Geography
Entry requirements
Usually a second-class honours degree (2:2 or above), or equivalent professional experience.
Applications are reviewed on their individual merits and your professional qualifications and/or relevant work experience will be taken into consideration positively. We actively support and encourage applications from mature learners.
Months of entry
October
Course content
Our postgraduate course in geography gives you the opportunity to choose from across a broad range of modules to build a course with flexible study tailored to your own interests and professional needs. We offer modules designed to respond to contemporary issues, including the climate and ecological emergency, cities and urbanisation, poverty and inequality, cultural change, nationalism, identity, gender, migration and international development.
You will study with internationally recognised experts defining their field with ground-breaking research. This directly informs our teaching to create a lively, stimulating environment and provide you with the pivotal knowledge to develop a career in the sector.
The course benefits from a mix of classroom and field-based teaching bringing you together with other students to build your social and professional networks and develop important skills in data collection and analysis.
We offer this course as a Master’s, Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate. For the Diploma and Certificate you study fewer modules and do not complete a dissertation. The Diploma and Certificate are ideal if you are interested in studying at postgraduate level for personal or professional reasons, but don't yet want to commit to a full MSc.
- In discussion with the course director for this course, you will plan a bespoke, coherent course of study together which reflects your personal and professional interests and ambitions.
- We thrive on the breadth of research interests of our staff in this area. This means that we offer a wide range of postgraduate courses in geography, as well as allowing our students to engage with other disciplines such as anthropology and international development. We offer multiple approaches to the study of societies and cultures, human geography, and sustainability, poverty and development, as well as community and citizenship, at local, regional and global levels.
- Birkbeck's mode of teaching is unique: mostly in the evening or at weekends, but also including local and international fieldwork, so you can also gain relevant work experience during the day. You will be surrounded by committed fellow students from all cultures, backgrounds and career stages, who share their experience and expertise with their peers. Many of our students work in areas under discussion and so can bring their experience to bear in discussions about theory and practice.
- We are proud of our vibrant research culture, powered by a shared passion for learning and intellectual engagement among our academics and students. We have a strong commitment to social justice, which is demonstrated in much of our research.
Graduates can pursue career paths in business, environmental management, local government, policy work, and in environmental groups and charities. Possible professions include:
- geographical information systems officer
- nature conservation officer
- policy researcher
- environmental consultant
- planning and development surveyor
- town planner
- market researcher
- tourism officer.
We offer a comprehensive careers service - Careers and Enterprise - your career partner during your time at Birkbeck and beyond. At every stage of your career journey, we empower you to take ownership of your future, helping you to make the connection between your experience, education and future ambitions.
Information for international students
If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, the requirement for this course is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests.
If you don't meet the minimum IELTS requirement, we offer pre-sessional English courses and foundation programmes to help you improve your English language skills and get your place at Birkbeck.
Qualification, course duration and attendance options
- MSc
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- part time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- PGCert
- part time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- PGDip
- full time12 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
- part time24 months
- Campus-based learningis available for this qualification
Course contact details
- Name
- Student Advice Service
- studentadvice@bbk.ac.uk
- Phone
- +44 (0)20 3907 0700