University of Aberdeen

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The University of Aberdeen’s geography degrees reflect many of the most pressing problems faced by society: climate change, poverty, energy transitions, sustainable development and environmental conservation

Geography is key to understanding and resolving many of the most pressing problems faced by society, including climate change, poverty, energy transitions, sustainable development and environmental conservation. Degree programmes at the University of Aberdeen reflect these modern-day challenges, with core and optional courses aimed at producing highly skilled graduates who can think critically and develop solutions to tackle these problems.

Find out more about our geography programmes here:

• BSc Geography
• MA Geography

Our teaching is research-led, delivered by staff who are actively investigating some of the most important problems facing the world today – problems with social and environmental dimensions which geographical knowledge can help us understand and resolve.

In the First Year of your Geography degree, you will study two courses that provide an introduction to Geography in all its diversity. Both courses incorporate a workgroup programme alongside a lecture series covering aspects of Human and Physical Geography.

Creating the Anthropocene reflects upon the role humans have played in creating the Anthropocene (the epoch we are now living in) and modifying the world we currently live in.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals looks at how we address the contemporary global challenges that we are facing today. This course builds on the Anthropocene, and introduces the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as a global call for action.

In Second Year and Third Year, you will begin specialising in the areas of Geography that most interest you or align with your career aspirations. In the Fourth Year, you will pursue an individual piece of geographical research in your Dissertation Project, often field-based, and choose courses that reflect the truly cutting-edge research strengths of the Department of Geography and the Environment in Aberdeen.

Human Geography at Aberdeen is ranked 1st in the UK for student satisfaction by the 2022 National Student Survey, with an overall satisfaction score of 100 per cent.

Career opportunities

Studying Geography develops a range of transferable skills such as: critical thinking, research design, data analysis skills, proficiency in IT (GIS and remote sensing in particular) and the ability to communicate effectively in various formats. Geographers also acquire specialist knowledge of economic and environmental issues and the ability to evaluate these from different perspectives – local, national and international.

Employers value these attributes and with our Royal Geographical Society accredited degrees, Aberdeen Geography graduates enter a wide range of careers including: environmental management, conservation and planning, government agencies, business and commerce, and work involving technical skills such as surveying, GIS and remote sensing.

More than 70 per cent of Aberdeen geography graduates find employment within 6 months, while a further 22 per cent go on to further study. An Honours degree in geography can also lead on to a higher degree, and a significant proportion of our graduates study for a Masters and PhD degree.