We aim to provide all of our students with opportunities to gain high quality work experience during their degreeThere has never been a better or more important time to study geography. With growing interest in issues such as climate change, migration, environmental degradation and social cohesion, geography is one of the most relevant courses you could choose to study. Geographers are also highly employable.
Whatever your passion for the world - fascination with landscapes or concerns about inequality - geography will provide you with knowledge and transferable skills that will reward you personally and advance you professionally.
Dr Rita Gardner, Director of the RGS-IBG
Source: Royal Geographical Society with IBG website
Making you employable
A Geography degree from the University of Exeter will equip you with the experience and skills to help you progress into further study or employment. The breadth of career opportunities open to geography graduates is vast, with recent graduates starting careers in planning, water analysis, insurance, teaching and more.
Exeter has an excellent reputation with graduate recruiters and our students and graduates compete very successfully in the employment market. Whatever path you want to follow after graduation, we’re here to help and support you with all your career and employability needs. Further information about career destinations of graduates can be found on the programme pages for the Cornwall and Streatham campuses.
Work experience
In today’s competitive job market, employers look much more favourably on graduates with relevant work experience. Yet, as press articles have shown, the best work experience often tends to go to the students with the best contacts. Employability Officers works with the careers service, alumni and academic staff on both our Streatham and Cornwall campuses to build networks with local, regional, national and international organisations to establish avenues for student experience.
During the summer between my second and third year I carried out a six week placement at the Eden Project researching ‘How waste neutral are the Eden Sessions?’ I thoroughly enjoyed the placement because of the friendly team at Eden and the support from my lecturers throughout. It gave me true insight into the environmental world of work and prepared me for my future career options. I also gained confidence in the workplace and in myself, as well as making valuable local contacts in the environmental sector.
Jayne Alexander, Geography undergraduate, Cornwall Campus
[He] was an excellent addition to our work at Devon County Council and we were very impressed with how quickly he understood some challenging planning concepts and theories.
Gareth Bradford, Devon County Council Planning Department
Just to say [she] was a real joy to have with us here; she fitted in well with the teams she worked with and was surely missed after her time here finished. This was the first time that my department had worked with the University of Exeter and I would just like to say that I was very impressed by [her] standard and the support she [...received from the University].
Suzanne Lyus, Somerset County Council Children's Social Care
Students on the Streatham Campus may choose to take the ‘Learning from Experience’ module during Years Two or Three. This will help you to make connections between academic geography and the worlds of work in which a geography degree could help you forge a fascinating and worthwhile career.
Fantastic [Learning from Experience] module, very well run and thoroughly enjoyable.
Second Year Geography undergraduate, Streatham Campus
Very enjoyable [Learning from Experience] module which enhanced personal development. Support and advice regarding assessments was helpful and well communicated.
Second Year Geography undergraduate student, Streatham Campus
Skills development
Employers are also looking for numerous skills in potential employees, most of which fall into two categories: subject knowledge and exceptional communication skills. The skills acquired in any degree – for example, being literate and articulate, well organised, clear headed and with plenty of initiative – are clearly desirable. The particular skills acquired in geography programmes are also highly sought after by employers, for example:
- the ability to gather and synthesize disparate types of data: manipulating data encourages clarity and develops your ability to identify key information from large and complex data sources
- the ability to plan and manage research projects: posing questions and investigating the answers helps you in complex decision making and managing research projects develops your time management and planning skills
- the ability to write and present reports: preparing reports encourages preciseness in use of language and presenting them develops your confidence in articulating concepts and communicating with others
- the ability to work as part of a team: fieldwork, an essential part of our geography programmes, develops your team work and leadership skills
- numerical and analytical capacity: geographical investigations test hypotheses and utilise your data analysis skills
- IT literacy: you will utilise databases and spreadsheets throughout our programmes
- spatial, social and environmental awareness: our programmes nurture a sense of place, an awareness of the world and your ability to link ideas together
One of the greatest characteristics of pursuing a degree in geography is the flexibility it provides, extending into disciplines you would not associate with the subject.
Robert Wise, BA Geography with European Study, Streatham Campus
Royal Geographical Society (RGS) Ambassador Scheme
As a student in the School you will have the opportunity to apply for the RGS Ambassador Scheme. The Scheme recruits, trains and supports geographers currently at university and graduate geographers from the work place to act as ambassadors for geography in the classroom. This is a great way to introduce younger students to the benefits of studying geography and to encourage them to pursue the subject beyond the compulsory stages. The ambassadors act as positive role models for pupils and can illustrate, with enthusiasm, both the specific and transferable skills they have developed as a geographer.
Becoming a Geography Ambassador has been a great experience for me. From my initial training and events held at the RGS I have been able to meet other Geography students from around the country, which has been a valuable experience in itself when it comes to sharing course experiences.
The training gives you the confidence to go into schools and talk to young people about the subject that you feel passionate about. Whilst in school it is also a great chance to share your experiences of University with kids that might not know anything of such an environment and the independence it provides.
The best part is of course the interaction with the students, you can really motivate them to want to carry on their study of geography by showing how interesting and relevant it can be. Being a part of the scheme you can also develop your own skills, becoming more creative by thinking up ideas for your talks, becoming confident in interacting with people of all ages (teachers and students).
Those involved with the ambassador scheme at the RGS are also very approachable, and give you all the support you need, as well as organising social events for ambassadors.
Jenny Rusk, Geography undergraduate
Employability events
A number of events are organised throughout the year by the Employability and Graduate Development (EGD) team, including careers fairs, forums and workshops. Within Psychology a number of professional Psychologists give talks about psychology specific career options.
Widen Your Options is a fortnight of events, that takes place during the spring term, to give students access to industry professionals from a range of sectors.
The Exeter Award is designed to enhance the employability of University of Exeter graduates by providing official recognition and evidence of extra-curricular activities and achievements.
eX-factor is an intensive two day programme of interactive learning activities aimed at developing and enhancing your interpersonal and employability skills.
