Career opportunities

Geography

A degree in Geography arms you with the ability to see the big picture. The intellectual, technical skills and team working skills gained during the course can be applied to a wide range of careers; in education, commerce, government and environmental consultancy.

Alongside your geography studies, you will also learn how to plan for your future career, the compulsory second year module career development skills covers aspects of career planning, including self-awareness, career opportunities, writing a CV and attending interviews.

Recent graduates have been employed as transport analysts, recruitment consultants, regional planning officers, GIS specialists, and environmental scientists and consultants e.g. flood warning officer, environmental engineer. Around 17% of our students continue their studies, to specialise further or to qualify to teach (PGCE).

Read more about career options with a Geography degree

Environmental Science

The need for professional environmental scientists with a sound scientific background continues to grow and opportunities for graduates from this degree include employment by environmental consultancies, water companies, as well as waste disposal and pollution monitoring companies. Many of our graduates undertake a specialised MSc course, e.g. in hydrogeology, basin analysis, renewable resources, environmental science before entering employment or a research career. Recent graduates have entered employment with companies as varied as AWE, Deloitte & Touche (Petroleum Division), Centre for Alternative Technology, BAE Systems, Remedx, Thames Water and Jacobs Engineering.

Kit Joseph graduated with an Upper Second in 2002 and was immediately employed by BAE Systems.

'As a project engineer for

BAE Systems Environmental Services I was involved in the decommissioning and remediation of former military properties. BAE Systems are recognised as experts in dealing with the key issues surrounding defence-related 'brownfield' sites. These may include explosives contamination, Unexploded Ordnance (UXO), Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA), asbestos and radiological contamination. As a member of the team I gained experience in dealing with specialised and often sensitive environmental issues in the most cost-effective way. I was also security cleared, enabling me to work on sites of a sensitive nature (e.g. chemical warfare agent manufacturing facilities & MoD armament storage facilities). In order to carry out this work I received a great deal of training, achieving many qualifications including a City in Guilds in Explosives Safety Management (ESM) and demolition. The skills and knowledge I obtained from my Environmental Science degree at the University of Reading fully equipped me for all of the challenges that I faced in the demanding and competitive career arena.'

Read more about career options with an Environmental Science degree