Geography at Oxford

Geography at Oxford

Dr Lorraine Wild

Why is Oxford special?The School of Geography and the Environment has been ranked in the top three Geographydepartments in the 2015 Research Excellent Framework (REF).

• Integrates human and physical geography

• Opportunity to specialise / interdisciplinary focus

• Lectures, practical classes, weekly tutorials and fieldwork

• First class facilities, resources and libraries

• Contact with international experts in the department’s research clusters

• Cutting edge research feeds into undergraduate teaching

Why is Oxford special ?

• Need to have an interest in both physical and human geography (will be asked about both at interview)

• Need to be happy to work independently

• Need to be willing to work hard

Will Oxford suit you ?

Year 1 Preliminary Examination

Four written examinationsFieldwork report1,500 word essay

Years 2 & 3 Final Honour School

Six written examinationsFieldwork report (4,500 words)3 submitted essays (4,500 words each)Dissertation (12,000 words)

Course Structure

7 – 8 hours per week for 1st years4 – 5 hours per week for 2nd and 3rd years

1.5 hours per week for 1st years on geographical techniquesBibliographic skills training / geographical techniques practicals for 2ndyears 

2 one‐day fieldtrips in Oxford for 1st years1 two‐week residential fieldtrip in late Spring for 2nd years Independent dissertation fieldwork during the summer of your 2nd year

Generally 1 tutorial per week 

Geographical controversies folder, fieldwork reports, 3 x 4,500 word extended essays, 1 x 12,000 word dissertation.

Teaching and Learning Components

Lectures

Practicals

Tutorials

Fieldwork

Independent Learning

• Earth Systems Processes• Human Geography• Geographical Techniques• Geographical Controversies

Year 1 – First Public Examination (Prelims)

Course Structure (first year)

• Introduction to Earth Systems Processes 

• Geomorphology • Tectonics, geology and geomorphology, fluvial and 

dryland environments

• Climatology • Atmospheric composition• Mechanisms and variability of the climate 

• Ecology • Energetic and biogeochemical controls • The changing geography of life • Understanding biodiversity across continents and islands 

Earth System Processes

Human Geography

Geographies of space and place place; landscape; territory;  East‐West; North‐South human/non‐human; sustainability

Geographies of Networks and Mobilities historical geographies of globalisation;  commodity networks transnationalism

Geographies of power, identity and inequality citizenship social and spatial exclusion ethnicity, race and nationalism

Statistics for geographers• Descriptive and spatial statistics, hypothesis testing, 

correlations, regression – examples from human and physical geography

Methods and applications in physical geography• Flood risk analysis; species distribution modelling; analysing 

climate data; analysing plant communities

Methods and applications in human geography• interviews; participant observation; archival research; 

discourse analysis; analysing visual material

Geographical TechniquesFirst week of Michaelmas term: 3 day residential fieldtrip in 

physical geography

Fieldwork in Oxford for human geography

Source: Google Images

The course focuses on the importance of a critical understanding of the use of evidence and data in geographical argument. 

The kinds of questions the course asks:

Students submit a practical folder as part of their assessment, containing a PowerPoint presentation and a 1,500 word essay on a geographical controversy.

•What is most important in scientific enquiry: data or theories?•How are different kinds of evidence used in the resolution of controversies?

Examples of controversies: GM crops; climate change; Gaia ‘theory’; Plate Tectonics

Geographical Controversies

Geographical Research – including skills workshops and residential fieldtrip

Earth System Dynamics

Option 12nd year

Option 23rd year

Environmental Geography

Option 33rd year

Dissertation

Space, Place & Society

Final Honour School Course (years 2 & 3)Course Structure (years 2 and 3)

• European Integration• Geographies of Finance• African Societies• Northlands: Peoples and 

Politics• Spaces of Culture• Transport and Mobilities• Geographies of Nature• Contemporary Urban Life

Note: These optional subjects are either currently offered or are being planned for next year. Not all subjects may be offered in any one year.

Human Geography Options

• Biogeography, Biodiversity and Conservation

• Climate Change and Variability• Climate Impacts and Adaptations• Complexity• Desert Landscapes and Dynamics• Island Life• Heritage Science and Conservation

Note: These optional subjects are either currently offered or are being planned for next year. Not all subjects may be offered in any one year.

Physical and Environmental Geography Options

Dissertation Topics – 12,000 word primary research projects

• Good academic record – but no fixed criteria about number of GCSE A* or AS grades

• Those with a genuine interest in the subject which goes beyond simply learning what teachers tell you

• Willingness to apply knowledge and skills to new situations and issues  

What kind of student are we looking for?

14 Oxford colleges admit Geography students: Brasenose, Christ Church, Hertford, Jesus, Keble, Mansfield, Regent’s Park, St. Anne’s, 

St. Catherine’s, St. Edmund Hall, St. Peter’s, St. John’s, St. Hilda’s, Worcester.

• A*AA at A – LevelGeography not an absolute requirement. The A* does not need to be in geography 

• IB 39 points, 766 at Higher level

80‐85 undergraduates admitted each year

The Admissions Process (i)

• 15th October submit UCAS form and register to take TSA. It is not possible to register for the TSA after this date

• 2nd November take TSA

• Early December notification of selection for interview

• Interviews 12th‐14th December

• Mid January   decisions sent to applicants

The Admissions Process (ii)

All candidates must take the TSA pre‐interview test on 2nd November 2016at their school or local test centre. For more information about the TSA see:http://www.admissionstestingservice.org/for‐test‐takers/thinking‐skills‐assessment/tsa‐oxford/about‐tsa‐oxford/It is up to each candidate to register separately for the TSA. Don’t rely on your school to do this – check you have been entered

Candidates who do not take the TSA will not be called for interview unless special circumstances apply

The TSA is not a geography test but a test of your potential 

Past papers available from the Admissions Testing Service website 

The Admissions Process (iii)

Sample TSA section 1 question

Sample TSA section 2:  30 minute essay

Selection for interview

Candidates are selected for interview if they are above threshold on ONE of the criteria. In 2014 & 2015 the TSA threshold was 59%. Approx 10% of those interviewed had 5A* or fewer at GCSE

University guideline: 3 candidates to be interviewed for each place

The top candidates (3 x number of places) are selected for interview, irrespective of college

Candidates are re‐allocated before interview to ensure that each college interviews 3 candidates per place 

Applicants in 2015• 345 applicants• 247 called for interview• 90 places offered for 2016• 74 candidates were reallocated before interview 

Selection for interview

Choice of college is not important –

• It makes no difference to a student’s experience of the course

• It makes no difference to chances of being accepted

• All colleges have sports teams, music and drama, and all of the University activities are open to all students

• In 2015 24% of successful candidates gained an offer at a college other than the one to which they applied

College choice

Decisions are solely based on academic criteria – e.g. work experience may give you a better understanding of some geographical issues but is not itself taken into account in your application

Personal statement is NOT part of the assessment

Uniform A*AA offer (IB 39 or 40 pts)

We have no preference for particular A levels

Offers are based on 3 A levels – no advantage in taking more

Taking the EPQ may broaden your academic knowledge but it is not itself taken into account in the decision. Offers will never include the EPQ

Applications for deferred entry considered on the same basis as other applications. It is slightly harder to get a place for deferred entry  

FAQs

Visit us on the web:www.geog.ox.ac.uk/undergraduatewww.admissions.ox.ac.uk

Get in touch:School of Geography, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, South Parks    Road, Oxford, OX1 3QYundergraduate.enquiries@geog.ox.ac.uk

Where can I find out more?