Overview
Studying human geography and anthropology at Brunel gives you the opportunity to do fully funded fieldwork placements anywhere in the world according to your anthropological interests.
This course combines the expertise of our staff and research across two closely related disciplines to develop your knowledge and skills in both Human Geography and Anthropology.
Human Geography explores the complex relationships between societies and environments that are at the centre of the most important challenges that face people around the world today.
Anthropology offers a unique and powerful understanding of cultural and social diversity in the modern world. It considers issues which can lead to mind blowing revelations about how individuals and cultures experience life differently.
In the first year you will have an introduction to the fundamentals of both subject areas, and in the second and third years you will choose from a wide range of modules, choosing half from each subject. Within Human Geography, modules focus particularly around themes of cities and urbanism; post colonialism, race and migration; and political ecology and environmental justice. Key themes in Anthropology are childhood, youth and education; development, war and humanitarianism; and global health.
Both subject areas offer opportunities to learn about the world immersively through fully funded anthropological fieldwork, developing skills that will make you highly employable. All students do a residential geography field trip in the first year and can opt to do another in the second year.
Together these two subjects compliment each other and provide you with graduate opportunities in local and national government, international organisations, NGOs, the media, research and education.
Course content
Your programme is split up into three different types of modules:
- Compulsory module: one which all students registered for the award are required to take as part of their programme of study.
- Optional module: one which students choose from an ‘option range’.
- A core assessment is an assessment within a module which must be passed in order to progress and to be eligible for the final award.
Compulsory
- Anthropology in the World
An introduction to the field of social anthropology through reviews of some classic problems and topics. You will gain basic knowledge of the variety of human cultures as you discover the types of argument employed and forms of evidence characteristic of social anthropology.
- Beliefs and Ways of Thinking
Learn about the ways anthropologists interpret and explain systems of knowledge and belief and their ability to detach themselves from taken-for-granted beliefs and values to help them to appreciate the logic of others systems.
- Global London
Through focusing on the concept of ‘Global London’, this module shows you how the social sciences can enable you to better understand their lived social environment. It introduces you to the techniques used by a range of disciplines within social science for gaining and validating knowledge of the social world and equips you with an academic skill base appropriate for university study.
- Introduction Geographical Research and Fieldwork
This module introduces students to the nature of geographical research and some of the ways of collecting and analysing geographical data. Through both local and multi-day residential fieldwork, the module provides opportunities for experiential learning and an introduction to a variety of types of fieldwork, in both familiar and unfamiliar environments.
- Living with Environmental Change
Through specific case studies, this module provides a holistic, integrated approach to understanding reciprocal relationships between societies and environments, drawing on both social and natural science expertise. It enables students to better understand the ways in which environmental change impacts on society at multiple scales, and the possibilities for societies to respond.
- Space, Place and Society
This module aims to familiarise you with key ideas and fundamental concepts in human geography. In particular, it will focus on reciprocal relationships between space, place, and society and the significance of these concepts within diverse areas of human geography.
Compulsory
- Geography: A Controversial Discipline
This module will introduce students to the history and philosophy of geography through a critical, decolonial lens. Students will explore the social, cultural, economic and political context of past and present knowledge production, and the people and forms of knowledge excluded from this.
- Political and Economic Issues in Anthropology
In this topic you will be introduced to some of the key research topics in modern social anthropology, including aspects of political economy, social organisation, cultural systems, historical change, and theoretical frames through which to view them.
- Practising Anthropology
In this continuing module your learning will be based around three elements. In workshops, research methods will be introduced and practised with your peers, whilst seminar sessions will deepen your understanding of the methodological, political and ethical principles of action research. Later in the module, through extended workshop activity you will work in teams to plan a research project in response to a simulated social situation.
Optional
- Climate Politics
This module aims to enable students to attain a comprehensive understanding of key concepts and theories in the politics and political economy of climate change. It will provide students with resources to assist them in making informed judgments on a range of questions and debates.
- Colonialism, Migration and Global Racism
This module explores the concept, meaning and practices of ‘race’, ethnicity, racialization, and global racisms. It identifies how ‘race’ and racism have evolved over time, and in different contexts - both nationally in the contemporary UK as well as in other parts of the world.
- Critical Perspectives on International Development
You will gain a theoretical and historical overview of the changing relationship between anthropology and international development as you learn to understand the multiple ways in which anthropological research can enhance our understanding of contemporary policies and practices in international development.
- Ethnicity, Migration and Identity
Learn about the range of key concepts, theories, and controversies in the anthropology of ethnicity, culture, nationhood, and identity. Drawing on case studies from within and beyond Britain, it will encourage you to consider how identities are created, deployed, and contested.
- Ethnography in South Asia
This module explores classic anthropological themes -- such as community, class, kinship, gender, and globalisation -- through an indepth focus on a particular ethnographic region: South Asia and its diasporas.
- Ethnography of a Selected Region
In this module you will grasp the interplay between ethnographic observations during fieldwork and theory building during the write up process. You will examine key cultural issues for the region, covering topics such as religion, nationalism, economics, and the interplay of politics and memory.
- Global Health in Anthropological Perspective
This module explores what anthropology can contribute to debates around global health issues.
- Sustainable Development and Political Ecology
Students will engage critically with principles and practices of sustainable development and learn to understand environmental questions through a lens of political ecology. The module will provide opportunities for students to develop their own of attitudes and values in relation to the environment.
- Urban Regeneration and Inequalities (field-based)
You are introduced to issues of urban regeneration and their impacts in relation to urban inequalities, and apply this understanding in relation initially to London and subsequently to a European city in which they undertake a field visit.
- Understanding Childhood and Youth
This module will introduce you to the study of childhood and youth as they are constructed and practiced in different social, cultural and economic settings. The first section focuses on children, looking first at how ideas of childhood are constructed by adults, the second section is devoted to young people.
- War and Humanitarianism
This module aims to provide students with a critical understanding of the main themes in the anthropology of war and humanitarian assistance. These include the anthropology of violence, how societies respond in the aftermath of violence, the origins of humanitarianism, the concept of emergency, refugees and Giorgio Agamben’s concept of ‘bare life’.
- Making the Social
An introduction to core concepts in social theory. The emphasis is on concepts through which students can relate to the worlds they inhabit and the lives they live, connecting these to a broad canvas: the diversity of social existence and the sweep of human history. The focus is on basic building blocks of social existence.
Compulsory
- Human Geography and Anthropology Dissertation
You will undertake an individual research project on a topic of your choice. You will gather and analyse data and write up your findings, with support from a dissertation supervisor.
- Leadership for Change
This module aims to develop the leadership and influence skills that will help you to promote forms of positive change within society and the environment (either individually or collectively). Through engagement with a project in the local community, you'll engage in personal and professional development activities that will enhance your employability.
Optional
- Anthropology of Education and Learning
Gain an appreciation of the key issues in the anthropology of education and learning and an understanding, ethnographically, of how culture shapes and informs the educational and learning process an and in turn impacts social and cultural practices.
- Cities, Power and Social Change
An introduction to urban sociology and will develop the students understanding of urban development, cultures, and representation. The course will offer theoretical tools and provide practical applications for the relationship between space, culture, and social life in contemporary cities.
- Contemporary Anthropological Theory
This module offers a historical and critical perspective on the development of theories and methods in social anthropology from around 1980 to the present day, focussing on contemporary theoretical debates and how these have shaped the discipline of anthropology.
- Critical Perspectives on International Development
You will gain a theoretical and historical overview of the changing relationship between anthropology and international development as you learn to understand the multiple ways in which anthropological research can enhance our understanding of contemporary policies and practices in international development.
- Environmental Justice
The module introduces students to diverse notions and theories of social justice, and to the emergence and development of environmental justice movements. It enables students to explore how environmental justice claims are made in relation to substantive issues at different scales of analysis.
- Environment and Sustainability
The aim of this module is to look at environment and sustainability from a multipronged perspective. The module will help students develop a nuanced understanding about managing our natural resources. Both top down and bottom up approaches to manage nature will be explored.
- Ethnography in South Asia
This module explores classic anthropological themes -- such as community, class, kinship, gender, and globalisation -- through an indepth focus on a particular ethnographic region: South Asia and its diasporas.
- Ethnography of a Selected Region
In this module you will grasp the interplay between ethnographic observations during fieldwork and theory building during the write up process. You will examine key cultural issues for the region, covering topics such as religion, nationalism, economics, and the interplay of politics and memory.
- Global Health in Anthropological Perspective
This module explores what anthropology can contribute to debates around global health issues.
- Global Migration
Equips students with an understanding of the key concepts in global migration including the causes and consequences of migration, national and international responses to migration and the diversity of migrant flows within a global context, using cases from both Global North and Global South contexts.
- Home, Housing and Social Harm
This module introduces students to a number of questions concerning notions of home and housing in contemporary society, and how sociologists and criminologists should confront these issues as they occupy a central place in political, public, and mediated debates. It explores sociological and criminological debates around housing and the home, looking at the relationship between self, society, and state.
- Lawyers, Guns and Money: Making the modern world-system
This module will explore issues raised by historical and political sociology regarding the development of the modern world-system. In particular the course will focus upon the rise to dominance of Europe in the building of the modern world-system and the explanations offered for this.
- Making the Social
An introduction to core concepts in social theory. The emphasis is on concepts through which students can relate to the worlds they inhabit and the lives they live, connecting these to a broad canvas: the diversity of social existence and the sweep of human history. The focus is on basic building blocks of social existence.
- Race, Class and Space
This module introduces you to contemporary debates on race, class, and space. You'll become familiarised with different theoretical positions, and ways in which race and class are spatially structured.
- South Asia – Societies and Development
In this module we explore the theoretical and empirical debates surrounding the politics, society and economics of South Asia as a region and its place in the larger world. We focus in particular on countries of the Indian subcontinent that were former colonies of the British Raj – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
- Understanding Childhood and Youth
This module will introduce you to the study of childhood and youth as they are constructed and practiced in different social, cultural and economic settings. The first section focuses on children, looking first at how ideas of childhood are constructed by adults, the second section is devoted to young people.
- War and Humanitarianism
This module aims to provide students with a critical understanding of the main themes in the anthropology of war and humanitarian assistance. These include the anthropology of violence, how societies respond in the aftermath of violence, the origins of humanitarianism, the concept of emergency, refugees and Giorgio Agamben’s concept of ‘bare life’.
This course can be studied undefined undefined, starting in undefined.
This course has a placement option. Find out more about work placements available.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of undergraduate degrees at Brunel.
Careers and your future
A Human Geography and Anthropology degree from Brunel is your passport to a wide range of career destinations. You will acquire knowledge and understanding that is highly relevant to current world challenges, as well as an array of skills that will set you apart from other graduates.
Fieldwork, in particular, requires you to practice skills in real-world settings. Not only will you learn to plan, collect and analyse data, but you'll also become adept at working in an unfamiliar environment, taking account of relevant ethical and safety issues, interacting respectfully with people, and problem-solving as a group and individually.
If you opt for the four-year degree you will undertake a placement, either in an employment situation or undertaking extended fieldwork (almost) anywhere in the world. You will be fully supported in preparing for the placement and building a stronger CV.
In the third year, you can opt for the module ‘Leadership for Change’ in which you will work with other students and with a community organisation on a project that will further develop your employability skills.
Our course prepares you for careers in different fields including the local and national government, the environmental sector, international development, leisure and tourism, media and communications, planning, research, and academia.
UK entry requirements
2024/25 entry
- GCE A-level ABB-BBC.
- BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma DMM.
- BTEC Level 3 Diploma DM with an A-Level at grade C.
- BTEC Level 3 Subsidiary Diploma Merit with A-Levels grade BB.
- International Baccalaureate Diploma 29 points. GCSE English equivalent SL 5 or HL 4 and Mathematics SL 4 or HL 4.
- Obtain a minimum of 112 UCAS tariff points in the Access to HE Diploma with 45 credits at Level.
- T levels : Merit overall
A minimum of five GCSEs are required, including GCSE Mathematics grade C or grade 4 and GCSE English Language grade C or grade 4 or GCSE English Literature grade B or grade 5.
Brunel University London is committed to raising the aspirations of our applicants and students. We will fully review your UCAS application and, where we’re able to offer a place, this will be personalised to you based on your application and education journey.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants as well as our full GCSE requirements and accepted equivalencies in place of GCSEs.
EU and International entry requirements
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2024/25 entry
UK
£9,250 full-time
£1,385 placement year
International
£19,430 full-time
£1,385 placement year
Fees quoted are per year and may be subject to an annual increase. Home undergraduate student fees are regulated and are currently capped at £9,250 per year; any changes will be subject to changes in government policy. International fees will increase annually, by no more than 5% or RPI (Retail Price Index), whichever is the greater.
More information on any additional course-related costs.
See our fees and funding page for full details of undergraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Please refer to the scholarships pages to view discounts available to eligible EU undergraduate applicants.
Teaching and learning
You'll be taught by world-leading experts in Geography and Anthropology, and have the opportunity to interact with fellow students at London’s leading campus University.
Your programme will consist of various learning and studying activities, including lectures, seminars and discussions. Students will study six modules during two terms across the academic year (4 modules and a dissertation in the third year). Each module will have on average two-to-three hours of personal contact time per week in lectures, seminars and workshops in the teaching terms. There will also be the opportunity for a further six hours per week to seek guidance during module lecturers’ feedback and consultation hours. Additionally, students can seek support in individual meetings with their personal tutors, both on campus and online. There will also be regular cohort meetings and student society events, at both programme and departmental levels. Fieldtrips and excursions to support students’ learning will be organised throughout the year. You will undertake a fully funded residential fieldtrip in your first year, and may opt for a fieldwork-based module in the second year.
Lectures, seminars, cohort meetings and other social activities will occur in person on the Brunel campus. It is expected that students will regularly attend these events, as sustained engagement with a learning community is a central dimension of the Brunel experience. There will also be some activities that take place online when this is appropriate to the learning outcomes of your programme.
You're are strongly advised to purchase core texts from module reading lists, although copies are also available via Brunel Library.
Access to a laptop or desktop PC is required for joining online activities, completing coursework and digital exams, and a minimum specification can be found here.
We have computers available across campus for your use and laptop loan schemes to support you through your studies. You can find out more here.
You’ll learn in lectures (main classes) and seminars (smaller classes focused on exchanging ideas) by academic staff who are internationally known for publishing and presenting papers worldwide.
Should you need any non-academic support during your time at Brunel, the Student Support and Welfare Team are here to help.
Assessment and feedback
You’ll be assessed by a combination of coursework and exams, but most of your time will be spent in private study and reading. In your final year, you will produce a final dissertation on a subject of your choice under the guidance of a dissertation supervisor.