Geography

• See also: Department of Geography website
• Geography at Murray Edwards College - what are we looking for?

All undergraduates reading Geography at Cambridge follow a tripos that begins with a wide range of courses before doing more specialist courses in their final (third) year. The Geography Tripos thus creates a broad-ranging basis from which students build upon their specialised interests in their final year. The final year's depth of study is reflected in the dissertation, a compulsory component of Part II. All students of the Cambridge Geography Department attend lectures and practicals at the departmental building in the Downing Site.

Murray Edwards College's capacity to enable students to do well in the Geography Tripos rests upon a sound basis. Murray Edwards College provides a consistently strong footing for students' geographical studies with its spacious and well-stocked library containing an extensive and up-to-date collection of geography-related material, a senior Department staff member as the Geography Fellow, Dr Poul Christoffersen, and a proven ability to encourage the best in undergraduate students. Murray Edwards College arranges students' supervisions in pairs (sometimes threes) on a weekly basis; at the start, these are run by college Fellows (which permits students to become confident in essay writing and supervision discussions), and then as students pursue more specialised courses, Murray Edwards College arranges supervisions with relevant academics in the department and other colleges.

In Murray Edwards College we have an average of twelve students studying Geography. Because of the relatively small numbers admitted, each student receives a considerable amount of personal attention and guidance. Over the past ten years, two-thirds of students studying geography at Murray Edwards College attained an upper second in their Final examination, while a further one-eighth gained a First. Also in recent years, we have been delighted to see around one-third of first and second year students achieve a First class in their summer exams.

Geography at Murray Edwards College - what are we looking for?

Geography comprises an exciting, wide-ranging and dynamic discipline which unites environmental, physical and social sciences. Geography addresses questions of policy relevance, theory and social change, and based upon close examination of evidence, it debates these questions critically. Geography at Cambridge involves being willing and able to take on board new ideas, innovative methods, and pressing social issues. In order to choose appropriate candidates to read Geography, we must take the nature of the contemporary discipline into account, and candidates are interviewed to assess their diverse qualities and interests as potential geographers. Whether students express a preference for Physical or Human Geography or have no marked preference, we look for an interest in geographical issues broadly defined.

The admissions interview permits us to assess many qualities which are not easily quantified but can perhaps be summarised as follows: In our assessment we include a serious consideration of the GCSE and A-level grades (achieved and predicted), or A-level equivalents such as the International Baccalaureate. This is not only to assess how well the candidate has done in geography courses but also more generally to indicate how well the candidate can perform in competitive examination conditions, and use their critical faculties. Although the Geography Tripos now includes some assessed coursework, the emphasis remains on examinations at the end of each academic year. We do not look for a particular combination of A-level subjects (or their equivalent) - some students have done Arts and Humanities in combination with geography, while others have done Natural and Mathematical Sciences; what matters is the capacity for lateral and original thought. However, most of our students will have chosen to study Geography at A2 level.

At interview, we also discuss students' coursework, as this allows an examination of the candidate's ability to carry out independent research and bibliographic work, and present it clearly. These qualities are crucial for the independent undergraduate dissertation in Part II of the Tripos, which is done on a topic chosen by the individual and carried out on her own. Otherwise, our criteria include a lively intelligence and an enthusiasm for the subject, which links the academic side of the discipline to its relevance to wider concerns in the world. An ideal candidate will have a clear, lively and independent mind, and an ability to present points well both in discussion and on paper. We are looking for students who read widely and intelligently, and who have an ability to think about contemporary and historical developments in geographical terms, and with an eye for detail. She will also be able to combine, and feel confident with, statistical or computer-based analysis, an understanding of society and social relations, and an ability to read critically. In addition, geographers, during their course and beyond, are often required to work together with others (students or members of the public) so an enjoyment of such social interaction is an advantage.

What students do next

Other web pages show more about the careers of students from this College who studied your subject in the past.

Checked by ER, August 2011