About us

Our Department consists of two traditional disciplines: Geography, one of the longest established in the world with Geography courses on offer since 1886, and Spatial Planning (also known as Civic Design) the oldest and one of the best-known planning schools in the world.

Today, we are one of the largest UK Geography and Planning departments, ranked 14th for Research Power (REF2021) with an international reputation for research excellence where 36% of our publications rated as world-leading (4*) and our research environment ranked joint 8th of 56 comparator Departments in the UK (REF2021).

The research interests of the Department revolve around:

  • Different ways in which humans respond to and manage aspects of environmental as well as associated economic and social change
  • Earth Surface Processes and Environmental Change, including both climate and human actions over periods of 1000s of years.

Study Geography

Geography

The Honours School of Geography was formally approved in 1917-18 when Percy Maude Roxby was appointed as the first named chair of Geography in the British Isles. Discover our Geography courses.

Study Planning

Planning

Civic Design, the world's first planning school, is now a global leader in planning education and research, with graduates in top roles worldwide.