MA (Hons) Geography, Society and Environment

Course content

Our Geography degrees cover the fundamentals of both physical geography - the elements that shape our natural environment as well as human geography - the way people shape and are shaped by the environments they live in.

Learn key field work skills in surveying, mapping and key research skills whilst learning core modules in statistics and data analysis. A cross disciplinary working that helps student acquire a mutual understanding between professions.

Year 1

8 mandatory modules

Providing introductory theory on subjects relevant to real-world issues across the globe such as human and urban geography, microeconomics, the built environment, living planet and environmental change and statistics, data analysis and GIS.

• A residential fieldtrip within the UK to gain knowledge on city development and change while establishing key research skills.
• Undertake a week long collaborative design project working with students from across disciplines within the school.

Year 2

6 mandatory modules | 2 optional modules

Introducing new laboratory and fieldwork skills in surveying and mapping, mandatory modules include urban political economy, catchment hydrology, urban and real estate economics, and geomorphology, landscapes and society. Students will choose 2 optional modules from subjects covering various languages, maths, biology and design.

Year 3

5 mandatory modules | 3 optional modules

Year 3 offers more critical understanding of key subjects including geology and soilproperties, transportation and environmental engineering and energy and buildings. Students also get the opportunity to focus on specific disciplines of interest to deepen their knowledge. Modules include, urban theories, economics, geotechnics, regional and strategic planning and design for construction.

• Opportunity to go on a European city fieldtrip exploring issues of urban planning, real estate and urban geography.

Year 4

Dissertation | 2 mandatory modules | 4 optional modules

Students complete an individual dissertation project, complete 2 core modules (technical networks and urban resilience and environmental planning) and will choose 4 optional modules from subjects such as cross cultural perspectives on society, global heritage, urban economy and property markets, UK and international housing markets and social sustainability.

• Undertake a week long collaborative design project working with students from across disciplines within the school.
• Field visit around Scotland’s central belt hearing from industry experts.

Employability

Work and study

This is what our MA (Hons) students are doing six months after graduating:

• 81% are working
• 8% are studying
• 7% are working and studying.

Managerial/professional position

• 92% of those working are in a professional/managerial position six months after graduating.

Salary

• The average salary of students six months after graduating: £25000
• The average UK salary of students six months after graduating from a similar course: £22000

Employers

Employers include:

• Scottish Widows
• Standard Life
• Jones Lang LaSalle
• CBRE

Entry requirements

Year 1

• Highers AABB/BBBBC
• A-Levels BBC
• Int. Baccalaureate 29 points
• BTEC DMM (in a relevant subject)
• HNC B in graded unit (in relevant HNC)

Minimum entry requirements*

• Highers BBBC
• A-Levels BCC

* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some Scottish students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you:

• live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20), or
• are care experienced.

We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our Minimum and standard entry requirements

Year 2

• Advanced Highers BB plus Highers AABB/BBBBC
• A-Levels ABB
• Int. Baccalaureate 34 points
• HNC A in graded unit (in a relevant subject area)
• HND BB in graded units (in a relevant subject area)
• BTEC DDM (in a relevant subject)

Additional information

• For all years, applications are welcomed from holders of non-school qualifications,  mature candidates and overseas students.
• If you do not see your qualifications here please contact us at studywithus@hw.ac.uk
• Please check that you meet our University-wide National 5/GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths requirements.

English language requirements

• If English is not your first language, you have to show that your English is good enough to succeed on your course. Please see our English language requirements.

Fees

* Your residency 'status' is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course. Find out more about tuition fees.

** European Union countries (not including England, Northern Ireland or Wales).

*** 'Rest of the UK' (RUK) students entering at Level 1 receive a fee waiver of one year's tuition fee. Normally this will be the final year, or a year during which students study abroad (either at a partnership institution, or at one of Heriot-Watt's overseas campuses).

Additional costs

You may incur additional costs in the course of your studies at Heriot-Watt over and above tuition fees in an academic year. Depending on your programme of study, these may include: protective equipment, field trips, professional memberships, studio fees, required course texts or other study resources.

Scholarships and bursaries

View our full range of undergraduate scholarships.