Undergraduate field courses

As a Geography undergraduate student you’ll have opportunities to undertake field work – one of the keystones of geographical understanding. Field work provides a superb opportunity for you to put in to practice the skills you learn in the classroom and to develop as a geographer. Together with the skills you'll learn in the classroom, field work provides a fantastic foundation for undertaking your dissertation. The residential field courses, in particular, tend to become one of the most memorable and enjoyable experiences for our students.

Get set

During the first two years of your degree you will be introduced to geographical research techniques in practical and field courses. The practical courses provide training in research design, use of IT and quantitative and qualitative methods which form the basis of geographical investigation. This grounding helps you to embark on study in the field with confidence.

Go

Field courses are undertaken in the local area, across Britain and overseas. In your first year you will participate in a number of local field days, which provide an introduction to physical and human aspects of the local region. In your second year, a residential field course gives you the opportunity to apply your research skills. In recent years residential field course locations have included Canada, Cuba, France, Germany, Iceland, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, South Africa, the USA and the UK. Students studying at the Cornwall Campus also have the option of further residential field trips in Year 3. 

Field course locations in 2010 include Berlin, California, Cumbria, Iceland, New York City, Seville and Andalucia, and South Africa.

Please note that field course destinations may be subject to change.