Why you should study this programme:

The aim of this programme is to produce highly qualified and highly motivated masters graduates, technically and spatially equipped to proceed into the active commercial Geographical Information Systems (GIS) industry, into work that develops and supports governmental spatial data infrastructures, or into further academic research positions.

More specifically, this course concentrates on:

• web-enabled architectures for accessing geospatial data and software
• the design of innovative and flexible geospatial software systems
• core issues in geographical information science
• the visualisation of geographical data.

Course Structure

During the first phase of the course, the MSc is intended to equip students with a sound understanding of the broad areas in the context of rapidly emerging new technologies. By bringing both software engineering and geospatial themes together explicitly in the project phase of the degree, the course offers exciting opportunities to explore emerging trends relating for example to the geoweb, online mapping, map services and spatial services; GPS-enabled mobile technologies augmented or mixed reality and lidar-enabled 3D visualisations of natural and built environments.

Students will have access to the facilities of both the Departments of Geography and Computer Science. The Computer Science Department operates 3 computer labs which are specifically for the use of Computer Science students, to which students from this course will have access.

While the Department of Geography is the administrative home for this Degree, our aim is that you feel equally welcome in both Departments and are able to benefit from the wide range of software, hardware and expertise resources available in both zones during your time at Leicester.

• View course modules
• Downloads: Course Handbook

Career Opportunities

Many software providers are beginning to harness developments in web technologies to develop GI mapping services on both desktop and, increasingly, mobile platforms and this is likely to become quite a significant component of the GI infrastructure of the future.

Specialists in this area are increasingly sought after by the private sector and government agencies. The MSc can also be an ideal basis for pursuing a research career looking at cutting edge geospatial issues through a PhD later on.

Typical entry requirements

A first or upper second class honours degree in a relevant subject. Candidates should have, or expect to gain, at least a good second class honours BSc degree or qualification of equivalent standard recognised by the University in a subject with a substantial element of Computing. Because applications are treated on an individual basis, alternative qualifications may be considered, especially in the case of candidates with relevant work experience.

Alternative qualifications are usually considered when a student holds an acceptable degree, but in a slightly different subject area and has through work experience moved into a field relevant for the programme they have applied for. In this case we would expect the experience to be significant (several years) and expect the candidate to provide details about this experience (e.g. details of the job they have been conducting in Industry) in addition to evaluating employer’s statements for evaluation by the admissions team.

Next Step: Request a prospectus