Human Geography Research MA
Gain the skills, knowledge, and expertise to undertake advanced research in Human Geography, while exploring pressing challenges facing the world today.
You are currently viewing course information for entry year:
Start date(s):
- September 2025
Overview
Join our Human Geography Research MA and receive advanced training in research skills, methods, and theories.
Master the techniques to conduct independent research in Human Geography and the social sciences.
Equip yourself for further doctoral research training or a career in research and analysis.
Collaborate with top researchers in the field, who will share their knowledge and passion for cutting-edge issues.
Develop your own research interests and skills, leading to a research dissertation at the end of the degree.
Our research-focused programme's strengths form the basis of our teaching. These strengths include:
- Geopolitics and Political Geography
- Social and Cultural Geography
- Economic Geographies
- Urban and International Development
This programme can also form the training component of a 4.5 funding application to the ESRC NINE Doctoral Training Partnership.
Important information
We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2024-25.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
What you'll learn
Equip yourself with the knowledge and research skills needed to develop as a researcher.
Throughout the degree you'll develop:
- the ability to define research problems and design appropriate methods for their investigation
- individual research interests through choosing your own projects
- your research profile
- research skills in data collection and analysis
- an understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of different data types and research methods
- bibliographic and computing research skills, including the use of specialist software
- a professional approach to ethical issues surrounding research in Human Geography
- the communication skills to share research with both specialist and non-specialist audiences
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
Compulsory Modules | Credits |
---|---|
Doing Geographical Research | 10 |
Human Geography: Concepts in Action | 20 |
Research Dissertation | 60 |
Dissertation Preparation | 10 |
How you'll learn
Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:
- Dissertation
- Essay
- Oral presentation
- Report
- Research proposal
- Written exercise
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- module handbooks
- course materials
- groups
- course announcements and notifications
- written feedback
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- personal tutors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
Members of our vibrant research community deliver teaching and assessment. Lecturers and tutors are from Geography, and from across its research groups:
- Geographies of Social Change
- Economic Geographies
- Power, Space, Politics
- the Children and Youth Research Group
- the Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies (CURDS)
We'll also encourage you to take part in seminars, discussions, and events organised by research groups.
Your future
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Facilities
As a Geography student at Newcastle, you'll be based in the School of Geography, Politics and Sociology.
You'll have broad access to modern classrooms, study spaces, and a range of facilities that are part of the Henry Daysh Building.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for 2025 entry (per year)
As a general principle, you should expect the tuition fee to increase in each subsequent academic year of your course, subject to government regulations on fee increases and in line with inflation.
Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.
EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.
If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.
Scholarships
We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information.
What you're paying for
Tuition fees include the costs of:
- matriculation
- registration
- tuition (or supervision)
- library access
- examination
- re-examination
- graduation
Find out more about:
If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.
You can check this in the How to apply section.
If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.
For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.
Search for funding
Find funding available for your course
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2025 entry.
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures
Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course
INTO International Pre-Master's - Pathway course
Our Business and Humanities Pre-Master's will prepare you for Master's study at Newcastle. If you're successful then you're guaranteed a place on this Master's course.
How to apply
Using the application portal
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Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.
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Get in touch
Questions about this course?
If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:
School of Geography Politics and Sociology
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 3921
Email: Geographyadmissions@newcastle.ac.uk
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