Course Level: A LEVEL

Exam Board: AQA

Specification link: Click to View

Entry requirements: 5 GCSE's Grade 6 or above including Geography, English language, literature or history, 5+ mathematics.

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Course Description

A-Level Geography offers a mix of physical and human geography, helping you understand the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges. The course builds critical thinking, data analysis, and independent research skills through engaging topics and fieldwork.

You will explore three key areas:

  • Physical Geography (40% of the course) which cover topics such as water and carbon cycles, coastal systems and landscapes, and hazards (e.g. earthquakes, volcanoes, tropical storms)
  • Human Geography (40% of the course) which cover topics such as global systems and global governance, changing places and contemporary urban environments.
  • Geographical Investigation (20% of the course) This is an independent fieldwork-based investigation (3,000–4,000 words) on a topic of your choice.
Course Profile
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Career Pathways

Studying A-Level Geography opens doors to a wide range of university courses and careers. It’s especially valuable for degrees in Geography, Environmental Science, Urban Planning, International Relations, Geology, and Sustainability and Development Studies

Job Opportunities

Geography graduates are highly employable due to their analytical and problem-solving skills. Career options include:

  • Environmental Consultant
  • Urban or Town Planner
  • GIS Analyst or Cartographer
  • Sustainability Officer
  • Climate Change Researcher
  • International Aid Worker
  • Transport Planner
  • Tourism and Heritage Manager

Further Reading

Human Geography Reading List (e.g. Prisoners of Geography by Tim Marshall, The Power of the Sea by Bruce Parker)

Physical Geography Reading List (e.g. Adventures in the Anthropocene by Gaia Vince, The Control of Nature by John McPhee)

Super-curricular activities such as watching documentaries (e.g. Planet Earth, The True Cost) and reading articles from the Geographical Association or Royal Geographical Society