BA (Hons) Geography with Global Development

Course Overview

Have you ever wondered why societies are so unequal? Or why the processes of colonialism, globalisation, urbanisation, and (de)industrialisation have transformed people’s lives? Our innovative BA Geography and Global Development course combines a strong interdisciplinary base with a specialist geographical lens in the study of global development.

At UEA, you’ll take core human and social geography modules that seek to understand critical contemporary issues from a geographical perspective – including poverty, inequality, race, health, migration, environment and urbanisation – focusing specifically on the relationship between people and place, and transformative social justice.

You’ll obtain key practical skills training, including Geographical Information Systems (GIS), qualitative and quantitative methods, alongside in-depth field experience. Fieldwork and field courses will be a vital part of your learning as local field trips are embedded within core modules. We have partnerships with community-based organisations, and offer several opportunities for residential trips in the UK throughout the programme, as well as worldwide opportunities for work experience placements. You’ll also have the exciting option of completing an 8-to-10-week work placement with a development organisation.

In addition to this geographical focus, you’ll gain a broad grounding in the key issues, agendas and practices of development, fusing insights from geography with those from across the social sciences, including anthropology, economics, environmental sciences, media, and politics. You can develop your understanding of particular regions in the world, through area modules relating to sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, or Latin America, and you can pursue your emerging interests through this unique blend of geography and development. This is an extremely flexible degree programme that you can tailor to suit your particular interests.

By studying with us, you’ll join our close-knit academic community, made up of experts from across multiple disciplines, all housed within the School of Global Development. As such, you’ll not only learn from our world-renowned geographers within the school, but you can benefit from a truly vibrant, academic environment.

Here at UEA, we’re amongst the best in the world for researching, teaching, and practicing development, and our students go on to work in a variety of rewarding careers in development, and beyond. Come and study with us and help to create a fairer world.

This course is open to

UK and International fee-paying students. Choose UK or International above to see relevant information. The entry point is in September each year.

We welcome and value a wide range of qualifications, and we recognise that some students might take a mixture of different qualifications. We have listed typical examples that we accept for entry.

You should hold or be working towards the specified English and Mathematics requirements and one of the examples of typical entry qualifications listed below. If your qualifications aren’t listed, or if you are taking a combination of qualifications that isn’t specified, please contact Admissions.

English and Mathematics

All applicants must hold or be working towards GCSEs in English Language and Mathematics at minimum grade C or grade C.

We accept a wide range of English Language qualifications, please see our English Language equivalencies page.

Typical International Entry Requirements

We accept many international qualifications for entry to this course. For specific details about your country, view our information for International Students.

A levels

ABB

BTEC

Level 3 Extended Diploma: DDM

Combinations of BTEC and A levels

Extended Diploma: DDM

Diploma: DD plus B at A level.

Extended Certificate: D plus BB at A level.

BTEC in Public Services, Uniformed Services and Business Administration are all excluded from our BTEC offers

International Baccalaureate

32 points overall

INTO UEA

If you do not meet the academic and/or English language requirements for direct entry our partner, INTO UEA offers progression on to this undergraduate degree upon successful completion of a preparation programme. Depending on your interests, and your qualifications you can take a variety of routes to this degree.

English Foreign Language

Applications from students whose first language is not English are welcome. We require evidence of proficiency in English (including writing, speaking, listening and reading): 

• IELTS:  6.0  overall (minimum  5.5  in all components) 

We also accept a number of other English language tests. Review our English Language Equivalencies for a list of example qualifications that we may accept to meet this requirement.

Test dates should be within two years of the course start date.

  If you do not yet meet the English language requirements for this course, INTO UEA offer a variety of English language programmes which are designed to help you develop the English skills necessary for successful undergraduate study.

Deferred Entry

We welcome applications from students who have already taken or intend to take a gap year. We believe that a year between school and university can be of substantial benefit. You are advised to indicate your reason for wishing to defer entry on your UCAS application.

Admissions Policy

Our Admissions Policy applies to the admissions of all undergraduate applicants.

Employability

You’ll graduate with knowledge and skills valued by a vast range of organisations related to geography and global development and many of our graduates go on to work in related roles in policy and advocacy. These include government agencies, the United Nations, private sector companies, consultancy firms, and the many hundreds of large and small non-government organisations that focus on social and environmental issues and humanitarian work. Furthermore, geographers are renowned for being ‘systems-thinkers’, focusing on people and our relationships with the environment. Trained geographers contribute to advocating for liveable climates, influencing social policy, and managing resources.

Alternatively, you could use the academic and transferable skills gained from our degrees for careers in business, the voluntary and public sector, education, and academia. Geography provides an ideal set of skills and understandings for approaching a myriad of career choices.

Example of careers that you could enter include:

• Government/planning
• Business
• Charitable sector
• Environmental management
• Teaching

Discover more on our Careers webpages.