BSc Geography and Economics (Regional Science)
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UCAS code
LL17 -
A level offer
BBB -
Year of entry
2025/26 -
Course duration
Full Time: 3 Years
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Year of entry
2025/26 -
Course duration
Full Time: 3 Years
Explore concepts of economics and human geography – from globalisation, consumerism and sustainability, to the handling of epidemics and political and economic responses to climate change – with our BSc Geography and Economics (Regional Science) degree.
You’ll address challenges across a range of scales – local, regional, national and global – from the spatial implications of economic processes, to the economic impact of social processes.
Develop your knowledge and expertise as you critically analyse:
- how resources are allocated and used, and the consequences for social and economic wellbeing
- the impact of consumerism and sustainability
- issues of work, employment and development
- how neighbourhoods and urban spaces are regenerated
- the application of micro-economics and macro-economics to globalisation.
We’ll support you to develop subject-specific and transferable skills, including:
- GIS and remote sensing
- modelling and cartography
- statistical and numerical analyses
- research techniques, including quantitative analysis, interviewing and ethnographic approaches
- teamwork, communication, and leadership.
Throughout your degree, you’ll have the opportunity to shape your learning and follow your individual interests through our wide range of optional modules.
Choose geography at the University of Reading
- Study at the UK’s leading university for environmental and ethical performance (the University of Reading is ranked 1st in the People and Planet University League, 2023/24)
- The University is among the top ten UK universities for Environmental Sciences in world rankings (Reading is 9th out of the UK universities ranked in the QS World University Rankings by Subject, 2024, Environmental Sciences).
- Ranked 3rd in the UK for research power in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences (Times Higher Education, Institutions Ranked by Subject, based on its analysis of the latest REF 2021)
- In 2023, the University of Reading was the first ever winner of the Times Higher Education (THE) award for Outstanding Contribution to Environmental Leadership.
Your learning environment
At Reading, you’ll work with internationally renowned academics.We address important and topical socioeconomic issues, creating research outputs that have been used by policy makers, which span:
- neighbourhood regeneration
- UK housing reform
- resilience and sustainability
- the gender wage gap
- food and consumerism in the media
- effects of migrant communities on social cohesion.
Our research has real-world application and feeds directly into our teaching, allowing you to study current topics of interest:
- Dr Stefania Lovo teaches the first-year module, Economics of Climate Change, which she updates each year to incorporate her research on climate change adaptation.
- Dr Sally Lloyd-Evans teaches the third-year module, Global Justice, Labour and Development, and uses real-world examples to engage her students in key issues such as child labour and precarious work.
Our main campus is the real hub of University of Reading life. Set in 130 hectares of stunning parkland, it offers plenty of places to eat, shop, study and socialise. The site has received 14 consecutive Green Flag awards, recognising it as one of Britain’s top green spaces. The scenic campus includes a lake, woodlands and the popular Harris Garden – all available for students, staff and the local community to enjoy.
Field classes
One of the most popular aspects of our BSc Geography and Economics (Regional Science) course is its field classes.
All of our compulsory field classes are heavily subsidised by the Department, and the cost of the first-year Southern England class and second-year Scotland class are included in your fees.
We currently offer field classes to:
Year one- Southern England - study a range of social, cultural, economic and environmental issues.
- Stirling, Scotland - expand your knowledge of geomorphology, environmental change and nature restoration.
- Berlin, Germany - explore neighbourhood spaces and social history.
- Iceland - study volcanic processes and glaciology, energy resources, and the history of the landscape.
- Nanjing, China - improve your understanding of approaches used to address a range of environmental issues.
- Southern England and Wales - explore the inter-relationships between a range of social, economic and environmental problems.
Placements with BSc Geography and Economics (Regional Science)
You will have the opportunity to enhance your employability by applying for professional work placements. You can:
- opt for a research placement and work directly on a current academic project
- build your network with a summer placement or a two-week work experience
- take an integrated year in industry, between your second and final year, supported by our dedicated placement team.
Previous students have applied for placements with the Government Economic Service, supporting professional economists in a range of government departments, or joined accountancy or consulting firms to gain experience in the private sector.
You will also benefit from staff links with industry, including NGOs, local authorities and government departments.
Students have recently worked with organisations such as:
- The Environment Agency
- The Earth Trust
- Department of Education
- Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy
- Bank of England
- Deloitte
- NHS England
- IBM.
Study Abroad
Our Departments enjoy active links with approved partner universities in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America.
In the autumn semester of your final year, you will have the chance to apply to study abroad – either in the Netherlands (Groningen), Denmark (Aarhus), or Norway (University of Bergen or Svalbard).
All classes are conducted in English and bursaries are available to help with travel and accommodation costs.
Visit the Study Abroad website for more information.