What will my study involve?

• Our world-class research in Geography and related fields attracts students from all over the world, with PhD and master's students coming from across Asia, Africa, the Pacific, and Aotearoa New Zealand.
• Postgraduate students are able to shape their own study and research questions (see GEOG401 Wellbeing, Community and Place) and we facilitate strong community engagement through programmes such as GEOG402 Resilient Cities and GEOG415 Geography Internship.
• We have excellent supervisors and postgraduate courses are small and often discussion based.
• Fieldwork is an integral part of many courses. UC operates climate stations in Ka Tiritiri-o-te-moana Southern Alps and elsewhere in Te Waipounamu South Island, and utilises the University's field stations at Cass and Kawatiri Westport.
• The Department hosts Te Tai Whenua o te Hauora | GeoHealth Laboratory and has close links with Gateway Antarctica, with staff and graduate students often making summer visits to Scott Base in Antarctica.

Courses

UC offers the following postgraduate programmes in Geography and related areas:

• Graduate Diploma in Arts
• Graduate Diploma in Science
• Bachelor of Arts with Honours
• Bachelor of Science with Honours
• Postgraduate Certificate in Arts
• Postgraduate Certificate in Science
• Postgraduate Certificate in Geospatial Data Science
• Postgraduate Diploma in Arts
• Postgraduate Diploma in Science
• Postgraduate Diploma in Geospatial Data Science
• Master of Arts
• Master of Arts (Thesis)
• Master of Geospatial Data Science
• Master of Science
• Master of Spatial Analysis for Public Health
• Master of Urban Resilience and Renewal
• Doctor of Philosophy

See the individual qualification pages for more information on degree requirements.

To complete a GradDipArts or GradDipSc with a Geography focus, you will need to complete at least 60 points in 100 to 300-level GEOG courses throughout their degree. In total 90 points must be at 300-level in the diploma from Geography and/or other Arts or Science courses.

The Geography major in the BA(Hons) or BSc(Hons) includes GEOG420 Research Project, and another 90 points chosen from 400-level GEOG and GISC courses.

For the PGCertSc, you will need to complete at least 45 points in 400-level GEOG courses for the major. In total 60 points must be completed for the PGCertSc from Geography and/or other Science courses.

All 60 points in the PGCertArts need to be in 400-level GEOG courses for the major. With approval, you may substitute 30 points in your certificate with either PACE495 Professional and Community Engagement Internship or DIGI403 Digital Project with a Geography focus.

In the PGDipSc, the 120 points in the diploma are chosen from 400-level GEOG and GISC courses (GEOG420 Research Project is recommended). With approval, up to 60 points in the diploma may be chosen from other Science subjects.

All 120 points in the PGDipArts are chosen from 400-level GEOG courses. With approval, 30 points in the diploma may be substituted with either PACE495 Professional and Community Engagement Internship or DIGI403 Digital Project with a Geography focus.

You will need to complete GEOG660 MA Dissertation, select a minimum of 60 points from 400-level GEOG courses, and select a maximum of 30 points from other Arts courses or PACE495 Professional and Community Engagement Internship.

In the MA(Thesis), you will take the thesis course GEOG690 MA Thesis.

Part I of the MSc in Geography is made up of 120 points from 400-level GEOG and GISC courses. With approval, up to 60 points in the degrees may be chosen from other Science subjects.

Part II of the MSc requires GEOG695 MSc Thesis.

In the PhD, you will complete a thesis of original research in the Geography field (GEOG790 Geography PhD).

Career opportunities

Recent graduates have found work all over Aotearoa New Zealand and the world, from Tamaki-makaurau Auckland to Melbourne, California to Antarctica. Many have found careers in the public service, the tourism industry, private companies dealing with geographic information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS), the police, local authorities, and in education.

The Resource Management Act has created a lively market for geographers in consultancy and in regional and local government. Those who gain technical expertise in areas such as GIS and remote sensing are also in demand from both the public and private sectors. In addition, research and policy positions in central, regional, and local government are popular.

Some graduates find work overseas for Manatu Aorere | Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, development agencies, and the United Nations, or in positions that are particularly people-focused, like the union movement, teaching, or personnel, where communication skills are critical.

Find out more about what you can do with a degree in Geography.