BA (Hons) Geography with Global Development with a Foundation Year

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 with a Foundation Year 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 start your degree with a foundation year to help you develop the skills and knowledge you’ll need to succeed. You’ll have the chance to get a taste of previously unknown areas of study in a supportive learning environment with higher levels of individual support, so when you successfully finish your foundation year, you’ll be perfectly placed to progress to Year 1. Later, 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. 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.

The result is an extremely flexible degree programme that you can tailor to suit your particular interests, and that allows you to combine an interdisciplinary foundation with your focused specialism. During your foundation year, we’ll work with you to help you make the best decision for your developing interests and career goals. At the end of the Foundation Year, you could continue with the BA Geography and Global Development degree or choose to follow another of our pathways within the School of Global Development. You'd also have the option to transfer to the BA Geography in the School of Environmental Sciences.

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 benefit from a truly vibrant academic environment and learn from researchers who are making a real difference in the world.

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 careers in development, and beyond. Come and study with us and help to create a fairer world.