Geography
With the opportunity to develop 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
What are my career options?
Geography graduates can enter a diverse range of occupations and courses. These could be careers with a direct correlation to their degree, for example:
- town planning
- cartography
- property
- transport
- water supply
- environmental consultancy
- sustainability consultancy
- the environmental sector.
There are also a range of career options in many sectors of employment which are available to graduates from any degree subject. These could include:
- 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
What do graduates from my course go on to do?
Nottingham Geography graduates have gone onto a range of different careers both directly related to their studies such as;
- sustainability adviser
- geography teacher
- geo technology engineer
and roles which are not as directly related to geography, including;
- marketing
- HR
- project management
By using the Graduate Outcomes Survey tool below you can see the careers fellow geography graduates went into after graduating.
Graduate Outcomes is a national survey capturing the activities and perspectives of graduates launched in 2018 and is the biggest annual social survey in the UK.
You can view the destinations of graduates, who completed the survey, from your course by booking an appointment with an adviser. This can help you to explore your options if you are unsure what you want to do.
Find out more about the Graduate Outcomes survey
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
Through the completion of extracurricular modules, the Nottingham Advantage Award helps you develop key life and work-based skills and reflect on your experiences, allowing you to demonstrate your achievements and skills more effectively when applying for jobs.
Nottingham Advantage Award
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
Apply for part-time jobs through us
We advertise part-time, casual and temporary jobs on campus and with local businesses. Created just for you, the advertised vacancies can fit around your studies and other commitments.
The vacancies are advertised in two places.
On-campus jobs
Off-campus jobs
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.