Geography
Explore our planet – develop solutions for a sustainable future
Why Plymouth?
- (Choice of national and international field trip destinations*
- , Stunning coastal location bordering Dartmoor National Park and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty
- ' Benefit from an extensive network of placement providers
- <Royal Geographical Society accredited degrees
Welcome! Geography explores the relationships between people, places and the environment, focusing on contemporary global challenges such as sustainability and climate change. Our graduates have careers in government, conservation, environmental consultancy, teaching, aviation, and transport and planning, among others. We provide a supportive, student-centred environment where lectures are given by research-active academics - many are world leaders in their field. Lecturers use innovative teaching methods to bring geography to life in the classroom, in our state-of-the-art laboratories, and during fieldwork. The field trip schedule offers exciting overseas destinations and the chance to explore our coastal location close to two national parks and several areas of outstanding natural beauty.
Enjoy exploring our range of degree courses, which are accredited by the Royal Geographical Society and allow you to move between geography BSc and BA or to combine geography with ocean science or international relations.
Read about our student and staff success in our latest newsletter.
Recent edition:
Spring 2023
Jon Shaw
Head of School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
The differences between BA and BSc geography
Geography explores the relationships between people, places and the environment, focusing on contemporary global challenges such as sustainability and climate change. Our BSc (Hons) Geography degree uses predominantly scientific techniques to explore the natural world. BA (Hons) Geography typically focuses on human geography and the impacts of people on societies, mobilities and environmental governance.
Discover our range of postgraduate taught programmes
Academic staff
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![Professor Ian Bailey Professor of Environmental Politics]( "Professor Ian Bailey")
Professor Ian Bailey
Professor of Environmental Politics
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![Professor Will Blake Professor of Catchment Science]( "Professor Will Blake")
Professor Will Blake
Professor of Catchment Science
Director of the Sustainable Earth Institute
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![Dr Tim Daley Associate Professor of Physical Geography]( "Dr Tim Daley")
Dr Tim Daley
Associate Professor of Physical Geography
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![Dr Stephen Essex Associate Professor in Geography]( "Dr Stephen Essex")
Dr Stephen Essex
Associate Professor in Geography
MSc Planning Programme Leader
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![Professor Ralph Fyfe Professor]( "Professor Ralph Fyfe")
Professor Ralph Fyfe
Professor
Associate Dean (Research), Faculty of Science and Engineering
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![Professor David Gilvear Emeritus Professor]( "Professor David Gilvear")
Professor David Gilvear
Emeritus Professor
MSc Sustainable Environmental Management Programme Leader
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![Dr Nichola Harmer Lecturer in Human Geography]( "Dr Nichola Harmer")
Dr Nichola Harmer
Lecturer in Human Geography
Year 2 Tutor and International Exchanges Co-ordinator
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![Dr Mark Holton Associate Professor in Human Geography]( "Dr Mark Holton")
Dr Mark Holton
Associate Professor in Human Geography
Geography Undergraduate Programmes Leader
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![Professor Anne Mather Professor in Geomorphology]( "Professor Anne Mather")
Professor Anne Mather
Professor in Geomorphology
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![Professor Jon Shaw Head of School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences]( "Professor Jon Shaw")
Professor Jon Shaw
Head of School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences
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![Dr Paul Simpson Associate Professor of Human Geography]( "Dr Paul Simpson")
Dr Paul Simpson
Associate Professor of Human Geography
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![Dr Alan Smith Lecturer in Environmental Management]( "Dr Alan Smith")
Dr Alan Smith
Lecturer in Environmental Management
Admissions Tutor and Stage 1 Tutor
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![Dr Matt Telfer Associate Professor of Physical Geography]( "Dr Matt Telfer")
Dr Matt Telfer
Associate Professor of Physical Geography
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![Dr Kim Ward Lecturer in Human Geography]( "Dr Kim Ward")
Dr Kim Ward
Lecturer in Human Geography
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![Dr Ruth Weaver Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Physical Geography]( "Dr Ruth Weaver")
Dr Ruth Weaver
Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in Physical Geography
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![Dr Olivia Wilson Lecturer in Human Geography (Spatial Planning)]( "Dr Olivia Wilson")
Dr Olivia Wilson
Lecturer in Human Geography (Spatial Planning)
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![Professor Richard Yarwood Director of Doctoral College]( "Professor Richard Yarwood")
Professor Richard Yarwood
Director of Doctoral College
MSc Human Geography Programme Leader
*Fieldwork is an essential part of studying geography. Our Royal Geographical Society accreditation means that all of our degree courses include learning through practical experience from the field. In recent years field trips have run to the Pacific Northwest of the USA, Brittany and Dartmoor, among other locations. Fieldwork may be subject to change due to staffing and external factors, such as covid restrictions. Explore recent field trip destinations .