Geography undergraduate brochure

Geography

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Brand new state-of-the-art physicalgeography laboratories

Exciting fieldworkopportunities worldwide

Dedicatedcomputer softwarefor demonstratinggeographicalprinciples

Unsurpassed choiceof courses throughoutthe programme

Geography atManchester ratedexcellent for teaching

World-class reputationfor pioneeringgeographical research

The facts

Introducing Manchester

Geographyat Manchester

Course details

Facilities, Societies and Careers

Applying

Find out more online

Contact details

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Contents

A University of Manchesterdegree in Geography is oneof the most employabledegrees you can do.Robert TaylorGeography BSc

3Geographywww.manchester.ac.uk/geography

Our UniversityMaking things happen

Influential, forward-thinking and down-to-earth,we’ll give you an amazing university experience rooted in a rich academic heritage.We turn enthusiasm into achievement andgroundbreaking theory into practice.

We accomplish feats of global significance, fromsplitting the atom to giving the world graphene –the two-dimensional wonder material that is one atom thick but 200 times stronger than steel. With more Nobel laureates on our staff than anyother UK university, and strong links to industry and public services, we vitalise our undergraduatecourses with pioneering research.

Join us at the heart of Britain’s most popularstudent city.

Learn more about us:www.manchester.ac.uk

Our cityAlways moving forward

Manchester lives on the edge of tomorrow,ever a step ahead in science, industry, media,sport and the arts. The Mancunian character,exemplified by the city’s central role in theindustrial revolution, strives for excellence in all walks of life.

This is a city of many accents, having become a cosmopolitan magnet for students andprofessionals eager to experience its can-doattitude, independent spirit and cultural wealth.

Never content to live on past glories,Manchester has a passion for progress.

Discover what makes Manchester unique:www.manchester.ac.uk/cityofmanchester

Introducing

Manchester

4 GeographyUndergraduate brochure 2014

Your experienceMore than just a degree

From the flexible, 24/7 learning environment of the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons tothe personal development opportunities andspecialist support services we offer, we willempower you to be your best.

We’re well underway with the biggestinvestment programme ever seen in UKhigher education, having invested £750million in our facilities since 2004, withanother £1 billion to follow. Away from yourstudies you’ll have access to the UK’s largeststudent union, almost 300 student societies,and excellent sports and fitness facilities.

The only thing you won’t experience is boredom.

Hear from some of our students, graduates and staff:www.manchester.ac.uk/ug/profiles

Your careerOn a course to success

We are one of the UK’s most targeteduniversities by employers – 92% of ourgraduates go straight into employment or further study.

We design our courses with youremployability in mind. Our problem-basedapproach to learning inspires you to thinkcritically, creatively, and independently. You’llalso be able to learn new skills throughvolunteering, personal developmentprogrammes and study abroad pathways.

We have the UK’s best careers service,providing advice and mentoring services, andconnecting you with employers who’ll putyou on a path to career success.

Take control of your career:www.manchester.ac.uk/careers


Geography has been taught at Manchester for120 years. As part of the School of Environment,Education and Development, we are located in abrand new, state-of- the-art building at the heartof the university campus.

With more than 30 members of academic staff,Geography is a strong discipline group with awide range of teaching and research interests,and we have a vibrant community ofundergraduate and postgraduate students. Ourcore philosophy involves working closely with ourstudents, and as a result we enjoy some of thebest staff-student relations in the country.

Geography

at Manchester

Rated excellent for teaching, we have a world-classreputation for pioneering research. All courses aretaught by expert staff who are internationallyrenowned in their research areas, which means thatthe material taught is contemporary and draws onthe diverse nature of current research in geography.

Geography at Manchester is a well-established leaderin innovation in teaching. As well as cutting edgefacilities, our substantive courses across the board aresupported by weekly small group sessions to deliver aworld class learning experience. We are also leadingon employability provision; we believe it is importantto provide a broad education in the subject whileproviding you with the opportunity to develop skillsfor employment and your future career.

We structure our courses around human and physicalgeography. However, we allow complete flexibility tocater for those who want to maintain breadth andthose who want to specialise in particular aspects ofthe subject. We therefore offer you an unsurpassedchoice of course units across the programme, whichincreases as you move through the years.

Why Geography at Manchester?• One of the best-equipped universities at which

to study geography in Europe

• A course that offers you a large degree of flexibilityto structure your own programme of study

• Several field courses across all areas of study thatenable you to learn and meet with staff andstudents in an informal atmosphere

• The option to study abroad for one year, withassociated dissertation work

• The option to study for a fourth year to refine yourspecialised research skills


We offer our students an unsurpassed choice of modules andopportunities to learn in small groups at every stage of theircourse. When you add in our commitment to fieldwork in eachyear and innovative employability programme, Geography atManchester presents a well-rounded and world-leadinguniversity experience.

Our courses provide you with a range ofopportunities to discuss geographical ideas andconcepts in small groups. Small group learning isintegral to a world-class education and every coursethat you take in Geography includes a programme of small-group work such as tutorials, seminars,fieldwork, team projects, practicals and laboratory classes.

These allow you to develop and explore your ownideas, while also providing you with ways of gettingto know staff and other students, which are furtherenhanced by the diversity and frequency of fieldwork.Unlike many geography courses, our BA/BScprogramme offers you the opportunity to undertakeheavily subsidised field courses across all three years of study.

Opportunities to study abroadWe offer you the possibility of studying for one yearabroad at a partner university in various Europeancountries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, HongKong, Singapore, or the USA. Students who opt tostudy abroad graduate in our Geography withInternational Study course, which runs over fouryears; the third year is spent abroad and dissertationwork is usually related to this period of study.

For more information about the worldwide exchangepossibilities, email [email protected] orvisit the study abroad section of the Universitywebsite: www.manchester.ac.uk/ug/studyabroad

Contemporary study resources and facilitiesAll of our courses provide you with a range ofopportunities for studying and learning. As aGeography student, you will have access to excellentfacilities, including brand new physical geographylaboratories and large computer clusters withnetworked PCs, internet access and dedicatedsoftware for demonstrating geographical principles.

Studying at university will provide you with a wealthof opportunities and experiences. Our academicadvisor system provides you with an opportunity toreflect on those experiences and your achievementsand to discuss your future plans on a one-to-onebasis with a member of the Geography staff. Theywill remain as your advisor throughout your time inthe School and can advise you on course options,careers and other aspects of university life.


Geography at Manchester

Vibrant student communityWe are recognised as having a very friendlyatmosphere, developed not least through fieldcourses, small-group work and practical sessions. The atmosphere is further enhanced through anumber of social, sporting and academic events thatare attended by both staff and students. Many ofthese events are organised by the student society,MUGS (Manchester University Geographical Society).Its activities include an annual charity ball and varioussocial and sports events; MUGS soccer and netballteams participate in university leagues. For moreinformation on MUGS, see page 20.

Excellent career prospectsGeography is a unique discipline that bridges boththe arts and sciences. It is both a practical andtheoretical subject that helps us to understand globaland local issues. Its breadth opens up a wide range ofcareer opportunities for our students. Indeed,Geography has one of the best graduate employmentrecords in the country, because it provides you with arange of transferable skills for later life, includingliteracy, numeracy, computer literacy, graphicacy andcommunication skills.


My A-level subjects were Geography,French and Biology. I decided to studyGeography at Manchester because I reallyliked the idea of living and studying in a big,vibrant city with lots of nightlife!

“After spending a gap year in France, I wasreally keen to incorporate some Frenchunits into my course. The Geographycourse here, being so flexible, allowed meto not only choose an elective unit inFrench, but also spend a semester of mysecond year at the Alpine Institute ofGeography in the French Alps (through theEuropean Erasmus programme). It was afantastic opportunity that should not bemissed.

“I also went to New York in my second yearfor overseas fieldwork (other optionsincluded Cuba, Iceland, Greece andIreland), which, as most of my year groupwould agree, was one of the highlights ofmy course at Manchester.

Lindsay HarperGeography BSc

Course details

Geography BA 3yrsUCAS Code L700

Geography BSc 3yrsUCAS Code F802

Geography with International Study BA 4yrsUCAS Code LF78

Geography with International Study BSc 4yrsUCAS Code FL87

MGeog: integrated masters in Geography 4yrsUCAS Code F800

Geography and Geology BSc 3yrsUCAS Code FF68

Where do you start?You will begin the Single Honours Geography courses with a preregistration field course in the Lake District, which is the only one of its kind offered by geography departments in the UK. Youwill develop your fieldwork skills further on day-longfield courses in Manchester and the local regionduring your first year.

How do you learn?Our teaching and learning strategy is designed toprovide you with a stimulating and challenging set ofexperiences that will help you develop a wide rangeof intellectual, subject-specific and transferable skills,while studying a dynamic and broad-ranging subject.

We develop your ability to think critically, analyticallyand creatively. You learn about contemporary issuesand problems to which much of our research relates,in ways that help you discuss and develop your ownviews on current societal and environmental debates.In developing an understanding of these issues andproblems, you acquire a set of subject-specific skillsassociated with, for example, geographicalrepresentation (geographical information systems,remote sensing, visualisation) and field and laboratory analyses. You also acquire a set of moregeneral skills that will serve you well after university,increasing your employability and allowing you to bea more active citizen. For example, you develop skillsassociated with working in teams, includingcommunication skills, and many forms of skills thatallow you to reflect on and affect your own progress.Our assessment strategy is designed to provide youwith feedback on your progress in understanding thesubject and in developing these skills and abilities.

You will encounter a number of different learningsituations. Some, like the lecture sessions, are quitedifferent from school or college in that the classes aremuch larger. As you proceed through the degreecourses and there are more options from which toselect, lecture sizes decrease.

Lecture sessions do not just consist of someonestanding at the front speaking while you take notes.Right from your first year they are interactive with in-class quizzes and debates, while second and third-year course units offer lecture sessions and athird hour each week for discussions, debates andvarious forms of student presentations and activities.These interactions allow you to think through theideas of the lecture and develop your own thoughtsand views.

Alongside lecture units, there is a complementaryprogramme of small-group work, where discussion isthe focus. You meet weekly in a tutorial with aroundeight other students throughout the first year. Youwill work together in debates, projects and brief fieldexcursions, and write essays, some of which counttowards your first-year assessment. These tutorialprojects relate to and support the first-year lecture programme.

During the first year, you also complete some work inteams; there is progression in this type of work thatcontinues through the second year. Such organizedteamwork may encourage you to work in moreinformal teams, where you can discuss your readingand ideas from lectures. It also helps you to workindependently, taking more responsibility for yourown learning.

The culmination of working independently is yourdissertation, which currently counts for 25% of yourfinal degree. You may choose to do this abroad, forwhich it is possible to gain financial assistance fromthe Zochonis Fund. Geographers have traditionallyenjoyed a high degree of success applying for fundsand have gone as far afield as Australia and Peru toconduct their research. Although there are differentmodels of a dissertation, most are based on evidencethat you have collected yourself. The field, practicaland laboratory classes in the first two years will havegiven you experience of data collection and analysis.

You also receive advice during the second year inapplying geography and through dedicateddissertation tutorials in the second and third year. Inyour second year, we focus on different societies andenvironments to examine contemporary issues andprovide first-hand experience of these through one ofour overseas field courses. The emphasis of thesetrips is very much on developing the independentresearch skills that are the hallmark of our Geographygraduates and that make them such highly sought-after employees. Destinations may vary, but currentlyinclude Crete, Cuba, Donegal, New York, Iceland,Czech Republic, Amsterdam and Morocco.


How are you assessed?The School’s assessment strategy is devised to presentyou with the opportunity to demonstrate the fullrange of your abilities and skills. There is, therefore, a mix of assessment types across all years of studythat reflects the variety of abilities and skills that you develop and acquire as you proceed throughyour course.

This mix includes a dissertation, essays of varyinglengths, individual and team projects, courseworkassignments, posters, presentations, practicalsessions, field notebooks and unseen writtenexamination papers (long and short essay answersand multiple choice).

Second-year work currently contributes 25% of yourdegree, the dissertation 25% and then the third year50%. Through the mix of assessment types we aimto help you in a number of ways. Some of theassessment types allow fuller coverage of, andfeedback on, knowledge and understanding, which isso important. Some are devised to allow rapidfeedback, such as objective tests. Others aim topromote the development of argument, such astutorial and coursework essay, or teamwork skills.Some test the extent to which you can carry out workindependently, such as coursework essays and thedissertation.

All our assessment methods have been devised topromote in-depth learning and understanding.

Course StructureBA (Hons) and BSc (Hons) GeographyEach year, we admit approximately 150 students toSingle Honours (BA and BSc) Geography.

The course units offered and the selection processes(entry requirements, etc) are the same for the BA andthe BSc Geography courses. You should decide whichcourse to apply for on the basis of your A-levelbackground, your interests within geography andyour future plans. BA and BSc applications areconsidered on the same basis and your chances ofgaining a place are the same for each course, as wehave no separate quotas. Do not apply for both BA and BSc courses, or you will just be wastingan application.

By the end of your three years here, you will havestudied a broad range of subjects within geographyand developed a range of skills. You will be able tocarry out a piece of independent research and willhave developed the skills required to embark on aprofessional career, or to begin postgraduate researchor study.

In all three years, the degree courses are structuredaround human and physical geography. The elementof choice increases through the three years, buildingon a base of compulsory course units in the first year,to a choice of units that is limited only by timetablingconstraints in the third year. This structure maximisesthe opportunity for you to construct your own degreepathway, while ensuring that your study is basedwithin a logically developed curriculum.

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Geography

GeographyUndergraduate brochure 2014

Year 1Course units provide a basic introduction to keysubject areas and skills covered in the courses.

• Human Geography – changing political,economic, environmental, social and culturalgeographies are explored at a range of spatialscales

• Physical Geography – units explore climate andearth surface systems, including hazards andresource exploitation

• Researching Manchester – units introduce thecore research skills used in human and physicalgeography and get you to use them to explore the local and global significance of Manchester

These compulsory units establish basic principles,concepts and skills that you will build upon in yoursecond and third years. In addition to lectures, youwill have tutorials, undertake skills-based activities,complete a team project in each semester, and carryout both human and physical geography fieldwork in the Manchester area.

Beside compulsory course units, you may then chooseto take a further two units in Geography, or take‘free choice’ subjects outside the subject, selectingfrom a wide range of units available throughout the University.

Our current students take free choice subjects thatinclude languages (eg, Mandarin, German, French,Spanish, Italian, Russian), sciences (eg, Biochemistry,Chemistry, Biology, Earth Science, Psychology, Maths),social sciences (eg, Economics, Accounting, Planningand Landscape, Government, Politics, Anthropology,Sociology, Psychology, Women’s Studies) and arts (eg,English, Drama, Music, History, History of Art,Archaeology, Middle Eastern Studies, Philosophy,Religions and Theology). The first year also comprisesfieldwork in Manchester and the North West,including an introductory residential field course in the Lake District before you register, and day-trip fieldwork visits covering human and physical geography.

Lecture course units typically include:

Core• Researching Manchester

• Tutorials in Geography

• Understanding Human Geography

• Geographies of Sustainability

• Environmental Processes and Change: the GlobalSystem

• Physical Geography and ContemporaryEnvironmental Issues

Field coursesSemester 1 – Residential trip to Lake District, HumanGeography in Manchester

Semester 2 – Physical Geography in Manchester

Optional course units

• Geographies of Globalisation

• Environmental Pollution

• Hazards

• Water Resources and Development

• or up to two ‘free choice’ subjects

(NB Course unit list may be subject to change.)


Course details

During all stages of my degree, I have had the opportunity to attend field trips,ranging from trips to Chester Zoo to visits to the Peak District. However, myoverseas fieldwork in my second year was my favourite field trip. I had a greattime in Crete, and this was undoubtedlyone of the most enjoyable aspects of mytime at Manchester.

David GauntGeography BSc

Year 2In Year 2, lectures develop the themes established inthe first year, but introduce you to wider aspects ofthe subject. Second-year lecture course units consistof two sessions every week, divided into a two-hourand a one-hour session. For each lecture course unit,one of these sessions will take the form of smallgroup learning in order to allow you to discuss anddevelop your ideas and skills.

During the second year, you choose four course units.You can choose all of your course units withinGeography, or you may decide to continue with afree choice element – either continuing your first yeararea, or choosing a new subject for study. In order tomake the most of the unsurpassed range of coursesthat a University as large as ours is able to offer, andto allow you to tailor the degree to your particularneeds, you are able to choose up to two free choicesubjects in your second year.

In Semester 1, you undertake an Applying Geographycourse unit. Applying Geography will give youpractice in teamwork, report writing, researching,oral presentations, role playing and negotiation, whilehelping you to prepare a curriculum vitae and adissertation proposal.

In Semester 2, through tutorials, practical classes andlecture sessions, you will begin work towards yourdissertation, which is handed in during your thirdyear. During the second year you will take part in anoverseas field course that will help you to developyour research skills further.


Core• Applying Geography

Field courses

Semester 1 – Local area participation related toindividual lecture course unit.

Semester 2 – Assessed overseas fieldwork: Crete,New York, Cuba, Amsterdam, Donegal, CzechRepublic, Iceland, Morocco. All students attend onefield course.

Options• Development and Inequality

• Maps and Politics: Visual Culture, Power andEveryday Practice

• North American Cities – Change and Continuity inthe Metropolis

• Economic Geography: Understanding theEconomy, Creating Economic Spaces

• Nature, Society and Social Power

• The Political City

• Environmental Change and Human Impacts

• Green Planet: Plant Ecology and Global Change

• Glacial and Periglacial Environments

• River Catchments: Hydrology, Pollution andManagement

• Spatial Thinking with GIS

• Remote Sensing: Exploring Satellite and AirborneImages

• or up to two ‘free choice’ subjects



Geography


Course details

Year 3In the third year, lecture course units consist of twosessions each week, divided into a two-hour and aone-hour session. For each lecture course unit, one ofthese sessions will take the form of small grouplearning in order to allow you to discuss and developyour ideas and skills.

You will choose three course units fromapproximately 15 options available in any one year.The range of optional course units is common toboth the BA and BSc degree courses and allows youto get experience of geography at the research face,as members of staff lead courses dealing with theirareas of particular expertise and interest. The largenumber of options on offer means that students willbe taught in small classes, making for a truly world-class learning environment.

All lecture-based course units encourage studentparticipation and often include a practical element. Inaddition, you will continue to explore the ways inwhich we gain geographical knowledge through theGeography in the 21st Century support sessions, andyou will undertake an individual project evaluating aclassic geographical text, business or contemporarypolicy challenge.

Every course unit is assessed in part by a finalexamination and in part by a piece of coursework.The normal weighting is 67% examination and 33%coursework; though a limited number of practicallyoriented course units are 100% coursework.


Core• Team Project

• Geography in the 21st Century

Optional course units• Borders and Security in a Mobile World

• Making Sense of Nature

• Understanding Development through Film, Fictionand Media

• Energy, Space and Power

• Social Constructions of Health

• Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation

• Geographies of Food and Farming

• Critical Perspectives on Development

• Islands: Paradise or Prison, Human Geographies of Insularity*

• Cities and Consumption

• Urban Political Ecology

• Spaces of Work: Labouring in a Capitalist World

• Hydro-Chemical Modelling: Pollution Predictionand Management

• Ice Age Earth: Global and MediterraneanPerspectives

• Managing the Uplands: the Scientific Basis forConservation and Policy

• Earth Observation and Image Analysis: Observingthe Terrestrial Environment

• Coastal Processes: Sea Level Change and Marine Hazards

• Geography of Life

• Mediterranean Geographies*

* involves overseas residential field trip.

A balanced group of 15 of these course units will runin any year.


The dissertation

All students undertake a dissertation, beginning thework during their second year and submitting thefinished project after Easter in the third year. This isan opportunity to draw together the different strandsof the course and to study a subject that you selectand that really interests you. The dissertation requiresyou to conceive, plan, execute and write up a majorindependent and novel piece of research, and islargely unique to Geography among undergraduateprogrammes. Supervision is given by staff fromwhichever department seems appropriate to the topic selected.

BA (Hons) and BSc (Hons) Geographywith International StudyGeography at Manchester offers you the possibility ofstudying for a year abroad at a partner university invarious European countries, Australia, New Zealand,Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, or the USA.

Students wishing to take this option follow the samecourse of study as for the three-year BA or BSccourse, but spend their third year abroad, returningto Manchester for a fourth year. Dissertation work forthe course is usually related to the period of studyspent abroad.

The MGeog: Integrated masters inGeographyGeography at Manchester offers the opportunity tostudy for a four-year masters in Geography. As anMGeog graduate, you will have an advancedunderstanding of geographical knowledge and itsplace in the world. You will understand how suchknowledge is produced, how it relates to existingbodies of knowledge, how it can be evaluated, andwhat methods underpin its production. As such, youwill have refined your ability to critically reflect on theworld around you, thus acquiring a strong basis forlifelong learning and active citizenship. You will beable to interpret how geographical knowledge istranslated into different ‘real world’ settings andunderpins multiple careers and forms of employment.

The MGeog comprises the three-year BA/BScprogramme described above, plus an extra year inwhich you refine and specialise your knowledge andskills. In the fourth year, you will complete a year longresearch project, choose four course units from awide range, and take part in a year-long seminar andstudy programme where you will learn to evaluategeographical research and its application in policy,professional and commercial spheres. The researchproject and the seminar programme will run overboth semesters. The optional course units are one-semester units assessed by coursework. Beyond thetwo core units, there are no restrictions on choice,giving you the ability to choose modules in order to tailor the programme to your own requirements.Each unit will be taught by researchers who actively work in the field, giving you the opportunity to explore and engage with the latest geographical research.


Geography

I took Geography, Biology and History at A-level. Studying Geography has allowed me to choose from a list of varied subjects, all under the bracket of Geography – including, of particularinterest to me, topics surrounding theenvironmental sector.

“Although Geography incorporates somany disciplines in its make-up, the socialside of Geography life at Manchester isfantastic; the passion for the subjectallows students to share things incommon. This was particularly evident onthe second-year field trips. I went to Creteand, although there was a mix of humanand physical geographers on the trip, thegroup bonded with each other brilliantly,including the ever-enthusiastic lecturers.

“Choosing to study Geography atManchester is perhaps the best decision Ihave ever made and, since doing so, I havenever looked back. Geography hasprovided me with a broad knowledge ofmany diverse subjects and important keyskills that may be vital in providing me withfantastic opportunities in the future.

Tim HallBSc Geography

Core• Research Project

• Contemporary Geographical Research

Options• Environmental Change

• GIS and Environmental Applications

• Environmental Monitoring and Modelling Concepts

• Environmental Monitoring and Modelling Practice

• Applied Study Unit

• Theories of Environmental Governance

• Issues in Environmental Policy

• Or up to two third-year Geography options


BSc (Hons) Geography and Geology

This Honours degree course is run jointly byGeography and the School of Earth, Atmospheric andEnvironmental Sciences.

The core of the Geography and Geology course dealswith earth surface processes, making it of particularinterest to students with a wide interest in the earthsciences, physical geography and the environmentalsciences. Around that core, you may take optionsthat are available in the two subject areas and whichrelate to other areas of geography and geology. Donot be put off the degree course if you are interestedin subjects such as landslides, climate systems, rivers,volcanoes and environmental hazards, but have notformally studied geology before – this is the case formany of our students.

Course structureYou will spend approximately half of your time ineach subject over the three years. Small-group work,coursework, field courses and dissertations integratethe two disciplines. In particular, the first-year fieldcourse to Scotland – specifically developed for thisdegree course – is run by members of both subjectareas. This helps to bring together the classroom andlaboratory work of your first year in the two subjectareas and integrate the different areas you havestudied. In the second year, there is also a week-longfield course to an overseas destination (Donegal andMorocco in 2013).

Geography gives you a choice of course units in allyears. In the first year you will study the core courseunits from physical geography in each semester, andyou are encouraged to choose your second courseunit from the People and Environment strand.

During your second and third years, you have a widerrange of course units to select: two units during thesecond year and two units that run throughout Year3. Again, you can choose across the range of courseunits, but most students opt for Physical Geographyand/or People and Environment options.

Details of the lecture units in Geography can befound on pages 13 to 15.

In Geology – which is a new subject to many entrants– all students study the same ‘foundation’ course inthe first year, with choices in later years. Thisfoundation includes course units such as EarthMaterials, Geological Structures and IntroductoryPalaeontology. Choice is introduced alongside coreoptions of Global Tectonics, Sedimentology andStratigraphy in the second year; options availableinclude Structural Geology, Environmental OrganicSystems and Mineral Deposits.

By the third year of study, there is one core courseunit in Earth Surface Processes, and a variety ofoptions such as Ecosystems of the Past, Seismic andVolcanic Hazards and Computer Applications in Earthand Environmental Sciences.

Alongside this individual project, elements such asthe preparation of a poster presentation form animportant part of final-year work.

Throughout the course, lecture material is balancedwith practical and laboratory work.

The dissertationAll students undertake a dissertation, beginning thework during their second year and submitting thefinished project after Easter in the third year. This isan opportunity to draw together the different strandsof the course and to study a subject that you selectand that really interests you. The dissertation requiresyou to conceive, plan, execute and write up a majorindependent and novel piece of research, and islargely unique to Geography among undergraduateprogrammes. Supervision is given by staff fromwhichever department seems appropriate to the topic selected.


Course details

The Geography laboratories

All first-year students undertake practicalsessions in the Geography laboratories.Second and third-year students’ use ofthe laboratories will vary depending onthe course units chosen.

Some units, such as the third-year optionManaging the Uplands, are very laboratory-intensive. Group projects out in the field arefollowed up with a series of laboratory classes,where you are encouraged to developlaboratory skills under the direction of staff andacademics. Students undertaking PhysicalGeography final-year dissertations are able touse the School’s wide range of field resources,including coring, surveying and data-loggingequipment. The laboratories have two full-timeexperienced members of staff to provide supportfor both students and academic staff within the School.

The suite of five Geography laboratories issituated on the ground floor of the Arthur LewisBuilding and includes:

Facilities, Societies

and Careers

Main teaching laboratoryMost practical sessions take place in this laboratoryand can accommodate up to 50 students.

Analytical laboratoryThis houses facilities for the analysis of a wide rangeof major and trace elements. Equipment includes:

• Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical EmissionSpectrometer (ICPOES)

• Ion Chromatograph

• Total Organic Carbon Analyser

• Laser Granulometer

• Particle Size and Shape Analyser

Microscopy laboratoryHere you will find three high-range, research-qualitymicroscopes with image-capture facilities and 50teaching microscopes with phase-contrast capability.

Sediments and project laboratoriesThese are used for sample preparation, includingovens, furnaces and ball mills.

Computing and technical facilitiesClusters

You will enjoy access to a wide range of high-qualitycomputer services. Within the School there arecomputing facilities for undergraduate use in theArthur Lewis Building and at Humanities BridgefordStreet. All have the Microsoft suite of programmesand many are equipped with specialist software, forexample, for GIS. Wireless networking facilities areavailable through the Arthur Lewis Building andHumanities Bridgeford Street.

Library resources

There are a rich variety of library resources availablefor geographers. Library resources are concentratedin the University’s Main Library. This is the largestuniversity library system in the UK apart from thecopyright libraries and has a number of differentworking spaces. The Main Library is also home to theUniversity Map Collection, which comprises about100,000 map sheets of every part of the world.

We also have our very own Kantorowich Library,based in Humanities Bridgeford Street. TheKantorowich contains many of the teaching andlearning materials that you will need during your timein Manchester, from books and journals to DVDs andpast dissertations, as well as photocopiers andcomputer access to the university's electronicinformation resources.

Working spaces – Arthur Lewis Common Room

As well as the different working spaces in the library,you can use the Arthur Lewis Building’s CommonRoom. This big open space is networked for internetaccess and there are a number of networked PCs.The Common Room is handily located next toArthur’s Brew, our own coffee shop, so that you canget your caffeine fix while you’re working.


At A-level, I studied Geography, Biology,Economics and General Studies. A keyfactor in my decision to study Geographyat Manchester was that on attending anopen day it was clear that the Universitywas ambitious and committed to investingin the future. This is demonstrated by therecent opening of the Arthur Lewisbuilding, which houses state-of-the-artGeography laboratory facilities, which Ihave enjoyed using on numerous occasions.

David GauntBSc Geography

Manchester University Geographical Society(MUGS)

The Manchester University Geographical Society(more affectionately known as MUGS) is a society runby geography students for geography students. It isthe oldest society at the University, having been inexistence for over 120 years. MUGS is your point ofcontact for anything from where the best bars andnightclubs are in Manchester, to the location of yourfirst lecture, tutorial or seminar.

MUGS also organises many cheap social eventsthroughout the year (often in fancy dress) wherestudents mix with other year groups. This can proveinvaluable when it comes to exam period or choosingcourses for the next semester. They work closely withInvasion Manchester and club night promoters RoughHill. This means that MUGS can offer a large range ofdiscount wristbands and VIP entry during socials,which makes being a member truly worthwhile. Thehighlight of the social calendar is without doubt theend of year ball, or GloBall as it has been named. Theevent is always well run and organised, andattendees receive a three-course meal, champagnereception and the chance to mingle with differentyears and staff members. On the academic side ofMUGS, intellectual interests are met with guestlecturers, seminars and debates being organisedthroughout the year. These can be a great source ofknowledge when it comes to essay writing in the endof semester exams.

There are also two successful MUGS sports teams:Geography FC and MUGS Netball. In 2012, theMUGS Netball team were promoted to the firstdivision of the Campus League. The coming academicyear also sees the exciting emergence of the MUGSMixed Hockey Team, who will enter the campusleague. All the MUGS team are open to all abilitiesand all are welcome.

You will get a chance to meet a selection of theMUGS committee for the coming academic yearduring the Keswick orientation trip just prior towelcome week. It is useful to know who thecommittee are, because they are there for you andthey are always willing to answer questions about lifein Manchester that you may not wish to ask amember of staff.

If you can’t wait until Keswick to see what MUGS isall about, then have a look at the websitewww.mugsoc.org or check it out on Facebook and Twitter.

We look forward to meeting you next year.


Facilities, Societies and Careers

CareersGeography has one of the best graduate employmentrecords in the country, and Manchester geographershave an excellent record of gaining employment. Our graduates are employed in a wide variety ofoccupations, including finance, education, marketing,sales, the media, advertising, land management,environmental work, the diplomatic service, healthservice, law and social work.

Many others choose to undertake further study,either on masters or PhD programmes, often stayingat Manchester to do so.

Geography and Geology graduates likewise go into a wide range of careers, from accountancy andmanagement to environmental work and careersdirectly related to the earth sciences. Some graduateschoose to undertake further study, including variousforms of professional training, as well as masters andPhD programmes.

We have a ‘careers noticeboard’ to inform you offorthcoming events and your academic advisor maybe able to advise you on employment. There is also a member of academic staff within Geography who is an employability expert and who will be availableto give you advice on careers throughout your timewith us.

In the shorter term, you may want to take advantageof the many job opportunities available inManchester during the semester. The Careers Servicemay also be able to find you vacation work for thesummer that is related to Geography or to yourchosen career.

Skills developmentOur degree courses in Geography are carefullydesigned to equip you with the skills that employersvalue most highly, including: initiative, flexibility,teamwork, communication, information retrieval and research skills, independence, and the ability to solve problems, prioritise and manage your owntime effectively.

These skills are developed through lectures, smallgroup work, fieldwork and, particularly, through ourApplying Geography course unit in the second year.This unit draws on the expertise of the CareersService, with whom we have strong links, anddevelops your skills within a geographical context, aswell as helping you to prepare for job applications.The unit includes a section on writing your curriculumvitae, preparing for interviews and developingdecision-making and negotiation skills, all of whichfeature in many recruitment exercises.

Our four-year programmes are designed to equipstudents with highly desirable skills. The experienceof studying abroad evidences a high degree offlexibility and the capacity to adapt successfully tonew environments and challenges, while the MGeogdemonstrates a specialised knowledge and skill set.

The course in Geography and Geology will help youto not only pursue your interests in the earthsciences, but also develop a wide range of skills – inparticular, communication skills, data gathering andanalysis, use of the scientific method and moresubject-specific skills, such as microscopy, sedimentlogging and analysis techniques.


ApplyingEntry requirements

Geography BA3yrs

Geography BSc3yrs

Geography withInternationalStudy BA 4yrs

Geography withInternationalStudy BSc 4yrs

MGeog:integratedmasters inGeography 4yrs

Geography andGeology BSc 3yrs

UCAS Code L700 UCAS Code F802 UCAS Code LF78 UCAS Code FL87 UCAS Code F800 UCAS Code FF68

GCSE or equivalentC English Language and Mathematics

GCSE orequivalent

CCC EnglishLanguage,Mathematics anda science

GCE A-level /Unit gradesAAB

ScottishAdvancedHighersAAB

Scottish HighersAAAAB

InternationalBaccalaureate33 points overall

GCE A-level /Unit gradesAAB

ScottishAdvancedHighersAAB

Scottish HighersAAAAB


GCE A-level /Unit gradesAAA

ScottishAdvancedHighersAAA

Scottish HighersAAAAA










GCE A-level /Unit gradesABB Including ascience andGeography

ScottishAdvancedHighersABC One scienceand Geography

Scottish HighersAABBC – Twosciences andGeography grade B


English language requirementIELTS 7.0 TOEFL 600; internet-based TOEFL 90 IELTS 6.5 overall

Please note: General Studies will not form part of the offer, but will be reviewed at confirmation.For qualifications not listed above, please contact our School’s Recruitment and Admissions Office. Contact details are available on the page 27.

Student financeFees

Your tuition fees will cover the cost of your study at the University as well as charges for registration,tuition, supervision, examinations and graduation.

Payment of fees will also entitle you to membershipof the Library, the Students' Union and the Athletic Union.

For information on fees, visit:www.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/studentfinance

Funding

As one of the country’s leading centres of researchand learning, we are committed to attracting andsupporting the very best students. If you have thetalent and ability, we want to make sure that youhave the opportunity to study here regardless of yourfinancial circumstances.

More than a third of our students will receivebursaries of up to £3,000 per year and many will beoffered even more generous support. Students whoare eligible will be able to choose how they receivethis support – either as a cash bursary or as discounton their fees or accommodation bill.

UK students are not required to submit an applicationfor any of the University’s means-tested awards. Wewill automatically identify eligible students on thebasis of the household income data provided by theStudent Loans Company.

The Manchester Bursary

The Manchester Bursary is available to any studentwho is registered on an eligible undergraduatedegree course at The University of Manchester andwho has had a full financial assessment carried out byStudent Finance. This bursary is additional to thegovernment package of maintenance grants.

For further information, visit:www.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/studentfinance/home-eu-2013/university-scholarships-and-bursaries

The Herbertson Geography Merit Awards

Information about awards and bursaries given by theSchool for Geography undergraduate students will bepublished on our website at:www.sed.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/fees

As an example, for 2012 entry, around 20 of ourhighest-achieving new students were awarded£1,000 as a cash bursary in recognition of their hardwork and outstanding performance at A-level,International Baccalaureate or equivalent qualification.


DisabilitiesPractical support and advice for both current studentsand applicants is available from our University’sDisability Support Office (DSO) and our SchoolStudent Experience Administrator.

You should complete the relevant section on theUCAS form if you have believe that you haveadditional support needs arising from a long-termmedical condition, specific learning disability (eg,dyslexia), mental health condition, or a disability. OurUniversity fully complies with the Equality Act 2010.

Please be assured that ticking the disability box will in no way affect the normal screening of your UCASform. You will be assessed in the normal way anddecisions on calling to interview and offers will bemade in accordance with the guidance given here forall candidates. However, if you have ticked the box,our DSO will have access to your application detailsso that they can offer assistance with your applicationand ensure that appropriate support is in place, ifrequired. If you state a need for medical support, the DSO will normally send a referral to our StudentOccupational Health Department. You may alsoindependently contact the Student OccupationalHealth Department for advice (see contact detailsbelow). We will assess how the University might bestaddress your support needs.

This process will not influence the academic decisionsof our admissions office.


Applying

Further information is available from:

Disability Support Office:The University of ManchesterOxford RoadManchesterM13 9PL

tel: +44(0)161 275 7512email: [email protected]

Equality and Diversity Office:The University of ManchesterOxford RoadManchesterM13 9PL

tel: +44(0)161 306 5857email: [email protected]

Occupational Health Services:Oxford Road site:

Occupational Health ServicesThe University of ManchesterWaterloo Place182-184 Oxford RoadManchester M13 9GP

tel: 0161 275 2858email: [email protected]

Sackville Street site:

Occupational Health ServicesThe University of ManchesterB22 The MillSackville StreetManchester M13 9PL

tel: 0161 306 5806email: [email protected]/occupational-health


Discover your new home: www.manchester.ac.uk/accommodation

Everything you need to apply:www.manchester.ac.uk/ug/howtoapply

Accommodation

Admissions and applications

Take a look around our 24/7, independent learning spacewww.manchester.ac.uk/library/learningcommons

Alan Gilbert Learning Commons

Balancing your studies with your caringresponsibilities: www.manchester.ac.uk/childcare

Childcare

Talk to us about any support you need: www.manchester.ac.uk/dso

Disability support

Get to grips with fees, loans, scholarships and more: www.manchester.ac.uk/studentfinance

Funding and finance

Maps

Prospectus

Find out more online

Online learning, computer access, IT supportand more: www.manchester.ac.uk/itservices

IT Services

We have one of the UK’s largest and best-resourced university libraries: www.manchester.ac.uk/library

Library

Get active with our clubs, leagues, classesand facilities: www.manchester.ac.uk/sport

Sport

Let us help with any academic, personal,financial and administrative issues: my.manchester.ac.uk/guest

Support

Immerse yourself in societies, events,campaigns and more:manchesterstudentsunion.com

Students’ Union

Learn more about us on our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/user/universitymanchester

Videos

Find your way around our campus, city andaccommodation: www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/travel/maps

Download or order a copy of our prospectus:www.manchester.ac.uk/ug/courses/prospectus


Take control of your career:www.manchester.ac.uk/careers

CareersLet us help you prepare for your time here:www.manchester.ac.uk/international

International students

Contactdetails

Disclaimer

This brochure is prepared well in advance ofthe academic year to which it relates.Consequently, details of courses may varywith staff changes. The University thereforereserves the right to make such alterationsto courses as are found to be necessary. Ifthe University makes an offer of a place, it isessential that you are aware of the currentterms on which the offer is based. If you arein any doubt, please feel free to ask forconfirmation of the precise position for theyear in question, before you accept the offer.

Want to know more about Geography atManchester? Visit our YouTube channel forvideos of our fieldwork, student opinionsand much more:www.youtube.com/sedmanchester

For the most up-to-date courseinformation, visit our website:www.sed.manchester.ac.uk/geography

Want to talk through your decision?

Call or email us for help and advice.

Dr James RothwellGeography Lecturertel 0161 275 3624email [email protected]

Dr Helen WilsonGeography Lecturertel 0161 275 3664email [email protected]

Nicola AllardUndergraduate Admissionstel 0161 275 2804email [email protected]

28

Royal Charter Number RC000797M657 05.13

The Recruitment and Admissions AdministratorSchool of Environment, Education and DevelopmentThe University of ManchesterArthur Lewis BuildingOxford RoadManchesterM13 9PLUnited Kingdom

tel +44 (0)161 275 0969email [email protected]/geography

Documents

Geography undergraduate brochure