Introduction

The Department of Geography, University of Mumbai, established in the year 1969, offers postgraduate courses leading to the Degrees of Master of Arts (M.A.) and Master of Science (M.Sc.) by papers or research, awarded by the University of Mumbai. In addition to the master's programme, M.Phil and Ph.D. degree programmes are also conducted by the Department. Experienced faculty of the Department is devoted to research in their given equal importance by the faculty. Research and teaching are given equal importance by the faculty. Extra care is taken to pay individual attention to the students in their laboratory work and lecture sessions. Project work and problem sessions are encouraged to develop innovative and analytical approach to learning. Topical seminars by experts from research institutes, planning authorities are organised to create research awareness amongst students. Experts in different allied fields are also invited for interaction and curriculum development, whenever necessary.

The Department of Geography is the only centre teaching Geography at the post-graduate level in the University of Mumbai. The Department also allows registration of candidates for Ph.D. with recognised teachers teaching in affiliated colleges. University of Mumbai finances the Department to create and maintain infrastructural facilities for its various teaching and research programmes. Additional finance required for research work is sought by individual faculty members from various national funding agencies such as the UGC, DST, ICSSR, CSIR and DOE. It has a close interaction with academicians and experts from the other research organisations of the city.

The Department of Geography is housed in the Lokmanya Tilak Bhavan (Ground and First Floor) and the Dnyaneshwar Bhavan (First Floor) located in a well-planned and compact Vidyanagari Campus of the University of Mumbai. Vidyanagari Campus is off the Vidyanagari Marg to the south of Kalina and can be reached from both the Central and Western Railways. The BEST buses on routes 313, 426 plying between Kurla (West) on the Central Railway and Santacruz (East) on the Western Railway touch Vidyanagari. Buses on route no. 318 enter Vidyanagari Campus. Buses on routes 306 (between Santacruz and Mulund), 91 (between Kurla and Mumbai Central), 37 (between Kurla and Bhulabhai Desai Road), 312 (between Andheri MIDC and King's Circle) and 374 (between Goregaon Depot and B.A.R.C.) also cater to long distance commuters.

On the very first visit, students fall in love with the campus environment. Its well laid garden and vast area, away from dense and noisy city, help create an atmosphere conducive to creative activities. Staff quarters, Ladies' and Boys' Hostels and late evening research workers keep the campus alive even late in the evening and on holidays. Campus library houses books and journals in almost all the subjects. Canteen offers a common meeting place for students and teachers from various departments. It is a rewarding experience for students to encounter a researcher from the other faculty. Summing up, the campus offers an opportunity for an all-round development of personality.

Jawaharlal Nehru Library at the Vidyanagari Campus is fairly well equipped with Geography books, journals and periodicals. Interdisciplinary nature of the subject also enables it to procure material from books and journals of the other disciplines. The students enrolled in the Department can avail of both the reading as well as lending facilities offered by the library.

There are Girls' and Boys' hostels within the Campus. Four rooms in Boys' hostel and Four rooms in Girls' hostel are reserved for the Departmental students. One room in J. S. Hall Hostel for Boys' at 'B' Road, Churchgate, is also allotted to the Department.

The Department offers two scholarships which are awarded strictly on the basis of merit. It offers three free studentships to be awarded on the basis of need-cum-merit.