3-Term Pathway - International Foundation Year in Social Sciences and Humanities - Continue to Bachelor of Arts - Geography

This program will prepare students for entry to Year 1 of an undergraduate degree in a wide range of subjects, including many based at the £10m LICA building. Popular subjects include law, film studies, sociology, linguistics and politics.

Students won’t just be sat in lectures at Lancaster, they'll study in outstanding practical facilities; explore beautiful surroundings; take part in international field trips; and learn from world-renowned lecturers.

Geography is a distinctive subject: it studies the world in a vast range of areas. Students will learn about the Earth’s landscapes, species, places and environment in a unique discipline that merges social science (human geography) with the natural (physical geography).

Situated between the rural settings of the north and the bustling cities of Liverpool and Manchester, Lancaster’s position enables exploration of some of the UK’s most unique areas of geographic interest. Students will gain a wealth of hands-on experience with field trips to places such as the Yorkshire Dales, Cumbrian coast and Lake District, as well as international locations such as Croatia and Switzerland.

Students will develop a fundamental understanding of human, physical and environmental geography in the first year Geography modules. These modules equip them with a well-rounded introduction to some of the key themes in geography, as well as providing them with key skills used by geographers to analyse problems in both the human and physical aspects of the discipline.

Specialisation begins in second year, enabling students to choose topics that match their interests. Core modules will focus on practical work, giving students a range of analytical and research project skills, while optional modules feature and exciting field trip to Spain.

In the third year, students will undertake a dissertation project, guided by their academic supervisor, which offers a chance to perform original geographical research on a topic of their choice. While completing the dissertation, students will use the key research, analytical and academic writing skills they have learnt throughout the degree. Students may wish to take advantage of the unique opportunity to collaborate with a business to complete their dissertation research, allowing them to gain valuable work experience at the same time. Students will be offered further optional module choices, and there will be fieldwork opportunities in locations such as Switzerland and Croatia. Topics may include the study of Global Consumption, Urban Infrastructure in a Changing World, and the Geographies of Health, but could also include elements of physical geography such as Natural Hazards, Glacial Systems or Water Resource Management.

In addition to their subject knowledge, students will gain communication and information technology skills and will become familiar with data handling and environmental sampling and analysis. Throughout the degree, considerable weight is placed upon enhancing employability and such skills are greatly valued by potential employers.