LAW DEGREES

Overview

Law has always been one of the sought-after and widely respected degrees to study at university. Our guide has everything you need to know before you apply for entry to this competitive field.
For many, an undergraduate law degree will be the first step along the path to a career in the legal sector, followed by the further study and training needed to become a practicing solicitor or barrister.
However, this is certainly not the only reason to study law at university. For many, the attraction lies in the combination of human interest and intellectual stimulation a law degree will provide.
Choose an undergraduate law degree, and you’ll discover just how wide-ranging the reach of the law is.
Legal studies come into contact with almost every area of human life, touching upon issues relating to business, economics, the environment, human rights, international relations, politics and trade.
As you get further along your course, you should have more opportunities to select your own areas of interest. For example, you could specialize in criminal law, property law or maritime law.
The study of law also provides a framework through which to examine and understand different societies and cultures. For instance, you may be able to focus on Islamic law, or on the laws of the European Union.
As a law student, you should also be prepared to come up against some of the most problematic – indeed often seemingly irresolvable – conflicts and issues in modern society and morality. An interest in philosophy could be helpful here!
Studying at graduate level? See our guide to continuing your legal studies >
Find the world's best universities for law with the QS Rankings by Subject >

Specialization

As you get further along your course, you should have opportunities to select your own areas of interest. Possible law specializations include:

• Criminal
• Property
• Business
• Patent
• Employment
• Insurance
• Tax
• Civil
• Family

You may also have the option to specialize in particular cultures or regions. So, for example, you might focus on Islamic law, or the laws of the European Union.

Career Options

As you’d expect, many law graduates go on to pursue careers in the legal sector. This usually requires further study and training, which varies in different countries. Popular roles for law graduates include:

• Barristers – specialize in representing clients in court
• Solicitors – provide legal advice on a wide range of subjects, including property transactions, wills, divorce and child custody, compensation claims and business contracts

Company secretaries – employed by a business to ensure the company complies with relevant legislation

As with medicine, the path to becoming a legal professional varies in different parts of the world, and qualifications are not always immediately transferable between different countries.

In England and Wales, those who wish to become solicitors must take the one-year Legal Practice Course (LPC), and then complete a two-year placement as a trainee solicitor.

In the US, law is – like medicine – taught mainly as a postgraduate subject. This means it’s necessary to complete a four-year undergraduate degree first – not necessarily majoring in law – and then apply for a place at a graduate law school.

This usually means taking the Law School Admission Test (LSAT).

However, you certainly don’t have to become a lawyer after studying law at university. Like other social science subjects, a law degree can be good preparation for a range of different career paths.

This could include roles in business and management, journalism, think tanks, politics and the civil service.

It can be helpful, when choosing a degree, to have an idea of the kind of career sector you’re interested in – but don’t worry if you’re still not sure.

If you’re considering studying law, it’s more important to ensure you have a genuine interest in the subject, and that you’re prepared for the academic challenges ahead.

Career benefits of a Masters in Law >

GEOGRAPHY DEGREES

Overview

Geography degrees, as our guide explains, are some of the most varied out there. In fact, perhaps it's more apt to consider it as a field rather than a subject.
Ever seen a strange rock formation and wondered how it got that way? Or watched a documentary about an overcrowded slum and wanted to understand why people were living in such poor conditions? Studying geography at university should cover all this, and much, much more.
Both of these situations could fall within the bounds of a geography degree, though the first would be categorized as physical geography and the second as human geography. These are the two major sub-disciplines when studying geography at university, and in fact the two branches are very different.
Human geography is concerned with the study of human societies – how they operate, develop, and the challenges they face. So you could look at issues such as population change, cultural and religious practices, or globalization.
Physical geography, on the other hand, is about understanding the earth’s physical processes – from climates and weather systems, to earthquakes and rock formations, right down to what’s happening on the ocean floor.
Some universities will offer a choice between a Bachelor of Arts (more of a human geography focus) or Bachelor of Science (physical geography). But even so, it’s usual to start by taking some introductory modules in both sides of the subject.
Find the world's best universities for geography with the QS Rankings by Subject >

Specialization

It should be clear by now that geography at university-level is a huge subject, drawing on many other disciplines. Some possible areas of focus have already been mentioned above, including climatology (study of climates), oceanography (ocean systems) and meteorology (atmosphere and weather).
Here are just a few examples of other possible specializations:
Glaciers and glaciations: Geography degrees specializing in glaciers and glaciations, as you’d expect, are the study of glaciers and glacial systems, including effects on land formation and the impact of climate change. You could expect to learn about glacier erosion and deposition, mapping and analysis techniques, and glacial environments and ecosystems – and a field trip to a real-life glacier is also a possibility.
Hydrology: A geography degree specializing in hydrology is all about water: water quality, movement, transportation, uses and resources. Areas of focus could include agricultural water use, drainage management, hydropower, water supply and sanitation, and flood forecasting and safeguarding.
Political geography: Political geography is the study of relationships between politics and physical spaces. For example, you could examine relationships between physical landforms and state boundaries, analyse government responses to environmental issues, or consider the role of formal and informal country groupings – such as the European Union or ‘the Middle East’.
Cultural geography: Cultural geography rather loosely refers to the study of cultural norms, customs, traditions, changes and clashes. This could have an international focus, looking at the effects of globalization and issues connected to cultural exchange, integration or dominance. Or it may be possible to focus on a particular region, and/or a particular aspect of culture – such as religion, language, sexuality or personal identity.

Career Options

If you want to make a difference to the world, a degree in geography is a good place to start.
Depending on your specialization, you could be involved in developing solutions to some of the most pressing problems for modern society: climate change, natural disasters, overpopulation, urban expansion, multicultural integration.
Geography graduates may provide research and advice to help governments, charities or other organizations – either working directly for a particular organization, or as part of an independent research group, think tank or university faculty.
Other roles could include cartography (producing maps), transportation management, town planning, and environmental and conservation work.
A geography degree also provides many transferable skills – including data analysis, report writing and computer modelling – which could support careers in a wide range of sectors.
Find the world's best universities for geography with the QS Rankings by Subject >

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE DEGREES

Overview

Environmental science is often referred to as an ‘interdisciplinary’ subject. This basically means that it uses skills and knowledge from a variety of different specializations.
For example, environmental scientists may find themselves dipping into biology, chemistry, physics, ecology, geography, geology, marine science and social sciences. The idea is to use as many perspectives and disciplines as necessary, to build up a fuller understanding of both natural and human environments.
As this suggests, environmental science is a huge subject, and one of immediate relevance to many of modern society’s most pressing challenges.
Fieldwork is an important part of most environmental sciences degrees, which often include trips to a variety of different countries and world regions, to give students experience of different habitats, climates, land formations and societies.
You can also expect to spend a fair amount of time in the lab, learning how to carry out different types of test.

Specialization

In such a diverse and interconnected subject, the list of possible specializations is huge. When choosing, it may be useful is to think about the kind of scale you want to work at.
For example, do you want to focus on understanding specific life forms and ecosystems, or are you more interested in systems and changes at whole-planet level?
Soil ecology: This is an example of a subject at the ‘up close’ end of the spectrum. People may smile when you tell them you’re studying soil, but in fact this often overlooked subject is of relevance to everyone. Soil ecology involves an understanding of issues such as soil nutrition levels, the spread of pathogens (viruses, bacteria and so on), the impact of pesticides and other chemicals, and soil porosity (spaces between grains).
Habitat management and conservation: Budding conservationists will learn about different types of habitat, develop an in-depth understanding of the challenges and changes facing different regions around the world, and explore a range of approaches to habitat management.
Earth and atmospheric systems: This is the ‘big picture’ end of the spectrum, looking at large scale changes in the earth and its atmosphere. Subjects you might cover include geomorphology (understanding land formations and predicting future changes), weather systems, climate change and oceanic systems.

Career Options

Environmental scientists are needed in a wide range of sectors, including:
• Climate change research
• Natural disaster preparation and response
• Waste disposal
• Water supply
• Conservation and habitat management
• Natural resource management
• Environmental policy development
• Air quality assessment
• Agriculture