Physical Geography with a Year of Study Abroad (BSc)

We are a friendly and informal school and you will be taught by world-leading experts involved in cutting-edge international research.

Our teaching approach is a mix of theory and practical and includes: lectures, laboratory work, fieldwork, tutorials, workshops and seminars. You will also be encouraged to learn independently and within groups throughout the course, developing a wide range of skills which will be essential for your future employment including project management and organisational skills as well as developing your competence in applying information technology and using state-of-the-art field techniques and equipment.

How you will be taught during your year of study abroad will depend on the host institution.  All our overseas partners are of at least a comparable standard to Cardiff University and the partnership goes through a rigorous approval process. You will look in detail at teaching methods in your host institution and discuss these with the School Director of International as part of your application process and Study Abroad learning agreement.

How will I be supported?

At the start of the course you will be allocated a Personal Tutor who you will meet with regularly for tutorials. Tutorials are fortnightly in the first year and then monthly in year two and four. Your Personal Tutor can offer advice on academic and personal matters. In year four  you will also be allocated a supervisor for your dissertation project.

Academic support for the year of study abroad will be provided to you during your second year by the Director of International for the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences and planning support by colleagues at the Global Opportunities Centre. Advice regarding choice of university, aims of the year, academic regulations and module choice will be given by the Director of International, who will be available to discuss ideas, concerns and issues with you..

The School Director of International works closely with the Global Opportunities Centre to support you  in applying to the host university, provide advice on finances, visas and all the practical arrangements involved in studying abroad. Global Opportunities  will organise a pre-departure session and provide you with a pre-departure pack which includes an informative guide. Members of staff from the Global Opportunities Centre will happily answer any questions you may have.

The School Director of International will meet with you to review and agree your courses abroad as part of signing off your Study Abroad Learning Agreement.  This will give you the opportunity to review the teaching, learning outcomes and assessment methods at the partner university and we will ensure these are appropriate for you as a Cardiff University student. If there are assessment methods that are new to you, we will support you in being prepared for this.

A requirement of the Year of Study Abroad module is that you complete an online reflective journal and meet to discuss this monthly with your Personal Tutor.  This provides a structured and required monthly meeting with your Cardiff University Personal Tutor to allow you to review your study progress and for any concerns or needs to be raised and addressed. You can also contact your Personal Tutor or the Director of International as and when needed.  You will have access to the full Cardiff University online resources and Student Support Services while abroad.  The comprehensive support services of the Students’ Union are also available to you throughout. 

The School Director of International will work with you and with their contact at the Partner Institution to resolve any issues with the partner Institution itself, drawing on support from Global Opportunities where there are University-wide partnerships, as appropriate.

All partner universities are of similar standing to the Cardiff School Earth and Environmental Sciences, and have mechanisms for academic and pastoral support, so you will be additionally supported through the academic and pastoral care arrangements of your host university.

Facilities

We have a Learning Central website where you can access videos, images, presentations, lecture handouts, bibliographies, links to further reading, electronic exercises and discussion circles. Where possible, lectures will be recorded so you can watch and study in your own time.

The Learning Central website also has a ‘Personal Development Planning’ module that supports you in regularly assessing your progress and meeting your development needs.

Support services

The University offers a range of services including the Careers Service, the Counselling Service, the Disability and Dyslexia Service, the Student Support Service, alongside excellent libraries and resource centres.

Diversity

We aim to create an inclusive, supportive and welcoming environment that respects the dignity of staff and students of all ages, ethnicities, disabilities, family structures, genders, nationalities, sexual orientations, races, religious or other beliefs, and socio-economic backgrounds. Read about our commitment to the Athena SWAN principles and our Bronze status (https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/earth-environmental-sciences/about-us/equality-diversity-and-inclusivity).

How will I be assessed?

We will be assessing your level of knowledge and understanding in each module through a combination of assignments, presentations, fieldwork, examinations and a dissertation. You will receive written and oral feedback on your coursework and there are opportunities for informal feedback throughout the course.

You will complete a wide range of assessments, from traditional essays, data interpretation exercises and posters on topical themes to more interactive assignment experiences including group presentations, technical reports and briefing papers. These different assessments are designed to give you professional assessment experience and help you prepare for employment.

NOTE: The University welcomes applications from students with disabilities and we endeavour to offer reasonable alternative assessment methods wherever possible.   We have an Alternative Fieldwork Policy which is adopted in cases where a student cannot attend a scheduled, taught field course, or part(s) thereof, because of a disability or extenuating circumstances.

How you will be assessed during your year of study abroad will depend on the host institution.  All our overseas partners are of at least comparable standard to Cardiff University and the partnership goes through a rigorous approval process.  The marks gained from all your credits at your host institution will be reviewed by the Chair of the Exam Board and the Director of International in the School of Earth and Environmental Sciences.  The marks are collated and converted into one equivalent Cardiff University mark for the 120 credit Year of study abroad module.  This will be calculated using the University mark conversion tool. This mark will count 10% weighting in the calculation of your degree average.  You will discuss the grade conversion methodology with the Director of International to ensure you understand it thoroughly before you sign your Year of Study Abroad learning agreement, as you will not be able to challenge it at a later date.

You will be required to complete a reflective journal during your Year of Study Abroad and to discuss this monthly with your Personal Tutor.  This is to ensure you meet the study abroad learning objectives of evaluating your own experience, noting the challenges and benefits of your year abroad and comparing and contrasting the study of your subject in your host institution with that in Cardiff University.  There will be no mark for this work and it will not count towards your module or degree outcome.  Discussing your reflective journal with your Personal Tutor every month will also ensure that you remain connected to Cardiff University and supported by the School, and will allow you the opportunity to raise any concerns or needs within a required activity.  

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will be able to do as a result of your study at Cardiff University. They will help you to understand what is expected of you. 

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme can be found below:

Knowledge & Understanding:

On successful completion of the entire Programme students will be able to demonstrate the following:

• a systematic understanding of spatial and temporal processes relating to a earth system processes, including a broad critical comprehension of the inter-relationships between these at a range of scales
• a broad understanding of global challenges including risks and hazards associated with earth system processes, including approaches to the governance of these
• a systematic understanding of the multi-disciplinary nature of Physical Geography, including its content, methods and philosophy, and an associated practical understanding of the need for integration of knowledge from cognate sciences, including those related to ocean, atmospheric, physical and environmental sciences

Intellectual Skills:

On successful completion of the entire Programme students will be able to demonstrate the following :

• Debate, interpret and explain the causes and scales of contemporary and future earth system processes whilst critically applying relevant ideas, concepts and methods
• Collect, collate, synthesise and critically evaluate a wide variety of Physical Geography data and information, drawing from relevant approaches in cognate areas of science
• Evaluate current research in selected aspects of Physical Geography, demonstrating an appreciation of the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of associated scientific understanding
• Work across disciplines to link knowledge and experience from allied sciences to understand earth system processes

Professional Practical Skills:

On successful completion of the entire Programme students will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Critically analyse and interpret a range of different types of data related to the physical geography research processes to investigate a range of topical earth surface topics and theoretical concepts.
• Plan, design and execute research related to physical geography, critically using a range of qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis in field, offshore, laboratory and desk-based studies
• Understand and apply methods used to acquire geospatial data and represent such data in appropriate cartographic and graphic formats using appropriate platforms, including GIS
• Address research problems involving the integration and analysis of diverse and often incomplete and uncertain data using appropriate qualitative and quantitative methodologies and approaches
• Demonstrate practical skills and competence in information technology, geographical information systems, cartographic, statistical and other analytical techniques
• Undertake effective project management and organisational skills through independent working and team work.
• Understand and the practical limitations, logistics, safety and ethical aspects of data gathering in various environments, and apply this understanding, as appropriate to applied research

Transferable/Key Skills:

On successful completion of the entire Programme students will be able to demonstrate the following:

• The flexibility, resilience, open-mindedness and ability to approach a subject from different perspectives, that can be gained in the year of study abroad.
• An ability to effectively communication of knowledge, ideas and arguments in a variety of formats using oral, written, and visual media to both specialist and non-specialist audiences
• An ability to work competently individually or as part of a team in both problem-setting and problem-solving within a range of applied research environments where decision-making is complex and multi-disciplinary
• An ability to undertake independent study and personal scholarship, fostered through enhanced personal responsibility, initiative and self-learning experiences
• An understanding of the skills and competencies needed to secure employment and support ongoing professional development, and be able to apply this to self-reflect, assess and articulate individual employability skills and needs