| Code | Subject available through multiple programmes |
|---|---|
| Subject Title | Geography |
| Qualifications | BA (Hons) |
| NFQ Level | Level 8 |
Course Outline
Our world is more connected than ever—and more challenged. From accelerating climate change to deepening social inequalities, our environment and societies face unprecedented pressures. In response, Geography at UCC equips students with the critical skills to understand these issues, communicate their impacts, and lead with thoughtful, informed solutions in a rapidly changing world.
Geography offers a powerful lens to explore the complex relationship between people and planet. It reveals the vast diversity of human activity across the Earth's surface and uncovers the intricate ways in which we interact with natural systems. Through this perspective, students engage with the most urgent global challenges of our time—land use and environmental policy, climate change, environmental justice, global migration, urban inequalities, geopolitics, and questions of place, culture, identity, gender, and inclusion.
A degree in Geography opens doors to a wide range of career pathways—from environmental consultancy, planning, and policy-making to international development, education, GIS and geospatial analysis, sustainability leadership, and beyond. Geography graduates are known for their analytical thinking, global awareness, and ability to connect data with real-world solutions—skills that are in high demand across the public, private, and NGO sectors.
Modules
Year 1 Modules:
- GG1013 Planet Earth: Exploring Environmental Geography (5 credits)
- GG1014 Human Geographies: Approaching Global Challengess (5 credits)
- GG1015 Applied Geography (5 credits)
Modules provide a systematic overview of geography. Lectures, tutorials, practicals and other related activities are designed to encourage the development of new skills and critical thinking in combination with specialist training in geography.
Students take 15 credits from Geography and an additional 45 credits from three other First Arts subjects (with the exception of Italian).
Years 2 and 3 Modules
Courses become more specialised and you will have an opportunity to delve deeper into specific sub-branches of Geography.
In Years 2 and 3, you can opt to take Geography as a major (40 credits), joint (30 credits) or minor (20 credits) subject.
As you move through the programme, you'll have the flexibility to tailor your studies to your own interests by selecting from a broad range of optional modules in Years 2 and 3. In your final year, the emphasis is on deepening your understanding of Geography as a dynamic and critical discipline. You will explore how environments, nature, people, institutions, and ideas interact and shape one another - giving you a sophisticated grasp of contemporary change. The programmes equips you to identify solutions to some of the most pressing local and global challenges.
In Years 2 and 3, all students must take at least one module of both Physical and Human Geography.
Academic Programme Catalogue
See the Academic Programme Catalogue for the complete and up to date content for this course. Note that the modules for all courses are subject to change from year-to-year. For complete descriptions of individual modules, see the Book of Modules.
Course Practicalities
Year 1
Geography lectures take place Monday to Friday. In Year 1, lectures take place three days per week, with additional tutorials, practicals, fieldwork and research projects.
Year 2
In addition to a variety of options, you take two core modules - one focused on research skills, data collection and analysis and another based around a local or international field-class.
Year 3
A core module on the Geographical Ideas is required and you may select a research dissertation (10 credits) module where you develop your own research interests (under staff supervision). Opportunities are also available to develop advanced software training via our Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing classes.
Field trips
In addition to classroom lectures and short field-trips, geography students are required to spend time on field-classes. In Year 2, students must attend a week-long field trip in Ireland or Western Europe. Costs for each destination vary but on average range from €150 to €500.
Assessment
With a few exceptions, we don’t run written examinations. Most of our modules are continuously assessed, and such across the three years of the programme you can expect to do laboratory practicals, essays, research projects, podcasts , presentations, multiple-choice exams and fieldwork reports.
Who teaches this course
Our Geography Department faculty and can be viewed here.
Why Choose This Course
Key facts
- Geographers develop a unique spatial perspective on social, cultural, environmental and physical processes
- Geography offers a practical set of skills that can be applied in a wide variety of contexts
- Geography students experience field-based learning both nationally and internationally
- Digital skills such as computer cartography, remote sensing, and Geographic Information Systems are an important components of Geography.
The breadth of this programme means our graduates are more able to exploit a wide range of employment opportunities. The integrative nature of geography has become a major asset in a world of constant change, in which many employers seek adaptability and flexibility.
Our graduates develop competencies in a number of transferable skills including:
- spatial analysis
- problem-solving
- critical thinking
- independent learning
- self-directed research
- report writing
- public presentations
Placement or Study Abroad Information
Study Abroad
If you are studying through BA International, you will spend Year 3 studying at one of our partner universities abroad. We currently have links with universities in: Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden Mexico, and the USA.
Work Placement
If you study through the BA or the BA International, you will have the opportunity to avail of a work placement in Year 2. You can find out more here.
Skills and Careers Information
Our students acquire technical geographical skills including:
- training in computer cartography and geographical information systems
- remote sensing
- quantitative and qualitative research methods
- social surveys and analysis
- landscape evaluation/planning.
Geography is a discipline rich in diversity, with many interesting career paths. These include:
- planning
- local/community development
- environmental assessment and management
- housing policy
- regional development
- TV news production/research/media
- geo-informatics
- journalism
- diplomatic service
- financial services and global business
- public relations
- European space agency
- market research
- teaching
- public service
- tourism
- academic teaching and research
- museum/heritage management.
Possible career paths are as varied as your individual interests.
Requirements
Non-EU Applicants
Non-EU applicants are expected to have educational qualifications of a standard equivalent to the Irish Leaving Certificate. In addition, where such applicants are non-native speakers of the English language they must satisfy the university of their competency in the English language.
To verify if you meet the minimum academic and language requirements visit our qualification comparison page and refer to our International Office page for more information.
Fees and Costs
- Whether you are an EU or Non-EU student will affect the course fees applicable to you. See more information on EU Fees, Non-EU Fees, or Free Fees Status.
- The State will pay the tuition fees for EU students who are eligible under the Free Fees Scheme. The annual student contribution and capitation fees are payable by the student.
- See the Fee Schedule to find out the course fee.
- Check out scholarships that may be available to you.
- Explore our Nurturing Bright Futures free online course (Module 5) to learn about managing your money as a student and budgeting for university life.
How To Apply
Irish and European (EU/EFTA/UK) Applicants
Apply via the CAO. See the CAO Handbook for useful information on applying through the CAO.
Mature Applicants
Apply via the CAO by 1 February. To apply for a place as a mature student, you must be 23 years of age on or before 1 January of the year of entry.
QQI/FET Applicants
Apply via the CAO. See our QQI/FET Applicants page for information on the Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) Further Education and Training (FET) application process and whether there are routes available to this course.
Non-EU Applicants
If you are from outside the EU/EFTA/UK, apply online via the UCC Apply portal. See our International Office page for more information.