MSc Human Geography: Society and Space
- MSc
Overview
We urgently need new ways of thinking about society and space, as we face the profound global challenges of climate change, overconsumption, energy transition, and political conflict. Human geography provides invaluable insights into the interconnections between these crises. By examining the relationships between places, people, and environments, human geography can unveil social, political, and cultural dynamics that often go unnoticed. Geographical perspectives reveal both subtle and overt injustices and inequalities, and can theorise bold and creative frameworks for better futures. Human geography is a dynamic field, holding profound influence over current debates in the social sciences, humanities, and policy.
The MSc in Human Geography: Society & Space provides you with a robust grounding in social theory, combined with options for expert training in qualitative, quantitative, and digital research methods. We welcome a diverse array of students from different subject backgrounds interested in the cutting-edge of theoretical and empirical discussions in human geography today, for example debates around affect, embodiment, and materiality, creative and experimental methodologies, decolonial and postcolonial geographies, and feminist approaches.
Since its foundation in 1992, this prestigious programme has been a world leader in delivering innovative research in contemporary human geography. It has trained a number of leading figures in geography today, and it has equipped students to succeed beyond academia, in arts and heritage, policy and advocacy, and social justice and community work.
The School of Geographical Sciences is ranked first in the UK for 'Geography and Environmental Studies' research (Times Higher Education analysis of REF 2021) and has an outstanding reputation for teaching and learning.
As a student on our MSc programmes, you’ll join a lively School and University community. We host invited speakers in weekly seminars organised by our School’s academic research groups. These friendly events are open to all students and offer you the opportunity to meet other students and leading specialists in a range of subjects. Research groups may also host social events, run specialist workshops and organise reading groups you are welcome to join.
Our postgraduate social calendar is also busy, with social events and activities for members including film screenings, writing retreats, field visits, and guided tours of cultural institutions. We also organise get-togethers for our students throughout the year to mark the major milestones in your programme and celebrate your success.
Programme structure
The programme’s mandatory units introduce key ideas and techniques to give you a rigorous grounding in social theory and mainstream debates and techniques in human geography. Your optional units provide the opportunity to shape your MSc programme to suit your research interests.
Your taught units offer a thorough training in qualitative and quantitative research methods, with options to specialise your research training in preparation for your independent research dissertation, carried out during the summer months and supported by an academic supervisor.
Visit our programme catalogue for full details of the structure and unit content for our MSc in Human Geography: Society and Space.
Entry requirements
You will typically need an upper second-class honours degree or international equivalent in:
- Anthropology
- Architecture
- Communication Studies
- Criminology
- Cultural Studies
- Economics
- English Literature
- Environmental Humanities
- Geography
- History
- International Relations
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Psychology
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Teaching.
We will consider your application if your interim grades are currently slightly lower than the programme's entry requirements and may make you an aspirational offer. This offer would be at the standard level, so you would need to achieve the standard entry requirements by the end of your degree. Specific module requirements would still apply.
We will also consider your application if your final overall achieved grade is slightly lower than the programme's entry requirement.
If your achieved grade is lower than our entry requirements, your application may be more likely to receive an offer if you have additional relevant work experience or qualifications. If you have at least one of the following, please include your CV (curriculum vitae / résumé) when you apply, showing:
- evidence of relevant paid or unpaid work experience in think tanks, public sector research agencies, work in social/political research institute or a foundation degree or diploma in social sciences, philosophy, humanities, cultural studies, or social theory.
- a relevant postgraduate qualification in Social Sciences or from one of the accepted subjects listed above.
See international equivalent qualifications on the International Office website.
Read the programme admissions statement for important information on entry requirements, the application process and supporting documents required.
If English is not your first language, you will need to reach the requirements outlined in our profile level B.
Further information about English language requirements and profile levels.
Fees and funding
- Home: full-time
- £14,800 per year
- Home: part-time
- £7,400 per year
- Overseas: full-time
- £32,600 per year
Fees are subject to an annual review. For programmes that last longer than one year, please budget for up to an 8% increase in fees each year.
More about tuition fees, living costs and financial support.
Alumni discount
University of Bristol students and graduates can benefit from a 25% reduction in tuition fees for postgraduate study. Check your eligibility for an alumni discount.
Funding and scholarships
Depending on eligibility, applicants may be able to apply for the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme, University of Bristol Think Big Postgraduate Scholarship, Bristol Master's Scholarship, or the School of Geographical Sciences' own Phyllis Mary Morris Bursaries.
Further information on funding for prospective UK and international postgraduate students.
Career prospects
An MSc from Bristol greatly enhances your employment prospects.
This programme equips you for a career in high-level public research, business or the creative industries, and provides outstanding academic training for prospective PhD students and those seeking a master's-level qualification.
Graduates from this programme have progressed to a variety of careers, including academia, journalism and writing, urban and town planning, housing justice, food poverty initiatives, creating startup businesses, the third sector and research. Around 40% of our graduates go on to pursue further research training through a PhD.
Contact us
- Contact
- Enquiries Team
- Phone
- +44 (0) 117 394 1649
- choosebristol-pg@bristol.ac.uk