Swansea University
Physical Geography with a Year in Industry BSc (Hons)
Swansea University

Key Course Facts

Student Reviews

Below you can see course specific reviews of 55 graduates of Physical Geography with a Year in Industry BSc (Hons) and other courses in Physical Geographical Sciences 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
55 total respondents

Primarily based on data from undergraduate degree students.

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.

If you're particularly focused on enhancing your employability and have a keen interest in physical geography, this scheme 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.

Our strong relationships with industry enable us to provide great work experience opportunities to enhance your employability. We help you to find your work placement and support you during your year in industry.

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, Malaysian Borneo, Mallorca or Vancouver.

Through this degree, you will explore topical issues such as glacial environments and processes, global environmental change, global geophysics and plate tectonics. You'll also get the chance to develop some valuable transferable work skills in your penultimate year of study through an industrial placement. 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.

"All the lecturers were incredibly helpful and committed to the students. Definitely choose to study at Swansea, not only will you receive an outstanding level of teaching from all lecturers, you will have an incredible experience outside of University exploring everything Swansea has to offer."

  • Jack Philpott, BSc Physical Geography

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.

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 Physical Geography with a Year in Industry BSc (Hons) at Swansea University

20% Business, Research and Administrative Professionals
15% Business and public service associate professionals
10% Administrative occupations
10% Managers, directors and senior officials
10% Information Technology Professionals
5% Business and Financial Project Management Professionals
5% Media Professionals
5% Teaching Professionals
5% Finance Professionals
5% Skilled trades occupations

Grading & Study Time

On the BSc Physical 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 Physical Geographical Sciences

Requirements for international students / English requirements

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

    • 6.5
    • All Degrees

Please visit the International pages of our website:- http://www.swansea.ac.uk/science/international/
Get advice on which foundation courses are best for you to still study Physical Geography with a Year in Industry, 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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