Option for Placement Year
Option for Study Abroad
Please note: From September 2026, Foundation Years at Northumbria are changing and will become integrated 'Extended Degrees'. to be kept in the loop about 2026 entry.
Geography and Environmental Science professionals provide solutions to many of the environmental issues facing urban and rural environments and populations. These include physical planning; use of resources; environmental health; environmental management and life cycle analysis. Increasingly it also includes the emergency aspects of environmental, economic and social development brought about by climate change, new ways of living, unstable earth systems and human conflict.
This foundation year bridges the gap between school and undergraduate level study, providing a broad introduction to the subjects. The course provides both academic knowledge and practical skills, and makes use of high quality, current technology and on-site laboratories. It is the first step towards developing the skills you will need to engage successfully with life beyond the classroom, preparing you for working in an environmental context.
Research Powerhouse: Geography and Environmental Studies at Northumbria is ranked 2nd for research power in the UK (REF, 2021). This is a rise of 39 places compared to 2014.
Quality Teaching: Geography & Environmental Science at Northumbria is ranked top 10 in the UK for Teaching Quality & Student Experience (Times Good University Guide, 2025).
Following successful completion of the foundation year you will qualify to join any of the following degrees:
UCAS Code
F920
Level of Study
Undergraduate
Mode of Study
1 year Full Time followed by a further 3 years Full Time or 4 years with a placement (sandwich)/study abroad
Location
City Campus, 51±¬ÁĎ
City
Newcastle
Start
September 2025
Fees
Fee Information
Modules
Module Information
This department encompasses all of our work in cold and palaeo environments, social and cultural geographies, communities and resilience, environmental geochemistry and health, and ecology.
Geography and Environmental Sciences at 51±¬ÁĎ encompass all of our work in physical and human geography, environmental science and management, health & safety, and disaster management. To find out more hear what our students and lectures have to say about this department.
Royal Geographical Society honours Northumbria geographer.
Northumbria professor contributes to Netflix series, Life on Our Planet.
Northumbria scientists collaborate on climate change board game.
RESEARCH: Green Blue Infrastructure.
Take a look at the facilities for the Geography and Environmental Sciences department.
Watch as you learn more about the facilities available whilst studying a Geography and Environmental Sciences degree.
Virtual Tour
At the heart of each Northumbria campus, our libraries provide a range of study space and technology to suit every learning style.
From Antarctica to the Arctic, global warming to disaster risk reduction, Geography takes place at a truly global scale at Northumbria. Research in this department is focused in five groups.
From first year through to final year and beyond graduation, we are here to help.
We have a fantastic service for students' to use to gain advice and tips on furthering careers and enhancing their employability.
Careers and Employment Services
Visit an Open Day to get an insight into what it's like to study at Northumbria. Speak to staff and students from the course and get a tour of the facilities.
80 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:
51±¬ÁĎ 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
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
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:
UK Fee in Year 1: £9,535
* This is the tuition fee for your first year of study. You should expect to pay tuition fees for every year of study. The University may increase fees in the second and subsequent years of your course at our discretion in line with any inflationary or other uplift, as decided by the UK Government, up to the maximum amount for fees permitted by UK law or regulation for that academic year. To give students an indication of the likely scale of any future increase, the UK government has recently suggested that increases may be linked to RPIX ( Retail Price Index excluding mortgage interest payments) * Fees subject to annual increases over the course of the period of study. Students will be liable for payment of any/all tuition fees which are not sponsored by their employer or other third party.
International Fee in Year 1:
ADDITIONAL COSTS
You are expected to have your own outdoor winter clothing suitable for standard UK winter conditions for use on field trips - approximate cost ÂŁ300-ÂŁ500. Print costs can exceed the ÂŁ10 allocation made to all students.
* At Northumbria we are strongly committed to protecting the privacy of personal data. To view the University’s Privacy Notice please click here
Module information is indicative and is reviewed annually therefore may be subject to change. Applicants will be informed if there are any changes.
KE3001 -
Environmental Geography (Core,20 Credits)
You will develop a broad appreciation of a range of complex environmental problems and with experience of hands-on fieldwork coupled with teaching from staff members involved in cutting-edge research in geography. Selected topics will be further developed through the application of a range of quantitative and qualitative methods as part of fieldwork activities to put theoretical learning into practice. The module provides you with a basic introduction to the scientific and social processes underpinning both local, as well as global environmental problems. On completion of the module, your ability to link theory and application, with an informed concern about sustainable development in an urban context will serve to enhance your future employment prospects.
More informationKE3003 -
Post Industrial Landscapes of the North East (Core,20 Credits)
This module covers a variety of areas that are relevant for understanding post-industrialism. These may include: uneven geographic development and de-industrialisation; urban transformations such as regeneration; socio-cultural transformation, identity and multiculturalism; energy transitions and infrastructural change; and the environmental impacts of industrial activity, such as pollution and contamination. These various dimensions of North East’s contemporary reinvention will be discussed in the wider context of changing philosophies and instruments of government policy intervention. The module will be delivered through a mix of lectures, seminars and field teaching. It is assessed by a portfolio and an examination. Your learning will be further supported and enhanced through engagement with a range of interactive online resources available via the module eLP site.
More informationKE3004 -
Transition Skills and Fieldwork in Geography and Environmental sciences (Core,20 Credits)
Through KE3004 Transition Skills and Fieldwork in Geography and Environmental Sciences, we aim to support you to develop a range of skills which will be critical to your progression from your foundation degree onto your subsequent undergraduate programme. 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 and feedback, you will develop ways of monitoring your own academic performance and progress.
You will learn and develop the key intellectual skills and personal attributes required for effective study in geography or environmental sciences and future graduate employment. Specifically, the module will cover: managing the transition to university life; key skills, such as time-management, academic literature search, essay writing, referencing, communication and presentation skills, field-observation and team-work; and how geographical and environmental perspectives inform our understanding of contemporary real-world issues.
KE3005 -
Understanding and Communicating Environmental Issues (Core,20 Credits)
You will develop a deep scientific understanding of various current environmental issues and learn how to communicate these to a primary/middle school audience. The module starts with introductory lectures and guided reading to engage you with a variety of environmental issues. You will then move onto small group seminars designed to give you the skillset to tackle the module assessment: to communicate one of these environmental issues to a primary/middle school audience. As you explore the scientific background to the environmental issues, a staff member will support you as you develop your leaflet or poster to communicate the environmental issue. The module culminates when your leaflet or poster is sent out to a local primary/middle school and you receive the feedback from the schoolteacher as to whether your hard work has helped the children to learn about the environmental issue. No pressure!
Environmental issues that could be covered:
Glacier retreat
Sea-level
Earthquakes
Biodiversity
Pollution
Water resources
Pollinator decline
Climate change
Natural hazards
The exact five environmental issues covered will depend on which research-active staff members are teaching on the module each year.
KE3006 -
Sustainable Development (Core,20 Credits)
Sustainability and sustainable development are ideas which have become increasingly important for the disciplines of Geography and Environmental Science. National and international targets for sustainability are core to urban and rural land management. Sustainability is not just about technology, energy efficiency, minimising waste and resource use; although these are important parts of sustainability. Sustainable development also needs to protect nature (biodiversity) and benefit local communities. There is an increasing demand for professionals who understand and can apply sustainability to the work environment. This means understanding aspects of geography, risk, environmental issues, and social factors, such as population demographics, quality of life, transport and congestion.
In this module you will:
• Explore the concepts of sustainability and sustainable development and how they apply in practice
• Be introduced to a range of topics and concepts within the field of sustainable development in local and global settings
• Work as part of a team, to apply your understanding of these topics and concepts to complete a series of tasks
• Work individually to produce an online app using ArcGIS software
• Explore issues of sustainable development within the Newcastle-Gateshead conurbation
KE3007 -
Introduction to the study of Earth System Sciences (Core,20 Credits)
In this module you will learn about a variety of concepts and debates that have shaped current thinking and research in the Earth System Science. Following an exploration of the subject of geology and physical geography, approaches to investigation, and relationships with other relevant subjects, you will focus on a range of more specific topics, including:
• Earth structure and origin
• Earth history and geological deep time.
• Evolution of continents and oceans.
• Rock cycle and plate tectonics.
• Geohazards, Volcanism and Earthquakes
• Social vulnerability and resilience
• Disaster and risk management
• Landscape evolution
• Sediments and Sedimentary rocks, erosion and transport
To start your application, simply select the month you would like to start your course.
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