Geography at Sidney has a proud history, a lively present and a bright future.

Important Note Concerning Interviews for 2023

Please note, all undergraduate admissions interviews at Sidney Sussex for the 2023-24 admissions round will be held online. Further details regarding interview platform will follow.

Prof. Richard Chorley, a former Fellow of the College, was a leading geomorphologist of his day, at the vanguard of the quantitative revolution, and a dedicated teacher of physical geography. Today Sidney geography remembers him through the Chorley Society, one of the most active academic societies in the college. Run by our students, it brings in academics and professionals to give a lively series of talks throughout the year, and the occasional field trip too.

We want all of Sidney’s geographers to feel intellectually and personally valued as well as challenged, and this is the hallmark of our geography community.

Undergraduate Study

If you’re thinking of applying to geography at Sidney, then, firstly, welcome! Geography undergraduates at Sidney are part of a close-knit community. We admit between four and six undergraduates in the subject each year, making us a medium-sized College for the subject. There is a lot of interaction and support between the different year groups, the fellowship, and our postgraduate students too, not only to provide academic guidance, mentoring, and teaching, but also to foster the sense of a geography community of which we are proud to be a part.

We want you to have a sense of who you are as a geographer, and in a subject with great breadth, that means that there are many things you can do to prepare your application to geography. With the help of your teachers, your local library and the internet, you could follow up on the themes of your courses and geographical news stories that interest you. The journals Geography, Geographical, New Scientist, and The Economist are great places to start, and there is a wealth of reading and free online lectures and resources to explore. Check out our Beyond the syllabus page for more!

Written work

We will not ask you to submit any written work as part of your application.

Admissions assessments

There will be no admissions assessment for this subject at Sidney Sussex College.

Interviews
  • All undergraduate admissions interviews at Sidney Sussex for the 2023-24 admissions round will be held online. Further details regarding interview platform will follow.
  • Two interviews, both focused on Geography. You may be asked to study a short passage on a geographical topic, which will then be discussed during one of the interviews.

Subject requirements
  • Learn about our standard entry requirements for Geography on the University website.
  • At Sidney, we do not require A-level Geography – but many applicants have a balance of science / mathematics and humanities / social science subjects.
  • Please note that offers are set on an individual basis using all of the information available to us in context of the entire field of applicants.
Beyond the syllabus

Are you excited to learn more about the subject by delving beyond the school syllabus? Explore our Beyond the syllabus resource hub to discover interesting websites, podcasts, videos, and books related to the subject you love!

Typical intake

3 - 5

Typical A-level offer

A*AA

Typical IB offer

41-42 points overall, with 776 at Higher Level

Postgraduate Study

Higher degrees in geography range from taught courses like the M.Phil in Polar Studies through to flexible research degrees such as the M.Phil in Geographical Research, and doctoral programmes across the breadth of the subject. Sidney’s excellent geography community means that you have an intellectual home within the College, and opportunities to get involved are plentiful.

At the University of Cambridge applications for postgraduate study are processed centrally by the Postgraduate Admissions Office. The application form and supporting documents are submitted electronically via their website and the online self-service system, though academic decisions on applications are made by the Faculty or Department.

Funding

There are many funding opportunities at Cambridge from a wide variety of sources including the Cambridge Trust, Gates Cambridge, Colleges, Departments, Research Councils and central University funds. You can use the Postgraduate Admissions' Cambridge Funding Search to find out which type of funding you might be eligible for, and how and when to apply. They also operate a Postgraduate Funding Competition to co-ordinate some of these funding opportunities and make the process easier for you as an applicant.

To find information about the funds available for postgraduate students at Sidney, visit our Studentships and funding page.

Useful links

Course directory | Postgraduate Admissions | University of Cambridge

Funding | Postgraduate Admissions | University of Cambridge

How do I apply? | Postgraduate Admissions | University of Cambridge

International students | Postgraduate Admissions | University of Cambridge

Opportunities to work, travel, and study

Sidney geographers make the most of excellent opportunities to travel, work, and study overseas and in the UK. The Chorley fund, established in memory of Richard Chorley, provides financial assistance to second year undergraduates for their dissertation fieldwork. Recent geographers at Sidney have explored memory and emotion in Aberfan, education in Bolivia, sexuality in Delhi, and volcanic eruption evidence in Canadian tree rings.

Discover more on our Opportunities to work, travel, and study page.