Bachelor of Geography and Planning

  • About the programme
  • Programme structure
  • Entry requirements
  • Tuition fees & scholarships
  • Career prospects

• Programme duration : 3 years
• Delivery language : French
• Degree awarded : Bachelor of Geography and Planning
• Accreditation : The curriculum follows the European ECTS system and the degree is awarded by Sorbonne University. This programme is accredited by the UAE Commission for Academic Accreditation.
•    Deadline to apply : 22 August 2025

The Bachelor of Geography and Planning delivers solid competencies covering all aspects of geography (economic, social, physical and regional). It combines social sciences and environmental sciences to better understand the complexity of the contemporary world and the stakes of sustainable development, from a local to a global scale.

The degree, taught in French provides a solid knowledge and methodology whilst equipping students with the tools to understand the modern, globalised world. The Bachelor combines a solid foundation in physical, human and regional geography with further opportunities in other social and natural sciences. It focuses on professional work experience by offering numerous opportunities for internships locally and abroad in the fields of urbanism, sustainable development, risk management and territorial expertise. Students learn how to use and leverage professional cartography and data management tools: remote sensing, statistical data processing, geographical information system. A computing lab and individual tutoring sessions are available to students.

During the first two years, students are introduced to broad geographical concepts to understand the Earth environment (relief, hydrography and climate), transforming and differentiating processes of social spaces (demographic, social, cultural, political and economic). The third year expands the theory taught in courses from the first and second year and prepares students for a Master degree by focusing on regional case studies (Asia, Middle-East, Europe), and topic courses including risks, logistics and transportation, humanitarian, urban planning.

Students learn how to use and leverage professional cartography and data management tools including remote sensing, statistical data processing, geographical information system. A computing lab and individual tutoring sessions are available to students.

By the end of the programme, students will be able to understand major territorial stakes such as the environmental impacts of societies, urbanism, sustainable development, social inequalities, economic and tourism development and heritage protection.

The programme faculty are all internationally renowned professors whose teaching methodology goes beyond the traditional forms of teaching to ensure a balanced and well-rounded learning experience.

The Bachelor of Geography and Planning offers abundant career opportunities in diverse sectors such as sustainable development, urban planning, local development, geopolitics, tourism and transportation and logistics. Private sectors (urban planning agencies, engineering offices, consultancy companies in sustainable development or geomarketing) and public entities (NGOs, Ministries, international agencies) are seeking geography graduates as they combine a global understanding of diverse issues with operational skills.

First Year

  • Environmental geography
  • Coastal areas: environment and development
  • Climates: from climatic mechanisms to geopolitics of global change
  • Geography in human and social sciences
  • Geography of population and migration
  • Economic geography: actors and territories in globalisation
  • Landforms dynamics
  • Spaces, time and power: introduction to political geography
  • Spaces and urban dynamics
  • Agriculture and agrarian landscapes: grow and feed the planet
  • Principles of cartography and graphic semiology
  • Languages
  • University research methodology: theoretical and on the field research

Second Year

  • Hydrology: understand and manage water resources
  • Feed the world: understanding agricultural issues and world feeding system
  • Tourism and leisure: sociological, economical and territorial issues
  • Geopolitics of the contemporary world: transformations, crisis and challenges
  • Land-use planning: organise, plan and develop
  • Initiation to statistical analysis of geolocated data
  • CAD (computer-aided design)
  • A world in movement: circulation, mobilities and migrations
  • Asia Pacific in the heart of the “world-economy”
  • Concept, methodologies and objects of cultural geography
  • Geo-environments: ecosystems challenges
  • Geomatics: geographic information systems
  • Remote sensing: satellite images
  • Languages

Third Year

  • Environmental changes and their impacts on human societies
  • Risks and societies: facing “natural” hazards
  • Transport, mobility and logistics in the contemporary world
  • Introduction to urbanism and city management
  • Middle Eastern geography: environment, society and geopolitics
  • Statistical analysis of data: methodology and professional competencies
  • Techniques of enquiry, sampling: creating geographic information
  • From biosphere to urban ecosystem: sustainable management of biodiversity
  • Cultural and natural heritage: between preservation and economic valorisation
  • Emerging countries: new actors in globalisation
  • European Union: socio-cultural, economical and geopolitical analysis
  • Humanitarian and development: actors, stakes and challenges
  • Geographic information system
  • Languages
  • Study field trip abroad
To be eligible for this Bachelor’s degree, students must have the following:

  • French baccalaureate: minimum average of 12 out of 20.
  • Ministry of Education curriculum:
    General stream/Art stream: minimum average of 80%.
    Advanced stream/Elite stream/Science stream: minimum average of 75%.

  • Other high school systems: high school certificate equivalent to the UAE Ministry of Education high school with minimum average of 80% or equivalent
  • French Aptitude Certificate: minimum score of B2 level (DELF or DALF, SELFEE, TCF with a validity of 2 years, TEF with a validity of 2 years) or completion of SUAD university diploma DU in French language for non-French speakers .
  • A minimum average of 70% (or equivalent) in Mathematics subject in school systems is required or EMSAT Mathematics at or above 700.
  • One science subject in school system with minimum 70% average (Physics, Chemistry or Biology) or EMSAT with a score at or above 700 in Physics, chemistry or biology subjects.

Students not meeting the required French Aptitude Certificate will be admitted conditionally in the programme, and enrolled in the foundation year in intensive French providing they meet the above criteria:

Upon its successful completion, they will be admitted into the bachelor degree programme.

Other Countries Education’s Systems

Conditions apply on other foreign curriculums according to the admission’s policy set by Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi. Please contact the Student Recruitment office by email: admissions@sorbonne.ae for more details.

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi is committed to considering applications from all students regardless of their country of origin, income, gender, religion or physical condition.

• Programme tuition fees (per semester)*:
 		AED 34,500 (approximately US$ 9,400)
• Payment of fees:
 		click here

*The fees presented for each program do not include administrative fees. Terms and conditions apply.

Scholarships*

HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Scholarship for Emirati students

Admitted Emirati nationals and children of Emirati mothers’ are awarded a full scholarship covering tuition and study related fees for their Bachelor Programmes (and Foundation year, if any)

Current high school students may apply through NAPO, whereas the graduates of previous years can apply on the Apply Now page.

Academic Excellence Scholarships (for the 1st semester of enrolment)

• 15% scholarship on tuition for the 1st semester of joining

New joiners with excellent academic results in high school are eligible following the below criteria. Starting from the second semester, they can apply for the 25%-75% academic excellence scholarship scheme.

  • Government schools: 90% in the advanced stream, or 95% in the general stream.
  • American system: CGPA of 3.6 out of 4.0 or minimum average of 90%.
  • British system: “A” grade or higher in three “AS-Level” subjects or “A” in the equivalent “A-Level” Subjects, plus “B” grade or higher in six O level subjects.
  • SABIS: minimum average of 85%.
  • International Baccalaureate: IB diploma with minimum score of 5 out of 7 in all courses – three of those subjects must be higher-level courses.
  • French Baccalaureate: minimum average of 14 out of 20.

Academic Excellence Scholarship (starting from the 2nd semester of enrolment)

• 25%-75% Academic Excellence Scholarship

Based on the academic results obtained during the previous semester at SUAD, students are eligible to the academic excellence scholarship granted semester by semester. The scholarship scheme is progressive (25% to 75% and the minimum average grade to be eligible is 12/20. A specific scholarship is available for the 2nd semester of the Foundation Year. For more information, please contact admissions@sorbonne.ae

Other Scholarships

10% French Curriculum Schools Scholarship for the 1st semester of enrolment

Students holding a French baccalaureate obtained in one of the GCC countries are eligible for a 10% discount for their first semester. Starting from the second semester, they can apply for the 25%-75% academic excellence scholarship scheme.

Sponsored scholarships

Total, Chalhoub and Ardian Foundation, offer specific scholarships based on academic excellence and/or financial circumstances to selected students.

The deadline for submitting an application is communicated by University email each semester to all enrolled students. Applications are submitted via the online application form. Incomplete and late applications will not be assessed.

Scholarships can’t be combined. For more information, please contact admissions@sorbonne.ae

Preferential rate: 10% Family discount

Students who have a first-degree relative currently enrolled in an undergraduate or a postgraduate programme are eligible for a 10% discount.

*Conditions apply

For more information, please contact:

The Career Centre
Tel: +971 (0) 2 656 9104/9342
Email: careercentre@sorbonne.ae

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