Geography postgraduate taught
Postgraduate masters in Geography are integrated into an overall research ethos that aims to make both theoretical and policy-relevant contributions to geographical knowledge. Our masters contribute to this aim by providing training in specific fields of geographical expertise at Manchester with which students may progress either into policy-oriented employment or on to further research at doctoral level.
Our postgraduate taught courses in Geography have three overlapping sets of aims that are student-centred, geography-oriented and School-specific.
Student-centred aims
- To enable students to complete and gain a higher research degree and enhance employment prospects.
- To facilitate the development of independent learning and study skills.
- To facilitate the development of a critical approach to information and arguments.
- To have a sound and critical awareness of how knowledge is produced and how used in a policy context.
Geography-oriented aims
- To provide advanced training on specific themes in which the School specialises.
- To enable students to appraise critically the historical and contemporary contributions of geography.
- To enable students to conduct and contribute high quality independent geographical research.
- To provide a flow of new academics into geography who are both rigorous and innovative in their approach.
What our students say
School-specific aims
- To promote the School's research strengths nationally and internationally
- To build up a body of postgraduates in Geography that contribute to a thriving research culture
The educational approach of the Geography programmes emphasises student-centred learning in which the staff role is to guide rather than to instruct. The common principle underlying the design of our courses is the aim of guiding students through a range of geographical theories and methods by providing a structure around which to read together with seminar discussions around key areas of polemic.
This structure we provide through a set of compulsory methods and theory modules comprising some formal presentation of material by staff and class debates on pre-determined themes. Putting this into practice is facilitated by the relatively small class sizes that necessitate active participation by all students. The relatively small class sizes also allow considerable flexibility in course content; content can be modified to meet specific student needs and interests from year to year.
Student Opinions
"The course has definitely lived up to my expectations: I received a good grounding in the basics theories upon which environmental governance is based, as well as being able to explore the subjects I enjoyed in more detail."
"Both theoretically and practically, the Master of Science in Environmental Governance equipped me with a diverse skill set that allowed me to establish myself in a variety of sectors."
"What I found particularly interesting was the blend of perennial questions about equality and justice plus practical, real-world, contemporary politics."