Geography
With excellent written, numerical and analytical skills, studying geography opens up a wide range of career options. Learn about these options and how we can support you on your journey.
You may have chosen geography because of your enthusiasm for the subject rather than an in-depth consideration of the vocational choices available to you. However our graduates have found success across a wide variety of job sectors.
What skills will I gain during my degree?
In addition to your subject knowledge your geography degree equips you with key skills valued by employers:
- ability to use surveys and interpretive methods
- digital capabilities and data presentation and analysis
- written and oral professional communication
- analytical ability to handle data and statistics
- excellent research techniques (both quantitative and qualitative)
- problem solving and collaborating with others
- reflection and critical evaluation
- field work techniques
If you choose the Q-Step programme you will also develop excellent quantitative analysis and research skills.
What are my career options?
John Pearson, geography alumnus
John Pearson, geography alumnus and Head of the China Department, talks about:
- the career routes into the Foreign Office
- the work experience and skills that would be helpful when applying for a position
- how he uses the skills he developed during his degree in his day-to-day work
Emily Buddin, geography alumnus
Emily Buddin, Assistant Engineer at WSP, talks about:
- her interest in transport planning
- how she uses the skills developed during her geography degree in her job on a daily basis
Geography graduates enter a diverse range of occupations and courses. Some enter roles which have a direct correlation to their degree, for example:
- planning
- cartography
- property
- transport
- water supply
- the environmental sector.
Others have gone into:
- advertising, marketing and public relations
- accountancy
- management consultancy
- retail
- human resources and recruitment
Geography graduates secure positions across a diverse range of employment sectors but the most popular sectors are:
- public sector
- retail
- finance
- charity
- transport
- property management
- education
Career paths - explore roles and sectors
How can I develop my skills and gain experience during my degree?
Work experience
Depending on what area of work or role you might be interested in, and where, there will be specific strategies, from speculative applications to formal processes you need to be familiar with.
Work experience - what, how and when
Nottingham Internship Scheme
We work closely with a huge variety of local and national businesses to bring you an exciting range of internship opportunities, for both current students and recent graduates
Nottingham Internship Scheme
Nottingham Advantage Award
The Nottingham Advantage Award offers interesting extracurricular modules to develop your employability. With over more than 300 modules across our three campus in the UK, China and Malaysia.
Nottingham Advantage Award
Advice from Nottingham alumni
With our Career Mentoring programme, you can receive invaluable support via email from an alumnus while considering your career options. Choose a mentor in the career area that interests you and get a real insight into the sector.
Career Mentoring
Enhance your digital skills
Digital skills are essential in many career fields including advertising, publishing, marketing and general commerce. They range from social media to coding and will definitely enhance your employability.
Digital marketing careers
Students' Union
The Students’ Union offers a wide range of volunteering options both locally and internationally which you can fit around your studies.
Alternatively you could get involved in a society or sports club - there's so many, you're bound to find one that interests you!
Students' Union
Students in Classrooms
There are three initiatives which will give you the opportunity to work in a local educational setting. These initiatives support the academic attainment and raise the aspirations of primary and secondary pupils, whilst developing the skills and employability of those involved.
These are excellent opportunities for students considering teaching, youth work or community engagement as a career.
Students in Classrooms
Exchange programmes overseas
Undertake an exchange semester in another country and broaden your horizons. Talk to your tutors and find out more about the programmes available from the International Office.
Exchange programmes
Psychometric tests
Many graduate recruiters use psychometric tests during the recruitment and selection process. They are common across all sectors and career fields. Practise will really help your performance.
Use our example tests
Please be aware that study abroad, compulsory year abroad, optional placements/internships and integrated year in industry opportunities may change at any time for a number of reasons, including curriculum developments, changes to arrangements with partner universities or placement/industry hosts, travel restrictions or other circumstances outside of the university's control. Every effort will be made to update this information as quickly as possible should a change occur.
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