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Geography
- Geography at Cambridge
- Geography at Churchill
- Admissions in Geography at Churchill College
- Fellows in Geography
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Geography at Cambridge
All societies rely on their relationships with each other and on the physical environment. Increasingly these are fragile interdependencies presenting intellectual and practical challenges of the highest priority which are central to the problems of modern geography. The Cambridge geography course is one of the most diverse undergraduate degrees; it emphasises the interactions between the human and physical sides of the discipline and consequently requires both breadth of ability and flexibility of approach. Undergraduate geographers are encouraged to actively engage themselves in the intellectual and practical challenges of the subject. During the first and second years they are required to study both physical and human geography, but may specialise in the third year if they wish.
Geography at Churchill College
We are keen to encourage those interested in both the human and physical sides of the discipline to apply to read Geography, and Churchill College takes up to 5 Geography students each year. Dr Alice Reid is the Director of Studies, and there are two other Geography Fellows at Churchill, which enables us to get to know each of our students and focus on their development as individuals.
During the first year supervisions are organised by the college Director of Studies, and in the second and third years supervisions are organised by the department. The College library is well stocked with a range of books for geographers, and the Department also has its own library with an extensive holding of books and journals. With a lively and supportive community of geographers Churchill College boasts an active society that holds regular talks and dinners.
Admissions in Geography at Churchill College
The standard entry requirements to Churchill College are available here. There is no single combination of subjects that is especially good for students wishing to study Geography; the teaching programme for Geography is broad enough to encompass those whose primary interests are in the humanities, the social sciences, the natural or the environmental sciences, or any combination of these.
It is not even essential to have studied geography at A level or IB (although many of our students have done). If you are particularly interested in contemporary human geography or historical geography, then economics, english literature, history, and sociology might be helpful. If you are interested in physical geography, then biology, chemistry, geology, mathematics and physics can be useful supporting subjects. However, there is no distinction between 'human' and 'physical' geographers in terms of their subjects studied.
After submitting your UCAS form the applications are all initially screened and about 90% of all applicants to read Geography at Churchill College are invited for interview during early-mid December. There are ordinarily two interviews of around 25 minutes each. Before one interview, you will be given time to read a few pages from a geographical text, which will serve as the basis for a discussion during the interview, and you may also be asked to comment on some graphical or cartographic material. You will be asked about your current studies, about what you read, about your personal statement and project work that you have done at school, and we may initiate a discussion on something that engages your interest. Finally, you will be given a chance to ask any questions that you may have concerning Cambridge, the course and the College and to tell us of anything else you want us to know about yourself, or discuss with us.
