Marine Geography BSc (Hons)
Cardiff University
Student rating
This is the overall rating calculated by averaging all live reviews for this uni on Whatuni.
( 4.3) View reviews

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Different course options
4 options available
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Qualification

Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

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Location

Main Site - Cardiff

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Study mode

Full Time

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Start date

SEP-25

time
Duration

3 Years

Course info

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Qualification

Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

Location

Main Site - Cardiff

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP-25

Duration

3 Years

SELECTED

Qualification

Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

Location

Cathays Park Campus

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP-25

Duration

3 Years

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Qualification

Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

Location

Cathays Park Campus

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP

Duration

3 Years

SELECT

Qualification

Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

Location

Cathays Park Campus

Study mode

Full Time

Start date

SEP-26

Duration

3 Years

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Subjects

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Geography & Environmental Science
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A level
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Extended Project
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International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme
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Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016)
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T Level
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Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015)
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Location

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England
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Scotland
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Wales
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Northern Ireland
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Channel Islands
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EU
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Course info

Overview and aims of the ProgrammeThe world’s oceans and coasts are full of amazing habitats and wildlife and they sustain many important and growing industries including shipping, tourism and renewable energy. As a marine geographer you will have the skills and knowledge needed to keep our oceans healthy and support traditional and emerging marine industries to be sustainable. As the only Marine Geography degree in the UK, you will study a unique mix of physical and environmental geography. ...Read more

Overview and aims of the ProgrammeThe world’s oceans and coasts are full of amazing habitats and wildlife and they sustain many important and growing industries including shipping, tourism and renewable energy. As a marine geographer you will have the skills and knowledge needed to keep our oceans healthy and support traditional and emerging marine industries to be sustainable. As the only Marine Geography degree in the UK, you will study a unique mix of physical and environmental geography. You will explore the science behind the relationship between society and the sea and investigate global challenges like ocean acidification and rising sea levels. We make the most of our location and take regular trips to the Bristol Channel, the Glamorgan Heritage Coast and the Gower. There will also be opportunities to do overseas trips, in the past we’ve been to Malta, Jersey and Greece. You will get involved in activities like offshore surveying, water quality monitoring, ecological mapping and beach profiling. Students on this course are usually concerned about the health of the oceans and want to make a positive difference. Graduates leave with the skills to solve a range of complex marine environmental problems and with experience of hands-on fieldwork and cutting-edge research with world-leading scientists.


Distinctive Features of the Programme

- Professional accreditation - our Marine Geography degree is accredited by international bodies IMAREST and RICS. These accreditations keep us well connected to industry, so students graduate with employable skills and up-to-date, industry-specific knowledge. You will also get the opportunity to work towards a ‘chartered’ status.- Student satisfaction - belong to a small and friendly community voted top among all Russell Group Universities in the main category of Overall Satisfaction in the National Student Survey 2018. In 2019 our Marine Geography and Environmental Geography degree were jointly ranked 1st out of 63 Physical Geography and Environmental Sciences undergraduate courses.- Flexible degree schemes - all of the School’s degrees have a common first semester that introduce you to geosciences and geography. You can then decide whether to stay with your chosen degree or switch to another in the same School. - Hands-on fieldwork in the UK and overseas - you will get plenty of opportunity to develop your field and boat work skills with regular day trips and residential trips along the Welsh coast and overseas. South Wales has a rich and diverse marine environment including estuaries with large tidal ranges, islands thriving with wildlife, offshore renewable energy and the largest oil port in the UK in Milford Haven. - World leading experts and facilities – you will be taught by world-leading scientists and have access to: the latest technologies in offshore surveying and mapping equipment, chemical laboratories, laboratories with GIS (Geographic Information System) and a 12-metre research boat, the RV Guiding Light.- Industry connections - we have excellent links with our alumni working across the world and with local organisations like Natural Resources Wales and the Severn Estuary Partnership. These connections help students to find relevant and highly topical research projects and will often offer practical help, advice and summer placement opportunities.

Key stats

WUSCA ranking:
WUSCA student ranking
These are the 2024 rankings, based on ratings given by past and current students.
22/101
CUG Subject Ranking
CUG Subject Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
22nd
CUG Ranking
CUG Ranking
Source: Complete University Guide 2025
27th
Physical Geographical Sciences
Drop-out rate
Drop-out rate
The percentage of students who didn't finish the course.
Calculated by 100% - (% of students continuing course + % of students completed course)
100 - 90 = 10% Drop-out rate Source: UNISTATS, 2019
10%
Employment rate
Employment rate
The percentage of students in full-time work 6 months after finishing their course.
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
85%
Average salary
Average salary
Source: UNISTATS, 2019
Physical Geographical Sciences graduate salary at this uni
£18,000
UK Physical Geographical Sciences graduate salary
£19,000
What students say
W
Will
28 Feb 24

All great ! Apart from the lack of listening to students about student nights and Wednesdays. This was overlooked and..Read more

V
verity
27 Feb 24

best aspect is the SU on a Wednesday night when all the socials come together. worst aspect is the heating in the lecture theatres sometimes doesn't work..Read more

Modules

Modules (Year 1)
Modules (Year 2)
Modules (Year 3)
IDP Connect

Entry requirements

Exam type

A level

A level:

BBC - ABB Grades / Points required

Extended Project:

A Grades / Points required

International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme:

32 - 30 Grades / Points required

Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016):

DDM - DMM Grades / Points required

T Level:

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Welsh Baccalaureate - Advanced Skills Challenge Certificate (first teaching September 2015):

Not currently available, please contact university for up to date information.

Must include a minimum of 1 science subject. Acceptable science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Maths, Physics.

For applicants taking the EPQ qualification, an A in the EPQ can be recognised to lower the entry requirements by a single grade. For example, an AAB offer would be "AAB from 3 A-levels or ABB from 3 A-levels and a grade A in the EPQ". Please note that any subject specific requirements must be met.

32-30 overall or 665-655 in 3 HL subjects (with 1 HL science subject) Acceptable science subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Environmental Science, Geography, Geology, Maths, Physics.

in a BTEC Extended Diploma in Animal Science, Applied Science, Engineering, Health Science, ICT, or Sports and Exercise Science.

Acceptance of T Levels for this programme will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the Academic School. Consideration will be given to the T Level grade/subject and grades/subjects achieved at GCSE/Level 2.

The Welsh Baccalaureate Skills Challenge Certificate will be accepted in place of one A-level at the A-level grades specified, excluding any subject specific requirements.

Popular A-level subjects

Physical Geographical Sciences

Top 5 A-levels taken by students who study this subject at uni.

Geography
77%
Biology
39%
Geology
33%
Mathematics
25%
Chemistry
25%
HESA

Tuition fees

Students living in

England

£9,000 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from England

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within England. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,000 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Scotland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Scotland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,000 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Wales

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Wales. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,000 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Northern Ireland

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Northern Ireland. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£9,000 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from Channel Islands

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within Channel Islands. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£28,200 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from EU

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

This is the fee you pay if you live within the European Union. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£28,200 per year

This information comes from UCAS, or in some cases the institution directly.
Please note: fees do vary so please make sure you contact the institution for up to date information.

Students from International

This is the fee you pay if you are an International student. Please note, this fee has been confirmed.

£28200 Per year

UCAS/IDP Connect

Latest reviews

Latest Geography reviews

Geography
Geography
W
Will
28 Feb 24
Human Geography BSc (Hons)
All great ! Apart from the lack of listening to students about student nights and Wednesdays. This was overlooked and...
Read more
V
verity
27 Feb 24
Environmental Geography BSc (Hons)
best aspect is the SU on a Wednesday night when all the socials come together. worst aspect is the heating in the lecture theatres sometimes doesn't work...
Read more
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Uni info

Cardiff University
30-36 Newport Road Cardiff CF24 0DE United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Cardiff Queen Street  0.1 miles away
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