This innovative programme combines expertise from the universities of Leeds and Southampton, both renowned for their Geographic Information Systems (GIS) teaching and research. It builds on the University of Leeds’ considerable experience in successfully delivering taught Masters programmes in GIS and draws on the University of Southampton’s expertise in teaching GIS in non-traditional settings.
The programme is designed to meet a wide range of requirements, covering areas of specialisation as diverse as business, environment, health and planning and is well-suited to an international audience.
It offers open distance learning for people working in commercial or public sector organisations, who need core training and skills development, as well as those who simply want to study in their own environment and at their own pace.
You’ll benefit from tutor support, including regular newsletter updates, and online discussion with fellow-students, and will have access to online resources at both universities.
More information
The Business, Planning and Developer streams are taught entirely by the University of Leeds, the Health and Remote Sensing streams are taught by the University of Southampton and the Environment stream is taught jointly by both universities. If you choose an environment, health or remote sensing stream you will complete your dissertation and graduate with a qualification from the University of Southampton. If you choose any of the other streams you will graduate with a qualification from the University of Leeds. Read more about the programme on the GIS Online Learning website.
You can also study this subject at Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate levels.
The programme manager is Helen Durham.
The programme runs over three years on a part-time basis, with study to Postgraduate Certificate level in year one, Postgraduate Diploma level in year two and an MSc achieved after three years.
The first year consists of four core modules, providing an introduction to theories and concepts that underpin GIS, skills in GIS software and database systems, knowledge of spatial analysis, statistical and mathematical modelling and the requirement to undertake a feasibility study of GIS in a workplace.
In year two you tailor your study to specialise in areas as diverse as business, environment, health, planning, remote sensing and GIS development. This is ideal for students already in full-time employment and looking to enhance their existing GIS skills to progress in their chosen career or make a career change.
In year three, you further build on your interests and expertise by undertaking a programme of independent research through the dissertation module. This gives you the opportunity to develop research in any area of GIS, expanding on work undertaken as part of the course, studying a problem of personal interest or researching a topic relevant to a workplace. You’ll be supported by a supervisor from amongst the distance learning teaching staff. We aim to submit the best dissertations for journal publication.
Year 1 Compulsory modules
Year 2 Compulsory modules
Year 3 Compulsory modules
The University of Leeds and the University of Southampton are linked seamlessly through the Worldwide Universities Network.
You’ll be provided with a variety of online learning materials throughout the programme. You’ll work as part of a virtual online community, discussing the materials online, collaborating in group tasks, participating in group exercises and generally supporting one another.
You’ll also get plenty of one-on-one support. Our qualified tutors are experts in the theory and practice of GIS and are there to support you and your group. Our tutors will act as mentors and provide you with personal guidance as you progress, advising you on how to make the most of the course and helping you to overcome any obstacles that you encounter. Any work you hand in will be returned to you with detailed comments and advice. Past students have found this comprehensive personal feedback one of the most valuable aspects of their study.
Assessment is through coursework with no exams. There is a mix of essays and reports, the latter usually based on analysis of real world datasets. Most modules have two assessments which are due for submission at the end of each three-month study period.
Typical roles undertaken by our recent graduates are:
The School of Geography has a very strong commitment to enhancing student employability. Read more about our employability support.
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
This programme focuses on scientific, technical and computational aspects of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Geographical Information Science (GIScience), with particular reference to the socioeconomic and environmental sciences. It provides highly qualified and motivated students sought by employers in the sector.
Core modules introduce GIS, a rapidly evolving area in business, health and planning settings, as well as in environmental applications. You will be introduced to GIS packages and database systems, useful for those wanting to undertake social and environmental science research and those wanting to understand the application of geotechnology as practitioners. You’ll study theories and concepts underpinning GIS and explore topics including spatial data models, data capture, spatial analysis and statistical and mathematical modelling. Optional modules allow you to focus on quantitative human geography, environmental applications and programming GIS.
Other Study Options
This programme is available part time, allowing you to combine study with other commitments. You can work to fund your studies, or gain a new qualification without giving up an existing job. We aim to be flexible in helping you to put together a part-time course structure that meets your academic goals while recognising the constraints on your study time.
The programme manager is Dr Paul Norman.
You can also study this subject at Postgraduate Diploma level.
The programme comprises two semesters of taught modules followed by a dissertation project. The first semester includes three core modules. In the second semester, all modules are optional to allow you to specialise in your chosen pathway. We group our modules thematically so that you can include topics within streams relating to Planning and Society, to Environment and to Technical Development. Optional modules include a highly recommended module in Programming for Geographical Information Analysis.
The dissertation is carried out over the summer months and is an opportunity for you to investigate a topic and demonstrate your ability to apply the techniques you have learned during the course and bring in additional methods, whilst placing the work within appropriate literature contexts. Our aim is to submit the best dissertations for journal publication.
If you study this programme part time you will study fewer modules in each year.
Compulsory modules
Teaching will be through workshops, seminars, presentations, practicals and lectures, depending on the modules you choose.
Assessment is through coursework with no exams. There is a mix of essays and reports, the latter usually based on analysis of real world datasets. Most modules have an assessment part way through the semester and then a further assessment at the end.
Typical roles undertaken by our recent graduates are:
Some of the organisations our graduates work for are:
The School of Geography has a very strong commitment to enhancing student employability. Read more about our employability support.
We encourage you to prepare for your career from day one. That’s one of the reasons Leeds graduates are so sought after by employers.
The Careers Centre and staff in your faculty provide a range of help and advice to help you plan your career and make well-informed decisions along the way, even after you graduate. Find out more at the Careers website.
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is becoming increasingly important, both nationally and internationally, in the wide range of professions where acquisition, management, interpretation and analysis of geographical information is of use.
You can study a postgraduate certificate, postgraduate diploma or masters depending on the level of GIS knowledge you need. This is one of the first courses to be offered in this area and answers the need for well-trained professionals in this growing area.
GIS crosses many boundaries and offers a wide range of employment opportunities. This course is designed for people wanting employment in GIS as a • researcher • statistician • strategic analyst • GIS technician • planner • environmental modelling within a range of disciplines.
The course develops your capability to use, apply and understand geographical information systems by developing your
The course provides a balance of academic and practical content, giving you experience of using GIS in real life applied scenarios. Some students may have more relevant experience than others and the modules take this into account. If your current work involves using GIS regularly you can build on your learning through a work-based learning module. If you have less specialist experience you can work on a consultancy project module which gives you experience of using GIS on a project for a real world client organisation.
The course is structured around four core modules and a selection of optional modules. If you are studying for an MSc, you also complete a research methods module and a dissertation.
We also offer most modules on this course as standalone short courses.
Core modules
Option modules
There are no formal examinations.
This course is useful for people who are working in, or wish to work in • environmental and ecology fields • hazard and risk management •strategic analysis • research • transport • logistics • planning departments • housing • emergency services • health authorities.
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