Geographic Information and Climate Change, MSc

Program Overview

This interdisciplinary program combines GIS, remote sensing, and earth system modeling with climate change studies. It emphasizes technical aspects of GIS and earth observation, as well as environmental and climatic change. Students engage in research projects and dissertations, and benefit from exceptional computing facilities and expert faculty. Graduates pursue careers in environmental monitoring, data analysis, and academia.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This program provides interdisciplinary training in the scientific foundations of GIS, satellite remote sensing and earth system modeling, alongside aspects of climate change. It focuses on the technical aspects of GIS and earth observation, as well as the past, present and future global and regional environmental and climatic change.

Outline:

Year 1

• Compulsory Modules: (20 credits each)
• Environmental Modeling
• Environmental Remote Sensing
• Geographical Information Systems
• Climate Change - Past, Present and Future
• Optional Modules (choose 20 credits from the following):
• Advanced Techniques in Biodiversity Assessment
• Environmental Dynamics
• Ecosystems: Ecology, Conservation & Resource Management
• Climate Science and Policy

Year 2

• Compulsory Module: (60 credits)
• Dissertation - Geographic Information and Climate Change
• Optional Modules (choose 20 credits from the following):
• Advanced Techniques in Biodiversity Assessment
• Environmental Dynamics
• Climate Science and Policy
• Ecosystems: Ecology, Conservation & Resource Management

Year 3

• Compulsory Module: (60 credits)
• Dissertation - Geographic Information and Climate Change

Assessment:

Assessment methods include examinations, coursework, and a research project or dissertation.

Teaching:

The program is taught by experts in environmental dynamics and climate change, including Professor Adrian Luckman, Professor Peter North, and Professor Siwan Davies. Exceptional computing facilities support studies, including fifteen dual-processor workstations for Earth Observation, a 20-node multiprocessor Beowulf cluster, and the Department’s IBM ‘Blue Ice’ supercomputer.

Careers:

Graduates have pursued careers in utilities, county councils, the environmental service industry, regulating bodies, and academia. Examples of graduate roles include:

• Environmental Monitoring Officer (Natural Resources Wales)
• Geographical Data Processor (Western Power Distribution)
• Graduate Statutory Orders Specialist (Jacobs)
• Catchment Scientist (Welsh Water)
• Ecologist (Natural England)
• Multi-site Supervisor (Phase Eight)
• Data Analyst (PHS Group)
• Account Manager Support (Handelsbanken)

Tuition Fees and Payment Information:

MSc 1 Year Full Time Start Date UK International September 2023 £ 10,100 Tuition Fees MSc 1 Year Full Time Start Date UK International September 2023 £ 10,100 £ 21,000 September 2024 £ 10,600 £ 22,050 MSc 2 Year Part Time Start Date UK International September 2023 £ 5,050 £ 10,500 September 2024 £ 5,300 £ 11,050 MSc 3 Year Part Time Start Date UK International September 2023 £ 3,400 £ 7,000 September 2024 £ 3,550 £ 7,350 Tuition fees for years of study after your first year are subject to an increase of 3%.