Bachelor of Arts - BAF, CPD Geography

• Accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)
• Field trips to Greece, the Lake District, North Wales and the North West coast included in fees*
• Additional opportunities for overseas field trips to places such as Iceland*
• Focus on practical and field based learning activities so students develop applied skills and graduate work ready
• Access to brand new, state-of-the-art Geographical Information Systems and analytical equipment
• Regular extra curricular employability events, giving students the opportunity to network with high profile companies
• Options to undertake work placements of 4-6 weeks and/or 12 months
• Options to study abroad for part of the degree with support from schemes such as the Go Global Fund and Erasmus+
• This degree is available to study following a foundation year
• International Foundation Year course available offering direct progression onto this degree programme - visit LJMU's International Study Centre to find out more

Liverpool is the ideal place in which to study geography as you have immediate access to the stunning landscapes of the Lake and Peak Districts, Snowdonia, as well as a host of coastal sites. Exploring the way in which our physical environment develops and how humans affect natural processes and interact within the world is the basis of this vocational programme, which offers plenty of opportunities to apply your knowledge in practical contexts.

The degree offers you opportunities for overseas fieldwork, currently including a core level 5 trip to Greece to study a range of environments impacted by development and tourism and subject to a variety of natural hazards. In Level 6 we also run optional field trips in tectonically active, volcanic or glacial environments (current destination is Iceland) to study topics such as climate change, geohazards, landscape development, environmental change and sustainability.

Not only are these field trips an important aspect of the study of geography, they are also, unsurprisingly, a highlight of the programme for our students. All day and residential field trips for core modules are funded by the University. The Level 6 expedition is optional and self-funding is required.*

As well as studying a range of highly topical subject areas, you will also have access to the latest Geographical Information Systems facilities and state-of-the-art field equipment and analytical laboratories. The course also offers ample opportunity for work-related learning.

We adopt an active blended learning approach, meaning you will experience a combination of face-to-face and online learning during your time at LJMU. This enables you to experience a rich and diverse learning experience and engage fully with your studies. Our approach ensures that you can easily access support from your personal tutor, either by meeting them on-campus or via a video call to suit your needs.

Teaching is via a combination of lectures, interactive workshops, fieldwork, laboratory sessions, online activities and small-group tutorials; the amount of time you spend in each varies according to the module and the level of study. You are expected to do additional research around lecture subjects in your own time using the University Libraries and virtual learning environment, Canvas. As the course progresses, the amount of practical and field-based work increases, allowing you to develop field and research techniques and complete an independent research project.

Work-related learning

Work-related learning is a crucial element of your studies, and the best way to experience the world of work is by opting to undertake a 12-month placement between levels 5 and 6.

With the support of a placement tutor, you will be given the opportunity to work for a geography or environment-related organisation and put into practice skills and knowledge gained in your first two years of study. As well as giving you a chance to develop personal skills and take a break from formal study, this experience will add real value to your CV and significantly boost your employability prospects. In fact many of our students have subsequently been offered work with the same organisation or through contacts made.

There is also an option to do a short (4-6 week) placement in level 6 and put together a portfolio about your experience.

International mobility at LJMU

LJMU offers a range of international exchange opportunities that enable students from the School of Biological and Environmental Sciences to spend some months at a foreign institution to develop their self-confidence, adaptability and cultural awareness. The specific opportunities may change from year to year, however the following programmes are currently available to all students in the School of Biological and Environmental Sciences:

• Study abroad at a university in Europe using Erasmus+ or at one of our partner universities in the US
• Work abroad by taking part in internships in Europe using Erasmus+, in Asia via the Asia Internship Programme or anywhere on Earth using the Go Global Fund or Smaller Earth
• View the current programmes available on the LJMU website.

• Alternative qualifications considered

  All applicants should have a graduate qualification or equivalent. Applicants should normally have a professional role in the support of learning in higher education. This includes lecturing staff, teaching assistants, staff in learner support roles, research staff with a substantive teaching role

UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.

Most modules are assessed by coursework only, although there are some (less than a third) that have an exam component. We acknowledge that all students perform differently depending on the way they are assessed. At the same time skills acquisition is one of the principal aims of the programme. This is why we use a range of assessment methods, weighted towards coursework.

• Coursework may be in the form of fieldwork/practical/professional reports, essays, blogs, GIS and lab exercises, oral and poster presentations, group discussions, practical and employability skills evaluations.
• The small number of exams may include multiple choice, short answer, problem-based learning and essay questions.

Some assignments are done in groups. Your final year research project will be assessed by a portfolio that could include progress reviews, presentations and skills evaluations and a dissertation.