BA (Hons) Geography, Geopolitics and Global Affairs Bachelor's degree at Royal Holloway, University of London

In this module you will develop an understanding of the factors that control the physical, biological and chemical forces which shape the Earth's surface. You will look at oceanic and atmospheric processes, plate tectonics, hydrology and coastal processes, glaciation, and arid environments.

In this module you will engage with key issues in human geography. You will consider human geography as a distinctive way to approach the world, examining key questions about globalisation, inequality, identity and the nature of place. You will look at approaches to economic, cultural and historical geography, and the development of the discipline, celebrating geographers' active involvement in the challenges facing humanity.

Our planet is in crisis. Hundreds of millions face extreme poverty and negative impacts on livelihoods caused by the intersectional problems of climate change, chemical pollution and loss of ecosystem integrity. This module will address these challenges through both social and physical science lenses. First, it will explore the physical science basis of the planetary crisis: climate change, biosphere integrity and chemical pollution, as they reshape the world through space and time. Second, stud

This module brings together human and physical geography perspectives to understand the functioning of diverse global ecosystems, the impact of human activity on ecosystems and the challenges of sustainability. It does this through embedding key biogeographical concepts and notions of development into an exploration of the interrelationships between human societies and ecosystems. Themes covered include biodiversity loss, food security, ecosystem services and environmental governance. The module

This module introduces students to key data collection and analysis techniques in human geography. Skills are developed in questionnaire design, observation, interviewing, and qualitative and quantitative data analysis. The module uses lectures and practical classes with students working as individuals and in small groups, encouraging the development of teamwork and independent research skills. Through class- and field-based sessions, students gain important experience in the practical applicati

The module is divided into three sections: Section A: Study skills for Geographers. This introduces students to the skills needed to study Geography at university. Topics covered include critical reading and writing; finding and evaluating source material; referencing and bibliographies; using feedback effectively; academic integrity and research ethics; the use of generative AI. Section B: Geography beyond university. This engages students with how geographical skills are and could be used outs

In this module you will develop your practical research skills on a week-long field-trip to Andalusia in Southern Spain. You will spend four days, guided by staff, looking at specific local examples of physical, environmental, social, economic and cultural processes. You will then spend two days, working in small groups, conducting a short piece of original research on a topic of your choice.

In this module you will develop your skills in research design, data collection and analysis. You will learn how to handle and process advanced human or physical geography data sets, and further your ability to apply geographical information systems (GIS) techniques. You will also start to plan your dissertation, thinking about proposal design, and risk and research ethics assessments.

This is an intermediate-level module which develops skills and abilities introduced in GG1011 Geographical Techniques and GG1032 Geographical Field Research and Techniques. GG2006 specifically: (i) provides students with training in research design and research management in a field situation; (ii) develops students' skills in a variety of field-based research techniques; (iii) provides advice and experience in preparation for the completion of independent dissertations (GG3003); (iv) provides e

The aim of this module is to provide an introduction to the use of remote sensing and Geographical Information Systems in physical and human geographical research. Theoretical concepts underpinning geospatial data storage and analysis will be introduced in lectures, while practical content will demonstrate applications of GIS for answering a range of geographical research questions focused on global challenges. Students will gain experience of using ArcGIS Pro, an industry leading GIS software.

This module covers themes related to how space, landscapes, and knowledge are contested, within a curriculum focused on power, place and geopolitics.

This module introduces key concepts and ideas in political geography and geopolitics promoting an appreciation of the relationship between politics and geography through a range of different theoretical lenses, a series of diverse contexts, and at a variety of scales. Each term, the lectures will be broken down into several key components beginning with an introductory lecture, tracing the emergence of political geography. Both terms 1 and 2 will then proceed with a series of 'lens' lectures, in

This module develops within students concern, critical awareness and informed concern for 'distant strangers' and other cultures, linked to the notion of responsibility in an unequal and interconnected world. The course addresses theories, paradigms and critiques of development; the environment-development interface and sustainability, the changing international economic and political order; the roles of state and non-state actors such as NGOs and; trade and aid policies. Processes, causes and c

This module focuses on the use and management of resources, in the context of inputs and outputs to environmental systems, with an emphasis on processes and the impacts of human activities. Throughout the course, students gain hands-on experience through practical work relating to the processes, functioning and management of environmental systems in the context of sustainability. These practical elements form the basis of the formal assessment. Students develop an understanding of resource use a

This module focuses on two overall themes: 1) the earth surface processes responsible for shaping the physical landscape and 2) natural hazards, where extreme earth surface process events pose a societal risk. The course is centred on the following key geomorphological systems: slopes, rivers, glaciers and dunes. Key hazards covered relating to these systems include landslides, floods, glacier lake outburst floods and dust storms. The module concludes with consideration of how plate tectonics an

This module develops an appreciation of the historical context which underpins theory concerning environmental history, present-day environmental problems, and the prediction of future environmental changes. Practical training in laboratory methods relevant to testing such theories is involved, and you will train for readiness to undertake fieldwork and third-year independent studies (dissertations) in a range of topical research themes in Quaternary environmental change.