Sciences
What can you do with a Geography degree?
Quick answer
A Geography degree commonly leads to roles such as gIS technician, planning assistant and environmental consultant (entry). One year after graduating, Geography graduates had median earnings of £24,500 (DfE LEO, 2023–24 tax year). The largest employer sector for Geography, earth and environmental studies graduates is professional, scientific and technical services (27.8% of those in work).
Geography spans human and physical systems, GIS, and fieldwork. Graduates often start in planning, environment, and data roles. Official figures appear when an extract is loaded.
- Median pay after 1 year
- £24,500
- Top employer sector
- Professional, scientific and technical services
- Graduates in latest cohort
- 850
On this page
What jobs can you get with a Geography degree?
Graduates commonly start as gIS technician, planning assistant, environmental consultant (entry) or sustainability assistant. Geography also builds skills that employers outside the obvious routes ask for, so many graduates move into roles that do not name the subject at all.
GIS technician
Maintains spatial data, runs standard geoprocessing, and produces maps for a project team.
Skills these adverts often ask for
- layers
- metadata
- map outputs
Planning assistant
Skills these adverts often ask for
- application checks
- neighbour comments
- site photos
Environmental consultant (entry)
Skills these adverts often ask for
- desk studies
- site notes
- permit support
Sustainability assistant
Skills these adverts often ask for
- carbon data entry
- policy tracking
- staff comms
Role examples and skills are CourseToJob editorial guidance, not a guarantee of a job. Pay for individual roles varies by employer and location; we do not attach a salary to a role unless an official source publishes one.
Where do Geography graduates work?
Five years after graduating, the largest employer sectors for Geography, earth and environmental studies graduates in UK employment were professional, scientific and technical services (27.8%), education (13.7%) and public administration and defence (11.5%). One year after graduating, the most common sector was professional, scientific and technical services (27.4%).
| Industry sector | Share of graduates in work | Median earnings in that sector |
|---|---|---|
| Professional, scientific and technical services | 27.8% | £36,200 |
| Education | 13.7% | £32,900 |
| Public administration and defence | 11.5% | £34,800 |
| Information and communication | 6% | £42,800 |
| Finance and insurance | 5.7% | £52,700 |
| Administrative and support services | 5.6% | £36,600 |
| Wholesale and retail | 5.2% | £32,200 |
| Health and social work | 4% | £29,600 |
Most common specific industries
- Architectural and engineering activities and related technical consultancy — 13.7% of graduates in work, median £34,000
- Administration of the State and the economic and social policy of the community — 8.4% of graduates in work, median £34,800
- Primary education — 5.5% of graduates in work, median £32,900
- Secondary education — 5.1% of graduates in work, median £34,400
- Management consultancy activities — 4.1% of graduates in work, median £43,200
- Computer programming; consultancy and related activities — 3.4% of graduates in work, median £45,000
How much do Geography graduates earn?
Official dataGeography graduates had median earnings of £24,500 one year after graduating and Not published five years after graduating in the 2023–24 tax year.
| Years after graduating | Median earnings | Middle half earned | In work or further study | All-subject median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year after graduatingGraduated 2021/2022 | £24,500DfE LEO, Tax year 2023-24 | £19,800–£29,300 | 90% | £26,400 |
| 3 years after graduatingGraduated 2019/2020 | £30,000DfE LEO, Tax year 2023-24 | £26,000–£35,900 | 91.3% | £30,000 |
| 5 years after graduatingGraduated — | Not published | Not published | Not published | £33,700 |
| 10 years after graduatingGraduated — | Not published | Not published | Not published | — |
How one-year earnings have changed
Which universities have the highest-earning Geography, earth and environmental studies graduates?
Among universities in our index with at least 50 Geography, earth and environmental studies graduates measured, Imperial College London had the highest median earnings five years after graduating (£54,000), followed by University of Oxford (£51,200) and University of Cambridge (£46,100).
| University | Median earnings | Graduates measured |
|---|---|---|
| Imperial College London | £54,000 | 55 |
| University of Oxford | £51,200 | 90 |
| University of Cambridge | £46,100 | 85 |
| Durham University | £45,000 | 275 |
| University of Bristol | £43,600 | 170 |
| University College London | £42,800 | 100 |
| King's College London | £42,300 | 115 |
| University of Edinburgh | £40,300 | 170 |
| Loughborough University | £40,300 | 105 |
| University of Nottingham | £39,900 | 195 |
Is Geography the right degree for you?
EditorialYou may enjoy it if
- You like maps, fieldwork, and explaining spatial patterns.
- You want both environmental science and social context.
- You are willing to learn GIS properly.
It may not suit you if
- You wanted a course with no quantitative work.
- You dislike being outdoors in bad weather.
- You expected an automatic planning chartership.
Interview questions for Geography graduate roles
EditorialGIS, planning and environmental-consultant interviews usually test maps, evidence, and talking to non-specialists. These prompts are editorial illustrations.
A map looks convincing but the legend is missing. What do you refuse to conclude?
What it tests. You do not over-read a pretty picture.
Two datasets use different boundaries. How do you say that in a note?
What it tests. Modifiable areal unit honesty.
A resident says flooding ‘never happened here’. How do you respond in a meeting?
What it tests. Listening, then bringing records without humiliating them.
What would you check before using a satellite layer in a client slide?
What it tests. Date, resolution, licence, and what it cannot show.
A site visit clashes with bad weather. What still needs doing?
What it tests. Safety versus the evidence you still owe.
Most Geography courses do not use a standard admissions interview. If a university invites you, it will say so — see UCAS on undergraduate interview invitations.
Illustrative question types for the roles above, not questions from a named employer.
Find Geography graduate jobs
Searched by the entry-level roles aboveSearch UK vacancies connected to geography. These are role matches, not guaranteed graduate-level jobs: read the experience, qualifications and work-permission requirements in each full advert.
Salary filters and ordering use the provider’s data, which can include estimates. Cards below show employer-listed pay only. Cached searches can be up to 30 minutes old; the employer’s advert confirms availability.
Checking vacancies for GIS technician…
Prepare your application with graduate cv examples, student cv examples, the free CV builder and the application tracker.
Is there an apprenticeship alternative to Geography?
EditorialGeospatial survey technician apprenticeships are a workplace route into mapping roles. This note is editorial.
Research exact university programmes
We have not added verified programme records for this subject yet. Use the official university catalogue for current courses, fees and entry requirements.
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Planning to study Geography in the UK?
Check the exact programme, entry requirements and total cost before applying. International applicants should also confirm qualification equivalence, English-language evidence and visa requirements.
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Universities for Geography in our index
125 universitiesAn editorial provision index, not a live UCAS catalogue: confirm current courses on UCAS. CourseToJob is not UCAS.Open Geography in the full university explorer.
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No university matches that search.
Undergraduate applications are made on UCAS, not here.
Geography degree: frequently asked questions
What jobs can you do with a Geography degree?
Common starting roles include gIS technician, planning assistant, environmental consultant (entry) and sustainability assistant. Five years after graduating, the most common sectors for Geography, earth and environmental studies graduates in work were professional, scientific and technical services (27.8%), education (13.7%) and public administration and defence (11.5%). These are examples, not guaranteed jobs: your experience, location and further training matter.
How much do Geography graduates earn in the UK?
DfE Longitudinal Education Outcomes data for the 2023–24 tax year shows median earnings for UK-domiciled Geography graduates of £24,500 one year after graduating and £30,000 three years after graduating. Each figure describes a different graduating cohort, not one person's pay rise, and it is gross pay for those in sustained employment, not a starting salary offer.
Which universities have the highest-earning Geography, earth and environmental studies graduates?
Among universities in our index with at least 50 graduates measured, the highest five-year median earnings for Geography, earth and environmental studies were at Imperial College London (£54,000), University of Oxford (£51,200) and University of Cambridge (£46,100). These figures reflect entry grades, subject mix and where graduates work, so they are not a measure of teaching quality.
Can international students study Geography in the UK?
Yes, most UK universities accept international applicants, but entry requirements, recognised qualifications, English-language evidence and overseas tuition fees depend on the university and programme. Check the university course page and international admissions team, then check visa requirements on GOV.UK.
Skilled Worker visas
Sponsorship depends on the job's occupation code and the current Skilled Worker rules, not on a subject's median pay. A Skilled Worker decision uses the higher of the general threshold and the SOC going rate. Subject LEO medians are not sufficient. Read the Skilled Worker job rules on GOV.UK.