BA (Hons) Geography with Quantitative Methods

Programme overview

Entry requirements

Entry Requirements are available on the Course Search entry

Programme specification

Context
BA Geography with Quantitative Methods at Leeds seeks to provide students with the knowledge and skills to understand and shape our rapidly changing world, including international development, population growth, urban transformation, sustainability, global geopolitics, human rights, globalisation, and patterns of inequality (ethnicity, class and gender). Whilst broad in scope, the programme also places a firm focus on the acquisition of the technical and data skills needed to tackle many global challenges, including skills in social statistics and Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Each year of the programme is designed around a combination of compulsory modules and a selection of optional human and physical geography modules, as well as opportunities to take optional modules in transport studies and discovery modules across the University. Through this wide choice of modules, students can tailor their degree to specialise in what they want to learn, whilst maintaining a grounding in quantitative data skills.

As well as specialist subject knowledge, BA Geography with Quantitative Methods has a strong focus on the development of transferable skills, with the aim of producing graduates that can identify and solve problems using state of the art tools and techniques. BA Geography with Quantitative Methods helps students to build skills in data collection, the analysis and presentation of ideas orally and in report form, , in the use of specialist mapping and statistical software, and in time- and project-management in both team and individual settings.

Students enrolled onto this programme have the same modules available to them as those on BA Geography, however, additional modules are made compulsory given the requirement to undertake all relevant quantitative skills modules. Students also complete a specialist dissertation module in which the use of quantitative data/methods is mandatory.


Structure and content
Students will study 360 credits of modules over their degree, split evenly between Levels 1, 2 and 3.

Level 1 content will depend on if students are enrolled onto BA Geography or BA Geography with Transport Studies. During this year, students develop a grounding in the foundational concepts and themes of human geography (and transport studies, if appropriate), plus key skills in academic writing, digital learning and data analysis. Core modules explore different geographies of a changing world, including planetary environmental crisis and urbanisation, plus a foundation in digital skills (and modules in transport mobility and policy, if appropriate). Students have additional credits of optional modules in human and physical geography, and transport studies, and 20 credits of discovery modules from across the University.

At the end of Level 1, students may request a place on BA Geography with Quantitative Methods, subject to meeting the entry requirements. The programme enables students to develop advanced spatial and statistical skills, which are in high demand across the public, private, and third sectors.

Level 2 provides a core programme of research, career and technical skills training worth 60 credits. Students supplement this from a minimum of 40 credits of optional modules that cover geo-politics and international development, economic geography, the development of modern cities, citizenship and identity, natural resource management, sustainable transport, and ecosystems. An additional 20 credits of discovery modules can be taken from across the University.

Opportunities for work-based learning include an optional year in between Levels 2 and 3, during which students can either study abroad at one of our partner institutions around the world; or gain full-time work experience in a paid industrial placement. Both options will extend the degree by 12 months.

At Level 3 students undertake an independent final year project worth 40 credits – currently a disser tation – in which they must evidence quantitative data analysis skills. Alongside this, students complete a compulsory module in geocomputation skills plus a minimum of 40 credits of optional modules that cover subjects such as urban social movements, creating alternative futures, population and health geographies, retail location planning, global insecurities, the Mediterranean migration crisis, healthy transport, water science, the cryosphere, and sustainable development in tropical forests. Students also have the choice of a research, work or teacher placement module with an external organisation, and an additional 20 credits of discovery modules can be taken from across the University.

Fieldwork is an important feature throughout the degree programme and puts theory into practice by allowing students to experience real world learning. Fieldwork is designed to encourage students to develop their own research, plan and manage projects, and to develop teamwork skills. Fieldtrips include both residential and day trips; and travel to destinations across the UK and Europe.

All students are assigned a personal academic tutor to guide them through each year of their studies, as well as support from fellow students through our peer mentoring scheme. Students also benefit from support to develop their academic skills, within the curriculum and through online resources, workshops, one-to-one appointments and drop-in sessions.


Assessment
Students are assessed using a range of methods throughout the course. There will be timed examinations, essay and report writing, presentations, practical exercises, posters, blogs, vlogs, podcasts, research-based projects (such as the dissertation) and reflective logs.

All assessments are linked to the learning objectives of the course to ensure students graduate equipped with cutting-edge knowledge and skills, as well as being structured to help develop the key transferable qualities that employers are looking for within the workplace.

Assessments are reviewed annually to ensure they remain fair and inclusive, and to maintain an element of flexibility within module choices such that students can select a package of learning to best reflect individual learning styles and long-term career goals.


Accreditation
BA Geography with Quantitative Methods is accredited by the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG). Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in geographical knowledge and skills and prepare graduates to address the needs of the world beyond higher education. The accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from accredited programmes meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical ability and transferable skills.

Year 1

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
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Students must fulfil the Year 1 requirements of either BA Geography (BA-GEOG) or BA Geography with Transport Studies (BA-GEOG/TS) before requesting a transfer to BA Geography with Quantitative Methods (BA-GEOG/QM). Additional entry requirements apply.

Year 2

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
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Compulsory Modules

Candidates will be required to study the following compulsory modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
GEOG2000	Research Approaches in Human Geography	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)	PFP
GEOG2015	Career Skills in Geography	10	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GEOG2100	Planning Services for Changing Populations	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
GEOG2150	Social and Spatial Data Analysis with GIS	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)	PFP

Optional Modules

Candidates have 60 credits of optional modules (including 20 credits of discovery).

Candidates will be required to study a minimum of 40 credits from the following optional modules.

Basket 1: Candidates must choose at least ONE and may choose TWO of the following optional human geography or integrated geography modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
GEOG2035	Geographies of Economies	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
GEOG2055	Citizenship and Identity: Comparative Perspectives	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
GEOG2915	Geographies of Food	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Basket 2: Candidates must choose at least ONE and may choose TWO of the following optional human geography modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
GEOG2020	Political and Development Geographies	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GEOG2046	The Making of the Modern City	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Basket 3: Depending on choices from Baskets 1 and 2, candidates may choose NONE OR ONE of the following optional physical geography or integrated geography modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
GEOG2022	Natural Hazards; Human Disasters	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GEOG2080	Earth Surface Processes	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GEOG2085	Ecosystems: process, pattern, and change	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Basket 4: Depending on choices from Baskets 1-3, candidates can study NONE, ONE or TWO of the following optional transport studies modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
TRAN2020	Transport Land Use and Development	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
TRAN2041	Transport, Energy and Environment	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
TRAN2065	Transport and Social Sustainability	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
TRAN2066	Transport, People and Place	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Basket 5 Depending on choices from Baskets 1-4, candidates may choose NONE OR ONE of the following optional field class modules.

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
GEOG2101	‘Mapping’ borders, boundaries, and belonging	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
GEOG2155	Towards a Zero Carbon Future	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

All candidates can take 20 credits of Discovery options. This can include modules in Baskets 3 and 4.

Discovery Modules

Candidates may study up to 20 credits of discovery modules.

Year 3

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
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LEVEL 3: UG Centred 60 credit compulsory modules

Compulsory Modules

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
GEOG3195	Geocomputation and Spatial Analysis	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
GEOG3630	Human Geography Dissertation (Quantitative Methods)	40	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Optional Modules

Candidates have 60 credits of optional modules

Basket 1: Candidates may choose NONE, ONE, TWO OR THREE of the following optional human geography modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
GEOG3005	Retail Location Planning	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
GEOG3085	Contested Cities	20	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
GEOG3121	Creating Alternative Futures	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Basket 2: Depending on choices from Basket 1, candidates may choose NONE, ONE, TWO or THREE of the following optional human geography modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
GEOG3140	Advanced Population & Health Geographies	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GEOG3290	Geographies of Global Insecurities	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GEOG3981	Spaces of Migration and Encounter	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Basket 3: Depending on choices from Baskets 1-2, candidates may choose NONE, ONE or TWO of the following optional physical geography modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
GEOG3065	Water Science & Management	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GEOG3180	Management of Wilderness and Global Ecosystems	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GEOG3669	The Cryosphere	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GEOG3690	Tropical forests and sustainable development	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Basket 4: Depending on choices from Baskets 1-3, candidates may choose NONE or ONE of the following optional placement modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
GEOG3535	School and Educational Placements	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GEOG3665	Professional Work Placement	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GEOG3675	Geographical Research Opportunities	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)

Basket 5: Depending on choices from Baskets 1-4, candidates may choose NONE, ONE or TWO of the following optional transport studies modules:

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
TRAN3041	Freight Transport, Logistics and the Environment	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
TRAN3061	Travel Activity Analysis	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)
TRAN3062	Social Analysis and Social Psychology for Transport	10	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
TRAN3070	Healthy Cities: Transport and Health	10	Semester 1 (Sep to Jan)

Basket 6: Depending on choices from Baskets 1-5, candidates may choose NONE or ONE of the following optional field class modules. However, there is a pre-enrolment process for modules in this basket and therefore students cannot directly enrol on the module. They must complete an expression of interest survey and will be offered a place on a fieldtrip.

Code	Title	Credits	Semester	Pass for Progression
GEOG3050	Helsinki : Urban Growth and Sustainability	20	Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun)
GEOG3125	Bilbao: Contested Urban Transformations	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)
GEOG3145	Exploring the Mediterranean Migration Crisis	20	Semester 2 (Jan to Jun)

Discovery Modules

All candidates can take 20 credits of Discovery options. This can include modules in Baskets 3 and 5.

Year 4

[Learning Outcomes, Transferable (Key) Skills, Assessment]
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Last updated: 23/07/2025 10:08:18

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