HUMANGEOGRAPHYCanterbury

The UK’s European university

Undergraduatestudy

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WHAT IS HUMANGEOGRAPHY?Human Geography explores the behaviourof people and how this relates to the physicalworld. It provides a deep understanding ofwhy the world is changing so quickly, andhow these changes affect the environment,culture and economies at local, national andglobal scales.

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FlexibleprogrammeWith access to a large suite ofoptional modules and scope totake ‘wild modules’ from acrossthe University this courseprovides you with flexibility,choice, creativity and theopportunity to indulge yourinterests and passions.

A researchcommunityStudents thrive when inspiredby research that makes animpact. Geography at Kent isnurtured by the work of theKent Interdisciplinary Centrefor Spatial Studies, whichhosts events, including adistinguished annual lecture,on geography-related topics.

Work placementsApply your learning to a workcontext. You can spend up to ayear on a work placement withan organisation relevant to yourdegree, at home or abroad.This opportunity allows you todevelop essential employabilityskills and add experience toyour CV.

Academic supportUniversity is different to school.You need to be self-motivatedand well organised to succeed.We help by assigning you anacademic tutor and organisingpeer mentoring. You can alsoget help with academic skills,such as essay writing, from theUniversity’s dedicated service.

An ideal location Our Canterbury campus is notonly scenic and rich in history,but well positioned for thosewith an interest in humangeography. Kent is culturallydiverse and our proximity toLondon and the continentallows us to maximise ourresearch and business links.

InspirationalteachingGreat teachers inspireenthusiasm and provokedebate. Whether they’relecturing on geopolitics orsparking debate on the humanimpact on the environment, ourstaff are skilled at bringing theirsubject to life and drawing youinto the conversation.

ExcellentresourcesThe School is equipped withteaching spaces, laboratoriesand a field trials area. TheTempleman Library offersaccess to more than a millionbooks, ebooks, databases andjournals. There are thousandsof study spaces and networkedPCs across campus.

Practical field tripsPractical learning is a valuablepart of your degree. Our fieldtrips in the UK and abroad giveyou the chance to develop fieldskills and research techniqueswithin a real-world situation.You also gain the experienceof working as a team with yourfellow students and staff.

Career successEmployability is a priority atKent. We provide our graduateswith the rich set of skillsneeded for a dynamic career in business, governmentagencies, NGOs, educationand development. Specialistand general skills are allembedded in your degree.

WHY STUDY HUMAN GEOGRAPHY AT KENT?

Teaching ExcellenceFramework• Kent was awarded gold, the

highest rating, in the UKgovernment’s TeachingExcellence Framework*

The Guardian UniversityGuide 2018• 22nd in the UK

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Future leadershipscholarshipsTo celebrate the launch of our course in Human Geography, weare delighted to be able to award a scholarship of £2000 a yearto selected students.

Offered for up to three years of study, the scholarships recogniseacademic excellence as well as the ability to contribute to theresearch community at Kent. For details of the criteria and applicationprocess, see www.kent.ac.uk/scholarships/search/undergraduate/

The Guardian UniversityGuide 2018• 4th in the UK for student

satisfaction in the relatedsubject of Anthropology

National Student Survey • Of students who graduated

from Kent in 2016 in therelated subject ofAnthropology andConservation, over 97%who responded to a nationalsurvey, were in work orfurther study within sixmonths (DLHE).

University of Kent

Independent rankings

School of Anthropology

*The University of Kent’s Statement of Findings can be found at www.kent.ac.uk/tef-statement

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YOUR STUDY PROGRAMME

How can humangeographers make adifference to the world?Your degree addressesthis question bycombining geographytopics with contemporaryand innovative teaching.

The degree has been designedto give you a strong core ofgeography knowledge in areassuch as sustainability andenvironmental change. The topicsare delivered in ways that arepractical, creative and challenging.

Developing knowledge and skillsfor your future employment is acore principle of the degree.Each module has opportunities foryou to develop and strengthen your

competence as a geographer andgain skills sought by employerssuch as: analytical writing, oralpresentations, team-working,leadership, initiative and timemanagement. It also gives you anexcellent grounding in the socialsciences with opportunities toconduct independent research.

Please note that the module listsbelow are not fixed as new modulesare always in development andchoices updated yearly. Seewww.kent.ac.uk/ug for the most up-to-date information.

Stage 1Stage 1 covers the first year of yourdegree programme. This stagefocuses on foundational knowledge,study skills and practical fieldexperiences.

Compulsory modules• People and Place• Geographies of

Environmental Change• Geographical Patterns and

Processes• Environmental Sustainability• Academic Skills

Optional modulesStudents then choose furthermodules from:• Green Planet• Animals, People and Plants.

Further module options areavailable from a wide range on offerin the School and as ‘wild modules’from across the University.

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During Stage 3, the compulsorymodules are:• Critical Geopolitics• Geographies of Tourism and

Development• Research Project.

Options at Stages 2 and 3 includeenvironmental modules:• Climate Change and

Conservation• Creative Conservation• Environment and Culture• Environmental Policy and

Practice• Environmental Politics• Environmental Law • The Human-Environment Nexus• Inviting Doomsday:

US Environmental Problemsin the Twentieth Century

Other optional modules include:• The Anthropocene: Planetary

Crisis and the Age of Humans• The Anthropology of Amazonia• The Anthropology of China• Anthropology of Development• Geography Residential Overseas

Field Trip (Stage 3)• Nature and Community• European Societies• Urban Sociology.

Further options are available froma wide range of modules on offerin the School and as ‘wild modules’from across the University.

Stages 2 and 3Stages 2 and 3 are the secondand final years of your degree.In Stage 2 you deepen yourunderstanding of how people,place and space are fundamentallyconnected. Stage 3 brings togetheryour knowledge of the complex,dynamic interactions betweenhumans and their environment.

All students take the followingcompulsory modules in Stage 2:• Spatial Analysis: Principles and

Methods• Methods and Fieldwork in Social

Science• History and Philosophy of

Geography• Geographies of Environmental

Management

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“The lecturers are supportiveand happy to help if you getstuck. They are also engagingand encourage open discussionand debate.”

Treya PickingSchool of Anthropology andConservation

• arranging note-takers, signersand other support workers for you

• discussing exam accessarrangements

• helping you with emotional,psychological or mental healthissues

• applying for relevant funding tosupport you.

Find out more at:www.kent.ac.uk/studentsupport

SUPERB STUDY SUPPORT

We’ll support youthroughout your time atKent, from helping youadjust to university studyto discussing modulechoices and essay topicswith you.

You are assigned an academicadviser in your first year, who helps you to get the most from yourdegree programme. They meet withyou regularly to discuss generalacademic issues or specificassignments. They also assist youin developing academic skills andcan refer you to other sources ofhelp if you need it.

Peer supportThe best advice often comes frompeople who’ve been in yoursituation. Through our AcademicPeer Mentoring scheme, first-yearstudents can request to be matchedwith second or third-year studentson a similar degree programme.

Peer mentors will help you settle into university life and find your feet.They can help you to discuss ideasand improve your study skills as youprogress through your first year.

Study skills adviceSuccessful students take control oftheir own learning. Kent’s StudentLearning Advisory Service (SLAS)can help you increase yourcompetence and confidence andfulfil your potential. You can requesta one-to-one appointment or attend

workshops on a diverse range ofsubjects from making the most oflectures to writing well and avoidingplagiarism.

Student support andwellbeingYou might need extra help to get themost from university. If you have amedical condition, specific learningdifficulty, mental health condition, ordisability, the Student Support andWellbeing team is there to supportyou.

They are committed to improvingaccess to learning for all studentsat Kent and can assist with manythings, including:• talking to your lecturers about

any help you need in lectures or seminars

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PLACEMENT YEAR

At Kent, you have theopportunity to broadenyour experience through a work placement.

Human Geography students whochoose to take a placement willusually spend six to 12 monthsgaining experience in theworkplace. The experience can beeither paid work or an internship.

Some exciting placements taken bystudents within the School include:• Environmental Project

Co-ordinator at Afzelia Limitedin Lusaka, Zambia

• Project Officer at White CliffsCountryside Partnership in Dover

• Intern at the United Nationsin Bonn, Germany

• Intern at Forum for the Futurein London

• Supply Chain IndustrialPlacement at L'Oréal, Nottingham

• Data intern at FreelandConsultants in New Delhi, India.

There are many benefits to takinga placement. It gives you thechance to increase your contactsand networks, allowing you to hit theground running when you graduate.It also enables you to gainknowledge of the work environment,match the skills acquired throughuniversity to the job market and

acquire new skills. Our studentsusually come back brimming withconfidence.

How it worksTuition fees for the placement yearoption are greatly reduced andemployers may offer expensesor a salary.

While on a placement, you are stilla student, with access to studentfinance (if you are eligible).

If taken, the year is assessedthrough employer feedback anda written report that you submit.Together these contribute 10%towards your degree.

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A SUCCESSFUL FUTURE

What do you hope to doonce you have yourdegree? Whether you havea specific career path inmind or haven’t yetthought much beyonduniversity, we can helpyou to plan for successin the future.

Build your CVYour degree studies help you todevelop skills such as thinkingcritically, expressing yourself clearly,solving problems and workingindependently and as part of ateam. These transferable skills arevalued by employers and will alsobe vital if you go on to further study.

At Kent, you have lots of other greatopportunities to enhance your skills.For instance, you could:• join a society or sports club (even

better – get involved in running it)• volunteer with a community• work in a part-time job or take

up a summer internship • represent your fellow students

as a student rep, or becomea student ambassador

• learn a new language or skillwith Study Plus.

Getting involved like this means thatyou can earn Employability Points,which you can exchange foremployability rewards. The morepoints you earn, the more valuablethe rewards: we work with local,national and international employersto offer internships, work experienceand a range of other activities thatprepare you for the world of work.

Experience workThe Year in Professional Practiceallows you to immerse yourself inthe work environment for up to ayear. The University also offersthe Kent Student Certificate forVolunteering, Platinum Award whichrecognises work placements in thepublic or voluntary sector and isawarded as credit towards yourdegree. (Please note that thereis a selection process for thismodule.)

Find a great jobYour degree can lead to a widerange of fascinating careers. Youare able to develop skills that arein high demand in fields such asnature conservation, town and

country planning, environmentalprotection, sustainabledevelopment, environmentalconsultancy, tourism, internationalaid and development.

Visit the University’s careers fair totalk to potential employers and useour award-winning Careers andEmployability Service for adviceon preparing your CV. Our trackrecord speaks for itself: just sixmonths after graduating in 2016,more than 96% of Kent graduateswho responded to a national surveywere in work or further study(DLHE).

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FIND OUT MORE

Choosing a universityis a big step, so it’simportant to find out asmuch as you can beforeyou make your decision.Come and visit us to seewhat we can offer you.

Open DaysOpen Days are a great way to findout what life as a student at Kent islike. For instance, you can:• learn more about the course

you are interested in at a subjectpresentation

• ask questions – talk to theacademic teams at theinformation stands

• experience our teaching ata taster lecture*

• find out about student finance,other study opportunities andextracurricular activities suchas Kent Sport.

Explore the campus at your ownpace on the self-guided walkingtour. You will be able to visit differenttypes of accommodation, chat tocurrent students and enjoy thestunning views over the city ofCanterbury.

Open Days are held in the summerand autumn. Book your place atwww.kent.ac.uk/opendays

Applicant DaysIf you apply to Kent and we offeryou a place (or ask you to come for an interview), you will usually be invited to an Applicant Day.Applicant Days run in the springterm and are an opportunity to findout about the course in more detail.You spend time with your academicschool meeting staff and currentstudents, and take part in activitiesthat give you a flavour of yourprospective course and universitylife.

Informal visitsIf you can’t make it to an Open Dayor Applicant Day, you can still visitus. We run tours of the campusthroughout the year.

If you live outside Europe, weappreciate that you might find itdifficult to attend our scheduledevents, so we can arrange apersonal campus tour for you and your family.

Let us know you’re comingScheduled tours and personalcampus tours (for internationalstudents) need to be booked inadvance – you can do this viawww.kent.ac.uk/informal

Meet us in your countryOur staff regularly travel overseasto meet with students who areinterested in coming to Kent.We also have strong links withagents in your home country whocan offer guidance and information

* Programme of events variesaccording to subject.

LocationCanterbury

AwardBSc (Hons)

Degree programmes• Human Geography (L700) • Human Geography with a Year

in Professional Practice (L701)

Offer levelsBBB at A level including Biology,Geography, EnvironmentalScience, Psychology, Chemistryor Geology; IB Diploma 34 pointsoverall or 16 points at Higher,including 5 at HL or 6 at SL inBiology, Geography, Psychology,Environmental Science, Geologyor Chemistry.Access and BTEC Level 3Extended Diploma applicantsare assessed on an individualbasis, please contact us formore information.

Placement yearFor more information, see p10.

International studentsIf you need to extend your existingacademic qualifications or yourskills in English in order to studyat university level, the one-yearInternational FoundationProgramme (IFP) provides ameans to progress to the fulldegree programme. For details,see www.kent.ac.uk/ifp

FundingApplicants to this degree in2019/20 are invited to applyfor our Future LeadershipScholarships. These merit-basedscholarships award £2000 a yearfor three years to selectedstudents. For more details, see p5.

Offer levels and entryrequirements are subject tochange. For the latest courseinformation, see:www.kent.ac.uk/ug

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on studying at Kent. Find out moreat www.kent.ac.uk/courses/international

Self-guided toursIf you prefer to explore on your own,you can download a self-guidedwalking tour at www.kent.ac.uk/informal or pick up a copy from us.

A self-guided audio tour is availabletoo, which allows you to learn aboutKent without even leaving home.See www.kent.ac.uk/courses/visit/informal/audio-tour.html

Explore onlineFind out more about the academicteam, the course and events in theSchool at www.kent.ac.uk/sac

You can also keep in touch with the School via social media:www.facebook.com/unikentsacwww.twitter.com/kentsac

Contact usIf you would like more informationon Kent’s courses, facilities orservices, please contact us on:T: +44 (0)1227 768896www.kent.ac.uk/ug

This brochure was produced in May 2018. The University of Kent makes every effortto ensure that the information contained in its publicity materials is fair and accurateand to provide educational services as described. However, the courses, services and other matters may be subject to change. For the most up-to-date information,see www.kent.ac.uk/ug and for full details of our terms and conditions, seewww.kent.ac.uk/termsandconditions

For the University to operate efficiently, it needs to process information about youfor administrative, academic and health and safety reasons. Any offer we make toyou is subject to your consent to process such information and is a requirement in order for you to be registered as a student. All students must agree to abide by theUniversity rules and regulations at: www.kent.ac.uk/regulations

FIND OUT MORE (CONT)

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University of Kent, The Registry, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NZ T: +44 (0)1227 764000 www.kent.ac.uk/ug

COME ANDVISIT USTo find out more about visitingthe University, see our website:

www.kent.ac.uk/visit