Course Structure

Introduction

Our degree provides fundamental skills and knowledge in geography while allowing students to tailor their degree according to their interests and ambitions.

Year 1

Students must take four core modules within Geography:
• Human Geography: Society, Power and Culture
• Physical Geography: Earth, Fire and Ice
• Human Geography: Society, Economy and Population
• Physical Geography: Earth, Wind and Water

Students must then take a further two modules from outside Geography, typically from Anthropology, Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Biological Sciences, Planning, and Politics.

Year 2

Students must take three core modules:
• Contemporary Approaches to Geographical Enquiry
• Geographical Research Skills for BA Geography
• Landscapes and Geographical Information Systems (GIS)


Students must then take a further three modules. Typical options include:
• Cultural and Political Geography
• Geographies of Economic Restructuring and Social Change
• Geomorphology
• Global Environmental Change
• International Fieldwork (e.g. Mallorca, Malta, Belgium, Netherlands)

Students may alternatively select two of the above optional modules and select up to one module from outside Geography.

Year 3

Students must take one (double-weighted) core module, selecting from:
• Geography Dissertation
• Geography at Work

Students must then take a further four modules. Typical options (which may vary from year to year) include:
• Advanced GIS
• Climate Change
• Coastal Environments
• Environmental Geopolitics
• Geoforensics
• Geographies of Contested Territories
• Geographies of Ethnicity
• Geography, Science and Society
• Maps and Mappings
• Sea Level Change: Past, Present, and Future
• Spaces of Urbanisation in Emerging Economies and Sustainable Development
• Geographies of Outer Space

Contact Teaching Hours

Small Group Teaching/Personal Tutorial

1 (hours maximum)
Tutorials (including, in final year, project supervision) per week

Medium Group Teaching

2 (hours maximum)
2 seminars, workshops, practical classes, laboratory sessions or field work per week

Large Group Teaching

6 (hours maximum)
Lectures per week

Personal Study

30 (hours maximum)
Studying in your own time, including preparing for tutorials and seminars, working on assignments, group project work and self-guided study using curated learning resources.

Learning and Teaching

At Queen’s, we cultivate a high-quality learning environment that embeds intellectual curiosity, innovation and best practice in learning, teaching and student support to enable students to achieve their full academic potential.

Within Geography we do this by providing learning experiences which enable our students to engage with subject experts, while developing attributes and perspectives that enhance their development as independent, lifelong learners.

Examples of the opportunities provided for learning on this course are:

Fieldwork

Fieldwork is an essential part of studying geography at Queen’s, learning about unique places through embedded experience. Fieldwork involves specific research skills such as participant observation, survey work and interacting with local people. During the first semester of Year 1, all students attend an overnight field course in Fermanagh. During Year 2, residential field classes take place in European destinations such as Belgium, the Netherlands, Malta or Mallorca. These courses focus on either physical geography, human geography, or a combination of both. Shorter field classes are also embedded in a number of optional modules throughout the degree programme.

Lectures

Lectures are a traditional method of teaching at University, and involve medium-sized or large groups of students, sometimes the entire year-group. As well as providing essential summaries of key concepts and case studies, lectures are intended to provide a spark to intellectual curiosity and to encourage independent research through recommended reading. They typically include interactive and multimedia elements such as short reflective activities, audio-visual content and presentations of up-to-date scientific data. Our state-of-the-art Elmwood Lecture Theatre is the home of lectures in Geography at Queen’s.

Online

Our virtual learning environment, Canvas, is where tutors provide subject-specific material and interactive content to support the learning objectives of each module. This includes lecture slides, reading lists and assessment briefings, and is the hub for module announcements and discussion forums. MS Teams is our video-conferencing software, and can be used for remote student supervisions, other virtual meetings and group-work.

Practicals

Practicals are an important part of a wide range of geography modules. Here, students develop their technical and observational skills in our range of laboratories and teaching suites. This includes the use of ArcGIS software in our designated GIS Laboratory, the use of specialist scientific equipment in our newly-renovated GeoArc Teaching Laboratory, and the analysis of historic OS maps in the Geography Map Library.

Self-directed study

This is an essential part of life as a Queen’s student, when reading, engaging with online resources, reflecting on feedback, and assignment research and writing is carried out.

Seminars and academic tutorials

Significant amounts of teaching are carried out in small groups (typically 5-10 students). These provide an opportunity for students to engage with academic staff who have specialist knowledge of the topic, to ask questions of them and to assess their own progress and understanding with the support of peers. Students should also expect to make presentations and other contributions to these groups

Supervised projects

In final year, students will be expected to carry out a significant piece of research on a topic that they have chosen. They will receive support from a supervisor who will guide them in terms of how to carry out research and who will provide feedback during the write up stage

Tutorials

Students are allocated a Personal Tutor who meets with them on several occasions during the year to support their academic development. This is an important way in which students are taught to improve their core academic skills, as well as being an opportunity for subject-specific discussion and debate in small groups.

Assessment

Details of assessments associated with this course are outlined below:

• The ways in which students are assessed varies according to the learning objectives of each module. Some modules are assessed solely through project work or written assignments. Others are assessed through a combination of coursework and end-of-term examinations. Details of how each module is assessed are shown in the Student Handbook which is provided to all students during their first-year induction.

Feedback

As students progress through their course at Queen’s they receive general and specific feedback about their work from lecturers, module co-ordinators, personal tutors, advisors of study, and peers. Students are expected to engage with reflective practice to improve the quality of their work. Feedback may be provided in a variety of forms including:

• Formal written feedback (both summative and specific in-text commentary) and marks relating to work submitted for assessment. All feedback on formal assignments includes ‘three points to improve’ that students can work on for their next assignments. This is provided within three weeks of the assignment due date.
• Face-to-face comments and discussion in lectures, tutorials, practicals and seminars. Students are encouraged to ask questions and engage with their lecturers during teaching sessions.
• Feedback from personal tutors on students’ overall academic progress, provided through regular personal tutorials
• Comment and guidance provided by staff from specialist support services such as, Careers, Employability and Skills or the Learning Development Service.

Modules

• Year 1
• Year 2
• Year 3

Entrance requirements

A level requirements

BBB normally including A-level Geography + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4

Note: for applicants who have not studied A-level Geography then AS-level Geography (grade B) would be acceptable in lieu of A-level Geography.

A maximum of one BTEC/OCR Single Award or AQA Extended Certificate will be accepted as part of an applicant's portfolio of qualifications with a Distinction* being equated to a grade A at A-level and a Distinction being equated to a grade B at A-level.

Irish leaving certificate requirements

H3H3H3H3H4H4/H3H3H3H3H3 normally including Higher Level grade H3 in Geography + if not offered at Higher Level then Ordinary Level grade O4 in Mathematics

Access Course

Successful completion of Access Course with an average of 65% normally including 65% in Geography (Physical and Human). GCSE Mathematics grade C/4 or equivalent in Access Course.

International Baccalaureate Diploma

32 points overall, including 6,5,5 at Higher Level (normally including Geography at Higher Level) + If not offered at Higher Level/GCSE, then Standard Level grade 4 in Mathematics.

BTEC Level 3 Extended/National Extended Diploma

QCF BTEC Extended Diploma (180 credits at Level 3) with overall grades DDD + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4.

RQF BTEC National Extended Diploma (1080 GLH at Level 3) with overall grades DDD + GCSE Mathematics grade C/4.

Extended Diploma/National Extended Diploma must be relevant

Graduate

A minimum of a 2:2 Honours Degree, provided any subject requirements are also met.

All applicants

Applicants not offering A-level Geography will be considered on an individual basis and will be required to have another appropriate subject at A-level. Please contact the Admissions and Access Service for further advice (admissions@qub.ac.uk).

Note

All applicants must have GCSE English Language grade C/4 or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

How we choose our students

Applications are dealt with centrally by the Admissions and Access Service rather than by the School of Natural and Built Environment. Once your on-line form has been processed by UCAS and forwarded to Queen's, an acknowledgement is normally sent within two weeks of its receipt at the University.

Selection is on the basis of the information provided on your UCAS form. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis and will be notified to you via UCAS.

For entry last year, applicants for this degree must have had, or been able to achieve, a minimum of five GCSE passes at grade C/4 or better (to include English Language and Mathematics), though this profile may change from year to year depending on the demand for places. The Selector also checks that any specific entry requirements in terms of GCSE and/or A-level subjects can be fulfilled.

For applicants offering Irish Leaving Certificate, please note that performance at Irish Junior Certificate (IJC) is taken into account. For last year’s entry applicants for this degree must have had, a minimum of 5 IJC grades C/Merit. The Selector also checks that any specific entry requirements in terms of Leaving Certificate subjects can be satisfied.

Offers are normally made on the basis of three A-levels. Two subjects at A-level plus two at AS would also be considered. The minimum acceptable is two subjects at A-level plus one at AS though applicants offering this combination will be considered on an individual basis depending on the degree for which they have applied. The offer for repeat candidates may be one grade higher than for first time applicants. Grades may be held from the previous year.

Applicants offering two A-levels and one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent qualification), or one A-level and a BTEC Diploma/National Diploma (or equivalent qualification) will also be considered. Offers will be made in terms of the overall BTEC grade(s) awarded. Please note that a maximum of one BTEC Subsidiary Diploma/National Extended Certificate (or equivalent) will be counted as part of an applicant’s portfolio of qualifications. The normal GCSE profile will be expected and any subject requirements must be met.

Applicants offering other qualifications will also be considered. The same GCSE (or equivalent) profile is usually expected of those applicants offering other qualifications.

Those offering a relevant Higher National Certificate (HNC) or Diploma (HND) are considered individually on their own merits for entry to Stage 1. For applicants offering a HNC, the current requirements are successful completion of the HNC with 1 Distinction and remainder Merits. For those offering a HND, at least one first year unit must be at Merit grade. Where offers are made students would be expected to achieve Merits in all units assessed in final year. For those offering a HNC or HND, some flexibility may be allowed in terms of GCSE profile.

The information provided in the personal statement section and the academic reference together with predicted grades are noted but, in the case of degree courses in the School of Natural and Built Environment, these are not the final deciding factors in whether or not a conditional offer can be made. However, they may be reconsidered in a tie break situation in August.

A-level General Studies and A-level Critical Thinking would not normally be considered as part of a three A-level offer and, although they may be excluded where an applicant is taking four A-level subjects, the grade achieved could be taken into account if necessary in August/September.

Applicants are not normally asked to attend for interview.

If you are made an offer then you may be invited to a Faculty/School Visit Day, which is usually held in the second semester. This will allow you the opportunity to visit the University and to find out more about the degree programme of your choice and the facilities on offer. It also gives you a flavour of the academic and social life at Queen's.

If you cannot find the information you need here, please contact the University Admissions and Access Service (admissions@qub.ac.uk), giving full details of your qualifications and educational background.

International Students

Our country/region pages include information on entry requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, student profiles, upcoming events and contacts for your country/region. Use the dropdown list below for specific information for your country/region.

Please Select Your Country/Region Please Select Your Country/Region Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bolivia Bosnia And Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Cambodia Cameroon Canada Chile China Mainland Colombia Costa Rica Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Ecuador Egypt Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Fiji Finland France Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Guyana Haiti Honduras Hong Kong (SAR) Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy Ivory Coast Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Latvia Lebanon Liberia Libya Lithuania Luxembourg Macau (SAR) Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Malta Mauritius Mexico Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nigeria Norway Oman Pakistan Palestine Panama Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saudi Arabia Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia South Africa South Korea Spain Sri Lanka St Vincent And The Grenadines Sudan Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Uruguay USA Uzbekistan Venezuela Vietnam Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

English Language Requirements

An IELTS score of 6.5 with a minimum of 5.5 in each test component or an equivalent acceptable qualification, details of which are available at: http://go.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs

Career Prospects

Introduction

Studying for a Geography degree at Queen’s develops core skills and employment-related experiences that are valued by employers, professional organisations and academic institutions.

Some graduates pursue careers in geography-related areas such as urban and rural planning, environmental conservation and management, careers in GIS and teaching. A significant number develop careers in a wide range of other sectors, e.g. management, marketing, NGOs, financial services, the civil service (especially land and property, environment, and development agencies), computing (especially using geographic data). Our two postgraduate degrees, MA Geopolitics and MSc Climate Change, are popular with geography graduates.

We regularly consult and develop links with a large number of employers including the NI Environment Agency, Ordnance Survey, the National Trust, Land and Property Services and the Geological Survey of NI (GSNI), who provide advice on our programmes and in-depth careers sessions on their work.

We offer a designated ‘Geography and Employability’ module that is run in collaboration with QUB’s Careers, Employability and Skills directorate. This includes employer workshops, job application skills development, and one-to-one meetings with tutors and careers professionals.

Prizes and Awards

Prizes are available for student attainment, e.g. for best academic performance in Year 1. Final-year dissertations of exceptional quality are submitted to competitions organised by the Royal Geographical Society.

Degree Plus/Future Ready Award for extra-curricular skills

In addition to your degree programme, at Queen's you can have the opportunity to gain wider life, academic and employability skills. For example, placements, voluntary work, clubs, societies, sports and lots more. So not only do you graduate with a degree recognised from a world leading university, you'll have practical national and international experience plus a wider exposure to life overall. We call this Degree Plus/Future Ready Award. It's what makes studying at Queen's University Belfast special.

Tuition Fees

Northern Ireland (NI) 1	£4,855
Republic of Ireland (ROI) 2	£4,855
England, Scotland or Wales (GB) 1	£9,535
EU Other 3	£25,300
International	£25,300

¹EU citizens in the EU Settlement Scheme, with settled status, will be charged the NI or GB tuition fee based on where they are ordinarily resident. Students who are ROI nationals resident in GB will be charged the GB fee.

² EU students who are ROI nationals resident in ROI are eligible for NI tuition fees.

³ EU Other students (excludes Republic of Ireland nationals living in GB, NI or ROI) are charged tuition fees in line with international fees.

Tuition fee rates are calculated based on a student’s tuition fee status and generally increase annually by inflation. How tuition fees are determined is set out in the Student Finance Framework.

Additional course costs

In Year 1 students can be expected to contribute up to £100 to the cost of an overnight field course in Fermanagh.
In Year 2 students have an opportunity to take an optional field-based module. Students who enrol in these modules are liable to pay additional costs to cover flights, accommodation and local transport. The cost is typically between £400-500.

All Students

Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs which are not covered by tuition fees, which students will need to consider when planning their studies.

Students can borrow books and access online learning resources from any Queen's library. If students wish to purchase recommended texts, rather than borrow them from the University Library, prices per text can range from £30 to £100. Students should also budget between £30 to £75 per year for photocopying, memory sticks and printing charges.

Students undertaking a period of work placement or study abroad, as either a compulsory or optional part of their programme, should be aware that they will have to fund additional travel and living costs.

If a programme includes a major project or dissertation, there may be costs associated with transport, accommodation and/or materials. The amount will depend on the project chosen. There may also be additional costs for printing and binding.

Students may wish to consider purchasing an electronic device; costs will vary depending on the specification of the model chosen.

There are also additional charges for graduation ceremonies, examination resits and library fines.

Scholarships

Each year, we offer a range of scholarships and prizes for new students. Information on scholarships available.

How to Apply

Application for admission to full-time undergraduate and sandwich courses at the University should normally be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). Full information can be obtained from the UCAS website at: www.ucas.com/students.

When to Apply

UCAS will start processing applications for entry in autumn 2025 from early September 2024.

The advisory closing date for the receipt of applications for entry in 2025 is still to be confirmed by UCAS but is normally in late January (18:00). This is the 'equal consideration' deadline for this course.

Applications from UK and EU (Republic of Ireland) students after this date are, in practice, considered by Queen’s for entry to this course throughout the remainder of the application cycle (30 June 2025) subject to the availability of places. If you apply for 2025 entry after this deadline, you will automatically be entered into Clearing.

Applications from International and EU (Other) students are normally considered by Queen's for entry to this course until 30 June 2025. If you apply for 2025 entry after this deadline, you will automatically be entered into Clearing.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as is consistent with having made a careful and considered choice of institutions and courses.

The Institution code name for Queen's is QBELF and the institution code is Q75.

Further information on applying to study at Queen's is available at: www.qub.ac.uk/Study/Undergraduate/How-to-apply/

Apply via UCAS 

Terms and Conditions

The terms and conditions that apply when you accept an offer of a place at the University on a taught programme of study. Queen's University Belfast Terms and Conditions.

Additional Information for International (non-EU) Students

1. Applying through UCAS
   Most students make their applications through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) for full-time undergraduate degree programmes at Queen's. The UCAS application deadline for international students is 30 June 2025.
2. Applying direct
   The Direct Entry Application form is to be used by international applicants who wish to apply directly, and only, to Queen's or who have been asked to provide information in advance of submitting a formal UCAS application. Find out more.
3. Applying through agents and partners
   The University’s in-country representatives can assist you to submit a UCAS application or a direct application. Please consult the Agent List to find an agent in your country who will help you with your application to Queen’s University.

Download Undergraduate Prospectus