Human Geography with a Year Abroad

Explore the geographical relationships between people, societies, cultures, economies, and the environment in our social-science focused BA Human Geography degree.

In Year 3 you will have the opportunity to study abroad at one of our partner institutions and to experience different cultures.

Our Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) accredited BA Human Geography programme explores topics that overlap with subjects such as sociology, anthropology, economics, and political science, in seeking to understand the connections between humans, places and spaces, cultures and society.

This degree programme is suitable for students who want to take Geography but without studying Physical Geography topics in detail. Students who want to include Physical Geography are encouraged to consider the BA Geography programme as well.

Human Geography at Swansea Offers:
• A flexible degree path you can customise by choosing from a mixture of human and physical geography modules.
• The opportunity to study abroad for a year, or work in industry.
• A strong emphasis on fieldwork. We take advantage of the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Nature Beauty (now the Gower National Landscape) on our doorstep, and Wales’ nearby national parks for regular, local field trips.
• International field courses in the second and third years of our programmes that give you the chance to carry out fieldwork in Europe and North America, as well as specialised field modules in Asia.
• A world-renowned department with a strong record of employability; Ranked Top 250 in the World for Environmental Sciences (QS World Rankings by Subject, 2025).
• Top 100 in the World for Geography (Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2024).

Our graduates have become Catchment Scientists, Ecologists, Geographical Data Processors, Surveyors, Housing Officers, Meteorologists, Journalists, Government Advisors and Lecturers.

In Year 1, you will typically study areas including:
Geographical Imaginations, The Making and Unmaking of the Globalizing World, Sustainability and the Climate Emergency, Natural Hazards and Society.

In Year 2, you will typically study areas including:
Geographical Fieldwork skills, Geographical Methods and Data Analysis (Human Geography), Political and Economic Geographies, Marginal Cultural Geographies.

In Year 3, you'll study abroad at one of our partner institutions.

In Year 4, you'll undertake your dissertation and will typically study modules including:
Violent Geographies, Creative Geographies, Contemporary Rural Britain, World Cities, Science Communication with Placement.

On the BA Human Geography course you will be taught through a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, practical classes and field classes. You will be assessed through a variety of methods, including examinations, coursework, practical work, fieldwork and continuous assessment from tutorials. You will also complete a dissertation in your final year.