Geographer (NSW/ACT)

State/Territory Specific Information

Education and Training:

To become a geographer you usually have to study geography or applied geography at university. You can study geography as part of an arts or science degree. You can also undertake a specialised degree in applied geography, resource and environmental management or environmental science. To get into these courses you usually need to gain your HSC/ACT Year 12. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English and mathematics are normally required. A number of universities in Australia offer degrees in these areas. Universities have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements or offer external study. Contact the universities you are interested in for more information as requirements may change.

Related Courses:

While the following courses are related to this occupation, they may not necessarily lead directly to employment, nor provide the most direct pathway to the occupation. Courses which provide preliminary or informal training, as well as those which provide additional job skills following initial qualifications may also be listed.

*Course is offered by more than one institution. Click link for details.

  1. Diploma of Liberal Studies
  2. Advanced Diploma of Arts
  3. Bachelor of Actuarial Studies / Bachelor of Science *
  4. Bachelor of Advanced Computing / Bachelor of Science
  5. Bachelor of Art Theory / Bachelor of Arts
  6. Bachelor of Arts *
  7. Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Studies
  8. Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Business *
  9. Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Commerce *
  10. Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Digital Arts
  11. Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Economics
  12. Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education - Primary
  13. Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Education - Secondary *
  14. Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Information Technology *
  15. Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws *
  16. Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Music
  17. Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science *
  18. Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science - Psychology *
  19. Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Social Work *
  20. Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Speech Pathology
  21. Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Visual Arts
  22. Bachelor of Arts / Diploma in Education
  23. Bachelor of Asia-Pacific Studies / Bachelor of Science
  24. Bachelor of Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Laws
  25. Bachelor of Bachelor of Arts / Bachelor of Science
  26. Bachelor of Business Administration / Bachelor of Arts *
  27. Bachelor of Business Administration / Bachelor of Science
  28. Bachelor of Commerce - International
  29. Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Arts *
  30. Bachelor of Commerce / Bachelor of Science *
  31. Bachelor of Communication and Media Studies / Bachelor of Science
  32. Bachelor of Computer Science / Bachelor of Science
  33. Bachelor of Creative Arts / Bachelor of Science
  34. Bachelor of Development Studies *
  35. Bachelor of Economics / Bachelor of Arts
  36. Bachelor of Education - Secondary / Bachelor of Arts
  37. Bachelor of Engineering - Computer or Electrical or Telecommunications / Bachelor of Arts
  38. Bachelor of Engineering - Computer or Electrical or Telecommunications / Bachelor of Science
  39. Bachelor of Engineering - Research and Development / Bachelor of Science
  40. Bachelor of Engineering / Bachelor of Arts *
  41. Bachelor of Engineering / Bachelor of Science *
  42. Bachelor of Environment / Bachelor of Laws
  43. Bachelor of Environmental Science / Bachelor of Arts
  44. Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management *
  45. Bachelor of Finance / Bachelor of Science
  46. Bachelor of Information Technology / Bachelor of Science
  47. Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies - Sustainability
  48. Bachelor of Laws / Bachelor of Arts
  49. Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science
  50. Bachelor of Mathematics / Bachelor of Science
  51. Bachelor of Music / Bachelor of Arts *
  52. Bachelor of Music / Bachelor of Science *
  53. Bachelor of Music / Bachelor of Science (Advanced)
  54. Bachelor of Pacific Studies
  55. Bachelor of Science *
  56. Bachelor of Science (Advanced)
  57. Bachelor of Science - Advanced Science / Bachelor of Social Science
  58. Bachelor of Science - International
  59. Bachelor of Science - Psychology / Bachelor of Science
  60. Bachelor of Science - Resource and Environmental Management
  61. Bachelor of Science - Resource and Environmental Management / Bachelor of Laws
  62. Bachelor of Science - Science Communication
  63. Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Arts *
  64. Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Commerce *
  65. Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Economics
  66. Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Education
  67. Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Laws *
  68. Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Science - Forest Sciences
  69. Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Social Science
  70. Bachelor of Science / Bachelor of Teaching *
  71. Bachelor of Science / Diploma of Education
  72. Bachelor of Social Science *
  73. Bachelor of Social Science / Bachelor of Laws *
  74. Bachelor of Social Science / Master of Urban Management and Planning
  75. Bachelor of Social Work / Bachelor of Social Science
  76. Bachelor of Software Engineering / Bachelor of Science
  77. Bachelor of Philosophy - Arts and Social Sciences (Honours)
  78. Bachelor of Philosophy - Science (Honours)
  79. Bachelor of Science (Advanced) (Honours) *

Employment Opportunities:

Geographers are rarely employed under the job title 'geographer'. They tend to be employed in local, state and federal government agencies; private sector organisations; and public corporations. They work in town planning, environmental and resource management, regional development, education and a range of other roles depending on their area of specialisation. Geographic information systems (GIS) is a growing employment area, with geographers often using remote sensing technology, databases and other geographic information technologies. Some are self-employed and work as consultants.

Many geography graduates become teachers after completing a formal teaching course. See the entry for Teacher - Secondary for more information.

For Further Information:

Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (National Office)

(02) 6282 2282

Information for other states and territories: