The first students for the new Honours Degree in Geography in the Faculty of Arts in the University of London started their courses in October 1918, one month before the end of the First World War. They graduated in 1921, by which time similar courses could also, with a different background of subjects at ‘intermediate’ level, lead to the degree of B.Sc. The teaching of geography in the University goes back much further, for H. J. Mackinder, then Reader in Geography at Oxford, was amongst the lecturers listed in the first prospectus of the London School of Economics in 1895 (he subsequently became Reader in 1908 and Professor in 1923), and L. W. Lyde's Chair of Economic Geography was established at University College in 1902.

By 1906 L.S.E. had established a Certificate in Geography, primarily for school-teachers; this was superseded in 1910 by the University's Academic Diploma in Geography, which was of full honours standard.

The new degrees called for a wider basis of instruction, particularly in physical, mathematical and historical geography, than was available at L.S.E., while at King's College facilities existed in physical geography (taught by the Professor of Geology), mathematical geography (taught in the Civil Engineering Department), and historical geography (there was a Professor of Imperial History), but none at all in regional or economic geography.