Geography and Planning BA Honours Newcastle University

Study Human Geography alongside issues relating to Urban Planning to understand the challenges of our cities and contribute to future societies.

You'll learn about the social forces that shape our society and the spaces we live in and discover techniques for ‘reading’ cities and spaces.

Our renowned experts will guide you through the practices of public planning and design, and help you explore the political and democratic factors that influence it, setting the foundations for your career.

The degree integrates core areas from our geography and urban planning degrees to equip you with strong analytical and practical skills.

Your first year is professionally accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute.

Professional accreditation and recognition

Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)

Stage 1 of this degree is accredited by the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI). Some students particularly enjoy the planning element of this degree and decide they’d like to become town planners. The accredited first year means you’re eligible to transfer to our Master of Planning MPlan Honours or Urban Planning BA Honours degree if this is something you decide you’d like to pursue.

Work placement

Get career ready with work placement and leave as a confident professional in your field. You can apply to spend 9 to 12 months working in any organisation in the world, and receive University support from our dedicated team to secure your dream placement. Work placements take place between stages 2 and 3.

You'll gain first-hand experience of working in the sector, putting your learning into practice and developing your professional expertise.

If you choose to take a work placement, it will extend your degree by a year, and your degree title will show you have achieved the placement year. A work placement is not available if you're spending a year studying abroad. Placements are subject to availability.

Study abroad

Experience life in another country by choosing to study abroad as part of your degree. You’ll be encouraged to embrace fun and challenging experiences, make connections with new communities and graduate as a globally aware professional, ready for your future.

In Stage 2 you can choose to spend a whole semester studying in Europe as part of a study abroad exchange.

• 15th in the UK – The Guardian University Guide 2023 (Construction, Surveying and Planning category)
• Global Top 125 University - QS World University Rankings 2023
• Top 50 for Geography - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2022
• 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• 1st in the UK and 8th in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022
• Top 150 for Social Sciences – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2022
• Global Top 140 University - Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2023

Stage 1

We’ll introduce you to the study of planning and geography through subjects such as planning theory and systems, and urban, regional, social and environmental issues.

Compulsory Modules

• Interconnected World 20
• Human Geographies of the UK 20
• Geographical Analysis 20
• Planning Processes 10
• Economics of Development I 10
• Shaping Towns and Cities 20
• Disciplinary and professional perspectives on planning 20
• Community Building 0

Stage 2

You can specialise by choosing a range of topics from the geography and planning disciplines. You'll also undertake research training and will have the opportunity to develop employment skills.

Compulsory Modules

• Research Skills 20
• Community Building 0

Optional Modules

• Political Geography 20
• Economic Geography 20
• Development & Globalisation 20
• Social Geographies 20
• Career Development for second-year students 20
• Houses and Homes 20
• Design & Neighbourhood 20
• Researching Local Economies 20
• Understanding Cities 20
• Urban Poverty: A Global Perspective 20
• Digital Civics 20
• Urban Infrastructures: A Lens on the City 20
• Study Visit 20
• Global Course on Institutional Design for Spatial Planning 20

Stage 3

You can continue to specialise by choosing in-depth modules on geography and planning topics, and you'll complete a dissertation on a topic of interest to you. You will also have a further opportunity to develop your employability skills.

Compulsory Modules

• Dissertation 40
• Community Building 0

Optional Modules

• Climate Literacy: From philosophies to practice 20
• Geopolitics 20
• Geographies of Money 20
• Local and Regional Development 20
• Mapping the City 20
• Geographies of Race and Nation 20
• Geographies of Sustainable Production and Consumption 20
• Humanitarianism and Health Inequalities 20
• Career Development for final year students 20
• Strategies into Action: Planning 20
• Development Management 20
• Planning Theory and Politics 20
• Erasmus Exchange 40
• Disasters, Monsters and Mess 20
• Strategies Into Action: Urban Design 20
• Food: Space and Polity 20
• Contemporary Planning Issues 20

Join our network of confident and successful graduates who have gone on to work as planners or surveyors and you can take advantage of our departmental links with organisations such as Transport for London, White Young Green and the Association of European Schools of Planning.

93% of our Geography and Planning BA Hons graduates were employed or in further study within six months of graduating with an average salary of £25,000*.

*Destinations of (undergraduate, UK and EU) Leavers from Higher Education Survey 2016/2017

Graduates in demand

You will leave with sought-after skills, including teamwork, project management, research and presentation skills, and therefore will have access to a wide variety of careers.

A Geography and Planning degree from Newcastle will ensure you develop the skills that employers look for and can open the doors to a wide range of careers.