School of Geography

Overview

Our Geography and Business Management degree allows you to study key specialisms in human geography together with management modules which will develop your understanding of how organisations function and the role of the contemporary manager.

You’ll be able to explore urban, economic, social, political and development geographies, and environmental sustainability. You’ll also examine the ideas and methods that underpin research in human geography, and learn skills in mapping and the use of Geographical Information Systems.

In parallel, management modules will consider the factors that influence organisational behaviour, the evaluation of organisational performance and the workings of specific economic sectors, such as banking and advertising.

A wide range of optional modules will allow you to shape your degree to suit your own interests and career intentions, from HR management to citizenship and identity via entrepreneurship and migration. Fieldwork offered in every year will also allow you to put your geographical knowledge and skills into practice beyond the University.

Extending this degree

You can convert your 3-year degree into a 4-year degree by spending an additional year on an industrial placement or overseas, before returning to Leeds to complete your final year of study. Read "Study abroad and work placements".

Real world learning

We give you a £500 allowance to cover the costs of optional field trips across Levels 2 and 3.

Rankings

• Search all undergraduate courses at the University of Leeds

Course terms and conditions

Course content

• The distinctiveness, appeal and strength of University of Leeds joint honours programmes lie in the unusual combination of depth, breadth and flexibility which they offer, as well as in the exceptional range of degree combinations available.
• You can study two disciplines, in depth and to degree level, while acquiring a broader range of skills than is possible with a single honours degree.
• You can make the links you choose from the wide choice of optional modules available within each discipline, making connections and devising a pathway according to your own preferences, rather than being faced with a prescribed combination of modules.
• The flexibility of the programme structure allows you to change direction more easily, and more radically, than single honours students.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

For more information on typical modules, read Geography and Business Management BA in the course catalogue

Broadening your academic horizons

At Leeds we want you to benefit from the depth and breadth of the University's expertise, to prepare you for success in an ever-changing and challenging world. This course gives you the opportunity to broaden your learning by studying discovery modules. Find out more on the Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching

You’ll learn through a mixture of lectures, tutorials (groups of about eight), seminars (groups of approximately 30), computer classes, lab practical classes, group-work, online exercises and fieldwork, depending on the modules you study.

Opportunities for extra help, including “drop-in” workshops, one-to-one assistance, and an extensive programme of generic skills training.

Studying at university will involve you in taking increasing responsibility for your own learning as you progress through your degree. Developing the skills to think and work independently will be crucial to your success both at university and in your future career. Independent study involves a lot of reading around the subject, and although this may seem daunting at first, we will guide and support you.

Assessment

Assessment methods vary from module to module, helping you to develop and practice a range of skills. Types of assessment include: examinations, individual or group reports and presentations, practical exercises, essays, posters, projects (such as the dissertation) and reflective logs.

Entry requirements, fees and applying

Entry requirements

A-level: AAA preferably including geography

If geography is not offered, we would expect two from biology, economics, English, history, mathematics, a modern language, psychology and sociology. Offers do not include general studies or critical thinking.

GCSE:English and Mathematics at grade B or above, or an equivalent English language and Mathematics qualification.

Alternative qualifications

• Access to HE Diploma: Pass 60 credits overall with 45 credits at Level 3, 30 credits with Distinction and the remaining 15 credits with Merit or above.
• BTEC: D*DD in Extended Diploma/3 Subsidiary Diplomas in Geography or two relevant subjects. We will accept a combination of BTECs and A-Levels. Please contact us for further information.
• Cambridge Pre-U: D3, D3, M1 including Geography or two relevant subjects.
• International Baccalaureate: 35 points overall, with 18 points at higher level to include 5 points in Geography or in two relevant subjects.
• Irish Highers (Leaving Certificate): AAAAAA/H2H2H2H2H2H2 including Geography or two relevant subjects.
• Scottish Highers / Advanced Highers: AABBB overall with AA in 2 Advanced Highers (AH). For non-AH applicants AAAAAA. To include Geography or 2 relevant subjects.

Read more about UK and Republic of Ireland accepted qualifications or contact the School’s Undergraduate Admissions Team.

Alternative entry

We’re committed to identifying the best possible applicants, regardless of personal circumstances or background.

Access to Leeds is an alternative admissions scheme which accepts applications from individuals who might be from low income households, in the first generation of their immediate family to apply to higher education, or have had their studies disrupted.

Find out more about Access to Leeds and alternative admissions.

Access to Leeds entry requirements for this course: ABB

International

We accept a range of international equivalent qualifications. For information contact the School of Geography Undergraduate Admissions Team.

English language requirements

IELTS 6.0 overall, with no less than 5.5 in any component. For other English qualifications, read English language equivalent qualifications.

Improve your English

International students who do not meet the English language requirements for this programme may be able to study our undergraduate pre-sessional English course, to help improve your English language level.
 

How to apply

Apply to this course through UCAS. The institution code for the University of Leeds is L23. Check the deadline for applications on the UCAS website.

Read advice on how to apply on the School’s website.

International students apply through UCAS in the same way as UK/EU students. Our network of international representatives can help you with your application. If you’re unsure about the application process, contact the admissions team for help.

Read about visas, immigration and other information in International students. We recommend that international students apply as early as possible to ensure that they have time to apply for their visa.

Admissions policy

Faculty of Environment Undergraduate Admissions Policy 2019

Fees

UK/EU: To be confirmed

International: To be confirmed

For UK and non-UK EU full-time students starting in 2018, the fee for 2018/19 will be £9,250. 

The fee for undergraduate students starting in 2019 will be confirmed in September 2018.

The fee may increase in future years of your course in line with inflation, and as permitted by law. For example, the increase of 2.8% in 2017/18 was based on the government’s forecast for the RPI-X measure of inflation.

The UK government has confirmed that non-UK EU students in 2018-19 will have home fee status and be eligible for UK government student loans. The UK government has not confirmed the situation for future years, so keep checking our website for updates.

If you take a study abroad or work placement year, you’ll pay a reduced tuition fee during this period. For more information, see Study abroad and work placement tuition fees and loans.

Read more about paying fees and charges.

Field classes are optional for BA students. We currently allocate £500 per student towards the cost of optional field trips across levels 2 and 3. Additional costs may be incurred.

Additional cost information

Field classes are optional for BA students. We currently allocate £500 per student towards the cost of optional field trips across levels 2 or 3. Additional costs may be incurred.

Scholarships and financial support

If you have the talent and drive, we want you to be able to study with us, whatever your financial circumstances. There is help for students in the form of loans and non-repayable grants from the University and from the government. Find out more in our Undergraduate funding overview.

Career opportunities

Industry links

To find out more about our links with industry, read Study abroad and work placements.

Graduate destinations

Up to 80% of our undergraduates secure appropriate graduate employment within six months of graduating; others go on to do further study.

Here is a snapshot of the kinds of careers our graduates pursue:

Environmental Management

• Conservation
• Land and water management
• Public utilities

Management and consultancy

• Transport planning and consultancy
• Graduate training schemes in multinational companies
• IT and business consultancy

Using GIS

• Retail Planning
• Direct marketing
• GIS companies

Government and NGOs

• Local government administration
• Civil service (police, armed forces)
• Regional and overseas development

Financial

• Banking
• Insurance
• Financial services

Further study and training

• Vocational Masters courses
• PhD study
• Teacher training/conservation courses

Find out about your career prospects first-hand from employers and graduates of the School in our employability video!

Careers support

We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.

Leeds for Life is our unique approach to helping you make the most of University by supporting your academic and personal development. Find out more at the Leeds for Life website.

The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.

We take your future very seriously and know that employability is uppermost in many students’ minds. If you choose to study Geography and Management at Leeds, you can be confident that you’re not only joining a university whose graduates are targeted by top employers, but that as joint honours graduates, your employment opportunities couldn’t be more exciting and wide-ranging.

We structure this programme to ensure you develop the key transferable skills sought by graduate recruiters, skills such as: team-working, commercial awareness, report-writing, fluency in oral communication and presentation, numerical analysis, IT expertise and investigative skills.

Placement opportunities

Study abroad

You can convert your 3-year degree into a 4-year study abroad degree by spending an additional year overseas, before returning to Leeds to complete your final year of study. You don’t apply directly to this course, instead you can register your interest with us once you’ve enrolled on the 3-year degree.

To be eligible for Study Abroad you’ll need to maintain a good average in your assessments in years 1 and 2 and, for some destinations, you may have to show you have the necessary language skills. Read more about eligibility on the Study Abroad website.

The Study Abroad Office and the School provide guidance to help you set up a study place at one of the University's partner institutions from around the world. Find out more at the Study Abroad website.

School of Geography partnerships

The School of Geography has long-established partnerships with a number of overseas universities who reserve places each year specifically for Leeds geographers.

European (Erasmus) destinations

• Denmark: University of Copenhagen *
• France: Université Grenoble Alpes
• France: Université Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense
• Netherlands: Utrecht University *
• Norway: University of Bergen *
• Spain: Universidad de Valencia

*Starred institutions may offer a programme in English. Students may apply for department-specific or university-wide destinations. Academic suitability and language requirements should be discussed with your School Study Abroad Coordinator prior to application.

Worldwide destinations

Teaching takes place in English at all these universities:

• The University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
• The University of McMaster, Ontario, Canada
• The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
• The University of Adelaide, Australia
• The National University of Singapore
• The Chinese University of Hong Kong

Find out more from staff and students in our study abroad video

Additional partnerships with overseas universities are available through the Business School.

Work placements

“Recruiters have confirmed that a record 32% of this year’s entry-level positions are expected to be filled by graduates who have already worked for their organisations – either through paid internships, industrial placements or vacation work.”

(The Graduate Market in 2016, High Fliers Research)

At Leeds our aim is to ensure our students thrive in their academic studies and leave us as highly employable graduates with a wide range of skills and attributes sought after in today’s job market. Leeds is one of the few geography departments in the UK to offer a year in industry scheme which allows you to extend your three-year programme to a four-year industrial degree.

This is a fantastic opportunity to add value to your CV, experience the “real world” first-hand and, in many cases, be offered a permanent job with the placement company on graduating. With staff dedicated to helping you to secure a placement that is right for you, and by keeping in close contact with you throughout your placement year, we ensure you get the most out of your time with your chosen company.

You don't have to decide to do a placement year before you start your course, you can register your interest with us once you’ve enrolled on the 3-year degree.

Find out first-hand from employers and year in industry students about your options!