Our sixth form centre is brand-new for the city of Birmingham and the surrounding areas
Access to our vast university e-learning resources to give you the edge when completing your course
Do you have a fascination for the world around you and how people live? Are you concerned about the impact we are having on the planet?
The A-level Geography course at our sixth form centre at University College Birmingham will help you to understand the complexities of human interaction with the world around us, giving you a deeper understanding of the physical world and how it shapes and is shaped by us. This is key to solving some of the world's biggest environmental and economic challenges.
You will consider the impact of globalisation on the relationships between individuals, states and environments across the world. Crucially, your study of geography will help you to develop a wide range of skills including research, communication and data analysis. On completion, you can go onto a geography-related degree, onto an apprenticeship or directly into industry.
Why choose A-levels at our sixth form centre?
- PREPARE FOR UNIVERSITY AT A UNIVERSITY – We can provide you with relevant work placements, masterclasses, guest speakers, trips and more
- AWARD-WINNING SUPPORT – We have won national awards for our student support, which our sixth form students can tap into, from tailored academic support to financial assistance and health and wellbeing services
- OUTSTANDING LEARNING FACILITIES - We have invested £5.5 million into our brand-new sixth form centre, which includes lecture theatres, classrooms, science and computer labs, practical training facilities and open study spaces
- MOVE UP TO UNIVERSITY – Want to keep studying at a higher level? This A-level will support your progression to degree level
Course breakdown
To achieve your Geography A-level, you must study the following topics:
Physical geography
- Earth’s life support systems
- Landscape systems
Human geography
- Global systems
- Global governance
- Changing places
Geography investigation
- An independent investigation into an area of particular interest, related to any aspect of the specification.
Entry requirements
Academic requirements
- We ask for a minimum of five GCSE subjects at grade 5 or higher, including GCSE English Literature or Language and Maths.
Supporting documents required
- School applicants will be required to provide a school report, which must include attendance. This will be assessed in conjunction with your qualifications and application during the confirmation of your place at University College Birmingham.
Guaranteed progression
Students who achieve 56 UCAS points or more from this qualification will automatically be guaranteed a place on a degree course at University College Birmingham. Some undergraduate courses require additional entry requirements, so applicants are advised to check entry requirements before applying.
Key information
Teaching and assessment
You will be assessed through written exam papers in the summer of your second year and an individual fieldwork investigation (which will be 20% of your overall A Level). Your exams will assess:
- your knowledge of places, environments, concepts, processes, interactions and change
- your ability to interpret and apply geographical information
Through your independent investigation, you will demonstrate your ability to use a range of skills to investigate a geographical skill, to analyse and interpret findings and to draw conclusions.
Your class work and directed learning are designed to prepare you well for your assessments and to help you to develop a range of skills that will help you in your future studies and work.
Our teaching and assessment is underpinned by our Teaching, Learning and Assessment Strategy 2021-2024.
Centre of opportunities
Our sixth form centre taps into the wider university's networks to enhance student opportunities and gives you access to world-class university facilities.
We are creating something unique and special for Birmingham and I am delighted you are considering us for your next steps. Studying A-levels requires discipline and determination, but it is also incredibly rewarding, offering you a deep insight into the subjects you choose to study. Sixth form is also an opportunity for you to discover what’s important to you and how you want to make your mark on the world. Our aim is to support and challenge you through this, while developing your character and widening your horizons so you flourish, professionally and personally.
What will this course prepare you for?
Studying A-level Geography at our sixth form centre will help you develop a wide range of skills to support your progression to higher education or employment.
The study of geography can support you in pursuing careers in a range of fields, including surveying, urban planning and conservation.
Surveyor
Average Salary: £32,000
Conservation
Average Salary: £33,000
Urban planner
Average Salary: £42,000
Researcher
Average Salary: £39,000
Climatologist
Average Salary: £42,000
Climate scientist
Average Salary: £35,000
Our new sixth form centre
University College Birmingham is to begin offering a range of A-level courses as part of a major multi-million-pound investment in a brand-new sixth form centre.
