Swansea University
Geography BSc (Hons)
Swansea University

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews for 35 graduates of Geography BSc (Hons) at Swansea University for each of the survey questions in comparison to the average for all UK degree courses in Physical Geographical Sciences.

Overall student satisfaction
78 /100
35 total respondents
The NSS is commissioned by the Office for Students

Salary

Salary of Graduates in Physical Geographical Sciences

Important: Salary data below is not course specific, but contains data of all students of Physical Geographical Sciences at the university. Due to data collection methodology, salary data is mainly based on data related to undergraduate students.

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £24000 £22000 £26000
25-75 percentile range £22000 - £27500 £18000 - £26500 £21000 - £33000


Salary of all UK Graduates of Physical Geographical Sciences

  15 months after graduation 3 years after graduation 5 years after graduation
Median salary £25022 £23559 £28948
25-75 percentile range £21978 - £28000 £18934 - £29359 £22317 - £36138

Course Description

From exploring landscapes and how they are shaped, to interpreting satellite Earth observation and GIS data, to monitoring environmental changes from Space, the study of geography is more relevant than ever.

Why Swansea?

Both our BSc and BA Geography schemes will equip you with highly desirable practical, numerical and computational skills for a wide range of careers. These include regional planning, environmental management, local authority work, financial planning, computing or business and retail management.

We are ideally placed to offer exceptional fieldwork opportunities. Just a short drive from the UK's first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the Gower Peninsula, you will have easy access to the Brecon Beacons, rural west Wales and the urban and industrial landscapes of South Wales. You'll also have an opportunity to carry out fieldwork overseas in Austria, Berlin, Malaysian Borneo, Mallorca or Vancouver.

Through this degree, you will explore topical issues such as glacial environments and processes, climate change, meteorology and plate tectonics.

You will be taught in our £4.2m state-of-the-art Science laboratories, in a vibrant and friendly department. You'll have access to our high-performance computer lab for processing and interpreting satellite Earth observation and GIS data, a stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer, a climatic test chamber, mineral magnetic characterisation equipment and an automatic organic carbon analyser.

You will learn from internationally renowned academics including Professor Tavi Murray, the first woman to be awarded Polar Medal by HM Queen, Professor Adrian Luckman, who has achieved global media coverage for his climate change research, Professor Peter North, who received international coverage of his work with NASA, and Professor Siwan Davies, whose work focuses on the dramatic changes to our climate.

You can change between our BA and BSc schemes up until the end of Year 2. This degree is also offered as a four-year course, with a year in industry (F273) or a year abroad (F8R9).

"I really enjoyed the variety of different subjects the geography degree offered. The care and passion that lecturers had was noticeable. The field trip to Sikkim was amazing and I learnt so many skills on the trip that have helped me a great deal going forward."

  • Louie Vaughan, BSc Geography

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We guarantee that you will be made a conditional offer for a course at Swansea University. Subject requirements will apply. Please come along to our next Open Day or get in touch for further information.

Accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) for the purpose of recognising the delivery of geographical knowledge, understanding, skills, approaches and attributes expected of high quality geography graduates.

Jobs & Career Perspectives

15 months after graduation, graduates of this course were asked about what they do and, if they are working, about their current job and their perspectives.

Current jobs

Required skill level of job after 15 months

Jobs of graduates of this course (15 months after graduation)

Example below based on all graduates of Geography BSc (Hons) at Swansea University

15% Managers, directors and senior officials
15% Business and Financial Project Management Professionals
15% Business and public service associate professionals
10% Sales occupations
10% Customer service occupations
10% Teaching Professionals
5% Administrative occupations
5% Managers, directors and senior officials
5% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
5% Media Professionals

Grading & Study Time

On the BSc Geography course you will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, practical classes and field classes. You will be assessed through a variety of methods, including examinations, coursework, practical work, fieldwork and continuous assessment from tutorials. You will also complete a dissertation in Year Three.

Grading Distribution

Students of the course received the following grades

Entry Requirements / Admissions

UCAS Tariff of Accepted Students for this course

Qualification requirements

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)

Requirements for international students / English requirements

IELTS academic test score (similar tests may be accepted as well)

    • 6.5
    • All Degrees

Please visit our International pages at:- http://www.swansea.ac.uk/science/international/
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Geography, BSc (Hons), if you do not meet the minimum requirements in terms of UCAS score, A levels, or English language requirements.

Costs

Average student cost of living in the UK

Rent £518
Water, gas electricity, internet (at home) £50
Supermarket shopping £81
Clothing £35
Eating out £33
Alcohol £27
Takeaways / food deliveries £30
Going out / entertainment (excl.alcohol, food) £24
Holidays and weekend trips £78
Transport within city £17
Self-care / sports £20
Stationary / books £13
Mobile phone / internet £13
Cable TV / streaming £7
Insurance £51
Other £95
  
Average student cost of living £1092

London costs approx 34% more than average, mainly due to rent being 67% higher than average of other cities. For students staying in student halls, costs of water, gas, electricity, wifi are generally included in the rental. Students in smaller cities where accommodation is in walking/biking distance transport costs tend to be significantly smaller.

How to apply

Application deadline:

January 1, 2025

This is the deadline for applications to be completed and sent for this course. If the university or college still has places available you can apply after this date, but your application is not guaranteed to be considered.

Possible Entry Points:

  • year 1 (Default entry point)

University Rankings

Positions of Swansea University in top UK and global rankings.

Rankings of Swansea University in related subject specific rankings.

Social Studies & Humanities

    • #3 
    • #101 
    Geography
    GRAS Global Ranking of Academic Subjects - ShanghaiRanking
    [Published 27 October, 2023]
    • #2 
    • #251 
    Social Sciences
    THE World University Rankings by Subject
    [Published 19 October, 2023]

See all 29 university rankings of Swansea University

About Swansea University

Swansea University was established in 1920 and is located in the large city of Swansea, in Wales. There are two campuses, the flagship campus is located between Singleton Park, with its green parkland and botanical gardens, and Swansea Bay beach. The more recent Bay Campus on the other hand is located on an extensive beachfront property on the eastern side of town, past the marina. Apart from a vibrant academic life, students can attend the numerous yearly festivals that take place in Swansea, guaranteeing plenty of opportunities for getting out and about in your free time.

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Where is this programme taught

Singleton Park Campus
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