Pacific northwest
mountain scene with three students

Why Plymouth?

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.

Fieldwork

An essential part of studying geography
We provide a leading fieldwork programme taught by geography academics who are expert researchers in their field. Students gain experience of hands-on research, investigating critical contemporary social and environmental issues in a wide variety of environments.

Read about our student and staff success in our latest newsletter.

Recent edition: Autumn 2023

Jon ShawJon Shaw
Head of School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences

SoGEES newsletter cover Autumn 2023

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.
Geography 50 - Iceland

Academic staff

*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. Explore recent field trip destinations