Geography is a diverse subject which covers both human and physical aspects (social and natural sciences) and gives you the opportunity to understand concepts which affect everyday life.
Here are some general resources related to Geography. These should be a useful introduction, regardless of which Geography related course you’re interested in and where you might want to study it.
Use these to find areas of interest, keep on top of what geographers are researching now, and get used to reading articles. This is particularly valuable if you take notes as you read, and go on to look up anything you find interesting. The process of following up further resources, different perspectives and clarifications is key to the experience of being a student. Practising this pre-university is very valuable, and something you might want to evidence in your application (e.g. on your personal statement).
The Geographical 🔗 🌟 This is your ultimate research tool! The magazine contains lots of different articles covering the entire spectrum of Geography which could be a perfect springboard into an engaging personal statement.
British Library Online Resources 🔗 A seemingly infinite amount of online resources for you to learn from, particularly within human geography. Resources range from the historical geography of the transatlantic slave trade to the social geographies of citizenship, and will expand your conception of what human geography covers.
National Geographic 🔗 A magazine useful for graphs, figures and photographic representation of what is going on in the world, which will contribute to your understanding of the value of data in geographical research, which is a pivotal skill for interviews.
British Geological Survey 🔗 A world-leading geoscience centre for survey and monitoring, modelling, research and data. Here, you’ll find free resources which can help you explore the physical geography of Britain.
Geographical Association 🔗 A great collection of articles, events and volunteering opportunities which will enrich your personal statement.
Podcasts are a great opportunity to engage with Geography in an everyday context. Listen while you’re doing the dishes or on a walk, and if anything sparks your interest, follow it up afterwards. The process of using a ‘source’ such as a lecture or podcast, and then researching anything interesting, contradictory or surprising that it mentioned, is a key part of being a student. Again, this will prepare you for life as a student, and could come in handy as evidence of interest and curiosity on your personal statement.
GeographyNow Podcasts 🔗 Podcasts produced by the Royal Geographical Society exploring a range of topics from human trafficking to the geography of Antarctica.
University of Oxford Podcasts 🔗 🌟 These podcasts provide some good material to consider, and opportunities to follow them up by finding more up to date research. Does the current thinking still align with the podcast? This is a great way to keep up with how Geography as a discipline is always evolving.
Overheard at National Geographic Podcasts 🔗 National Geographic have produced three series of podcasts which can be easily accessed on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Castbox for free.
Use videos as a springboard for further research. Videos are a quick way to find out about lots of different things, and by themselves can be part of developing your interest and subject knowledge. If you then follow up anything you found interesting, they can be part of developing your research skills - again, which you might want to use as evidence of your interest and curiosity during application (e.g. personal statement).
Royal Geographical Society MicroLectures 🔗 🌟 The Royal Geographical Society has produced a series of short lectures (approx 20 mins each) with their researchers and fellows addressing various topics from expeditions in Mongolia to microplastics. These are useful introductions, showing the breadth of geography as a discipline.
Planetary warming: is a 1.5 degree target achievable? 🔗 🌟 A particularly interesting interrogation of the science of climate change and what the future holds. Also a useful look at how data is used in geography, which is great preparation for any data interpretation questions during interviews.
Geography Now YouTube channel 🔗 An easy and accessible way to learn.
'The new scramble for Africa' by The Economist 🔗 This useful short video introduction to current trading behaviour in Africa encourages you to think critically about systems of colonialism. A particularly useful introduction to concepts of neocolonialism and geopolitics, which often lie at the heart of human geography courses. A useful thinking piece for your personal statement, or before interviews.
Geography is always evolving as a discipline, but at its heart remains different forms of data, and how we can use it to prove the changes around us. Use the above resources to familiarise yourself with different forms of data, their usefulness and how to use them.
If you have a certain interest, like aviation, or digital technology, do a Google Scholar search for terms like ‘geographies of aviation’ (for example). You might find an open access journal article which can help you write a unique and engaging personal statement and make you stand out from the crowd.