Geography, Culture and Heritage BA (Hons)

What is special about this course?

Geography is the study of the Earth and the link between physical and human landscapes. It explores the relationships between people, place and the environment and how these vary across and between places. Our BA (Hons) Geography, Culture and Heritage considers these links from a humanities and social science perspective, focusing on issues such as land use, planning and development, globalisation, climate change, energy, and tourism, in order to examine human relationships with the environment as well as the subjects of key cultural, literary, linguistic, historical, musical and philosophical issues at a national and regional level.  

A degree in Geography, Culture and Heritage provides you with the knowledge and skills to understand many aspects of our rapidly changing world, equipping you to tackle real-world problems in a range of organisations and sectors, with the wide curriculum developing both specialist and transferable skills. You will also be able to immerse yourself in the wealth of fascinating culture and heritage that the Highlands and Islands of Scotland has to offer, and gain an understanding of its place in a global context.

Geography graduates are among the most employable, with skills developed in presenting ideas in reports and oral presentations, in data collection and analysis, and in the use of specialist mapping and statistical software.  

A significant number of Geography graduates move on to careers in finance, marketing and law, or to further postgraduate study, teaching and research. The knowledge and skills taught in this BA (Hons) Geography, Culture and Heritage degree are of relevance to many areas of employment, including: renewable energy; energy efficiency; waste management; tourism; rural and community development; agriculture; local government; planning; logistics; environmental agencies; primary and secondary teaching; interpretation; journalism and the media; heritage sector; museums; and government agencies. 

Please see our FAQ sheet for further information on this course.

Special features

• Join a course which can be studied from home anywhere in the world, full or part-time to suit your circumstances
• Delivered by tutors with years of experience of teaching at a distance, offering a high level of support
• Online learning materials available 24/7 via laptops, tablets or mobiles, including reading, videos and podcasts
• Optional study field trip to Iceland as well as opportunities for a student society residential trip in the Scottish Highlands
• Geography graduates have high levels of employability in a range of sectors

Entry requirements

• 3 Scottish Highers at grades BBC or above or
• 2 A levels at grades BC or above
• At least 2 should be from the list of required subjects
• Additional qualifications and experiences will be considered on an individual basis

Advanced entry

• HNC Social Science (12 SCQF credits) with 3 additional SCQF credits at level 7, which is equivalent to 120 degree credit points, and at least grade C in the Graded Unit, will be considered for direct entry to year two

Year 1 - CertHE

You will study the following modules:
Geography

• Introduction to human geography (S2)
• Overview of energy use (S1)

Plus two of the following modules:
Culture and Heritage

• Culture? Heritage? What? OR Scotland's music (S2)
• Scotland the brand OR What is culture? (S1)

You will also choose two further option modules from other humanities subjects.

Year 2 - DipHE

You will study the following modules:
Geography

• Atmosphere, weather and climate (S2)
• Introduction to geographical information systems (S2)

Plus two of the following modules:
Culture and Heritage

• Folklore OR Tradition, custom and belief (S1)
• Golden mead and burning hearts OR Languages on the edge OR Displaying the past: museum studies (S2)

You will also choose two further option modules from across the Humanities subject area, which includes our optional international field trip module, 'Sustainable development approaches in an international context'.

Year 3 - BA

You will usually study the following modules: 

Geography

• Assessment of the environmental impacts of development (S2)
• Climate change (S1)

Culture and Heritage

You will choose one of the following modules:

• Advanced social research methods (S1) OR Sustainable tourism and the environment (S2) 

Plus two of the following modules:

• Celtic and Celtic revival art in Scotland 600-2000 (S2)
• Interdisciplinary project (S1)
• Scotland in film (S1)
• Scottish enlightenment and Highland society (S2)
• Perceptions of heritage (S2)

Year 4 - BA (Hons)

You will complete a dissertation in either Geography or Culture and Heritage. 

You will also study one option module from your chosen dissertation subject, plus three option modules from the other subject.

Geography
Modules may include:

• Agroecology: regenerative food systems (S2)
• Geopolitical development issues (S1)
• Sustainable energy and waste minimisation (S1)

Culture and Heritage
Modules may include:

• Faeries and fables: the story of Gaelic literature (S1)
• Highland journeys (S2)
• Scottish tradition in philosophy (S1)
• Vikings and Valkyries (S2)

Fees

For students normally domiciled in Scotland, with a term-time address in Scotland, the following fees apply:

This includes

• EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status in the UK,
• EEA/Swiss nationals with settled status in the UK
• EEA/Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

Rest of the UK students

For students normally domiciled in the rest of the UK (England, Wales and N. Ireland) or assessed as rest of the UK for fee status the following fees apply:

International students

For students who do not normally reside in the UK studying online from their home country, or living in the UK but assessed as international for fee status, the following fees apply:

This includes EU/EEA and Swiss nationals without settled status in the UK and EEA and Swiss nationals with pre-settled status who are not self-employed or migrant workers in the UK.

A no fee increase guarantee is available for self-funding full-time and structured part-time rest of the UK and international undergraduate students for continuous study for the same award, up to the permitted standard time limit for the relevant award.

Funding

UHI has a number of scholarships, bursaries, awards, and discretionary fund opportunities available to new and current students. Please use the A-Z of funds or use the filter to see which ones may be relevant to you. All students are welcome to apply.

Further information on funding your studies is also available, please see the attached link or contact the relevant UHI partner.

Additional costs

This course includes an option to attend student society residential trips and an optional international field trip to Iceland. You will be required to  pay a contribution towards the cost of the residential and international trips. Further information is available upon request. Attendance at such face to face events is optional and not essential for completion of the course.