this programme offers the flexibility of our three-year bsc programme with an additional year abroad studying at one of our international partner institutions. the geography bsc and ba share core elements and it is your personal interests and the options you wish to pursue that should shape your choice. those choosing the bsc will usually have studied natural or physical science or subjects at a-level or equivalent but may transfer to the ba if their interests develop in this direction or (at the start of year 1) to the bsc geography with social data science route if they have the required grades, including a-level maths. in our foundational year 1, you enroll in two large modules that teach a wide range of core geographic skills and knowledge. these modules include fieldwork components, while you also learn about core concepts of geography as a scientific discipline across physical and human geography dimensions. in addition, you can either take the module “global events” or select one module from outside the department. in year 2, one or two compulsory modules are supplemented by six or seven optional modules selected from a substantial pool, including field classes. we put a lot of emphasis on research design this year. at this point, you may begin to focus on topics such as environmental and conservation management, remote sensing, geomorphology, and climate change. you may also take one module from outside the department. you spend year 3 abroad at an approved university. your dissertation is the main focus of year 4, working with an academic supervisor to develop an original piece of research on a topic of your choice. in addition, you can take further optional modules, including one from outside the department should you wish to. please note: if you transfer onto the bsc geography with social data science route, you will take slightly different compulsory modules that specifically focus on quantitative methods and data analysis.