Training the next generation of human geographers to help create equitable places, communities, and environments.
Year of entry: 2025/26
L7F6
Y50
4 years full-time
Discover the complex relationships between people, places, and environments.
Throughout the degree, you'll build essential skills, knowledge and abilities. These will help you to comprehend and address significant social and environmental issues.
Insights from human geography and environmental studies have shaped the design of this course. You'll explore challenges and solutions to modern problems, such as:
Our BSc and MEnv courses are accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences, in recognition of the quality of our teaching
You will study contemporary human geography and current environmental issues. You'll learn to use geographical concepts and skills to deliver solutions to global problems.
There are opportunities for you to spend time abroad during your course:
The first year modules give you an introduction to the basics of the course, providing you with a foundation for advanced material in the future.
In addition to the above you will also need to complete our online Academic Integrity module.
This module covers some of the essential skills and knowledge which will help you to study independently and produce work of a high academic standard which is vital for success at York.
This module will:
You will take a range of core modules to develop your knowledge of human geography and environment. You can then begin to tailor your degree to your own interests with a choice of option modules.
You will study two option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject or an interdisciplinary topic.
Your placement year will start in June or July and will run for nine to twelve months. You'll be paid at a rate typical of the industry hosting the placement.
You'll be guided through the process of finding a placement by a dedicated member of staff. You'll be expected to perform well throughout the application process so that you secure the placement: helping you get practical experience that will be invaluable after graduation.
Placements can be found throughout industry, including environmental consultancy, government agencies, political bodies, construction, conservation and ecological charities (subject to availability).
You may be able to replace one option module with an elective module, studying a complementary subject, a language or an interdisciplinary topic.
You specialise further in the final year with your independent research project and a range of core and optional modules.
You will study two option modules. Examples can be found below. Some option module combinations may not be possible. The options available to you will be confirmed after you begin your course.
Our modules may change to reflect the latest academic thinking and expertise of our staff, and in line with Department/School academic planning.
Every course at York has been designed to provide clear and ambitious learning outcomes. These learning outcomes give you an understanding of what you will be able to do at the end of the course. We develop each course by designing modules that grow your abilities towards the learning outcomes and help you to explain what you can offer to employers. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Our superb state-of-the-art building contains purpose-built labs, lecture theatres and seminar rooms and features a spectacular living wall.
We are proud to hold an Athena SWAN Silver award in recognition of the work we do to support gender equality.
Our BSc and MEnv courses are accredited by the Institution of Environmental Sciences, in recognition of the quality of our teaching.
| UK (home) | International and EU |
|---|---|
| £9,250 | £31,100 |
Fees for students starting in the 2025/26 academic year.
The level of fee that you will be asked to pay depends on whether you're classed as a UK (home) or international student. Check your fee status.
For more information about tuition fees, any reduced fees for study abroad and work placement years, scholarships, tuition fee loans, maintenance loans and living costs see undergraduate fees and funding.
Field work is integral to your course and includes both residential and day trips. In year 1 and 2 there are core residential and day field trips. The travel and accommodation costs of these core trips are included in your student fees. Optional field trips are not paid for, and you will be asked to contribute to the cost of these. The destinations of our residential field trips change to meet the requirements of our students, acknowledge the pressing environmental challenges we face and meet our commitment to sustainability and inclusivity.
We'll confirm more funding opportunities for students joining us in 2025/26 throughout the year.
You can use our living costs guide to help plan your budget. It covers additional costs that are not included in your tuition fee such as expenses for accommodation and study materials.
Our teaching, learning and student experience is outstanding, recognised by a Gold rating from the Office for Students in the 2023 national assessment (Teaching Excellence Framework).
You’ll study and learn with academics who are active researchers, experts in their field and have a passion for their subjects. Our approach to teaching will provide you with the knowledge, opportunities, and support you need to grow and succeed in a global workplace. Find out more about our approach to teaching and learning.
Teaching includes field-based learning, research-led teaching and a more traditional combination of lectures, tutorials, and seminars.
Practical work is a key feature, both in individual projects and in groups.
Field trips form an important part of your course, with excursions (residential and non-residential) each year.
You'll participate in residential field trips currently to Castleton and Whitby (Year 1) and the Netherlands (Year 2). In Year 3 there will be an optional UK-based field trip.
For the Placement Year, a dedicated member of staff will guide you through the process of finding a placement. You will be assigned a supervisor for your placement and be expected to contribute academic work based on your experience. Placements can be local, national or international.
In your first year, you can expect:
| Lectures | 4-6 hours per week |
|---|---|
| Seminars | 1-2 hours per week |
| Workshops | 2-4 hours per week |
| Practicals | 2-4 hours per week |
| Field trips | 1 week |
These figures are representative of a typical week. Your contact hours will vary throughout the year due to your module choices, non-compulsory classes, exam periods and changes to scheduled activities.
Outside your timetabled hours, you'll study independently. This may include preparation for classes, follow-up work, wider reading, practice completion of assessment tasks, or revision.
In the UK, full-time students are expected to spend 1,200 hours a year learning. That's about 40 hours of classes and independent study each week during semesters. Everyone learns at a different rate, so the number of hours you spend on independent study will be different to other students on your course.
You will be based in the Department of Environment and Geography which is based on Campus West.
Each module will be assessed either by coursework, closed or open examination or a combination of both; where possible these will be real-world and solutions-based assessments.
Our beautiful green campus offers a student-friendly setting in which to live and study, within easy reach of the action in the city centre. It's easy to get around - everything is within walking or pedalling distance, or you can use the fast and frequent bus service. Take a campus tour.
Each module will be assessed either by coursework, closed or open examination or a combination of both; where possible these will be practical and solutions-based assessments.
Coursework can include:
In your final year, you will complete an independent research project based on your interests and career aspirations.
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This course will equip you for roles tackling environmental issues at a local, national or international level. You will also develop transferable skills that can be used outside the geography and environment sector. Find out more about careers and employability.
| Typical offer | |
|---|---|
| A levels | AAB including Geography |
| Access to Higher Education Diploma | 36 credits at Distinction and 9 credits at Merit or higher including Geography-related units. |
| BTEC National Extended Diploma | DD in the BTEC National Diploma plus A level Geography or equivalent. If you are studying for the BTEC National Extended Diploma or a different combination of A levels and BTEC qualifications please contact us at ug-admissions@york.ac.uk for advice. |
| Cambridge Pre-U | D3, D3, M2 including Geography |
| European Baccalaureate | 80% overall including Geography |
| International Baccalaureate | 35 points including 6 in Geography at Higher level |
| T levels | We are currently not accepting T Levels for this course unless an additional A Level (or equivalent qualification) in Geography has been taken. |
| Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers | Advanced Highers - B in Geography plus Scottish Highers - BBBB We may also be able to consider three Advanced Highers or a combination of Highers and Advanced Highers, where an applicant does not meet the grade requirement through Highers alone. Please contact us to discuss your qualifications. |
| International foundation programme | Foundation Certificate from our International Pathway College or an appropriate alternative. |
| Other qualifications | We consider a wide range of academic and vocational qualifications as long as Geography is obtained at A level or equivalent and are happy to talk to you about your individual qualifications profile |
| Other international qualifications | Equivalent qualifications from your country |
You should also have GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 (C) or above, or equivalent.
Meeting the following additional criteria may qualify you for an alternative offer.
| Criteria | Adjustment |
|---|---|
| Widening participation | If you successfully complete one of the following programmes, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer: Black Access Programme, Next Step York, Realising Opportunities. More about widening participation. |
| Contextual offers | If you have experience of local authority care or live in an area with low progression to university, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to two A level grades (or equivalent) below our typical offer. More about contextual offers. |
| EPQ | If you achieve C or higher at EPQ, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
| Core Maths | If you achieve B or higher in Core Maths, you may be eligible for an alternative offer up to one A level grade (or equivalent) below our typical offer. |
If English isn't your first language you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. We accept the following qualifications:
| Minimum requirement | |
|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in each component |
| Cambridge CEFR | 176, with a minimum of 169 in each component |
| Oxford ELLT | 7, with a minimum of 6 in each component |
| Oxford Test of English Advanced | 136, with a minimum of 126 in each component |
| Duolingo | Integrated subscores: 120 overall, with a minimum of 105 in each component |
| GCSE/IGCSE/O level English Language (as a first or second language) | Grade C / Grade 4 |
| LanguageCert SELT | B2 with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| LanguageCert Academic | B2 Communicator with a minimum score of 33/50 in each component |
| Kaplan Test of English Language | 478 Main Flight score with 444 in each component |
| Skills for English | B2: Merit overall, with Pass with Merit in each component |
| PTE Academic | 61, with a minimum of 55 in each component |
| TOEFL | 87 overall, with a minimum of 21 in each component |
| Trinity ISE III | Merit in all components |
| Other English language qualifications | We also accept other English Language qualifications, including various school-leaving certificates. |
For more information see our undergraduate English language requirements.
You may be eligible for one of our pre-sessional English language courses. These courses will provide you with the level of English needed to meet the conditions of your offer.
The length of course you need to take depends on your current English language test scores and how much you need to improve to reach our English language requirements.
After you've accepted your offer to study at York, we'll confirm which pre-sessional course you should apply to via You@York.
Get in touch if you have any questions
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