BSc Geography and Economics (International)
Overview
Our undergraduate combined honours programme is a long-established course that provides a thorough grounding in both geography and economics. The combination of geography and economics allows students to become proficient in two disciplines and apply cutting-edge research tools to address socially relevant problems.
Our world-leading economics department offers courses in micro and macroeconomics to acquire the basic concepts and methods of economics - laying the foundation for specialist options, ranging from environmental and development economics to money and banking. Within geography, you will explore an exciting range of global perspectives on contemporary issues. Economic geography modules focus on finance, labour, welfare and digital economies.
You will therefore be working across two top departments with all the benefits in terms of intellectual development that come with that. The BSc Economics and Geography International pathway offers the flexibility of our three-year BSc programme with an additional year abroad studying at one of our international partner institutions. You can transfer to the BSc Geography and Economics International pathway from the BSc Geography and Economics in your first year.
To remain on the International pathway, you must average a mark of 60% or more at the end of your first year.
Structure
Although students are allowed to emphasise the geography or economics side of their degree, we make sure that you are exposed to core disciplinary areas in both fields. Recognising that students will be from a diversity of arts and science backgrounds, the choice of courses in the first year is structured so that all students are brought up to speed with the skills required of the course. Students will also be introduced to some of the core concerns of contemporary geographers and economists as they start to identify their areas of interest.
In the second year, you will be exposed to the foundation topics in economics, micro and macroeconomics. These modules offer the necessary disciplinary knowledge and skills required for your third your modules. In geography you are given the opportunity to start specialising in any area of geography including economic, urban, development or physical geography depending on your interest. While most joint degree students in the past focused on human geography subjects, some specialised in environmental geography and climate change to complement their interest in environmental economics. Exposure to the key debates in geographic sub-disciplines will then be further developed in specialised year three options.
You will spend your third year abroad at an approved university. In the fourth year, you will again take a range of courses that match your interests. Building on your core knowledge acquired in the second-year economics modules, you are able to specialise in a diverse range of modules such as urban economics, environmental economics, game theory, finance and banking or development economics. You will select several advanced geography modules from a broad menu, which delve in-depth into areas such as finance, migration and housing. Once you have identified your favourite subjects it is possible for some of them to be studied from geographic and economic perspectives (such as environment and society in geography and environmental economics in economics). The ability to think and work across disciplines and approach problems from different perspectives provides unique insights and the skills necessary to succeed in a rapidly changing global economy.
Dissertations
Most Economics and Geography students do not take a dissertation in their final year, although it is possible to undertake a dissertation project for those that are interested.
How to apply
Applications for Undergraduate Programmes at UCL should be made through UCAS (the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service). Applicants currently at school or college will be provided with advice on the process; however, applicants who have left school or who are based outside the United Kingdom may obtain information directly from UCAS.
Please note you cannot apply directly to the BSc Geography and Economics International pathway via UCAS.
It is possible to transfer to the BSc Geography and Economics International pathway from the BSc Geography and Economics in your first year. To remain on the International pathway, you must average a mark of 60% or more at the end of your first year.
Please ensure you’ve read the guidelines and entry requirements for the Programme you wish to apply for before submitting your application. You can return to the Undergraduate Programmes page, if you wish to revisit the Programme overview and entry requirements.
Apply for Undergraduate Programmes
If you have any further queries about our Undergraduate Programmes, you can email geog.office@ucl.ac.uk. Please do read all the information online before contacting us as you may find the answer to your question online.
The admissions process of all our programmes is now centralised. Due to the large volume of applications our central admissions team receives, it may take a little while before a decision on your application can be returned. Please therefore do not be concerned if you don't hear back from us immediately.