Updated on Aug 2, 2022 05:20 IST

Geography is the study of the types of landforms, the physical structure of the Earth, natural resources and the relationship between places, people and their environments. Generally geographers study the physical properties of the Earth and human society in detail. Geography is mainly divided into two parts: Physical Geography and Human Geography. Whereas Physical Geography includes the study of the Earth's seasons, climate, atmosphere, soil, water currents, landforms and oceans, Human Geography deals with the study of the people and different cultures inhabiting the Earth. Geography courses in India are offered by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the Humanities stream. Candidates who have completed class 12 level education can pursue Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Certificate and Diploma courses in Geography. Read this article on Geography courses further to know more details such as course types, distance Geography courses, top Geography colleges with courses, and much more.

Types of Geography Courses

Types of Geography courses can be categorised based on the mode of study. Different educational institutes offer courses with different modes of education. A traditional college will most likely provide full-time education. While a MOOC platform provides online education. The space below mentions the types of Geography courses based on the mode of education.

Geography Courses with Different Modes of Study

Nearly all the universities in India impart education in the field. Candidates can choose the mode of study for a Geography course based on their academic needs, and future goals. Geography courses with different modes of education are as follows:

  • Full-time courses: This is a classroom-based course offered by several colleges/institutes with UGC recognition. A full-time Geography course follows the traditional education method of physically attending college.
  • Distance/Correspondence Course: This course is identical to a full-time Geography degree course; however, students can complete a distance course and get the degree credential without studying at a college.

Popular Geography Courses

Full-time Geography courses are among the top choices of candidates who aspire to become a geographer. Besides a regular Geography degree, candidates also consider a Distance learning course. Besides the degree course, very less students consider a certification course in Geography right after completing Class 12.

Some of the popular specialisations in Geography courses are:

Geography Degree Courses- UG

An undergraduate course in Geography is a three-year degree course offered based on the merit of candidates in Class 12 level examination. The table below mentions the key highlights of the Geography course:

Course Features

Course Details

Name of course

Geography

Duration of course

3 years

Course fees

Fees typically ranges below INR 1 lakh for the course

Eligibility

Candidates who have completed Class 12 with a minimum of 50 per cent aggregate. However, some colleges do not have minimum score criteria.

Admission process

Entrance/Merit-based

What after a degree in Geography?

Candidates can pursue a master's degree course. Alternatively, they can eye for job profiles like teaching, Environment Consultant, Logistics and Distribution Manager, Town Planner etc.

Top Geography Degree Courses

Candidates can find a few of the top Geography degree courses along with the college offering the course in the table below:

Name of Course Name of College
Bachelor of Arts in Geography
BA (Hons) in Geography
BA (History, Economics, Political Science, Geography)
Integrated BA in Geography + BEd
BSc (Hons) - Geography

Distance Geography Courses

Besides the full-time course, Geography courses are also offered in distance mode. However, the admission process, eligibility criteria, course curriculum, and career prospects remain the same even in the distance mode of education. The only difference lies in the mode of lecture delivery. The table below mentions key highlights of a Distance degree in Geography:

Course Features

Course Details

Name of course

Distance course in Geography, also known as Correspondence Geography

Duration of the course

3 years

Course fees

Course fee typically lies below INR 1 lakh

Eligibility

Candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent. Candidates from all streams are eligible to apply for the distance course.

Admission process

Merit-based

What after a Distance degree?

Candidates can pursue master's degree courses, or get a job that requires an expertise in Geography

Top Distance Geography Courses

The table below mentions the top Geography courses along with the universities/colleges offering the course in Distance mode:

Name of Course Name of College
BSc in Geography
Bachelor of Arts (BA) (Geography)
BSc (Hons) in Geography

Diploma Courses in Geography-UG

UG diploma course in Geography are also the popular choice among the candidates after degree courses. The Diploma courses are usually of one year duration. The eligibility criteria for Diploma courses is 10+2 passed in any stream. Usually there is no entrance test conducted for admission to diploma courses. The Diploma courses in Geography are tabulated below:

Name of Course Duration Name of College
Diploma in Geography 1-year University of Mumbai [MU]
Diploma in Geographical Information system (GIS) 1-year University of Mysore

 Geography Certificate Courses

 Candidates who wish to pursue a short term or a certificate course can opt for below-mentioned courses:

Name of Course Name of College
Certificate in Disaster Management Nalanda Open University - NOU
Certificate Course in Remote Sensing Geographic Information System Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University

Geography Degree Courses – PG

PG courses in Geography can be pursued after completion of a UG course in Geography. The details are tabulated below:

Course Features

Course Details

Name of course

Geography (PG)

Duration of course

3 years

Course fees

Fees typically range below INR 1 lakh for the course

Eligibility

Candidates who have completed bachelor's with a minimum of 50 per cent aggregate in Geography. However, some colleges do not have minimum score criteria.

Admission process

Entrance/Merit-based

What after a degree in Geography?

Candidates can pursue a master's degree course. Alternatively, they can eye for job profiles in sectors like Cartography, Urban and Regional Planning, Remote Sensing, Geospatial Analyst, Landscape Architect, Market Research etc.

Top Geography PG Degree Courses

Candidates can find a few of the top Geography PG degree courses along with the college offering the course in the table below:

Name of Courses Name of Colleges
MA in Geography
MSc in Geography

Geography PG Diploma Courses

The eligibility criteria for PG diploma courses in Geography is same as PG degree courses. The admissions to such courses are on a merit basis. Some of the PG Diploma courses in Geography are as follows:

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Remote Sensing and GIS
  • PG Diploma in Geoenvironmental Appraisal and Management
  • P.G. Diploma in Geographic Information System
  • PG Diploma in Geospatial Data Analytics
  • PG Diploma in Military Geography

FAQs on Geography Courses

Q. What is a Geography course about?

A. Geography is the study of the Earth and its lands and features, inhabitants and phenomena. It is divided into parts: Physical Geography and Human Geography. Candidates pursuing a course in Geography get the opportunity to learn about the earth.

Q. Is Geography a good course to pursue?

A. Yes. Candidates who wish to pursue a career in the field of Environment Science, Oceanography, Climate change, disaster management etc need to complete a course in Geography. The knowledge imparted via a degree in Geography can aid in a seamless career trajectory.

Q. What is the duration of the Geography UG degree course?

A. Similar to other UG degree courses. A Geography degree has a duration of three years. Three years of the Geography course is divided into six semesters.

Q. Can I pursue a Geography degree in an online mode?

A. No. a degree course in Geography is not offered in an online mode. However, several MOOC platforms offer certification courses in Geography.

Q. Can I pursue Geography in distance mode?

A. Yes. Several open universities and distance education departments offer Geography degree courses in distance education mode. Distance learning courses in Geography are also known as correspondence in Geography.

Q. What are the basic eligibility criteria to pursue an undergraduate course in Geography?

A. Candidates who have completed Class 12 level education are eligible for the Geography undergraduate course. Candidates across streams can apply for such courses.

Q. I completed Class 12 with a Commerce stream. Am I eligible for the Geography course?

A. Yes. Candidates, irrespective of their stream in Class 12, can pursue a course in Geography. However, several universities only offer the course to candidates who have completed Class 12 with a Humanities stream.

Q. What are the eligibility criteria to pursue a PG degree course in Geography?

A. Candidates must have completed their graduation with Geography as one of the main subjects to pursue a postgraduate course in Geography.

Q. Which are the popular courses in Geography?

A. The popular courses in Geography are BA (Hons) Geography, BA Geography, BSc in Geography, MA in Geography etc.

Q. Which are the popular entrance exams in Geography?

A. Some of the entrance exams conducted by colleges offering UG and PG courses in Geography are:

Q. What are the popular specialisations in Geography?

A. Some of the popular specialisations in Geography are Biogeography, Landscape Ecology, Coastal Geography, Geomorphology etc.

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Geography. Students interested in pursuing a career on Geography, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

Jun '24

CT SET 2024 Counselling Start

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Jun '24

CT SET 2024 Result

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21 Feb ' 25

SAT Registration Deadline for March Test

25 Feb ' 25

SAT Deadline for Changes, Regular Cancellation, a...

Feb '25 - Apr '25

CUET 2025 Application Process

TENTATIVE

Apr '25

CUET UG 2025 Application Form Correction

TENTATIVE

Jun '25 - Jul '25

CPGET 2025 Applications

TENTATIVE

Jul '25

CPGET 2025 Admit Card Release

TENTATIVE

Popular Geography Specializations

Following are the most popular Geography Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

    Popular Geography Colleges in India

    Following are the most popular Geography Colleges in India. Learn more about these Geography colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
    1 Course
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    #2 Outlook

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    #5 Outlook

    1 Course
    540
    5.38 LPA

    #13 Outlook

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    6 LPA

    #21 Outlook

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    2 LPA

    #32 Outlook

    Popular Private Geography Colleges in India

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    4.75 - 6.75 LPA

    Geography Applications open. Apply Now

    4.8 L
    1.0
    20 K - 90 K
    3.45 LPA
    1 Course
    7.2 L
    4.0
    3 Courses
    2 L - 3 L
    4 LPA

    Geography Applications open. Apply Now

    2.6 L - 5.52 L
    4.0

    #44 The Week

    Popular Geography UG Courses

    Following are the most popular Geography UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

    UG Courses

    Popular Geography PG Courses

    Following are the most popular Geography PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

    PG Courses

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