Geography BA (Hons)

Entry Requirements 2025/26

Standard Entry

112 UCAS Tariff points

From a combination of acceptable Level 3 qualifications which may include: A-level, T Level, BTEC Diplomas/Extended Diplomas, Scottish and Irish Highers, Access to HE Diplomas, or the International Baccalaureate.

Find out how many points your qualifications are worth by using the UCAS Tariff calculator: www.ucas.com/ucas/tariff-calculator

Northumbria University is committed to supporting all individuals to achieve their ambitions. We have a range of schemes and alternative offers to make sure as many individuals as possible are given an opportunity to study at our University regardless of personal circumstances or background. To find out more, review our Northumbria Entry Requirement Essential Information page for further details www.northumbria.ac.uk/entryrequirementsinfo

Subject Requirements:

There are no specific subject requirements for this course.

GCSE Requirements:

Applicants will need Maths and English Language at minimum grade 4/C, or an equivalent.

Additional Requirements:

There are no additional requirements for this course.

International Qualifications:

We welcome applicants with a range of qualifications which may not match those shown above.

If you have qualifications from outside the UK, find out what you need by visiting www.northumbria.ac.uk/yourcountry

English Language Requirements:

International applicants should have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.0 with 5.5 in each component (or an approved equivalent*).

*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades in our English Language section: www.northumbria.ac.uk/englishqualifications

Fees and Funding 2025/26 Entry

UK Fee in Year 1: £9,535

* The maximum tuition fee that we are permitted to charge for UK students is set by government. Tuition fees may increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, these are subject to government regulations and in line with inflation.

International Fee in Year 1: £19,350

Please see the main Funding Pages for 25/26 scholarship information.

ADDITIONAL COSTS

• Specialist equipment/materials – (walking boots and waterproofs), approximate cost up to £200 • Print costs – can exceed the £10 allocation made to all students • Optional field trip Level 5 - Spain - approximate cost for flights up to £200 • Optional field trip Level 6 - Amsterdam - approximate cost for flights and accommodation up to £300

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Modules Overview 2025/26

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

Year one Year two Year three Year four

Year one

KE4001 -

Introduction to Human Geography (Core,20 Credits)

You will learn about contemporary human geography and this will provide a firm and wide-ranging foundation/framework for more detailed study in human geographies at levels 5 and 6. It will help you to appreciate the broad variety of issues and concepts within contemporary human geography, whilst encouraging you to make informed and critical judgements upon issues of human geographic importance and relevance. You will be introduced to forms of explanation in human geography and the manner in which geographers have interpreted a variety of social, cultural, political and economic phenomena. You will develop global knowledge and an understanding of international perspectives. Topics explored are some of the major issues facing the earth and its peoples today including: poverty and social exclusion, geographies of difference and inequality, population movements and the geo-political tensions around state borders in a global world, economic change and the geographical consequences of a global financial service sector and the rise of the knowledge economy.

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KE4003 -

Geography Fieldwork (Core,20 Credits)

You will learn that fieldwork is an essential and characteristic aspect of geography and you will learn how to conduct physical geography fieldwork or a combination of physical and human and geography fieldwork, depending on your programme of study. Fieldwork is a form of experiential learning which contributes to your curiosity and enquiry about human and/or physical environments. You will carry this out by developing discerning observation and measurement of physical aspects of your environment recognising the importance of scale. You will understand the evolution and significance of the distinctiveness of places and environments including glaciated landscapes and you will be made aware of different approaches to their interpretation. In the BA and BSc programmes you will gain a parallel understanding of the role of spatial linkages in social and physical processes. You will be given opportunities to practise methods and strategies of field research in human and/or physical geography such as observing the impacts of geomorphological processes and conducting human geography enquiries. You will be encouraged to take a critical view of the challenges and opportunities of field-based research and will learn how to use and apply appropriate field-based equipment and technologies. For example, understanding how the ‘natural’ environment is anything but natural and is in fact a consequence of human interaction with the environment, is an example of such critical thinking. You will take responsibility for your learning and reflection upon that learning and you will recognise the moral, ethical and safety issues involved in all aspects of geographical enquiry. In this module you will learn how to work in groups and you will gain problem solving and presentation skills.

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KE4005 -

Exploring Geographical and Environmental Data (Core,20 Credits)

In this module, you will learn how to process and analyse a wide range of geographical and environmental data, including quantitative, spatial, and qualitative data. You will engage in teaching, learning and assessment activities applicable to all students of geography and environmental science. The module aims to give you a broad introduction to data collection and analysis in the geographical and environmental sciences, which will form the basis of programme-specific training at levels 5 and 6. Topics and issues covered include:

• sources of geographical and environmental data;
• descriptive and inferential statistics;
• geographical information systems;
• qualitative data collection and analysis.

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KE4009 -

Geographies of Development (Core,20 Credits)

You will learn about why global development has been uneven, what the consequences are and what has been done to address uneven development. We will begin by examining concepts of development and theories and models of development (e.g. modernisation, dependency, neo-liberalism and postcolonialism). This will provide a contextual foundation to explore other themes and issues which may include:
• Development organisations and their roles (e.g. NGOs, donors, multilateral agencies, the World Bank, the state etc)
• Key historical processes and interventions (e.g. colonialism, the debt crisis, structural adjustment, MDGs, SDGs)
• Approaches in development (e.g. basic needs, participation and empowerment)
• Population and development
• Property rights, the tragedy of the commons and development
• Urbanisation and rural development
• Gender and development
• Tourism and development
• Poverty and inequality, livelihoods, vulnerability and resilience
Through the use of case studies you will learn what uneven development means in a range of empirical contexts in the global South.

The skills developed on this module (particularly during the second semester include both self-management and working effectively as part of a group; the collection, analysis and presentation of secondary data; oral presentation skills).

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KE4013 -

Geographical Ideas and Practice (Core,20 Credits)

In this module, you will learn and develop the key intellectual skills and personal attributes required for effective study and future graduate employment. Teaching, learning and assessment activities are tailored towards your own degree programme, linking to substantive core modules, thus providing an appropriate subject context for your studies. The module aims to consolidate the process of induction onto your degree programme, thus supporting your transition from further to higher education. As part of this shift in academic culture, you will be encouraged to take increasing responsibility for your own learning and through the development of reflective practice, develop ways of monitoring your own academic performance and progress. Topics and issues covered include:
? Independent study and time management.
? Effective literature searching.
? Reading and summarising academic literature.
? Referencing, citations and plagiarism.
? Marking schemes and expectations.
? Essay writing skills.
? Exam preparation.
? Oral presentation and debating skills.
? Dissecting a peer-reviewed journal article.
? Effective group work.
? Skills evaluation and reflection.
? CV preparation and employability skills.

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KE4014 -

Introduction to Physical Environments (Core,20 Credits)

You will learn a broad range of basic concepts and principles of the physical environment, how these interact as part of the Earth System and are modified by human processes. As you explore the Earth System today and in the past, you will discover a diverse range of atmospheric, land based and oceanic components that together form the physical environment. Armed with this knowledge you will be able to begin to critically evaluate the evidence concerning processes, landforms and systems. This will develop your problem solving skills and give you an international holistic view on the Earth as a system. Topics include:
• Atmospheric processes and energy flows.
• Climate and climate change.
• The world’s oceans, their physical properties and interactions with the climate and coastal populations.
• Weathering and Erosion.
• Soils and soil forming processes.
• Glacial and periglacial environments and the processes that shape these.
• Landscape and landform evolution from hillslope processes, to rivers and the coastal environment.
• The biogeographical distribution of vegetation and biomes
• The role of the biosphere in the Earth system and ecosystem engineers.
• How the Earth system has changed over Quaternary and Cenozoic time scales.
• The physical environment and links to human health.

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KE5023 -

Academic Language Skills for Geography (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

Academic skills when studying away from your home country can differ due to cultural and language differences in teaching and assessment practices. This module is designed to support your transition in the use and practice of technical language and subject specific skills around assessments and teaching provision in your chosen subject. The overall aim of this module is to develop your abilities to read and study effectively for academic purposes; to develop your skills in analysing and using source material in seminars and academic writing and to develop your use and application of language and communications skills to a higher level.

The topics you will cover on the module include:

• Understanding assignment briefs and exam questions.
• Developing academic writing skills, including citation, paraphrasing, and summarising.
• Practising ‘critical reading’ and ‘critical writing’
• Planning and structuring academic assignments (e.g. essays, reports and presentations).
• Avoiding academic misconduct and gaining credit by using academic sources and referencing effectively.
• Listening skills for lectures.
• Speaking in seminar presentations.
• Presenting your ideas
• Giving discipline-related academic presentations, experiencing peer observation, and receiving formative feedback.
• Speed reading techniques.
• Developing self-reflection skills.

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Year two

KA5018 -

Urban Planning and Development (Optional,20 Credits)

Planning mediates between competing interests in society and guides, shapes and regulates the use of land and property. The primary policy goal is to deliver and/or facilitate 'sustainable development'.

In this module you will explore the significance of planning in order to facilitate economic, social and environmental objectives within the development process. The module explores the nature of planning from a development perspective by engaging with policy, practical examples and key development concepts. It considers the guiding principles of planning, the statutory processes and procedural dimensions, the management of development, contemporary planning practice, key actors and agencies, synergies between planning and urban regeneration and the competing and evolving dynamics of urban development.

You will develop, throughout this module, academic and professional skills relating to the evaluation of policy; effective communication; self-direction and personal responsibility and appreciate social and ethical aspects of the development process.

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KE5004 -

Human Geography in the field (Andalucia) (Optional,20 Credits)

You will learn about the ways in which Andalucia has been drawn into the global economy, initially through the growth of mass tourism during the 1960s, but more recently via increases in foreign investment in; manufacturing and services and the growth of intensive agriculture. You will also be able to study the ways in which some of these globalising forces have challenged local values and cultures. Other processes have had major consequences for the environment including the impacts on water resources and the effects of migration on land-use and patterns of farm abandonment. We will demonstrate the relationships between global and local change and the interaction between economic, political, social, cultural and environmental change in one particular region.

Within this conceptual framework, you will be mentored by a tutor to help you prepare for the field visit by developing specific projects under their supervision and direction. These research projects will be identified by staff, but you will be expected to design a method of inquiry and carry out whatever background study necessary to conduct the work while in the field. Research themes might include:
• Patterns and processes of farm de-intensification and farm abandonment
• Development of commercial forms of agriculture
• Economic change and high technology industries
• Mass-tourism development
• Heritage and destination place marketing
• Alternative tourism development
• Retirement migration and the impacts of second home ownership
• Urban change, urban morphology and redevelopment
• Modernisation of the Andalucian village

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KE5005 -

Approaches to Research in Human Geography (Core,20 Credits)

You will learn the processes through which research is designed, implemented and analysed. Part of the module addresses questions of philosophy and theory, you will understand the historical development of geographical thought within human geography, and learn how we arrived at the subject’s contemporary sub-disciplines. These ontological and epistemological themes will then be linked to an evaluation of methodologies adopted in contemporary research in the social sciences. You will build a toolbox of approaches which can be applied to your own research.

In the other part of module you will construct your own research project that will become your dissertation at level 6. Through exploration of literature, case studies and best practice from a chosen field of human geography, you will develop the ability to design innovative research questions. You will link these to an appropriate methodology and select methods suitable for your project.

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KE5006 -

P/political Geographies (Core,20 Credits)

You will learn about the importance of this sub-disciplinary area to the study of human geography, in relation to the key concepts of power and space. You will develop an in depth understanding of the spatial organisation of political institutions, governance practices, processes and agents and critically consider a range of more and less formalised political practices operating at range of geographical scales. You will also acquire important research methods skills by locating appropriate secondary qualitative data including policy and media sources and applying forms of discourse analysis. The module places particular emphasis on the following themes:
- Definitions of the ‘political’
- Globalisation and post-colonialism
- Activism and resistance
- Mobility and migration
- The nation and the state
- Citizenship
- The ‘local’ in politics
- The body and politics

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KE5007 -

Social Geographies (Core,20 Credits)

You will learn about the importance of this sub-disciplinary area to the study of human geography. You will discover the ways in which social relations, inequalities and identities are distributed and (re-)produced across space. The module places particular emphasis on:
- the welfare issues which affect people's lives
- the forms of power which lead to socio-spatial inequality and oppression
- individual and collective identities and their spatial (re-) production
- relevant methodological approaches for investigating these issues
Through this module you will also learn a number of important and transferable skills including research skills, team working, problem solving, communication skills, and the ability to use your own initiative but also to follow instructions.

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KE5016 -

Environment, Development and Sustainability (Optional,20 Credits)

You will learn about environmental issues globally, examining the relationship between the process of development (widely understood) and environmental change. Environmental issues such as sustainability, climate change, desertification, deforestation, water scarcity, wildlife and biodiversity loss, mining and resource extraction will form the focus of the module. These will be contextualised in terms of changes in livelihoods, agriculture, governance, gender relations, population, technology, foreign investment and land ownership and poverty. Initiatives for tackling some of these problems, such as internationally agreed frameworks, community-based natural resource management (CBNRM), ecotourism, urban planning, and corporate social responsibility, among others, will be critically examined. Examples will be taken at a range of scales from the local to the regional and across different geographies spanning the Global North and Global South. You will also learn some key tools and frameworks that are valuable in employment in the development sector, such as stakeholder analysis, logical framework analysis and participatory research tools. Through providing an opportunity to develop creative solutions to development problems in the form of project design, this module will enhance your employability skills.

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KE5017 -

Earth Observation and GIS (Optional,20 Credits)

This module is designed to teach you the concepts and techniques of spatial data handling and analysis using the techniques of remote sensing and image processing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Adding to the cartographic skills and basic spatial analysis that you have learnt from level 4 (first year) you will be taught to carry out spatial analysis from a wider range of sources and types of social and scientific geographical data. You will learn basic theoretical principles underpinning the use and application of digital datasets followed by more advanced techniques of image classification and spatial analysis. You will be taught how to use industry standard computer software applied in research and the workplace that will allow you to manipulate and analyse those data. In particular you will learn:
• the key components of remote sensing acquisition and analysis/display;
• theoretical background of datasets that can be generated and used to interpret change over space and time;
• the techniques used to classify and analyse datasets;
• key critical theoretical concepts associated with the types and associated use of digital data; and
• the practical skills you need to interrogate and analyse data in order to answer spatial queries.

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KE5020 -

Human geography fieldwork:UK (Optional,20 Credits)

The module seeks to demonstrate the relationships between global and local change and the interaction between economic, political, social, cultural and environmental change in one particular locality.
Within this conceptual framework, you will be mentored by a tutor to help you prepare for the field visit by developing specific projects under their supervision and direction. These research projects will be identified by staff, but you will be expected to design a method of inquiry and carry out whatever background study necessary to conduct the work while in the field. Research themes might include:
• Rural development and agricultural change
• Economic change and cultural industries
• Heritage and destination place marketing
• Rural tourism development
• Urban change, urban morphology and redevelopment
• Community development and action

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KE5023 -

Academic Language Skills for Geography (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

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KE5029 -

Green cities and nature-based solutions (Optional,20 Credits)

In this module you will learn about the ecological impact of cities and tools for enhancing urban biodiversity, liveability and sustainability. The module begins with an introduction to global trends in urbanisation and the relevance of cities for realising the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The module will then explore the multiple challenges posed by urbanisation and identify solutions to these challenges. The two overarching questions we will seek to answer are:

1. What are the key environmental, biodiversity and climate change challenges and opportunities facing cities?
2. How can nature-based solutions contribute to addressing the challenges and opportunities of urbanisation?

Skills developed include the ability to:

• Understand global trends in urbanisation and the relevance of cities for the UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Identify and assess the contribution of cities to climate change and strategies for mitigation and adaptation
• Understand what constitutes an urban ecosystem, and the key drivers of urban biodiversity
• Identify the benefits that urban ecosystems provide to society (“ecosystem services”)
• Assess the importance of governance, stewardship and environmental justice in cities
• Identify, use and assess relevant planning and policy tools and concepts, with an emphasis on nature-based solutions and green infrastructure
• Critically evaluate interventions to enhance urban nature to address societal challenges
• Develop in-depth specialist knowledge of techniques relevant to green cities and urban ecosystems

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KE5057 -

Economy, Space and Development (Core,20 Credits)

You will learn how to adopt and convey an economic-geographical approach to understanding the economy. You will learn about how and why economic activities and processes vary over space and time, and will recognise the importance of history in shaping these spatial manifestations. You will develop accounts of uneven spatial development in the economy based not just on the distribution of economic activities but also caused by decisions taken by a variety of key economic actors such as governments (and their agencies), regulators, firms, third sector organisations, trade unions, and /international/supra-national bodies. By extension then you will learn how these actors shape and produce economic geographies, that is to say economic and social spaces. You will also become conscious of the way in which scale is an important organising principle for the distribution of economic activity and behaviour of firms as well as learning how different economic processes happen at different spatial scales. Finally, you will be equipped with the concepts/ theories and some of the essential methods for analysis required to understand the world from an economic-geographical perspective.

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TE5507 -

Student Tutoring (Optional,20 Credits)

You will learn how to be a tutor of students in schools or colleges. You will develop your skills in communicating effectively with children or young people. As part of this process you will learn how to evaluate your own learning of how to support these pupils’ learning over a series of lessons. You will be learning how to transmit your own enthusiasm for learning in a professional context to pupils within the schooling system. You will learn about the issues facing teachers and other professionals within the school, college or learning centre. Learning how to apply your existing skills and knowledge in a work related context will be an important focus of this module for you. Knowing how to determine which skills and knowledge are relevant, and make appropriate use of these in the work context, will be a major learning opportunity for you.

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Year three

KE5023 -

Academic Language Skills for Geography (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

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KE5034 -

Work Placement Year (Optional,120 Credits)

This module is designed for all standard full-time undergraduate programmes within the Faculty of Engineering and Environment to provide you with the option to take a one year work placement as part of your programme.

You will be able to use the placement experience to develop and enhance appropriate areas of your knowledge and understanding, your intellectual and professional skills, and your personal value attributes, relevant to your programme of study, as well as accreditation bodies such as BCS, IET, IMechE, RICS, CIOB and CIBSE within the appropriate working environments. Due to its overall positive impact on employability, degree classification and graduate starting salaries, the University strongly encourages you to pursue a work placement as part of your degree programme.

This module is a Pass/Fail module so does not contribute to the classification of your degree. When taken and passed, however, the Placement Year is recognised both in your transcript as a 120 credit Work Placement Module and on your degree certificate.

Your placement period will normally be full-time and must total a minimum of 40 weeks.

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KE5054 -

Study Abroad Year (Optional,120 Credits)

This module is designed for all standard full-time undergraduate programmes within the Faculty of Engineering and Environment and provides you with the option to study abroad for one full year as part of your programme.

This is a 120 credit module which is available between Levels 5 and 6. You will undertake a year of study abroad at an approved partner University where you will have access to modules from your discipline, but taught in a different learning culture. This gives you the opportunity to broaden your overall experience of learning. The structure of study will be dependent on the partner and will be recorded for an individual student on the learning agreement signed by the host University, the student, and the home University (Northumbria).

Your study abroad year will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. It will not count towards your final degree classification but, it is recognised in your transcript as a 120 credit Study Abroad module and on your degree certificate in the format – “Degree title (with Study Abroad Year)”.

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KE5055 -

Work placement semester (Optional,60 Credits)

This module is designed for all standard full-time undergraduate programmes within the Faculty of Engineering and Environment to provide you with the option to take a one semester work placement as part of your programme.

You will be able to use the placement experience to develop and enhance appropriate areas of your knowledge and understanding, your intellectual and professional skills, and your personal value attributes, relevant to your programme of study, within the appropriate working environments. Due to its overall positive impact on employability, degree classification and graduate starting salaries, the University strongly encourages you to pursue a work placement as part of your degree programme.

This module is a Pass/Fail module so does not contribute to the classification of your degree. When taken and passed, however, the placement is recognised both in your transcript as a 60 credit Work Placement Module and on your degree certificate.

Your placement period will normally be full-time and must total a minimum of 20 weeks.

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KE5056 -

Study Abroad Semester (Optional,60 Credits)

This module is designed for all standard full-time undergraduate programmes within the Faculty of Engineering and Environment and provides you with the option to study abroad for one semester as part of your programme.

This is a 60 credit module which is available between Levels 5 and 6. You will undertake a semester of study abroad at an approved partner University where you will have access to modules from your discipline, but taught in a different learning culture. This gives you the opportunity to broaden your overall experience of learning. The structure of study will be dependent on the partner and will be recorded for an individual student on the learning agreement signed by the host University, the student, and the home University (Northumbria).

Your study abroad semester will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. It will not count towards your final degree classification but, if you pass, it is recognised in your transcript as an additional 60 credits for Engineering and Environment Study Abroad Semester.

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Year four

KE5023 -

Academic Language Skills for Geography (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

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KE6000 -

Geography and Environment Dissertation (Core,40 Credits)

This module is designed to support you in independently pursuing an original piece of research on a geographical or environmental topic of your own choice grounded in final year specialist option modules. Dependent upon your programme of study, you will draw upon and develop your research skills in answering research questions/hypothesis on a dissertation topic within the social, humanities, natural and environmental disciplines. You will develop expertise in:

• identifying a suitable topic and in reviewing critically the relevant academic literature;
• formulating research questions/hypotheses and appropriate methods of inquiry;
• collecting your own data and/or using existing data sets and/or engaging in an analysis of the research literature;
• the ability to analyse and interpret your results using appropriate quantitative, statistical and/or qualitative techniques,
• relating the findings to existing and up-to-date literature;
• oral, visual and written presentation of your research project;
• objectively appraising the ethical considerations of conducting research; and
• managing and implementing a large independent project.

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KE6007 -

Geographies of 'race', ethnicity and multiculture (Optional,20 Credits)

You will learn about the politics and geographies of identity and difference with specific reference to racial and ethnic identities at a range of scales and in a variety of contexts. You will discover how social relations are impacted by racial and ethnic identities through space and place, and how such identities intersect with other social axes such as migration, citizenship status, gender, class and age in different ways. The module places particular emphasis on:
- Histories of racialisation
- Whiteness
- ‘Race’ and racism
- Identity (re)construction
- The role of place in contextualising identities
- Contemporary migration and belonging
- Social policy
- Everyday multiculturalism
You will also learn a range of skills including the ability to analyse processes and experiences in relation to a range of theoretical approaches, to abstract, synthesise and evaluate a range of source material and to develop an appreciation of your own positionality through reflexive and reflective learning.

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KE6017 -

Development and Disasters (Optional,20 Credits)

You will learn about relationships between development and disasters to be able to analyse and respond to environmental and other catastrophes impacting on society, including through knowledge of their physical environmental, political and economic contexts. The way that disasters can be prevented, their impact on people reduced and relief and recovery better provided post disaster forms an applied focus to this module. Examples used include major hazards of environmental change, economic instability and conflict that disrupt human well-being over brief or long time-frames. The module addresses the challenges and solutions prevalent in practice and policy environments for those engaging with the development and disaster reduction sector. The content of this module is partly linked to work in this field through Northumbria’s ongoing facilitation of global disaster and development networks. The module teaches that although hazards, risks and disasters impact society, this is offset by individuals, groups, institutions and organizations through disaster management, and by becoming resilient, healthy and creative. Examples demonstrate the application of theory to practice in these relationships in both the economically wealthy and poorer parts of the world. Approaches detailed within this framework include early warning systems, risk management, mitigation techniques, response and recovery actions as well as appropriate sustainable development actions. The module draws from an interdisciplinary perspective making it suitable for those progressing from, or interested in pursuing physical environmental, economic or social aspects of development and disaster intervention. The knowledge and skills learnt can be readily applied to careers relating to this field.

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KE6018 -

Advanced Geospatial Applications (Optional,20 Credits)

You will learn about the design and implementation of geospatial Applications using evidence based practice extending practical knowledge of the techniques and analysis tools gained from level 5 (Second year). This will involve you critically reviewing existing published and adopted practice in topic areas such as:
• environmental planning,
• landcover change,
• resource management and
• risk assessment.
in order to design, cost and implement your own geospatial application. You will be taught advanced concepts of method design and how
to cost and respond to a tender request. You will also learn advanced IT skills on data compilation, download, generation, analysis, interpretation and presentation within the context of ‘fitness of use’ using image processing and GIS software. As you explore evidence based practice you will be asked to design your application with key consideration to the following questions. Can geospatial Applications be:
• value free and what role does positionality and ethics play?,
• simply sticks which powerful groups in decision making processes use to beat smaller groups with?, and
• a key determinant of planning and policy success in an organisational context?

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KE6025 -

Historical geographies: usable pasts and hidden histories (Optional,20 Credits)

In this module you will learn about the connections between human geography and history. You will learn about broad themes within the sub-discipline, with particular focus upon relationships between the past and present though reflections around historical methods, archives and debates regarding heritage. With these broad themes in mind, we will then narrow our focus to particular case studies of historical geography, to illustrate the breadth of contributions that a historically informed approach can make towards the study of human geography. You will consider case studies and methodological interventions from the sub-discipline. These engagements will be structured around three scales of engagement:

Firstly, you will consider the micro-histories of intimate spaces to understand how sites such as ships, asylums and the battlefield all have historical geographies of their own.

Secondly, you will consider how particular places might be understood through their historical geographies to show how historical processes (such as political traditions and deindustrialisation) have influenced places, whilst also considering how people relate to the histories of places familiar to them.

Finally, the module will consider the wider trans-local and trans-national historical approach to indicate historical geographies of mobility and internationalism. This section will consider international conferences, global lives, exploration and international forms of activism and solidarity.

These insights will allow you to shape and develop a historical narrative of your own, at or between the scales indicated here, and to shape a small research project based upon engagements with historical ‘data’. The scales introduced here are used as historical geography ‘cuts’ and the lectures and seminars will critically consider the benefits of a spatial approach to history, facilitating your own engagements with a subject area of your choosing.

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KE6026 -

Housing, Space and Society (Optional,20 Credits)

You will learn about the built environment of residential areas, housing policy and, especially, the relationship between housing and society. The module is firmly rooted within the contemporary paradigms of social geographical study and current debate. You will explore the role of ideological, social, economic and political influences on the evolution of the housing system in the UK and their influences upon residential environments. Students will analyse the relationships between housing developments and other socio-geographical phenomena, evaluate the role of housing and the housing system in the UK's social and spatial structures, and assess the merit of contrasting theories and interpretations of aspects of housing.
You will study the historical development of the housing system and its implications for the contemporary housing system and the evolution of local residential environments, before going on to look at housing outcomes and housing policies in relation to selected current issues.

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KE6034 -

Encountering Urban Worlds (Optional,20 Credits)

In this module you will learn about the processes and practices shaping urban worlds and the ways in which these are socially and spatially differentiated, revealing the diversity of lived experiences in cities across the world as well as different theoretical histories and contemporary movements. You will learn the unique contribution geographers have made to our understanding of cities, everyday life in the city, and to think critically about urbanisation, in particular, to critique and challenge the dominance of neoliberal representations of the city. We will explore how processes of governance b/order urban space and the ways in which these are negotiated and contested. Key themes in the module will include cities and modernity; public space, place and identity; consumption, consumer culture and psychogeography; urban geopolitics; commons and housing; debates around the “right to the city”; and imagining the urban future. Through field work in and around Newcastle and culminating in the Amsterdam field trip, you will also learn to undertake place and participant observation, keep a fieldwork diary and analyse in-depth, ethnographic data.

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KE6035 -

Global Capitalism: Digital and Sustainable Transformations (Optional,20 Credits)

You will learn about contemporary debates about the digital and sustainable transformations of global capitalism. You will gain insight into a range of topics including the development implications of contemporary capitalism organized through global production networks; contested development outcomes brought by the rise of global platform and ensuing digitalisation of everyday life; the reproduction of (un)even development through sustainability transition; and the power relations inherent in, and that emerge from these transformations at a range of scales.

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Modules Overview 2026/27

Modules

Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.

Year one Year two Year three Year four

Year one

KE4001 -

Introduction to Human Geography (Core,20 Credits)

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KE4003 -

Geography Fieldwork (Core,20 Credits)

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KE4005 -

Exploring Geographical and Environmental Data (Core,20 Credits)

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KE4009 -

Geographies of Development (Core,20 Credits)

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KE4013 -

Geographical Ideas and Practice (Core,20 Credits)

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KE4014 -

Introduction to Physical Environments (Core,20 Credits)

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KE5023 -

Academic Language Skills for Geography (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

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Year two

KA5018 -

Urban Planning and Development (Optional,20 Credits)

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KE5004 -

Human Geography in the field (Andalucia) (Optional,20 Credits)

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KE5005 -

Approaches to Research in Human Geography (Core,20 Credits)

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KE5006 -

P/political Geographies (Core,20 Credits)

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KE5007 -

Social Geographies (Core,20 Credits)

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KE5016 -

Environment, Development and Sustainability (Optional,20 Credits)

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KE5017 -

Earth Observation and GIS (Optional,20 Credits)

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KE5020 -

Human geography fieldwork:UK (Optional,20 Credits)

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KE5023 -

Academic Language Skills for Geography (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

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KE5029 -

Green cities and nature-based solutions (Optional,20 Credits)

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KE5057 -

Economy, Space and Development (Core,20 Credits)

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TE5507 -

Student Tutoring (Optional,20 Credits)

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Year three

KE5023 -

Academic Language Skills for Geography (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

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KE5034 -

Work Placement Year (Optional,120 Credits)

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KE5054 -

Study Abroad Year (Optional,120 Credits)

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KE5055 -

Work placement semester (Optional,60 Credits)

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KE5056 -

Study Abroad Semester (Optional,60 Credits)

This module is designed for all standard full-time undergraduate programmes within the Faculty of Engineering and Environment and provides you with the option to study abroad for one semester as part of your programme.

This is a 60 credit module which is available between Levels 5 and 6. You will undertake a semester of study abroad at an approved partner University where you will have access to modules from your discipline, but taught in a different learning culture. This gives you the opportunity to broaden your overall experience of learning. The structure of study will be dependent on the partner and will be recorded for an individual student on the learning agreement signed by the host University, the student, and the home University (Northumbria).

Your study abroad semester will be assessed on a pass/fail basis. It will not count towards your final degree classification but, if you pass, it is recognised in your transcript as an additional 60 credits for Engineering and Environment Study Abroad Semester.

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Year four

KE5023 -

Academic Language Skills for Geography (Core – for International and EU students only,0 Credits)

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KE6000 -

Geography and Environment Dissertation (Core,40 Credits)

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KE6007 -

Geographies of 'race', ethnicity and multiculture (Optional,20 Credits)

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KE6017 -

Development and Disasters (Optional,20 Credits)

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KE6018 -

Advanced Geospatial Applications (Optional,20 Credits)

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KE6025 -

Historical geographies: usable pasts and hidden histories (Optional,20 Credits)

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KE6026 -

Housing, Space and Society (Optional,20 Credits)

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KE6034 -

Encountering Urban Worlds (Optional,20 Credits)

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KE6035 -

Global Capitalism: Digital and Sustainable Transformations (Optional,20 Credits)

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To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.