Skip to menu Skip to content Skip to footer

You're viewing this site as a domestic an international student

You're a domestic student if you are:

  • a citizen of Australia or New Zealand,
  • an Australian permanent resident, or
  • a holder of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa.

You're an international student if you are:

  • intending to study on a student visa,
  • not a citizen of Australia or New Zealand,
  • not an Australian permanent resident, or
  • a temporary resident (visa status) of Australia.
You're viewing this site as a domestic an international student
Change
 A farmer tills a field with his tractor

Major

Geographical Science

Bachelors of Science / Arts

Learn to apply scientific approaches to measure and interpret geographical processes and phenomena.

You can study hydrology and geomorphology, marine and coastal systems, society and the environment, urban and economic geography, demography and Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

Discover how to model, manage and analyse geo-referenced information and datasets.

Choose to specialise in earth systems science, climatology, biogeography or GIS.

Gain valuable practical skills through field studies.

You’ll graduate with the critical thinking ability to solve key environmental, societal or planning issues facing today’s modern world.

Highlights

1 in Australia for environmental sciences

QS World University Rankings 2026

18 in the world for environmental sciences

QS World University Rankings 2026

Watch Why choose science at UQ? on YouTube.

Career possibilities

Our programs prepare you for your first job and beyond. Here are some of the careers you could be on your way to:

  • Biodiversity project officer
  • Environmental planner
  • Geospatial officer
  • Environmental management team lead
  • Surveyor
  • Wildlife management officer
  • Geoscientist
  • Park ranger
  • Geophysicist
  • Climate change adviser

Average annual salary range

Environmental Officer

$90K–$95K

seek.com.au

Average annual salary range

Geographic Information System Officer

$85K–$90K

seek.com.au

Next steps after graduation

Employment prospects for geographers and spatial scientists are expected to grow globally 8% between 2025 and 2035.

Expect to find employment in:

  • natural resource management, agriculture and ecotourism
  • hazard assessment, mitigation and disaster management
  • national parks and wildlife conservation
  • planning the delivery of human services and policy development
  • environmental consultancy, monitoring and pollution control
  • GIS analytics.

Find out more about careers that started in science

This Major is available as:

  • Major
  • Extended Major

How you'll learn

Your learning experiences are designed to best suit the learning outcomes of the courses you choose.

  • Lectures
  • Tutorials
  • Research experience
  • Laboratory work
  • Fieldwork
  • Workshops

What you'll study

At UQ, subjects are called 'courses'. Here's a sample of the courses you could study:

  • Environment & Society [Core course]
  • Geographical Information Systems [Elective]
  • Environmental Systems [Elective]
  • Climatology & Hydrology Elective]
  • Applied Demography [Elective]
  • Biogeography & Geomorphology [Elective]
  • Global Change: Problems & Prospects [Elective]

Helpful advice, right when you need it

Get useful info to help you navigate the confusing parts of getting into uni. Scholarship reminders, access to events and experiences, and advice from real students.

Sign up for updates. (No spam! We promise.)

Select your country and then enter your mobile phone number.

UQ is collecting your personal information to enable you to interact with us. We'll handle your information in line with the Information Privacy Act 2009. How we use and disclose your personal information will depend on the nature of your interaction with us. For details, see our privacy notice.