Geography

Subject Coordinator

Dr Glorianne Borg Axisa
geo-he.jc@um.edu.mt
Room C318

Geography subject information

Advanced level

Lectures: 5 hours per week
Tutorials: 1 hour per week

Intermediate level

Lectures: 2 hours per week



Geography is a subject that straddles the natural and social sciences. It is the subject that looks at phenomena from the spatial perspective, more specifically it looks at their distribution over the earth's surface.

Through Geography students will be able to appreciate how the physical characteristics that make up the natural environment influence central themes that govern human beings and their actions on the planet and how this eventually influences the geo-physical dimension.

The study of Geography will enable students to use their acquired geographical knowledge in real-life situations and as a basis for life-long education.

The range of learning skills include:

  • understanding the diverse characteristics of people, places and environments
  • recognising the spatial relationship between people and their environments
  • understanding that space and spatial relationships are fundamental components of human interdependence on the local, regional, or global scale
  • solving problems systematically using geographical methods.

Geography at the Junior College is available as a two-year course at both Intermediate and Advanced level. Our department places an emphasis on the lecture-room element that includes discussions and continuous reference to current affairs locally and abroad together with fieldwork practice.

We strongly suggest prospective students to have a look at the syllabus for both the Advanced and the Intermediate level. 

The syllabus at Advanced level places a strong emphasis on practical work, with a total of 28 per cent of the examination marks devoted to field reports. The main fieldwork report takes the form of a written account (c. 2500~4000 words in length) set against criteria specified in the MATSEC Syllabus. Students normally starts work on this report at their first year and submit the finished report by February of the second year of their studies. Students are guided in their research methods through regular one-to-one meetings with one of the Junior College Geography Senior Lecturers.

At Advanced level, students have six hours tuition per week which include lecturing sessions, seminars, tutorials and practical (fieldwork) sessions. Tuition for Geography at Intermediate level is on a two-hour weekly basis.

While a SEC pass or equivalent in Geography is not an essential entry requirement, it is nonetheless considered a strong asset in the successful pursuit of the subject, especially at Advanced level. A strong emphasis is here made on the need for broad and sustained background reading by prospective students.  Careful planning  as well as strong commitment are essential.

Students are encouraged to set meetings with their lecturers or the subject coordinator during the 'contact hour' to clarify any arising matters related to their course of studies.

Passes in Geography at Advanced and Intermediate Level allow students to consider various possibilities to proceed with their studies at University.


Listen to the episode dedicated to geography from the Junior College radio programme mill-Kulleġġ:
(the episode is in the Maltese language)

https://www.jc.um.edu.mt/geo-he/aboutus/geography