A lot of students like to get prepared well in advance by gathering together some of the things they'll need when they start the course, or even doing a bit of reading to get them warmed up! To help you with that, this page lists a few items that it would be useful to have before you arrive (you'll certainly need them during the course) and identifies the core textbooks that are worth buying in the first year. 
 

Core textbooks:

The first three books will be very useful throughout your course and are certainly worth having copies of. The fourth book is the core text for the 1st-semester lecture module, and although there are copies in the library many students like to have their own:

• Matthews, J.A. and Herbert, D.T. (2008) “Geography – a Very Short Introduction.” (OUP)

• Thomas, D.S.G. and Goudie, A.S. (2000) “The Dictionary of Physical Geography" (3rd Edition)” (Blackwell) 

• Knight, P.G. and Parsons, T. (2003)  "How to do your essays, exams and coursework in geography and related disciplines" (Routledge). 

• Holden, J. (ed) (2008) "An introduction to Physical Geography and the Environment" (2nd edition) (Pearson)

• An Atlas. There are plenty of good (and inexpensive) Atlases available at the campus bookshop (in the Geography section) and in other local booksellers. You really need to have access to a good atlas if you are studying Geography!
• An Ordnance Survey map of the local area. There are plenty of these in shops in Newcastle.

• An electronic calculator (with basic scientific functions such as tan, sin, cos).
• Basic drawing equipment including a protractor and a small stapler. You will be expected to have things like a stapler, coloured pencils, a protractor, etc, with you in practical classes and tutorials.
• A diary for writing in appointments, essay deadlines, etc. You should carry your diary with you to all lectures, classes and meetings with tutors.
• Some waterproof clothing including stout boots, for when we do field-based activities.