Clearing offers from 48 UCAS tariff points. Subject-specific requirements still apply. See the entry requirements section for details.
Geography is the study of people, places, environments, and the connections between them. On this course, you'll explore some of the biggest issues shaping our future, from climate change and flooding to sustainability, inequality, cities, ecosystems, and environmental management.
At Lincoln, you'll investigate these challenges and grow your skillset. Through fieldwork, data analysis, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and real-world case studies, you'll develop practical skills that are valued by employers in environmental, planning, policy, education, sustainability, and research careers.
If you're curious about the world and want a degree that keeps your options open, Geography at Lincoln is a strong place to start.
Geography is the study of people, places, environments, and the connections between them. On this course, you'll explore some of the biggest issues shaping our future, from climate change and flooding to sustainability, inequality, cities, ecosystems, and environmental management.
At Lincoln, you'll investigate these challenges and grow your skillset. Through fieldwork, data analysis, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, and real-world case studies, you'll develop practical skills that are valued by employers in environmental, planning, policy, education, sustainability, and research careers.
If you're curious about the world and want a degree that keeps your options open, Geography at Lincoln is a strong place to start.
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.
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✔ A degree for real-world challenges
Explore climate change, hazards, sustainability, urban development, environmental change, and the relationship between people and places.
✔ Accredited and respected
This course is accredited by the Royal Geographical Society, giving you confidence that it meets recognised standards for geographical knowledge and skills.
✔ Fieldwork that brings learning to life
Apply what you learn through UK and overseas fieldwork, with the costs of field activities in optional modules partially covered by the Department of Geography.
✔ Practical skills employers value
Develop experience in GIS, remote sensing, data analysis, field research, report writing, presentations, and independent investigation.
✔ Career-focused opportunities
Build your experience through optional placement modules, consultancy-style projects, a sandwich placement year, or international study.
✔ Learn from active researchers
Study with academics working on issues such as climate, coasts, catchments, communities, environmental change, and sustainability.
✔ Support from the start
Personal tutoring, academic guidance, careers support, and a dedicated placement officer can help you make the most of your degree.
This course builds your understanding step by step, from core geographical ideas to applied skills and specialist topics.
You’ll explore:
People and places How communities, cities, economies, and environments shape each other.
Climate and environmental change How natural systems are changing and how societies respond.
Hazards and risk Issues such as flooding, coastal change, weather, and environmental pressures.
Sustainability and global challenges How geography helps address issues such as resource use, inequality, food security, and climate justice.
GIS, remote sensing, and data skills How to map, analyse, and interpret geographical information.
Fieldwork and research How to collect evidence, investigate places, and communicate findings clearly.
By your final year, you’ll complete an independent dissertation on a topic that interests you. This is your opportunity to specialise, build confidence as a researcher, and show employers that you can investigate a complex issue in depth.
This module supports students to develop critical understandings of core concepts within Geography through exploring the development of geographical thought. As well as acquiring a command over concepts, students will be able to recognise and interpret their own lives and social geographies in relation to geographical conceptualisations and advance critical reflection skills to better grasp notions of power, knowledge and geographical thinking. A dialectical and dialogical approach to the teaching of conceptual knowledges will enhance student abilities in defining and distinguishing core geographical concepts and ideas through comparing and contrasting concepts in relation to each other. Students will achieve this through inclusive, active learning based around group, paired and individual work. The module also provides foundational knowledge and understanding in preparation for engaging with more complex content in subsequent levels of the programme.
The aim of this module is to introduce students to how geographical knowledge is created, and applied to students' careers, and to local and global challenges. Students will engage with a series of careers-focused sessions to embed employability within their development as geographers, and to develop an awareness and understanding of geographical career attributes and pathways.
Geography is a fundamentally spatial discipline. As such, spatial data and analyses often lie at the heart of how we understand and navigate life on our planet. This module provides an introduction to Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Earth Observation, including both the fundamental theories which underpin these technologies and their practical applications. Specifically, this module introduces students to some of the important sources of geospatial data and the technologies underpinning them, and highlights ways in which they are used both within geographical science and more widely. In addition, students will gain hands-on, skills-based experience in processing and analysing data using GIS and Earth Observation software. These are vital tools that will enable students to more rigorously assess the safety and health of the inhabited Earth.
Research methods for the Life Sciences aims to introduce the skills and knowledge necessary for students to assimilate and judge scientific knowledge. Students will be introduced to the tools required to search and evaluate the scientific literature relevant to their studies, and some of the key philosophical constructs around which scientific knowledge is based. They will be taught about hypothesis testing, experimental design, data collection, basic mathematical and statistical concepts, and data presentation, and gain hands-on experience of their application.
This module uses the “laboratory” of the local environment to study global issues related to social and environmental justice within the University’s “local to global” remit. Local fieldwork introduces students to contemporary issues in the social and natural environment through in-depth studies. We visit three nearby environments: the urban, rural and coastal, and will study environmental hazards, social-economic geographies and ecosystem sustainability, as well as the interactions between these processes.
The 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. By exploring a range of relevant case studies, the module will discuss 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. Teaching and assessment will cover three broad themes including environmental resources and degradation, SDGs, ecosystems and biodiversity and sustainable socio-ecological systems.
The 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.
Data is central to any scientific pursuit. Data-centric skills are crucial for any environmental scientist undertaking any form of data collection, management, visualisation and/or analysis. This module introduces knowledge and skills relevant to varied sorts of environmental data: storage, handling and manipulation; data visualisation; statistical analysis, interpretation and communication; and applying such knowledge and skills when designing environmental studies. In the age of information, computational skills are becoming ever more relevant, and this module will hone different computational skills, especially coding.
This module examines the theory and philosophy of geographical research together with the practical elements of carrying out research in key areas of human and physical geography. The module explores the theoretical background to undertaking research and considers how different theoretical positions inform research methods and interpretation of data in practice. Teaching also provides a series of introductions to methodological techniques for environmental data collection, analysis and interpretation that can be applied to topical and pressing research problems in human and physical geography.
Human influences on the environment can be seen almost everywhere on our planet, from the deepest ocean trenches to the peaks of the Himalayas and out beyond the stratosphere. This module introduces students to a wide range of human-caused environmental issues facing the world today, using a range of global and regional case studies. Students will explore their causes and consequences, as well as potential responses to them, and develop skills in communicating these critical issues to different audiences using different techniques.
This module aims to inspire and develop capacities of students to be citizens of change in/on the world by fully embedding the principles of Student as Producer in all components of the module. With foundations in Activist and Applied Geographies, students are scaffolded and supported to critically reflect on their shared and individual resonances to environmental issues with the purpose of designing and developing action toward alternative futures. The module will be delivered through weekly workshops where students will take ownership of their own learning, advance advocacy and action-related skills and co-create materials toward facilitating social, cultural and environmental value. Though student-led and co-designed, workshops will be framed around civic engagement, career advancement and values-led growth to develop behaviours, attributes and geo-capabilities that have a significant impact on society and the individual student.
This module will introduce students to the applications of GIS and Remote Sensing in supporting evidence-based decisions for sustainable landscape. Students will learn how spatial data is obtained, processed, analysed, and visualized to address real-world problems such as identifying crime hotspots, resources allocation, environmental and ecosystem monitoring and change detection. The module will combine lectures with hands-on practical sessions using industry-standard software such as ArcGIS Pro and QGIS. The theoretical foundations from lectures will enable students to critically interpret spatial data and communicate findings effectively through maps and reports. By exploring a range of GIS and remote sensing techniques, students will develop transferable skills useful for addressing a range of environmental issues.
This module introduces the key concepts of biogeography, conservation, and planetary health. The aim of the module is to develop students’ understanding of the drivers of the impacts of climatic- and human-induced changes on the distribution and functioning of biomes and ecosystems, evaluate how these can be managed and mitigated, and explore and challenge dominant perspectives on conservation theories and practice. The module consists of four broad themes: planetary change; key contemporary issues for ecosystems; biogeographical techniques and mitigation and restoration.
Modern 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.
The 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 University’s 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.
In this module students will ‘trace’ how particular past socio-environmental phenomena interrelate and have shaped and continue to shape present and future global socio-environmental realities. This includes exploring social and environmental events, how these have been experienced and responded to by different people and what the legacies of this are. Case studies are drawn from a range of geographical and temporal settings to facilitate an analytical and comparative view of human-environment interactions, while grounding in historical-social process will ensure that students gain an understanding of the importance of context, social actors and human agency. Critical consideration of how debates and research regarding past socio-environmental changes can be applied to social and environmental challenges today will provide an added dimension of societal relevance.
This module will introduce students to advanced GIS (Geographical Information Systems) techniques which can be used to understand these relationships between humans and the environment across different time scales. Students will be trained to use research-grade tools, such as ecological models, machine learning and the R coding environment, to address key environmental questions. Activities will be closely linked to published journal articles, and students will be encouraged to reflect critically on models’ strengths and weaknesses for shedding light on Anthropocene environments. The module will also highlight the ethical (e.g. as coding companions) and unethical (e.g. writing reports) ways in which AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools can be used in environmental research.
This 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.
This module examines the physical, social and political causes, characteristics and consequences of natural and anthropogenic climate change. These key themes will be explored in terms of how societies and the natural world have responded to the physical processes and impacts of climate. We will: explore the physical processes related to natural and anthropogenic climate change and scientific interpretation of these processes; assess the impacts of climate change on a range of human and environmental systems; examine societal, political and policy responses to climate change at different geographical scales; and critically examine how the relationship between the physical environment and societal responses have evolved (and are evolving) with respect to climate change.
This 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.
The Dissertation is an extended piece of original research work on a geographical topic of the students choice that is carried out under the guidance of a staff mentor. It allows the drawing together and building on skills and subject expertise you have developed through a students time at University. Students will be expected to either collect original material for investigation and/or to carry out original analysis of secondary data. Allocated supervisors will guide and advise in this work but students are expected to take the lead in developing ideas and research plans.
This 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 acclimatize, 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.
This module puts into practice the knowledge gained in the first and second year Geography modules, and – by focusing on the physical and human processes that have shaped the environment and will influence future change – it provides first-hand experience of process interpretation and understanding in an unfamiliar setting. The module allows students to work within a unique range of overseas environments and carry out a range of activities and studies that result in the design, implementation and production of a research coursework based on student-led fieldwork. Introductory lecture sessions will take place prior to fieldwork. Knowledge and understanding on the actual field class will be gained via enquiry-based learning, followed by group/individual data collection and follow-up analysis. Follow-up sessions will facilitate analysis and discussion of research findings. Transferable and group field and problem-solving skills gained in a largely unfamiliar setting will be invaluable for the workplace.
The semester-long placement module requires students to carry out a specific project for an external organisation. The project is agreed between the host organisation, the module leader and the student prior to the commencement of the placement. The student develops 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 methods used, results, interpretation, recommendations and evaluation of the project are presented in the form of a professional report and a poster.
The environment, its resources, its use, and its degradation are both shaped by and are drivers of unequal power relations at global, regional and local scales. Following, conservation, exploitation and development of planetary natures – including human – underpins many contemporary crises: ecological, climate, economic, geopolitical conflicts and violence, displacement and inequality. The vibrant interdisciplinary field of Political Ecology aims to assess and interpret the politics shaping socio-ecological relations, applying critical analyses to topics spanning forestry, water and mineral extraction to urbanization, development and technology, plus many others.
† 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.
This module supports students to develop critical understandings of core concepts within Geography through exploring the development of geographical thought. As well as acquiring a command over concepts, students will be able to recognise and interpret their own lives and social geographies in relation to geographical conceptualisations and advance critical reflection skills to better grasp notions of power, knowledge and geographical thinking. A dialectical and dialogical approach to the teaching of conceptual knowledges will enhance student abilities in defining and distinguishing core geographical concepts and ideas through comparing and contrasting concepts in relation to each other. Students will achieve this through inclusive, active learning based around group, paired and individual work. The module also provides foundational knowledge and understanding in preparation for engaging with more complex content in subsequent levels of the programme.
The aim of this module is to introduce students to how geographical knowledge is created, and applied to students' careers, and to local and global challenges. Students will engage with a series of careers-focused sessions to embed employability within their development as geographers, and to develop an awareness and understanding of geographical career attributes and pathways.
Geography is a fundamentally spatial discipline. As such, spatial data and analyses often lie at the heart of how we understand and navigate life on our planet. This module provides an introduction to Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Earth Observation, including both the fundamental theories which underpin these technologies and their practical applications. Specifically, this module introduces students to some of the important sources of geospatial data and the technologies underpinning them, and highlights ways in which they are used both within geographical science and more widely. In addition, students will gain hands-on, skills-based experience in processing and analysing data using GIS and Earth Observation software. These are vital tools that will enable students to more rigorously assess the safety and health of the inhabited Earth.
Research methods for the Life Sciences aims to introduce the skills and knowledge necessary for students to assimilate and judge scientific knowledge. Students will be introduced to the tools required to search and evaluate the scientific literature relevant to their studies, and some of the key philosophical constructs around which scientific knowledge is based. They will be taught about hypothesis testing, experimental design, data collection, basic mathematical and statistical concepts, and data presentation, and gain hands-on experience of their application.
This module uses the “laboratory” of the local environment to study global issues related to social and environmental justice within the University’s “local to global” remit. Local fieldwork introduces students to contemporary issues in the social and natural environment through in-depth studies. We visit three nearby environments: the urban, rural and coastal, and will study environmental hazards, social-economic geographies and ecosystem sustainability, as well as the interactions between these processes.
The 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. By exploring a range of relevant case studies, the module will discuss 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. Teaching and assessment will cover three broad themes including environmental resources and degradation, SDGs, ecosystems and biodiversity and sustainable socio-ecological systems.
The 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.
Data is central to any scientific pursuit. Data-centric skills are crucial for any environmental scientist undertaking any form of data collection, management, visualisation and/or analysis. This module introduces knowledge and skills relevant to varied sorts of environmental data: storage, handling and manipulation; data visualisation; statistical analysis, interpretation and communication; and applying such knowledge and skills when designing environmental studies. In the age of information, computational skills are becoming ever more relevant, and this module will hone different computational skills, especially coding.
This module examines the theory and philosophy of geographical research together with the practical elements of carrying out research in key areas of human and physical geography. The module explores the theoretical background to undertaking research and considers how different theoretical positions inform research methods and interpretation of data in practice. Teaching also provides a series of introductions to methodological techniques for environmental data collection, analysis and interpretation that can be applied to topical and pressing research problems in human and physical geography.
Human influences on the environment can be seen almost everywhere on our planet, from the deepest ocean trenches to the peaks of the Himalayas and out beyond the stratosphere. This module introduces students to a wide range of human-caused environmental issues facing the world today, using a range of global and regional case studies. Students will explore their causes and consequences, as well as potential responses to them, and develop skills in communicating these critical issues to different audiences using different techniques.
Human influences on the environment can be seen almost everywhere on our planet, from the deepest ocean trenches to the peaks of the Himalayas and out beyond the stratosphere. This module introduces students to a wide range of human-caused environmental issues facing the world today, using a range of global and regional case studies. Students will explore their causes and consequences, as well as potential responses to them, and develop skills in communicating these critical issues to different audiences using different techniques.
This module will introduce students to the applications of GIS and Remote Sensing in supporting evidence-based decisions for sustainable landscape. Students will learn how spatial data is obtained, processed, analysed, and visualized to address real-world problems such as identifying crime hotspots, resources allocation, environmental and ecosystem monitoring and change detection. The module will combine lectures with hands-on practical sessions using industry-standard software such as ArcGIS Pro and QGIS. The theoretical foundations from lectures will enable students to critically interpret spatial data and communicate findings effectively through maps and reports. By exploring a range of GIS and remote sensing techniques, students will develop transferable skills useful for addressing a range of environmental issues.
This module builds on the foundational knowledge developed in the The Earth System: Processes & Hazards, extending students’ understanding of Earth’s weather, climate and environmental systems at global, regional, and local scales, both in the past and present. It examines the processes and interactions that shape these systems, focusing on the major Earth spheres (e.g., atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, lithosphere) and how their interactions regulate environmental change.
This module introduces the key concepts of biogeography, conservation, and planetary health. The aim of the module is to develop students’ understanding of the drivers of the impacts of climatic- and human-induced changes on the distribution and functioning of biomes and ecosystems, evaluate how these can be managed and mitigated, and explore and challenge dominant perspectives on conservation theories and practice. The module consists of four broad themes: planetary change; key contemporary issues for ecosystems; biogeographical techniques and mitigation and restoration.
Modern 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.
The 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 University’s 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.
In this module students will ‘trace’ how particular past socio-environmental phenomena interrelate and have shaped and continue to shape present and future global socio-environmental realities. This includes exploring social and environmental events, how these have been experienced and responded to by different people and what the legacies of this are. Case studies are drawn from a range of geographical and temporal settings to facilitate an analytical and comparative view of human-environment interactions, while grounding in historical-social process will ensure that students gain an understanding of the importance of context, social actors and human agency. Critical consideration of how debates and research regarding past socio-environmental changes can be applied to social and environmental challenges today will provide an added dimension of societal relevance.
This module will introduce students to advanced GIS (Geographical Information Systems) techniques which can be used to understand these relationships between humans and the environment across different time scales. Students will be trained to use research-grade tools, such as ecological models, machine learning and the R coding environment, to address key environmental questions. Activities will be closely linked to published journal articles, and students will be encouraged to reflect critically on models’ strengths and weaknesses for shedding light on Anthropocene environments. The module will also highlight the ethical (e.g. as coding companions) and unethical (e.g. writing reports) ways in which AI (Artificial Intelligence) tools can be used in environmental research.
This 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.
This module examines the physical, social and political causes, characteristics and consequences of natural and anthropogenic climate change. These key themes will be explored in terms of how societies and the natural world have responded to the physical processes and impacts of climate. We will: explore the physical processes related to natural and anthropogenic climate change and scientific interpretation of these processes; assess the impacts of climate change on a range of human and environmental systems; examine societal, political and policy responses to climate change at different geographical scales; and critically examine how the relationship between the physical environment and societal responses have evolved (and are evolving) with respect to climate change.
This 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.
The Dissertation is an extended piece of original research work on a geographical topic of the students choice that is carried out under the guidance of a staff mentor. It allows the drawing together and building on skills and subject expertise you have developed through a students time at University. Students will be expected to either collect original material for investigation and/or to carry out original analysis of secondary data. Allocated supervisors will guide and advise in this work but students are expected to take the lead in developing ideas and research plans.
This 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 acclimatize, 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.
This module puts into practice the knowledge gained in the first and second year Geography modules, and – by focusing on the physical and human processes that have shaped the environment and will influence future change – it provides first-hand experience of process interpretation and understanding in an unfamiliar setting. The module allows students to work within a unique range of overseas environments and carry out a range of activities and studies that result in the design, implementation and production of a research coursework based on student-led fieldwork. Introductory lecture sessions will take place prior to fieldwork. Knowledge and understanding on the actual field class will be gained via enquiry-based learning, followed by group/individual data collection and follow-up analysis. Follow-up sessions will facilitate analysis and discussion of research findings. Transferable and group field and problem-solving skills gained in a largely unfamiliar setting will be invaluable for the workplace.
The semester-long placement module requires students to carry out a specific project for an external organisation. The project is agreed between the host organisation, the module leader and the student prior to the commencement of the placement. The student develops 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 methods used, results, interpretation, recommendations and evaluation of the project are presented in the form of a professional report and a poster.
The environment, its resources, its use, and its degradation are both shaped by and are drivers of unequal power relations at global, regional and local scales. Following, conservation, exploitation and development of planetary natures – including human – underpins many contemporary crises: ecological, climate, economic, geopolitical conflicts and violence, displacement and inequality. The vibrant interdisciplinary field of Political Ecology aims to assess and interpret the politics shaping socio-ecological relations, applying critical analyses to topics spanning forestry, water and mineral extraction to urbanization, development and technology, plus many others.
† 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.
Starting university is a big step, especially if you’re still working out what career you want. You’ll have support throughout.
Personal tutor system Someone who supports your academic progress and development.
Academic skills support Help with research, writing, data, fieldwork, and presentations.
Placement support Guidance from a dedicated placement officer to help you explore work-related opportunities.
Careers guidance Support with CVs, applications, interviews, and career planning.
Varied assessment Build confidence through reports, policy briefs, presentations, field diaries, blogs, podcasts, group work, and independent research.
You’re not expected to have everything figured out from day one. This course helps you explore your interests, build your confidence, and understand where Geography could take you.
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.
Sophie Beckerton
BSc (Hons) Geography
Study overseas at a partner university and experience a new culture.
A Geography degree doesn’t lead to just one career. It gives you a flexible set of skills that can open doors across many sectors.
Graduates can move into areas such as:
Possible roles include:
Why employers value this degree:
You graduate with:
These are skills that matter in a world facing complex climate, planning, sustainability, and resource challenges.
Gain hands-on experience in a real workplace and apply your learned skills in a professional setting.
You may also have the opportunity to take placement or consultancy-style modules as part of your course, helping you connect your learning to professional settings.
This course could be a good fit if you:
You don’t need to know your exact career path yet. But you do need curiosity, an interest in the world, and the motivation to understand how it is changing.
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.
Professor Edward Hanna
Professor of Climate Science and Meteorology
University Study is a major investment, so it’s important to understand the costs and support available. A full breakdown of the fees associated with this programme can be found below. Eligible students may be able to access scholarships and bursaries to help with study costs.
University Study is a major investment, so it’s important to understand the costs and support available. A full breakdown of the fees associated with this programme can be found below. Eligible students may be able to access scholarships and bursaries to help with study costs.
The best way to find out what it is really like to live and learn at Lincoln is to visit us in person. We offer a range of opportunities across the year to help you to get a real feel for what it might be like to study here.
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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, and contact hours.
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, and contact hours.
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