Why Study Geography?

Geography students develop a detailed understanding of the physical and social processes that shape our planet.  It is a subject that appeals to a broad range of interests and engages students with current affairs and the issues affecting the world around them, such as globalisation, immigration, climate change and sustainable development.  As Michael Palin famously said “Geography students hold the key to solving the world’s problems”.

Within ‘Individuals and Societies’ subjects, Geography is distinctive in its spatial dimension and occupies a middle ground between social or human sciences and natural sciences. The Diploma Programme Geography course integrates physical, environmental and human geography, and ensures that students acquire elements of both socio-economic and scientific methodologies. Geography takes advantage of its position to examine relevant concepts and ideas from a wide variety of disciplines. This helps students develop life skills and have an appreciation of, and a respect for, alternative approaches, viewpoints and ideas.

Geography is excellent preparation for further education and Geography graduates go on to be successful in a wide variety of careers from environmental consultants to urban planners, careers in international relations, transport, tourism and journalism, among others. With their wide range of transferable skills, Geography graduates also attract employers from the business, law and finance sectors and are among the top most employable graduates from universities.

The IB Geography Course

The aims of the geography course at SL and HL are to enable students to:

• develop an understanding of the dynamic interrelationships between people, places, spaces and the environment at different scales
• develop a critical awareness and consider complexity thinking in the context of the nexus of

geographic issues, including:

• acquiring an in-depth understanding of how geographic issues have been shaped by powerful human and physical processes
• synthesising diverse geographic knowledge in order to form viewpoints about how these issues could be resolved

• understand and evaluate the need for planning and sustainable development through the management of resources at varying scales.

Key Skills

As well as gaining geographical knowledge, students will acquire a range of  skills.  These skills include:

• Interpreting, analysing and, when appropriate, constructing tables, graphs, diagrams, cartographic material and images.
• Undertaking statistical calculations to show patterns and summarising information.
• Researching, processing and interpreting data and information.
• Collecting and selecting relevant geographic information.
• Producing written material (including essays, reports and investigations).

Standard Level (SL)

Higher Level (HL)

Fieldwork

Fieldwork
A suitable area for a piece of fieldwork sufficient to satisfy the Internal Assessment requirements will be chosen for Geography, that fulfils IB and school policies on trips at this time. Trips will immerse students in an environment where they can glean enough information for them to be able to complete the 2,500 word fieldwork report. 

Entry Requirements

Students do not need to have studied Geography previously in order to take this course but it is advisable for non-geographers to attempt only Standard Level.  However, it is recommended that students wishing to study Higher Level have a minimum of a Grade 6 at IGCSE level, as much of the material covered at IGCSE level is explored in greater depth at IB.  

Student Perspectives

“IB Geography helps you understand both human and physical aspects of the world. It is a very interesting course as it allows you to fully comprehend global issues, such as climate change and forced migration. The topics you learn in IB Geography can be applied to all of your subjects to gain a deeper understanding of them.  Overall, IB Geography is a very relevant and useful course since it helps you understand the world around you.”

Josefina G

"Studying Geography at IB,  especially at Higher Level, where you learn about globalisation and global interactions, makes you very aware about current events in the world and how countries work and interact.  I have learnt much more about politics and how it helps shape our world"

Khadiga K