About us

Established in 1943, the Department of Geography has excellent facilities and resources which support a dynamic, thriving community. Our community includes policy-makers, planners, scientists, business and industry, charities and non-governmental organisations. We focus on key issues at home and abroad.  Read about our staff. 

Our current research projects include:  European freshwater eco-systems, climate change in the wetlands of Ireland, social dynamics in the Caribbean, building secure livlihoods for AIDS affected young people in Southern Africa, glacier dynamics in Russia, and ancient lakes in Libya.

In the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE 2008), 85% of our research was judged to be of international standing, with 35% being graded as internationally excellent, and a further 10% being awarded the highest accolade of 'world leading' (4*). This research excellence spans all of our areas of research activity, with particular strength in our world-leading research into aquatic environments.

In RAE 2008, 100% of our eligible academic and research staff were returned to the Geography and Environmental Studies Unit of Assessment. This places us in the top category for the proportion of staff returned in RAE 2008, and reflects the dynamic and inclusive research culture at Reading where all staff are supported and encouraged to develop their research interests and to convey this interest and enthusiasm to the students they teach.

Our teaching was rated excellent in the most recent Teaching Quality Assurance exercise, a view recently confirmed by the University's own Periodic Review. Our flexible undergraduate programme is based on four degree courses: Human Geography, Human and Physical Geography, Physical Geography and Geography and Economics (Regional Science).

At Masters level we offer the MSc in Research Human Geography and the MSc in Urban Sustainability

We have a thriving community of research students studying for PhDs.