BSc Geography with Social Data Science
Study geography and data science in an unrivalled way through a wide range of modules taught by multidisciplinary experts.
Important
You cannot apply directly through UCAS. Transfer is only possible from BA Geography or BSc Geography with the correct grades.
| Key Information | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme starts | September 2026 |
| Duration | Full-time, 3 years |
| Location | London, Bloomsbury |
Overview
The BSc Geography with Social Data Science offers a research-led education that combines social and spatial thinking with strong training in quantitative and computational methods. The programme focuses on understanding how social, economic, political, and environmental processes shape places and populations, and how data can be used critically to analyse these processes across different scales.
Students develop strong foundations in human geography alongside core skills in statistics, programming, GIS, and social science research design. Through compulsory and optional modules, the degree engages with themes such as inequality, population change, migration, urban development, environmental governance, and public policy, with a strong emphasis on real world data and applied analysis.
Based in a world ranked department and taught by leading researchers, the programme provides a demanding and supportive academic environment that prepares students for careers in data analysis, policy, research, and related professional fields, as well as for postgraduate study in geography, social data science, and the social sciences more generally.
About the course
The BSc Geography with Social Data Science is structured to provide a clear progression from foundational geographic knowledge to advanced social data science skills. Across the three years, students combine training in human geography with methodologically focused teaching in quantitative analysis, GIS, and social science research.
In our foundational Year 1, you take two large core geography modules that introduce key geographic concepts, perspectives, and skills, alongside dedicated modules in social science research methods and quantitative analysis. These modules include fieldwork components, while you also learn about core concepts of geography as a scientific discipline across physical and human geography dimensions.
Year 2 focuses on developing more advanced analytical and technical skills through compulsory modules in research practice, GIS, and data analysis. Alongside these, you choose from a wide range of optional geography modules, allowing you to begin shaping your academic interests across areas such as development, economic geography, political geography, environment and society, urban geography, and cultural and historical geography.
Year 3 centres on your dissertation, where you work closely with an academic supervisor to design and conduct an independent piece of research on a topic of your choice. You also select advanced optional modules, including specialist social data science modules and further geography modules. Students may also join a term long exchange at a partner university outside the UK, which substitutes for UCL modules during that term.
Programme Structure
The BSc Geography with Social Data Science programme combines core training in geography with specialised teaching in social science research, data analysis, and computational approaches.
You take two large modules, worth 30 and 45 credits, that introduce core geographic concepts and skills with attention to social and spatial data. Alongside these, you take two compulsory modules in social science research and quantitative methods, each worth 15 credits. You then choose either the Global Events module or an approved module from outside the Department.
You take three compulsory modules covering research practice, GIS, and data analysis. These are complemented by a selection of optional geography modules that allow you to explore themes such as environment and society, economic geography, development geography, political geography, urban geography, and cultural and historical geography. You may also take an approved module from Political Science or Population Health.
You take a compulsory dissertation along advanced optional modules across social data science and geography. These include options in causal analysis, measurement, quantitative text analysis, social network analysis, cartography and data visualisation, and machine learning. The optional modules may include participation in Term 1 exchange programmes with international universities; in 2025-26 these included institutions in Australia, Canada, Europe, and Singapore.
Who is this course for?
The programme is well suited to students who enjoy working with data and are curious about how social processes vary across places and over time. An interest in geography, social science, mathematics, statistics, or computing is helpful, but there is no single academic background required. We welcome students from a wide range of educational and social backgrounds, and provide structured training to build confidence in quantitative methods from the ground up.
Applications and Next Steps
You cannot apply directly to this programme through UCAS. Students are eligible to transfer from the BA Geography or BSc Geography at the start of Year 1 provided they have studied mathematics or statistics at A level. Applicants should carefully review the transfer guidelines and entry requirements before applying.
Apply for this course
You cannot apply directly via UCAS. Transfer is possible from BA Geography or BSc Geography if entry requirements are met.
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