Geography
Geography at Cambridge is designed to introduce you to all areas of the subject, including contemporary human, historical, social and cultural, environmental, and physical geography.
At a glance
A Level requirements: A*AA
IB requirements: 41-42 points overall with 7, 7, 6 at Higher Level
Subject requirements: None required
Average students per year: 2
Admissions assessment: None
Written work: None
< Watch an interview with Prof. Matthew Gandy, one of the King's Geography Fellows.
Admissions
Course overview
The Geography programme at Cambridge covers the full breadth of the discipline, ranging from glaciers, volcanoes, and natural hazards to critical global challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change, economic restructuring, geopolitical shifts, and urbanization. Our modules are taught by world-leading academics in their fields, bringing students into contact with cutting-edge research developments.
For more information about the course and its modules, visit the University website.
Interviews
King’s College typically has one interview for Geography applicants. It is primarily a conversation, where you have an opportunity to share your interests and show how you think around relevant material.
Before the interview you will be given a pre-reading, either text, an infographic or photograph. We will then ask you questions to see how you understand, interpret and build links between this content and your wider knowledge. We encourage you to think aloud, so we can get a feel for how you problem solve and explore the material, as we do not expect you to know anything about the topic beforehand. During the interview we will also draw inspiration from your personal statement to better understand your motivations for studying geography.
What we look for in an applicant
We expect our Geography applicants to read widely, including books, articles, and high-quality journalism. We also welcome creative approaches to the subject such as using novels or films as an entry point into specific topics. If students have completed a long essay (such as an EPQ) as part of their studies, we are keen to know more about their choice of conceptual and methodological approaches. An interest in the potential role of Geography in policy making can also be a good topic for admissions interviews.
A top tip for applicants
Read widely around any topic that interests you. Consider taking a notebook with you so that you can write down any interesting observations or ideas that might form the basis of an essay or even a research project. Always be open to new possibilities.
Find out more
You can find out more about Geography by visiting the University website and the Department of Geography website.
King’s also runs Open Days and the Small Subjects Residential for students who attend UK state schools in Y12/S5/Y13 NI. Students will take part in engaging workshops and interactive sessions to explore how interdisciplinary approaches help us understand humanity’s role in shaping the planet.
Life as a King's Geography student
Geography has a long tradition at King’s, especially in the field of Human Geography: the leading historical geographer Clifford Darby, for example, was a professor at King’s for many years. The current mix of Fellows and students has a particular orientation towards cultural, urban, and environmental geography.
The Geography cohort at King’s consists of about six students at any one time (we usually take two students a year). King’s offers a very rich intellectual environment with lectures, workshops, and cultural events on a huge variety of topics. Geography students take lectures in the Department along with supervisions organized either by the College or course convenors (especially in the second and third year). We also organize some events just for the King’s geographers such as dissertation presentations, writing workshops, and other activities.
The King’s geography community is truly a vibrant and welcoming space. From our termly journal club meetings, where geographers across the three years come together to debate fascinating and fresh research, to inspiring dissertation presentation evenings and social dinners, I think there is such a genuinely supportive and comforting atmosphere here at King’s.
- May, 2nd yearYou can watch a day in May's life here.
Careers and graduate opportunities
Geography is a pathway to many different career choices including environmental consultancy, education, planning, and law. Additionally, many of our students choose to undertake further study for a specialized Masters programme, either in Cambridge or at another university. Some of our students also decide to complete a PhD in order to pursue an academic career.
