-written models from various areas of physical and human geography.CoreHazards and Society 2024-25GEO2005MLevel 52024-25Modern societal development has created new exposures and risks to such hazards that are not fully understood, or may be perceived in different ways even within the same community. Such vulnerabilities are often only brought into view in the aftermath of a disaster, when losses of life, capital and livelihoods have already occurred, making it vital to assess the physical and social dimensions of hazards in order to increase preparedness. This module is focused around a field-week that will explore the theme of hazards and their relationship to society from both an environmental and human standpoint. This interdisciplinary perspective on hazards and society will offer new insights into the challenges facing contemporary societies in a specific region, while also providing insight into the opportunities offered by geographical research. An overriding aim of the module is to understand how various forms of geographical knowledge can better prepare us for the challenges of environmental hazards and global change more broadly. The aim of this module is to provide experience in practising real geography through field exercises, data collection and interpretation, and presentation of data. This field-week will strengthen students ability to identify research problems, design and execute data collection strategies, and present well-reasoned and coherent interpretations of findings.CoreHuman Impacts on the Environment 2024-25GEO2001MLevel 52024-25This module uses the concepts surrounding environmental health to introduce students to a wide range of critical environmental issues facing the world today. Using a range of global and regional environmental problems, incorporating case studies on climate change, natural resources, land-use change and agriculture, pollution, degradation and threats to environments, ecosystems, and society. Students will critically explore the causes, consequences, and impacts of humans on environmental health issues, as well as learn how to question assumptions about the underlying processes.CorePhysical Geography Theory and Research 2024-25GEP2009MLevel 52024-25Independent research is a valuable skill in geography and prized by employers. In this module you learn how to conduct independent research by undertaking a series of research projects including using laboratory and fieldwork-based techniques. These will teach you the theory and philosophy behind physical geographical research. By the end of the module you will create and interrogate your own dataset to develop your own understanding of an environmental problem.CoreBiogeography & Planetary Health 2024-25GEO2006MLevel 52024-25This module introduces the key concepts of biogeography and planetary health. The aim of the module is to develop students understanding of the impacts of climatic- and human-induced changes on the distribution and functioning of biomes and terrestrial ecosystems. The module consists of three broad themes. The first theme consists of an introduction to the course and examples of human and climate-induced change from a local to global context. The second part covers the techniques that are used to monitor and quantify ecosystem health and predict changes in current ecosystem patterns. The final theme of the module covers the implication of these changes and strategies to mitigate or cope with these changes.OptionalGeographical Data Analysis Methods 2024-25GEO2003MLevel 52024-25This module equips students with highly employable data analysis skills which they will use both in their studies and their careers beyond. Students will learn from a lectures series and accompanying practical classes. As part of the module students will deliver a project related to real-world geographical problems.OptionalPlacement (Level 2) 2024-25GEO2007MLevel 52024-25The Level 2 placement provides students with the opportunity to develop their professional skills by spending time with a relevant local employer. Students will spend 150 hours working under the direct supervision of the employer. Tasks will be developed to give the student an insight into the professional working environment in the wider field of geography. Students will then prepare an essay on their professional learning experience, with reflections on how elements of the Geography syllabus relate to at least one core area of their work experience. The Department of Geography works with an established network of local employers that offer placements on regular basis, and an experienced Placement Officer who can help students find a relevant organisation for their placement.OptionalSoG International Study Year 2024-25GEH2011MLevel 52024-25The School believes that an option to study overseas is a valuable educational opportunity for our students. Provision of this option supports the educational aims of the School of Geography and enhances the distinctiveness of its degrees at Lincoln. The optional year is intended to: - enable students to benefit from studying within a cross cultural environment; - expose students to a wider academic and cultural experience; - enhance their future employment opportunities; - by increasing their cultural and professional mobility. This module is optional for students within the School. Study Abroad is a year long module which enables students to spend a year studying abroad at one of the Universitys approved partner institutions. Eligible students must have completed their second year of study to a satisfactory standard and successfully completed the application process for the year abroad. During the year spent abroad, students share classes with local students and study on a suite of locally-delivered taught modules which have been approved in advance by the University. Upon their return, as part of the assessment for this modules, students are required to critically reflect upon their experience of living and studying in a different cultural environment and the skills acquired.OptionalSoG Work Placement Year 2024-25GEH2002XLevel 52024-25OptionalCatchment Hydrology and Geomorphology 2025-26GEP3016MLevel 62025-26This module will give students an advanced understanding of (1) catchment hydrology, including ecohydrology, and hydrological responses of catchments to climate and land use changes, with an emphasis on global challenges of water resources management, and (2) theoretical background of fluvial geomorphology and morphodynamics, including river and flood management strategies. The first part of the module covers global hydrology, including consideration of the physical characteristics of rivers and their geographical variation, and related aspects of river-catchment science and the role of the water resources in the wider environmental system. The second part focuses on the geomorphology of catchment and river systems, and the expected changes that river ecosystems are likely to experience under the influence of direct anthropogenic perturbations and global change.CoreClimate Change: Processes, Politics & Policy 2025-26GEO3002MLevel 62025-26This module examines the physical, social and political characteristics, and the physical causes, of natural and anthropogenic climate change. These key themes will be explored in terms of how society has responded to the physical processes and impacts of climate.CoreCoastal Systems and Global Change 2025-26GEP3014MLevel 62025-26This module will focus on the processes governing coastal systems, including river mouth systems, coastal wetlands and open coasts, the ecosystem services that they deliver, and the expected changes that coastal systems are likely experience under the influence of climate change and increasing anthropogenic influences. The theoretical background knowledge on coastal systems, their exposure to global change, as well as mitigation and adaptation strategies will be complemented by hands-on practical sessions, including the use of state-of-the-art computer models and the collection and analysis of primary field data. A particular emphasis of this module will be on developing an in-depth understanding of how coastal systems may help coastal communities to adapt to climate change, an approach that is widely referred to as ecosystem-based management.CoreEnvironmental Management 2025-26GEO3005MLevel 62025-26This module examines a range of interdisciplinary environmental management techniques that are used to address critical environmental, human and planetary health issues. Students will gain an understanding of the most appropriate techniques and solutions using a range of global, regional and local environmental case studies. There is a strong emphasis on practice-based skills with guest lectures from practitioners in the field, practical and seminar classes. An innovative assessment will give students the opportunity to be involved in actively influencing sustainable behaviour in the younger generation and giving them a chance to become the teacher. This approach is especially useful in the third year as it exposes students to a wide range of career options in environmental science management and policy/regulation.CoreGeography Dissertation 2025-26GEO3001MLevel 62025-26The Dissertation is an extended piece of original research work on a geographical topic of students' own choice that is carried out under the guidance of a staff mentor. It allows students to draw together and build on the skills and subject expertise they have developed throughout their time at University. Students will be expected to either collect original material for investigation and/or to carry out original analysis of secondary data. Students' allocated supervisor will guide and advise them in their work.CoreGlobal Change Biology 2025-26ECL3005MLevel 62025-26This module will consider human-caused environmental change that affects a substantial part of the globe and biological systems. Biological responses to these human induced changes will be considered in terms of how organisms, species, and communities may acclimatise, adapt, or change. Specifically, we will consider how organisms can respond genetically and phenotypically, and how and why communities may change in their species and functional composition. After consolidating understanding of the causes of, and biological responses to, global change, we will consider what these impacts mean for ecosystem structure and function, the development of novel ecosystems, and approaches for conservation and ecosystem management under global change. This module will cover a range of differing causes of global change e.g. biological invasions or urbanisation, but content will be flexible to remain relevant to current and emerging challenges.OptionalOverseas Fieldwork 2025-26GEO3004MLevel 62025-26This module seeks to put into practice knowledge gained in previous modules by focusing on the physical and human processes that have shaped the environment and will influence future change (therefore helping to shape the safety and health of the inhabited region) it provides experience of process interpretation and understanding in an unfamiliar setting. Currently, two destinations, Chile and the Netherlands are available to students, although this is subject to change. Students who choose to participate in the optional field trip are responsible for covering their travel, accommodation, and general living costs. The module is designed to allow students to work within an overseas environment and carry out a study that will result in the design, implementation, and production of a research report that is mainly based on student-led fieldwork. Introductory lecture sessions will take place in Lincoln prior to fieldwork. Knowledge and understanding on the actual fieldclass can be gained via enquiry-based learning, followed by group/individual data collection and follow-up analysis, set in the context of wider research, and student-centred research presentations. Follow-up sessions will provide the opportunity to analyse and create a written presentation of research findings.OptionalPlacement (Level 3) 2025-26GEO3003MLevel 62025-26On this placement, students are expected to carry out a specific project for an external organisation. The project would be agreed between the Host Organisation, School of Geography Supervisor and Student prior to the commencement of the placement. The student would be expected to undertake a specific project task to address a particular requirement of the Host Organisation. This might include consultancy research, analytical research, public engagement or the development of a new teaching class/activity. The approach, outcome and an evaluation of the project should be presented in the form of a professional report and oral presentation.OptionalSoil Biology 2025-26ECL3003MLevel 62025-26This module provides a critical insight into the study of the biological diversity of soils, including their ecological and functional roles, to understand about best management and conservation practices. Students can learn about key issues affecting important soil processes and the methods for measuring and managing soil biodiversity.Optional

Modules

A Sustainable Lincolnshire 2024-25GEO1005MLevel 42024-25Lincolnshire has a diverse physical geography and faces a number of human and societal challenges making it an excellent laboratory to study global issues related to the health and safety of the inhabited earth within the Universitys local to global remit. Local fieldwork introduces students to contemporary issues in the social and natural environment through in-depth studies in the county of Lincolnshire. We visit three types of environment the urban, the rural and the coastal to study environmental hazards and economic and ecosystem sustainability and the interactions between these processes.CoreEarth Observation & GIS 2024-25GEO1006MLevel 42024-25The aim of this module is to teach students the fundamental theory and practical applications of Earth observation (remote sensing) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). Geospatial technologies (involving remote sensing and GIS) have changed the way businesses and policymakers solve problems and the way scientists understand Earth system processes and hazards. These technologies are routinely used by people in their work and their daily life (e.g. via Google Earth). This module aims to introduce students to some of the important sources of geospatial data and the technologies underpinning them, and will highlight ways in which they are used both within geographical science and more widely. In addition students can gain hands-on, skills-based experience in processing and analysing data using GIS and Remote Sensing software. These are vital tools that will enable students to more rigorously assess the safety and health of the inhabited Earth.CoreEarths Changing Surface and the Anthropocene 2024-25GEO1008MLevel 42024-25This module aims to provide a grounding in the key aspects of Geomorphology, including fluvial, coastal, glacial, and hillslope geomorphology, and looks to build a firm foundation in understanding surface processes and hazards. It outlines a local to global framework of Earth surface processes and variability over space and time, drawing on case studies from both locally and across the world. There is therefore excellent complementarity with its sister module The Earth System Processes and Hazards, but with a stronger focus on Geomorphology and mass movements. These two modules taken together aim to develop essential knowledge and understanding that underpin the Department of Geographys distinctive and unifying flavour of the Safety and Health of the Inhabited Earth. The importance of taking the long view (e.g. Holocene and longer perspective) in order to understand Earths changing surface in the context of anthropogenic climate change will be emphasised.CoreFoundations of Human Geography 2024-25GEO1004MLevel 42024-25This module will help students to better comprehend what it means to do geography, think like a geographer, and be a geographer. It examines the fundamental notions that distinguish human geography as a unique social science and chronicles how human geographers have come to identify themselves, starting from the ground up. It explores why the history of geography is so important to understanding how human geographers examine and ask questions about the world. This module provides geographical context to the more particular subject modules found in later years of the degree programme. Students will be able to recognise evolving notions employed by geographers in their attempts to comprehend human-environment linkages after completing this module. Learners will also comprehend and apply fundamental map and mapping principles. Students will be able to think about how people and societies perceive and act in their surroundings, as well as the interactions that result from such views. Learners will also be able to grasp the crucial role that ecological thought has had in the formation of human geography, as well as examine the shifting uses of natural resources and environmental adaptations that have happened across cultures and time periods.CoreLearning From Geographical Engagement 2024-25GEO1002MLevel 42024-25The aim of this module is to introduce students to how geographical knowledge is created, developed and communicated. Students will engage with a series of weekly lectures that focus on key skills and knowledge that students will require throughout their degree. You will be introduced to the tools required to search and evaluate academic literature relevant to your studies, the philosophical constructs around which geographical knowledge is based and how to effectively communicate using approaches that you will encounter during your degrees such as essay writing, report writing, posters and presentations. Students will also engage with a series of weekly seminars in which journal articles on different geographical topics will be introduced. These will cover cutting edge topics and be delivered by a combination of staff from the Department.CorePeople, Places, Patterns and Processes 2024-25GEO1007MLevel 42024-25Certain forces are shaping the structure of human populations and societies in the 21st century. The aim of this module is to help students gain foundational understanding of these different forces as well as their effects on human population structure. Students will get an opportunity to explore different aspects of population dynamics across developed and developing societies. From this quantitative starting point, students will be progressed into qualitative exploration of different place identities and attachments, cultural changes, and representations of places at a global scale. Teaching sessions will focus on people, their individual and collective characteristics, spatial distributions, and the undercurrents that account for these spatial patterns. In a broad sense, the module reflects the diversity of geography and it is closely aligned to spatial demography. Consequently, in addition to gaining insights into theoretical basis of population geography, students will also be exposed to the technical foundations of demographic data analysis through hands-on software training.CoreSustainable Environments & Ecosystems 2024-25GEO1001MLevel 42024-25The aim of this module is to introduce students to the links between ecosystems and human health. The module focuses heavily on the role of human activities in changing ecosystems, covering aspects of human impacts on ecosystems as well as policy and regulatory actions to improve and safeguard vital ecosystems. Impacts are assessed in terms of both human and wider environmental factors such as quality of life and access to safe and healthy resources as well as biodiversity, landscape assets and climate resilience. Local and global case studies will be drawn to assess issues such as the sustainable design of built environments, sustainable approaches to waste management and threats linked to overconsumption of natural resources and excess pollution. By exploring a range of relevant case studies we will question assumptions about environmental/ecosystem interactions and equip students with the necessary critical knowledge and overview for deriving real-world solutions to a representative range of current environmental problems.CoreThe Earth System: Processes & Hazards 2024-25GEO1003MLevel 42024-25The aim of this module is to provide an introduction to the general principles of physical geography for students with diverse backgrounds. Using a systems-based approach to physical geography, four environmental systems will be examined: geosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. The final part of the module will consider the interactions between physical systems and also the causes and consequences of system change, such as climate change, over time and space. The occurrence and impacts of some key natural hazards (earthquakes, volcanoes, floods and droughts) will also be considered, which will facilitate an improved appreciation of the safety and health of the environment.CoreClimatology and Quaternary Science 2025-26GEP2011MLevel 52025-26This module will examine the environmental changes, particularly climate, at global, regional, and local scales of the past and present. Students will gain an understanding of these changes and processes that have implications for past, and present climate and environments. The first part of this module will cover climate and environmental change over the last 2.6 million years of Earths history (Quaternary period). Students will gain knowledge in how natural variability can be distinguished from human activity, and the contribution of both observational analysis and modelling to understand environmental change. The second part of this module will give students an understanding of global climatology and meteorology on contemporary (present-day) timescales. It covers the main characteristics of, and processes behind, climate and weather from global through regional to local scales. A field excursion, practicals and seminar sessions will provide tools and techniques to investigate climatology and Quaternary science. The critical appraisal collected field and practical datasets will develop students critical thinking and analysis skills of past, and present climate and environmental change.CoreCultural, Historical and Economic Geography 2025-26GEO2004MLevel 52025-26Geography examines the relationship between societies and the natural and cultural landscapes they inhabit. Cultural and historical geographies explore the roots of contemporary challenges within societies, including in colonial and post-colonial contexts. From this perspective, students will consider how historical processes of marginalisation persist in the modern world, and how todays social and environmental challenges can be more fully understood through a cultural lens. Economic geography explores the economic processes that influence the relationship between societies and wider landscapes, including sites of production and consumption and economic disparity. Factors that influence the economic landscape of regions include traditional economic factors (land, labour, and capital) as well as social, cultural, behavioural, and institutional factors. Thus, in addition to cultural and historical factors, students are also introduced to traditional as well as more contemporary ways of thinking about economic landscapes. Overall this module synthesises diverse perspectives to equip students with in-depth understandings of the interrelated factors that produce contemporary inequalities, and explain colonial and post-colonial legacies of inequality.CoreEarth Observation, Modelling & Visualisation: Representing Reality & Understanding Change 2025-26GEO2002MLevel 52025-26The ability to model the behaviour of natural and human systems, and their interaction, is an increasingly vital tool in understanding both these systems and the consequence of changes such as population growth or climate change; it is therefore essential for assessing the safety and health of the inhabited Earth. This module uses lectures and computer practicals to introduce the numerical modelling of geographical processes and systems. The science and art of model formulation, construction, and testing will be covered in detail. Students will use a number of specially-written models from various areas of physical and human geography.CoreHazards and Society 2025-26GEO2005MLevel 52025-26Modern societal development has created new exposures and risks to such hazards that are not fully understood, or may be perceived in different ways even within the same community. Such vulnerabilities are often only brought into view in the aftermath of a disaster, when losses of life, capital and livelihoods have already occurred, making it vital to assess the physical and social dimensions of hazards in order to increase preparedness. This module is focused around a field-week that will explore the theme of hazards and their relationship to society from both an environmental and human standpoint. This interdisciplinary perspective on hazards and society will offer new insights into the challenges facing contemporary societies in a specific region, while also providing insight into the opportunities offered by geographical research. An overriding aim of the module is to understand how various forms of geographical knowledge can better prepare us for the challenges of environmental hazards and global change more broadly. The aim of this module is to provide experience in practising real geography through field exercises, data collection and interpretation, and presentation of data. This field-week will strengthen students ability to identify research problems, design and execute data collection strategies, and present well-reasoned and coherent interpretations of findings.CoreHuman Impacts on the Environment 2025-26GEO2001MLevel 52025-26This module uses the concepts surrounding environmental health to introduce students to a wide range of critical environmental issues facing the world today. Using a range of global and regional environmental problems, incorporating case studies on climate change, natural resources, land-use change and agriculture, pollution, degradation and threats to environments, ecosystems, and society. Students will critically explore the causes, consequences, and impacts of humans on environmental health issues, as well as learn how to question assumptions about the underlying processes.CorePhysical Geography Theory and Research 2025-26GEP2009MLevel 52025-26Independent research is a valuable skill in geography and prized by employers. In this module you learn how to conduct independent research by undertaking a series of research projects including using laboratory and fieldwork-based techniques. These will teach you the theory and philosophy behind physical geographical research. By the end of the module you will create and interrogate your own dataset to develop your own understanding of an environmental problem.CoreBiogeography & Planetary Health 2025-26GEO2006MLevel 52025-26This module introduces the key concepts of biogeography and planetary health. The aim of the module is to develop students understanding of the impacts of climatic- and human-induced changes on the distribution and functioning of biomes and terrestrial ecosystems. The module consists of three broad themes. The first theme consists of an introduction to the course and examples of human and climate-induced change from a local to global context. The second part covers the techniques that are used to monitor and quantify ecosystem health and predict changes in current ecosystem patterns. The final theme of the module covers the implication of these changes and strategies to mitigate or cope with these changes.OptionalGeographical Data Analysis Methods 2025-26GEO2003MLevel 52025-26This module equips students with highly employable data analysis skills which they will use both in their studies and their careers beyond. Students will learn from a lectures series and accompanying practical classes. As part of the module students will deliver a project related to real-world geographical problems.OptionalPlacement (Level 2) 2025-26GEO2007MLevel 52025-26The Level 2 placement provides students with the opportunity to develop their professional skills by spending time with a relevant local employer. Students will spend 150 hours working under the direct supervision of the employer. Tasks will be developed to give the student an insight into the professional working environment in the wider field of geography. Students will then prepare an essay on their professional learning experience, with reflections on how elements of the Geography syllabus relate to at least one core area of their work experience. The Department of Geography works with an established network of local employers that offer placements on regular basis, and an experienced Placement Officer who can help students find a relevant organisation for their placement.OptionalSoG International Study Year 2025-26GEH2011MLevel 52025-26The School believes that an option to study overseas is a valuable educational opportunity for our students. Provision of this option supports the educational aims of the School of Geography and enhances the distinctiveness of its degrees at Lincoln. The optional year is intended to: - enable students to benefit from studying within a cross cultural environment; - expose students to a wider academic and cultural experience; - enhance their future employment opportunities; - by increasing their cultural and professional mobility. This module is optional for students within the School. Study Abroad is a year long module which enables students to spend a year studying abroad at one of the Universitys approved partner institutions. Eligible students must have completed their second year of study to a satisfactory standard and successfully completed the application process for the year abroad. During the year spent abroad, students share classes with local students and study on a suite of locally-delivered taught modules which have been approved in advance by the University. Upon their return, as part of the assessment for this modules, students are required to critically reflect upon their experience of living and studying in a different cultural environment and the skills acquired.OptionalSoG Work Placement Year 2025-26GEH2002XLevel 52025-26OptionalCatchment Hydrology and Geomorphology 2026-27GEP3016MLevel 62026-27This module will give students an advanced understanding of (1) catchment hydrology, including ecohydrology, and hydrological responses of catchments to climate and land use changes, with an emphasis on global challenges of water resources management, and (2) theoretical background of fluvial geomorphology and morphodynamics, including river and flood management strategies. The first part of the module covers global hydrology, including consideration of the physical characteristics of rivers and their geographical variation, and related aspects of river-catchment science and the role of the water resources in the wider environmental system. The second part focuses on the geomorphology of catchment and river systems, and the expected changes that river ecosystems are likely to experience under the influence of direct anthropogenic perturbations and global change.CoreClimate Change: Processes, Politics & Policy 2026-27GEO3002MLevel 62026-27This module examines the physical, social and political characteristics, and the physical causes, of natural and anthropogenic climate change. These key themes will be explored in terms of how society has responded to the physical processes and impacts of climate.CoreCoastal Systems and Global Change 2026-27GEP3014MLevel 62026-27This module will focus on the processes governing coastal systems, including river mouth systems, coastal wetlands and open coasts, the ecosystem services that they deliver, and the expected changes that coastal systems are likely experience under the influence of climate change and increasing anthropogenic influences. The theoretical background knowledge on coastal systems, their exposure to global change, as well as mitigation and adaptation strategies will be complemented by hands-on practical sessions, including the use of state-of-the-art computer models and the collection and analysis of primary field data. A particular emphasis of this module will be on developing an in-depth understanding of how coastal systems may help coastal communities to adapt to climate change, an approach that is widely referred to as ecosystem-based management.CoreEnvironmental Management 2026-27GEO3005MLevel 62026-27This module examines a range of interdisciplinary environmental management techniques that are used to address critical environmental, human and planetary health issues. Students will gain an understanding of the most appropriate techniques and solutions using a range of global, regional and local environmental case studies. There is a strong emphasis on practice-based skills with guest lectures from practitioners in the field, practical and seminar classes. An innovative assessment will give students the opportunity to be involved in actively influencing sustainable behaviour in the younger generation and giving them a chance to become the teacher. This approach is especially useful in the third year as it exposes students to a wide range of career options in environmental science management and policy/regulation.CoreGeography Dissertation 2026-27GEO3001MLevel 62026-27The Dissertation is an extended piece of original research work on a geographical topic of students' own choice that is carried out under the guidance of a staff mentor. It allows students to draw together and build on the skills and subject expertise they have developed throughout their time at University. Students will be expected to either collect original material for investigation and/or to carry out original analysis of secondary data. Students' allocated supervisor will guide and advise them in their work.CoreGlobal Change Biology 2026-27ECL3005MLevel 62026-27This module will consider human-caused environmental change that affects a substantial part of the globe and biological systems. Biological responses to these human induced changes will be considered in terms of how organisms, species, and communities may acclimatise, adapt, or change. Specifically, we will consider how organisms can respond genetically and phenotypically, and how and why communities may change in their species and functional composition. After consolidating understanding of the causes of, and biological responses to, global change, we will consider what these impacts mean for ecosystem structure and function, the development of novel ecosystems, and approaches for conservation and ecosystem management under global change. This module will cover a range of differing causes of global change e.g. biological invasions or urbanisation, but content will be flexible to remain relevant to current and emerging challenges.OptionalOverseas Fieldwork 2026-27GEO3004MLevel 62026-27This module seeks to put into practice knowledge gained in previous modules by focusing on the physical and human processes that have shaped the environment and will influence future change (therefore helping to shape the safety and health of the inhabited region) it provides experience of process interpretation and understanding in an unfamiliar setting. Currently, two destinations, Chile and the Netherlands are available to students, although this is subject to change. Students who choose to participate in the optional field trip are responsible for covering their travel, accommodation, and general living costs. The module is designed to allow students to work within an overseas environment and carry out a study that will result in the design, implementation, and production of a research report that is mainly based on student-led fieldwork. Introductory lecture sessions will take place in Lincoln prior to fieldwork. Knowledge and understanding on the actual fieldclass can be gained via enquiry-based learning, followed by group/individual data collection and follow-up analysis, set in the context of wider research, and student-centred research presentations. Follow-up sessions will provide the opportunity to analyse and create a written presentation of research findings.OptionalPlacement (Level 3) 2026-27GEO3003MLevel 62026-27On this placement, students are expected to carry out a specific project for an external organisation. The project would be agreed between the Host Organisation, School of Geography Supervisor and Student prior to the commencement of the placement. The student would be expected to undertake a specific project task to address a particular requirement of the Host Organisation. This might include consultancy research, analytical research, public engagement or the development of a new teaching class/activity. The approach, outcome and an evaluation of the project should be presented in the form of a professional report and oral presentation.OptionalSoil Biology 2026-27ECL3003MLevel 62026-27This module provides a critical insight into the study of the biological diversity of soils, including their ecological and functional roles, to understand about best management and conservation practices. Students can learn about key issues affecting important soil processes and the methods for measuring and managing soil biodiversity.Optional

What You Need to Know

We want you to have all the information you need to make an informed decision on where and what you want to study. In addition to the information provided on this course page, our What You Need to Know page offers explanations on key topics including programme validation/revalidation, additional costs, contact hours, and our return to face-to-face teaching.

What You Need to Know

How you are assessed

We offer a range of assessments designed to allow students to demonstrate their skills to the best of their ability. Students are assessed using multiple, diverse methods including coursework such as written assignments, blogs, reports or dissertations; practical tasks, fieldwork and presentations; and written exams, such as formal examinations or in-class tests.

Both group and individual assessments are commonly used. The weighting given to each assessment method may vary across each academic year.

The University of Lincoln's policy on assessment feedback aims to ensure that all in-course assessments are returned to students promptly - usually within 15 working days after the submission date. The Department of Geography aims to provide continuing feedback to students through our tutorial system and scheduled "feedback hours".

How you are assessed

Both group and individual assessments are commonly used. The weighting given to each assessment method may vary across each academic year. The Department of Geography aims to provide continuing feedback to students through our tutorial system and scheduled "feedback hours".

Accreditation

This programme has been accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). Accredited degree programmes must contain a solid academic foundation in geographical knowledge and skills, and prepare graduates to address the needs of the world beyond higher education. The accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from accredited programmes meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical ability, and transferable skills.

Royal Geographical Society with IBG Accredited Programme

Fieldwork

Our students benefit from a wide range of fieldwork destinations both in the UK and overseas to support the development of key skills in gathering, collating, and analysing quantitative and qualitative data. In the first and second-year, fieldwork is a core subject and costs of these compulsory trips are covered by the University. In the third year, we offer an optional trip, and should students choose to participate, they will be responsible for covering their travel, accommodation, and general living costs. Field trip destinations have previously included the Lincolnshire coast, Chile, and the Greek island of Crete.

The range of physical and human modules allows you to make the degree your own and follow what you are interested in. The valuable opportunities to get involved with real-world research projects is fantastic and helps put your interests at the forefront.

Learn From Experts

Research is essential in informing our teaching and each of our academics is passionate about research. The College of Science hosts the Lincoln Centre for Water and Planetary Health (LCWPH), and the Development, Inequality, Resilience and Environments (DIRE) and Catchments and Coasts research groups.

Our students have the chance to encounter authentic research at all levels — either through their own activities or through the teaching staff sharing experiences from their own research. Wider opportunities to engage in research are provided through guest lectures within the course, working closely with the Lincoln branch of the Geographical Association externally, and engaging in research projects with staff. Two students have already completed UROS projects with the Department of Geography.

Explore Our Expertise

Geography is an ideal subject to study for understanding how to address major environmental and social challenges such as the climate crisis, and also for picking up vital work skills.

Placements

The Department of Geography offers opportunities to gain valuable work experience with partners in industry, schools, and public sector organisations. These include a placement module in the second year and a consultancy module in the third year, enabling students to practice and develop a wide range of skills and expertise of relevance to the workplace whilst also building invaluable career networks. The Department works with a dedicated placement officer to support students in placement and consultancy opportunities.

When students are on an optional placement in the UK or overseas or studying abroad, they will be required to cover their own transport and accommodation and meals costs. Placements can range from a few weeks to a full year if students choose to undertake an optional sandwich year in industry. From the first year, students will have opportunities to attend lectures from people whose careers are built on geographical skills and knowledge. The Department of Geography also works closely with the University Careers and Employability Team to promote the Lincoln Award, an initiative designed to enhance employability skills.

What Can I Do with a Geography Degree?

Geography can offer a broad range of career opportunities for its graduates. These include roles in geographical information systems, social environmental consultancy, planning and public policy, management, teaching, and the financial sector. The Department's links with industry, business, and environmental regulatory agencies provide opportunities for internships and work experience.

United Kingdom

A Level: BBC including a B in Geography or related subject (112 UCAS Tariff points from a minimum of 3 A levels or equivalent qualifications). Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, Mathematics, Physics are accepted. General Studies and Critical Thinking are accepted.

International Baccalaureate: 29 points overall, with 5 at Higher Level in Geography or related subjects from the fields of Sciences, Mathematics or Individuals and Societies.

BTEC Extended Diploma in Geography or related subjects: Distinction, Merit, Merit, or equivalent. Applied Science, Computing, Engineering, Environmental Sustainability, Information Technology, Pharmaceutical Science are accepted.

Access to Higher Education Diploma: 45 Level 3 credits with a minimum of 112 UCAS Tariff points, including 40 points from 15 credits in Geography or a related subject from the fields of Information, Communications and Technology, Science and Mathematics or Agriculture, Horticultures and Animal Care.

A combination of qualifications which may include A Levels, BTEC, EPQ, etc.

Applicants will also need at least three GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above, which must include English and Maths. Equivalent Level 2 qualifications may also be considered.

The University accepts a wide range of qualifications as the basis for entry. We will also consider applicants with extensive and relevant work experience and will give special individual consideration to those who do not meet the standard entry qualifications.

International

Non UK Qualifications:

If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages for information on equivalent qualifications.

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/

EU and Overseas students will be required to demonstrate English language proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 overall, with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. For information regarding other English language qualifications we accept, please visit the English Requirements page.

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements/

If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-sessional English and Academic Study Skills courses.

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/pre-sessionalenglishandacademicstudyskills/

If you would like further information about entry requirements, or would like to discuss whether the qualifications you are currently studying are acceptable, please contact the Admissions team on 01522 886097, or email admissions@lincoln.ac.uk

Entry Requirements 2024-25

United Kingdom
International

United Kingdom

112 UCAS Tariff points from a minimum of 3 A Levels or equivalent qualifications to include 40 points in Geography or related subject. Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, Mathematics, are accepted.

A Level: BBC including a B in Geography or related subject. Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Geology, Mathematics, are accepted.

International Baccalaureate: 29 points overall, with 5 at Higher Level in Geography or related subjects from the fields of Sciences, Mathematics or Individuals and Societies.

T Level in Science, Agriculture, Land Management and Production are accepted: Merit

Applicants will also need at least three GCSEs at grade 4 or above, which must include English and Maths. Equivalent Level 2 qualifications may also be considered.

The University accepts a wide range of qualifications as the basis for entry and do accept a combination of qualifications which may include A Levels, BTECs, EPQ etc.

We will also consider applicants with extensive and relevant work experience and will give special individual consideration to those who do not meet the standard entry qualifications.

International

Non UK Qualifications:

If you have studied outside of the UK, and are unsure whether your qualification meets the above requirements, please visit our country pages for information on equivalent qualifications.

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/entryrequirementsandyourcountry/

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/englishlanguagerequirements/

If you do not meet the above IELTS requirements, you may be able to take part in one of our Pre-sessional English and Academic Study Skills courses.

https://www.lincoln.ac.uk/home/studywithus/internationalstudents/englishlanguagerequirementsandsupport/pre-sessionalenglishandacademicstudyskills/

Fees and Scholarships

Going to university is a life-changing step and it's important to understand the costs involved and the funding options available before you start. A full breakdown of the fees associated with this programme can be found on our course fees pages.

Course Fees

For eligible undergraduate students going to university for the first time, scholarships and bursaries are available to help cover costs. The University of Lincoln offers a variety of merit-based and subject-specific bursaries and scholarships. For full details and information about eligibility, visit our scholarships and bursaries pages.

Fees and Scholarships

Course Fees

Find out More at an Open Day

The best way to find out what it is really like to live and learn at Lincoln is to join us for one of our Open Days. Visiting us in person is important and will help you to get a real feel for what it might be like to study here.

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Three students walking together on campus in the sunshine

BSc (Hons)
Geography BSc (Hons)
Geography

Key Information

Duration

Typical Offer

Campus

UCAS Code

Duration

Typical Offer

Campus

UCAS Code

Academic Years

United Kingdom

International

United Kingdom

International