Geographic Information Systems

Program Overview

The Geographic Information Systems (GIS) PgDip/MSc program provides students with the knowledge and skills to work in the field of GIS. The program covers a wide range of topics, including introduction to GIS, remote sensing, spatial data management, and GIS in the commercial environment. The program is delivered through a virtual learning environment and offers both full-time and part-time options. Graduates have found employment with mapping agencies, GIS and SatNav companies, environmental consultancies, and more.

Program Outline

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - PgDip/MSc

Degree Overview: The program covers a wide range of topics, including:

• Introduction to GIS
• Remote sensing
• Spatial data management
• Spatial databases
• Web-based GIS
• GIS in the commercial environment
• GIS work experience
• Spatial analysis and modelling
• GIS for environmental management
• Customizing GIS
The course is delivered through a virtual learning environment (VLE) called Blackboard, which provides access to teaching materials, assignments, electronic library resources, and discussion boards. Students can choose their own hours of study each week, but they are expected to dedicate an average of 35-40 hours to the course per week.

Outline:

The course consists of 180 credits spread across 12 months for full-time students and 24 months for part-time students.

The program is divided into modules, each with its own specific learning outcomes and assessment methods.

Compulsory modules include

• Principles of GIS (15 credits)
• Introduction to Remote Sensing (15 credits)
• Spatial Data Management (15 credits)
• GIS Databases (15 credits)

Optional modules include

• Web-Based GIS (15 credits)
• Photogrammetry and Advanced Image Analysis (15 credits)
• Spatial Analysis and Modelling (15 credits)
• GIS Work Experience (15 credits)
• GIS in Business and Society (15 credits)
• GIS for Environmental Management (15 credits)
• Programming for GiS & Remote Sensing (15 credits)
Students may choose two modules from Group A, two from Group B, and one 30 credit Environmental Management module in place of two of the optional modules in semester 2.

Assessment:

Assessment methods vary by module and can include a combination of

• Practical reports
• Problem analysis
• Research projects
• Presentations
• Blogs
• Online tests
• Group work
The Master’s element of the course takes the form of a substantial independent research project, written up in the form of an academic paper, which may subsequently be considered for submission to a scientific journal.

Teaching: The course is delivered through a virtual learning environment (VLE) called Blackboard. Teaching material includes lectures, practical exercises, and additional reading material. Students are supported by lecturers and e-tutors via discussion forums, email, phone, or video-conferencing tools.

Careers: The program aims to provide graduates with the skills and knowledge to work in a variety of GIS-related roles, such as:

• GIS technicians
• GIS analysts
• GIS scientists
• GIS data specialists
• GIS project managers
• GIS mapping officers
• GIS consultants
Graduates have found employment with mapping agencies, GIS and SatNav companies, environmental consultancies, ecological and marine resource management agencies, renewable energy companies, and more.

Other:

• The program is offered as a full-time or part-time course.
• The full-time course takes 12 months to complete, and the part-time course takes 24 months.
• The course has a high success rate in obtaining GIS employment.
• Tuition fees for Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, and EU Settlement Status are £7,000 per year.

• International fees are £17,090 per year.
• The University offers scholarships, awards, and prizes to eligible students.
• The program has gained recognition from the Institution of Environmental Sciences (IES).
• You must obtain your own copy of Microsoft Office, but other software is free or provided free of charge under academic license.
• Additional fees cover graduation ceremonies, examination resits, and library fines.

Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and EU Settlement Status Fees

£7,000.00

International Fees

However, costs are kept as low as possible and are not likely to exceed £150 in total. You must obtain your own copy of Microsoft Office, but other software is either freely available (open source) or else provided free of charge under academic licence (e.g. Esri's ArcGIS, the remote sensing package Erdas Imagine and SPSS for statistical analysis). You will need a PC or laptop with a minimum of 4 GB RAM (preferably higher) and a CPU speed of at least 2.2 GHz. As ArcGIS and Erdas Imagine only run on Windows, a Windows-based PC or laptop (rather than Mac) is required.