BA Geography

During your studies, you’ll develop your skills in analysing and evaluating geographical information and completing fieldwork. There’s an opportunity to take part in a field trip in the second year and also study a language specialism – with the option to add this to your degree award. See the Programme Structure and Courses section for details.

LSE is ranked second for geography in the QS World University Rankings 2023 and our academics offer expertise in an extremely broad range of areas – including economic, political, environmental and social geography.

By the time you graduate, you’ll have all the skills needed to embark on a career in the environmental sector but also in many other areas such as financial services, IT and data analysis, government and policy setting and journalism.

If you wish to gain further insight into the subject, we suggest that you look at one or more of the following books:

• S Chant and C McIlwaine Geographies of Development in the 21st Century: an introduction to the Global South (Edward Elgar 2009)
• P Cheshire, M Nathan and H Overman Urban Economics and Urban Policy: challenging conventional policy wisdom (Edward Elgar, 2014)
• P Cloke, P Crang and M Goodwin (Eds) Introducing Human Geographies (3rd edition, Hodder Arnold, 2013)
• P Daniels, M Bradshaw, P Shaw and J Sidaway (Eds) Human Geography: issues for the 21st century (Prentice Hall, 2008)
• P Dicken, Global Shift: mapping the changing contours of the world economy (Sage Publications, 2015)
• R Flowerdew and D Martin Methods in Human Geography (Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2005)
• E Glaeser Triumph of the City (Penguin Press, 2011)
• A S Goudie The Human Impact on the Natural World: past, present and future (7th edition, Wiley-Blackwell, 2013)
• A Jones Human Geography: the basics (Routledge, 2012)
• N Klein This Changes Everything: capitalism vs. the climate (Simon & Schuster, 2014)
• P L Knox and S A Marston Places and Regions in Global Context (Pearson, 2009)
• W Murray Geographies of Globalization (Routledge, 2006)
• W Oates (Ed) The RFF Reader in Environmental and Resources Management (Resources for the Future, 2006)
• D Perrons Globalisation and Social Change: people and places in a divided world (Routledge, 2004)
• A Pike, A Rodríguez-Pose & J Tomaney Local and Regional Development (Routledge 2006)
• A Rodríguez-Pose The European Union: economy, society and policy (Oxford University Press, 2002)
• M Storper Keys to the City: how economics, institutions, social interaction and politics shape development (Princeton University Press, 2013)

Our department is highly regarded both nationally and internationally – ranked second for Geography in the QS World University Rankings 2023.

Here at LSE, we offer a unique opportunity to study geography in a university with a worldwide reputation in the social sciences. We specialise in economic, urban and development geography, environmental social science and climate change, all with a strong emphasis on real-world applications.

Many of our academics are internationally renowned in their fields. You’ll find a good balance of experienced and younger academics in the department. Within the team, we’ve had three holders of the highly prestigious Philip Leverhulme Prize Fellowships for researchers under the age of 36.

Our research is interdisciplinary and international in its scope and we work closely with academics from several other departments at LSE. Teaching staff are active within the following research centres:

• Cañada Blanch Centre for Contemporary Spanish Studies
• Centre for Climate Change Economics and Policy
• Centre for Economic Performance
• Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment
• LSE London
• Middle East Centre
• Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre
• Transition Pathway Initiative Centre
• What Works Centre for Local Economic Growth

Based in the heart of London opposite Lincoln’s Inn Fields, the department offers a lively, welcoming and supportive community for students and staff.
Learn more about our undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD study opportunities, as well as our research.

Department of Geography and Environment

We consider each application carefully, taking into account all the details you’ve included on your UCAS form, such as:

• academic achievement, including predicted and achieved grades (also see specific information about this programme in the "entry requirements" above)
• subjects and subject combinations (also see specific information about this programme in the "entry requirements" above)
• your personal statement
• your teacher’s reference
• educational circumstances

You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency, although this is not needed at the application stage. See our English language requirements page.

We’re looking for students who demonstrate:

• an interest in contemporary geographical problems and their solutions
• a desire to understand the significance and impact of policy at all levels
• an ability to evaluate and challenge conventional views
• logical thinking and reasoning
• independent thinking and initiative
• great time-management skills
• intellectual curiosity
• self-motivation and a willingness to work hard.

Formative coursework

All taught courses include formative coursework, which is not assessed. This helps prepare you for summative assessment, which counts towards your course mark and degree award. We use a range of formative assessment methods, such as essays, case studies, reports, quizzes and mock exams.

Feedback is an essential part of the learning experience at the School. You’ll receive feedback on any formative coursework within three weeks – provided it’s submitted on time.

Summative assessment

This counts towards your final course mark and degree award.

Most full units are assessed through coursework and/or Summer Term exams.

• Autumn Term half units are mostly (but not exclusively) assessed through coursework.
• Winter Term half units are mostly assessed through coursework or Summer Term exams.

You’ll also receive feedback on summative coursework.

• For assessments set during the Autumn or Winter Terms, individual feedback is provided within four weeks of submission.
• For dissertations, you’ll receive feedback within four weeks of the start of the following term (School holidays excluded).

Assessment methods vary by course so this information provides a general guide only.

Read about the current formative coursework and summative assessment for each course in the relevant course guide.

Find out more about LSE’s teaching and assessment methods.

Recent graduates from this programme have gone on to work in the areas of financial services, planning, consultancy, administration, marketing, development, teaching and further study.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

From CV workshops through to careers fairs, LSE offers lots of information and support to help you make that all-important step from education into work.

Many of the UK’s top employers give careers presentations at the School during the year and there are numerous workshops covering topics such as job hunting, managing interviews, writing a cover letter and using LinkedIn.

See LSE Careers for further details.