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From migration to urbanisation, human geography is key to understanding complex societal issues. What will you discover?
Human geographers are crucial in addressing the many challenges societies across the world face today. Whether exploring individual experiences of food insecurity or collective responsibility for sustainable development, the course allows you to study the complex interactions between people, places and planet. And examine trends in human behaviour such as migration and economy.
You’ll draw on the experiences and research of expert leaders in the field – some have even helped recreate London life through the ages on BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are. You’ll think critically and creatively about the world we live in. Learn sought-after practical skills in qualitative and quantitative data analysis. And develop knowledge of a wide range of contemporary issues.
Studying in the vibrant heart of east London, you’ll join a thriving community of students and academics from over 35 countries. You’ll have the chance to develop real-world skills through fieldwork in the UK and other locations such as Belfast or Boston. And expand your learning through collaborations with London museums and art organisations.
Passionate about examining colonial lives and afterlives? Or keen to discover the secrets of grassroots social movement success? You’ll tailor your degree to your interests, with a wide range of optional modules exclusively on human geography topics to choose from. Then design your own research project in your final year with guidance from our experts.
A degree in human geography opens up endless options. You’ll have the skills you need for a career in social science research and consultancy, data analysis or risk management. However, you’ll also be a great match for roles with an economic and project management focus. With the 1:1 support of our careers team, your CV will be ready and dazzling in no time.
You can complete your Human Geography degree in three or four years. If you choose to study abroad, this will take place in Year 3 and Year 3 modules will instead be studied in Year 4.
For full details on all of our modules please go to the online module directory.
*Fieldwork module. Flights, shared accommodation, transport in Malta and meals will not cost you anything extra on this compulsory module. Students are responsible for securing their own visas, if required.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
For full details on our modules please go to the online module directory.
*Fieldwork module. Fieldwork destinations may vary year-on-year, are subject to availability and depend on the module combinations chosen. Overseas fieldwork modules run in alternate years. Places are limited - if a module is oversubscribed, places will be allocated by ballot. Students on overseas field trips are responsible for securing their own visas, if required.
Apply for this degree with any of the following options. Take care to use the correct UCAS code - it may not be possible to change your selection later.
Go global and study abroad as part of your degree – apply for our Human Geography BA with a Year Abroad. Queen Mary has links with universities in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia (partnerships vary for each degree programme).
Find out more about study abroad opportunities at Queen Mary and what the progression requirements are.
Compulsory fieldwork will not cost you anything extra. Optional UK and overseas fieldwork trips in the second- and third-year cost approximately £450-£1,500 (based on 2022-23 costs) depending on destination, including flights, accommodation and expenses on location.
My course let me explore the differences between people and teaches me to accept them. Looking at poverty and development in the Global South motivated me to do something for the world. My degree was an excellent stepping stone toward my career and has equipped me with skills to create change in the world.
On average, you can expect to spend eight to 12 hours per week in a combination of lectures, tutorials, supervisions, seminars, workshops and practical classes.
For every hour of classes, expect to do a further two to four hours of independent study.
Fieldwork is central to all our programmes and takes place in London, the UK and overseas. Find out more about our field classes and how they help you apply your studies to real-world contexts.
All students have an academic advisor that they meet with regularly across each semester to review their studies and to check-in on their well-being. Read more about the advice and support services available to students in the School of Geography.
Modules are assessed through a combination of coursework and examination. Coursework may include extended essays, short reports, posters, oral presentations and group work.
Students must also complete a final-year independent study project of 10,000 words, based on an original study of their choice.
The School offers excellent on-campus resources to aid your studies, including:
Find out what our students think about studying geography at Queen Mary.
Alternative offers may be made to applicants taking the Extended Project Qualification.
For further information please visit: qmul.ac.uk/undergraduate/entry/epq
Our standard contextual offer: Grades BBC at A-Level. Excludes General Studies, Critical Thinking.
Our enhanced contextual offer (for care experienced students, refugee/asylum seekers or students who have completed Realising Opportunities or Access to Queen Mary): Grades BCC at A-Level. Excludes General Studies, Critical Thinking.
More information on how this information is used for a contextual offer can be found on our contextualised admissions page.
We accept a wide range of European and international qualifications in addition to A-levels, the International Baccalaureate and BTEC qualifications. Please visit International Admissions for full details.
If your qualifications are not accepted for direct entry onto this degree, consider applying for a foundation programme.
Find out more about our English language entry requirements, including the types of test we accept and the scores needed for entry to the programme.
You may also be able to meet the English language requirement for your programme by joining a summer pre-sessional programme before starting your degree.
See our general undergraduate entry requirements.
UK students accepted onto this course are eligible to apply for tuition fee and maintenance loans from Student Finance England or other government bodies.
Queen Mary offers a generous package of scholarships and bursaries, which currently benefits around 50 per cent of our undergraduates.
Scholarships are available for home, EU and international students. Specific funding is also available for students from the local area. International students may be eligible for a fee reduction. We offer means-tested funding, as well as subject-specific funding for many degrees.
Find out what scholarships and bursaries are available to you.
We offer specialist support on all financial and welfare issues through our Advice and Counselling Service, which you can access as soon as you have applied for a place at Queen Mary.
Take a look at our Student Advice Guides which cover ways to finance your degree, including:
Many of our Human Geography graduates use their subject knowledge directly in business analysis, marketing, town or transport planning or geographical information systems (GIS). Others take their transferable skills into other careers, from risk analysis to management consultancy.
Recent graduates have been hired by:
Discover what our recent students are doing after graduation and read more about their experiences on this course.
Human Geography students benefit from dedicated careers support including lectures and tutorials on career choice, getting work experience and presenting degree skills to an employer at interview.
Find out more about how we have integrated careers support into all of degree programmes to help you to maximise your potential and achieve your ambitions.
The Queen Mary careers team can also offer:
Learn more about career support and development at Queen Mary.
Human Geography - BA (Hons)
Human Geography with Year Abroad - BA (Hons)
The Discover Uni dataset (formerly Unistats)
The School of Geography at Queen Mary University of London provides an innovative education across diverse subject areas in a supportive and inclusive environment.
Staff and students alike strive to solve the major environmental and societal challenges of our time, generating rigorous research evidence and turning that into impactful practical and policy change at a local or national and even global level, often working with powerful partners like government agencies and big tech companies to drive progress.
The School is one of the top 100 geography departments in the world (QS World University Rankings 2023), while the Research Excellence Framework (2021) puts the quality of our research in the UK top 10.
Thanks to our local, national and international links, you’ll have opportunities to work with community groups, environmental trusts and charities, applying your classroom learning to real-world problems.
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