AS/A Level Geography
- Graig Campus
Geography is the key to understanding places and people. It helps us to make sense of our own lives in the world and face vital issues like coastal erosion, plastics pollution, climate change, declining energy supplies, poverty and conflict. It encompasses physical, human, geo-political and spatial/GIS perspectives on the world and the changing landscape and borders. It is also a practical subject, teaching students many transferable skills including, identifying patterns, analysing data, using statistics, understanding different perspectives, map-work, surveying, solving problems and critical thinking.
Students studying A level geography have the opportunity to study geography through regular fieldwork experiences. Students study Bristol’s changing independent and cultural districts. Students climb and walk over coastal cliffs, beaches and sand dunes, learning about the relationship between the landscape, the underlying geology and land management. In the second year, students complete a piece of coursework (20%) giving them the opportunity to study a variety of topics such as, beach litter and water pollution, coastal management, or the impact of migration on retail spaces.
Course details
- Full time
- Face-to-Face
Admin Fee: £25
What you will learn
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Programme Features
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Programme content
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Progression and employment
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Method of assessment
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Entry requirements
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Additional costs
Students develop knowledge and understanding of the world at local, regional and global levels. Students are made aware of the importance of sustainable development. Geography provides an understanding of the inter-relationship between humans and the physical environment.
Geography enables students to participate in the learning process through fieldwork and practical work.
Geography can support a personal sense of citizenship and the ability to make informed judgements through critical and sensitive study with awareness of others.The subject enables students to develop their own values and understanding of the views and perceptions of people involved in decision making processes especially those associated with the use and management of resources and environment.
AS Level - Year 1
In your first year of studying geography, you will explore the coastal process, landforms and management, tectonic hazards and looking at changing places, giving a balanced approach to physical and human geography and the relationship between people and the environment, the physical processes in which we live. There are field trips to help students make the links between what is studied in class and how it is in the real world. We also develop essential geographical skills which will be built upon further, in year two.
A2 - A Level - Year 2
Year two is so relevant to the geo-political world we are in today. The topics covered, help us explore global systems and governance which often lead to issues and disputes which cross borders. We use analytical skills to attain a deeper understanding of issues such as natural disaster response, pollution of our oceans, food and energy security and so on. Current and relevant to us all and which will influence our place of work, our families and relationships with countries all over the world.
Successful students have gone to study geography at Cambridge, Exeter, Queen’s Belfast, Bristol, Lancaster and Plymouth Universities. They have gone on to study international relations at Queen Mary University, London, urban planning at Cardiff University and geology and geography at Aberdeen and Aberystwyth Universities. Students with a geography degree have secured jobs in town and city planning departments, oil and gas companies, land surveying, transport agencies, the Environment Agency/Natural Resources Wales, and overseas charities like Oxfam.
Careers leading from a geography degree include river management, coastal management, flood defences, conservation development worker, event management, logistics, accountancy and National Park wardens.
AS Level - Year one
- Unit 1 Changing Landscapes (Coastal Landscapes and Tectonic Hazards) 24% written exam
- Unit 2 Changing places 16% written exam
A2 - A Level - Year two
- Unit 3 Global systems and global governance (water cycle, carbon cycle, ocean governance and global migration) 24% written exam
- Unit 4 - Contemporary themes in geography (Development in Sub Saharan Africa, Energy dilemmas and tectonic hazards) 16% written exam.
- Unit 5 Independent Investigation 20% coursework - fieldwork and some controlled conditions
A minimum of six GCSEs at grades A*-C To include: GCSE English Language, Mathematics, Double/Triple Science, and Geography at a C grade or above. Students without GCSE Geography but with a high level of ability in related subjects will be considered for entry.
All learners are required to pay an administration fee of £25 prior to enrolment.
You will need to provide your own stationery and may also incur costs if the department arranges educational visits.