Geography and Anthropology

Geography and anthropology together form a powerful combination for understanding the human world in its full complexity. Geography examines how place, environment, and spatial processes shape society and culture, from the distribution of resources and the dynamics of climate to the forces that drive urbanisation and migration. Anthropology asks what it means to be human across cultural, historical, and social contexts, examining belief systems, kinship structures, economic practices, and the ways different societies organise themselves.

Studied together, the two disciplines illuminate how the physical and social worlds are mutually constituted.

At Sussex this three-year full-time programme explores themes including migration and mobility, inequality, identity, and belonging, asking how place and environment are connected with cultures and human society. A foundation year is available for students who need additional preparation. A sandwich year, year abroad, and work placement are all built into the programme, giving you substantial professional and international experience before you graduate.

The typical entry tariff is 136 UCAS points. Sussex has a strong tradition of critical social science, and this programme sits within that tradition, encouraging students to think rigorously about how sustainable and equitable futures can be built.

Graduates from geography and anthropology programmes pursue careers in international development, humanitarian work, environmental consultancy, urban planning, policy research, journalism, NGOs, and the public sector. The combination of empirical fieldwork skills, cultural knowledge, and spatial thinking is particularly valued by organisations working across international and cross-cultural contexts. Many graduates also proceed to postgraduate study in anthropology, human geography, development studies, or related fields, and the discipline provides strong preparation for research careers in both academic and applied settings.