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How to apply

Applications to degree programmes in the School of Geography should be made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS). For details of how to apply go to: www.ucas.ac.uk/students/applying/howtoapply

If you have any queries about applying to study with us, please see the Frequently asked questions below or contact us at:

Admissions, School of Geography, Queen Mary, University of London, London, E1 4NS
Tel: +44 (0)20 7882 8168
Fax: +44 (0)20 7882 7032
email: geogadmissions@qmul.ac.uk

Frequently asked questions

What is the deadline for making an application to Queen Mary through UCAS?

The main deadline for submitting an application is the 15 January of the academic year before you wish to begin your studies. Remember, your referee (usually your teacher or tutor) will need some time to complete their parts of the form. To ensure your form is submitted by the deadline, you will need to make sure you complete your parts of the form – and submit it to the referee – in plenty of time (at least 2 weeks before the UCAS deadline). Applications submitted after 15 January may still be considered.

What do I do if I’ve missed the deadline for applications?

If you miss the deadline, don't panic. You can submit a Late Application up until the 30 June of the academic year before you wish to begin your studies. We usually accept Late Applications for all of our degree programmes in the School, but you should always check the UCAS website for updates. If you have not applied by the 30 June you can only apply in Clearing once the exam results have been announced.

Who is the Admissions Tutor and what are they looking for?

The Admissions Tutor in the School of Geography at QMUL is a full time academic who spends their time teaching and carrying out research, as well as doing the job of Admissions Tutor. This means that at QMUL the Admissions Tutor understands the academic requirements and content of all the degree programmes and can give you detailed expert advice should you have any questions. In other departments the Admissions Tutor may be a member of administrative staff. The Admissions Tutor will receive your application from UCAS and decide whether to make you an offer. Where possible we invite all suitable UK-resident students to an open day and informal interview. We make our final offer based on your predicted grades, personal statement, reference and performance at interview. At interview, we are looking for evidence of your enthusiasm, your motivations for wishing to study at university and your wider interest in and knowledge of geography or environmental science. If we decide to make you an offer, we will write to you informally very soon after your interview and we will inform UCAS of our decision.

What if my predicted grades are below your standard offer?

We will generally make an offer if your predicted grades fall within or near to our standard offer (currently 300–340 points). As we invite all applicants to the School for an interview we can also use this information to make our decision. For example, if we feel that you have the ability to perform better than your predicted grades, or if we feel you have additional qualities that would make you a good student, we may still make you an offer even though your predicted grades are a little below our standard entry requirements.

What if I already have qualifications, but they fall below your standard offer?

Every year we receive applicants from students who took their A2s (or other qualifications) and then travelled or worked for a few years before deciding to continue on to higher education. If your A2s are below our standard entry requirements we may still decide to make you an offer if you can demonstrate commitment to returning to study and acquisition of relevant skills and experience since completing your A2s. If you have been out of education for a long time we will want to see evidence that you have maintained your study skills for examples by taking evening classes, sitting for professional exams in the work place or completing an appropriate Access to Higher Education course.

Can I transfer to QMUL from a different university?

Occasionally we accept direct transfers from students in Year 2 of our degree programmes and you must apply to us through UCAS. We do not recommend students change institution part way through their degree, although we do recognise that occasionally students may need to relocate for personal or financial reasons. Your A2 subjects and grades must meet our general entrance requirements. We will also need to ensure that the subjects you have studied at your current institution prepare you in terms of skills and knowledge for your chosen degree programme at QMUL. Therefore, you are advised to contact the Admissions Tutor prior to application, informing us of the title and content of all courses you are currently studying and indicating your reasons for transfer. We will expect you to pass all your first year courses and demonstrate clear academic ability. You may be restricted from taking some of our modules.

We do not accept transfers on to Year 3 of our degree programmes.

What if my GCSE and AS performance was poor?

We recognise that sometimes people under-perform in exams, for example, due to illness or personal difficulties, and that occasionally a college may struggle to provide teaching for a particular subject. If you feel that this is the case, or that your predicted grades do not reflect your potential, it is important that this is communicated clearly in the UCAS application form. You will also have the opportunity to discuss any concerns with a member of academic staff during your interview.

What should I write in my personal statement?

The personal statement is a chance for you to explain to the Admissions Tutor why you want to study Geography or Environmental Science at university and to show your knowledge of, and enthusiasm for, the subject. It is also a chance for you to tell us more about yourself, something we can not get just from your qualifications or your reference. For example, your interests and skills, or what you might contribute to life at university and to other students.

When writing your personal statement, consider the following:

Establish your commitment and motivation to study. Show enthusiasm and demonstrate your knowledge. Say what particularly interests you about your chosen areas of study and mention your career aspirations.
Emphasise your academic interests. Write about your current studies and talk about the skills you have developed. Be warned: it is quite likely that you will be asked about whatever you write about in this part of the statement in your interview.
Detail any work or voluntary experience. Explain what you learnt from that experience and describe how this may help you in your proposed studies.
Show your awareness of the broader subject. Demonstrate an understanding of current affairs, especially where relevant to your chosen subject.
Write about your outside interests and achievements. Think about the skills involved and how they might be relevant to studying for a degree
Presentation. Make sure that your personal statement is clearly expressed (good grammar), correctly spelt and well presented. Your personal statement should demonstrate that you are a careful and diligent student who cares about the quality of your work.

What are the entry requirements for studying Geography and Environmental Science at Queen Mary University of London?

A/AS-levels	Tariff/Grades requirement: 300–340 points from the best three A-levels. Though Geography at A-level is preferred, it is not required. If you do not perform well in one subject and do better in others, that is acceptable providing you gain the minimum number of points required for the degree programme. Additional information: A-level maths at grade B or above and 340 points is required for LL71. A science A-level is required for the following degrees: F850 and F8N2. A science A-level and 340 points is required for F750. Excluded subjects: General Studies
Vocational or applied A-levels	The following Applied A-levels and Double Awards only are acceptable: Art and Design; Business; Information and Communication Technology; Leisure and Recreation; Media; Performing Arts; Science; Travel and Tourism.
Key Skills	Results of Key Skills tests may be requested, but will not form part of the offer of a place.
BTEC National Certificate (12 units)	Acceptability: Acceptable only when combined with other qualifications. Subjects and grades required: Overall Double Award DD.
BTEC National Diploma (18 units)	Acceptability: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications. Subjects and grades required: Overall DDM.
International Baccalaureate	Acceptability: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications. Subjects and grades required: 32 points overall. Additional information: 35 points overall and higher level maths at grade 4 or standard level maths or maths studies at grade 5 or above required for LL71. Higher Level at grade 5 in a science subject for F850, F8N2 and F750. Higher level at grade 5 in Geography preferred for F800, F810, L700, L720.
European Baccalaureate	Acceptability: Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications. Subjects and grades required: 75 per cent.
Access qualifications	Subjects and grades required: Achieve Access to HE Diploma including at least 45 credits at Level 3, with 24 at Distinction and 12 at Merit. The Access Diploma should be in an appropriate subject area and should include a science component for F750, F850 and F8N2.
Other qualifications	The College welcomes applications from those holding qualifications not listed above. Staff in the Admissions and Recruitment Office will be happy to advise you as to the acceptability of your qualification.
European and international qualifications	The College accepts a wide range of EU and International qualifications, for information please contact the Admissions Office, or visit www.qmul.ac.uk/international/countries. We also accept students onto the International Science and Engineering Foundation Programme. For more information visit www.languageandlearning.qmul.ac.uk/intsefp/index.html.

Do you interview applicants at Queen Mary?

We interview all applicants whose predicted grades meet or lie close to our standard offer. We believe interviews are important. They enable us to judge your potential, rather than only your current academic performance. We are looking for students who can demonstrate not only good academic achievement, but who also have a real commitment to and enthusiasm for Geography or Environmental Science. Offers are made on the basis of your interview performance and your UCAS form. Our offers reflect a student’s performance at interview and may lie within, or differ somewhat from, the standard range. Interviews also enable you to get a better feel for the school, take extended tours of the campus and to meet current students.

How many offers can I accept?

You will not be able to accept or decline any of the offers you have received until ALL the universities you have applied to have confirmed their offer with UCAS. Once UCAS have received details of all your offers, you will need to decide which offers to accept. You must make a FIRM acceptance of 1 of your offers, an INSURANCE acceptance of 1 other offer, and reject any other offers you have been made. Typically, students will choose to hold the course they most want to do as their FIRM offer, and then hold a slightly lower offer as their INSURANCE. If you achieve the points needed for your FIRM offer, UCAS will automatically allocate you a place on that course in August when the exam results are announced. If you are rejected by your firm offer because you did not make the points, but DO make the points for your Insurance Offer, UCAS will automatically allocate you a place on your Insurance course.