Geography Research and Study Opportunities

Thousands of study and academic opportunities in Geography are available internationally. Conferences and summer schools in Geography are organized regularly in the best academic centers of the world. The majority of universities and many foundations also offer BA, MA, and Ph.D. programs in Geography as wells as postdoctoral research grants, awards, and fellowships. Below you will find the updated list of international opportunities available in Geography.

Geography Scholarships

Geography Fellowships

Geography Conferences

Geography relevant accounts on Twitter

“Geography is a bridge between nature and society.”

Geography is one of the oldest sciences. Human needs largely determined its development because it has always been of great practical importance. The discipline studies the ways of local orientation. Many professions, such as sailors, pilots, etc., must be able to use geographic instruments, work with complex maps, and determine their position on the map. An ordinary person also needs initial skills in working with maps and some practical knowledge about our planet.

The discipline gives a person the opportunity to get out of a problematic situation, for example, when he gets lost in an unfamiliar place. Geography is one of the primary disciplines that everyone needs to know. It teaches us to live and find places on Earth. 

Main Directions of Geography

Physical Geography. Physical geography combines several areas and disciplines aimed at studying the geographic shell of the Earth: territories, nature, and structures. Its main goal is to understand how efficiently the society uses natural resources and develops the occupied territory. 

Physical geography partially includes a group of sciences that study individual components of the natural environment:

  • Biogeography
  • Climatology
  • Meteorology
  • Soil geography
  • Geomorphology
  • Hydrology
  • Oceanography
  • Glaciology
  • Geomatics
  • Paleogeography
  • Environmental geography

Human Geography (Anthropogeography). It is a geography branch that studies people and their relationships with communities, cultures, economies, and interactions with the environment. Human geography reveals a picture of the economy’s state and the population’s life in different countries. It helps to understand the current stage of their development better and have a clear image of the world. The object of anthropogeography studies is the explored part of the Earth.

The main branches include:

  • Cultural geography describes and analyses how language, religion, economics, government, and other cultural phenomena change or remain the same, taking into consideration the time and place.
  • Historical geography is a section of human geography associated with the geography of the past and the influence of the past on the formation of the geography of the present and future.
  • Political geography studies the spatially heterogeneous outcomes of political processes and how these processes influence the geography changes.
  • Development geography is the study of the Earth’s geography based on the standard of living and its inhabitants' quality of life.
  • Economic Geography is a science that studies the laws of the territorial distribution of social production, the conditions and features of its development, and location in various countries and regions.
  • Health geography is the application of geographic information, perspectives, and methods to study health, disease, and health care. Health geography examines the relationships and patterns between people and the environment. It investigates how and why diseases are spread.

Integrated Geography describes and explains the aspects of the interaction between humans and nature and the physical environment in which humans, plants, and animals live. Integrated geography is about people and nature and how humans affect the environment and our planet.

Cartography is the field of science, technology, and production covering the creation, study, and use of geographical maps and other cartographic works. Map creation involves the application of both scientific and artistic elements, combining graphical talent and specialized knowledge of the principles of compilation and design with the available methods of creating products. Maps function as tools for visualizing spatial data. At present, cartographic production is largely based on space research materials and computer technology achievements.

What can Geography graduates work?

There are three main career paths for a geographer. First of all, scientific. In this case, bachelors continue their education to become scientists and researchers. The second career path is pedagogical. In this case, also, bachelors often continue their studies and obtain at least a master’s degree. And the third path is to go into the specific field — for example, meteorology, mineral exploration, tourism, geomatics, etc.

Geography graduates work in environmental, industrial, social, or public organizations. They can work as researchers, educators, consultants in various fields of geography. Natural national parks, meteorological and seismological stations are also great places for the geography graduates’ career growth. Quite often, geographers work in travel companies and firms. In these professions, too, they can have good career opportunities.

Jobs directly related to Geography degree:

  • Cartographer
  • Geographical information systems officer
  • Commercial/residential surveyor
  • Planning and development surveyor
  • Environmental consultant
  • School teacher
  • University professor
  • Town planner
  • Social researcher

Jobs indirectly related to Geography degree:

  • Tourism officer
  • Landscape architect
  • Archaeologist
  • Guide
  • Astronomer
  • International aid/development worker
  • Nature conservation officer
  • Logistics and distribution manager
  • Sustainability consultant
  • Market researcher
  • Transport planner
  • Political risk analyst

Geography has allowed humanity to explore the world around us. However, even today, in the 21st century, there is some unexplored land. Therefore, passionate lovers of this profession have a chance to make new discoveries. We hope this section of ARMACAD will help you decide on the profession you prefer the most in the field of geography.