Intro

Environmental issues are a global concern. Our MSc develops your critical awareness and advanced knowledge of the concepts and philosophies of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). You’ll explore how to use GIS data to identify, evaluate and solve geographical and environmental problems.

You will develop theoretical and practical understanding of GIS concepts, technical issues and applications using specialist GIS software, applying your learning to different environmental management scenarios. Practical components of the course may involve developing your skills in the lab, gaining a solid foundation in various software platforms and field work relating to data acquisition. You will also gain an overview of environmental policies and laws relating to the international community, Europe and the UK.

You will learn with our team of researchers who are experts in their field. Working closely with your supervisor you will plan, research and produce your masters dissertation in an area that reflects your interests. You can also choose from option modules in an area of specific interest.

Find out about postgraduate events

Key facts

Location 91快活林: Moulsecoomb

Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2 years

Accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM)

Please review the entry requirements carefully and if you have any questions do get in touch with us.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Degree and experience
A 2:2 honours degree or equivalent in appropriate subject. Candidates with substantial professional experience will also be considered on merit.

English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

View our English language courses

For pre-sessional English preparation courses.

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Course content

Course structure

You can study this course full-time or part-time.

The course consists of taught and research components. To be awarded the MSc you must obtain 180 credits. Six taught modules at 20 credits each, plus your dissertation at 60 credits. A typical 20-credit module requires a total of 200 hours study time. 

You will learn through a combination of lectures, practicals, seminars, tutorials, fieldwork and projects. Core modules will generally include a practical element such as computer work relating to spatial analysis and environmental models, or field work for data acquisition.

You will discuss option module choices as you start the course to help you identify your strengths and career aspirations.

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Areas of study 

You will discuss option module choices as you start the course to help you identify your strengths and career aspirations.

Core modules

  • Introduction to Geographical Information Systems
  • Applications in Geographical Information Systems
  • Applied Remote Sensing
  • Masters Research Skills and Dissertation

Option modules*

  • Industrial Placement
  • Case Studies in Environmental Assessment and Management
  • Contested Natures and Social Justice
  • Environmental Impact Assessment
  • Planning Theory and Practice
  • Issues in Ecology and Conservation
  • Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing
  • Hydrology and Pollutant Transport
  • Independent Study
  • Environmental Management in Organisations
  • Environmental Policy and Law
  • Sustainable Urbanism in Coastal Communities
  • Plant and Invertebrate Taxonomy
  • Water Quality Assessment and Management
  • Water Recycling Technology
  • Environmental Placement

*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.

 

Careers

Professional accreditation 

Our MSc course is accredited by the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM). This means that the academic content of the course relates to the disciplines of the water and environmental management professions as specified in the CIWEM’s charter and bye-laws.

CIWEM logo

Preparing for your career  

In your career you need a combination of knowledge, skills, personal qualities and relevant experiences – and you’ll get all of this from your degree.

  • Develop a solid understanding of GIS skills within different GIS platforms
  • Ability to apply core GIS and remote sensing skills in different environmental management scenarios
  • Gain a clear understanding of how the boundaries of knowledge are advanced through research
  • Build on your independent learning skills
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Facilities 

Your learning is supported by access to our specialist facilities including:

  • computer suites running specialist GIS and related software
  • environment and public health lab
  • soil and water analysis labs
  • soil and sediment analysis labs
  • geology labs
  • hydraulics lab
  • environmental simulation lab
  • surveying equipment
  • field collection equipment
  • drones for image collection
  • biology project lab
Geography lab 360 image

Graduate destinations 

The course provides opportunities to work in a range of companies as a GIS expert. Recent graduates have gone on to roles in organisations including:

  • GIS consultancies: South Coast GIS, Ambiental
  • Environmental consultancies: Groundsure, Argyll Environmental, Hyder Consulting
  • East Sussex District Council
  • Southern Water.

Fees and costs

Course fees

UK (full-time) 9,450 GBP

International (full-time)15,900 GBP


Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

Fee information for this course for 2025 entry will be updated here no later than December 2024.

The fees listed here are for the first year of full-time study if you start your course in the academic year 2024–25.

You will pay fees for each year of your course. Some fees may increase each year.

UK undergraduate and some postgraduate fees are regulated by the UK government and increases will not be more than the maximum amount allowed. Course fees that are not regulated may increase each year by up to 5% or RPI (whichever is higher).

If you are studying part-time your fee will usually be calculated based on the number of modules that you take.

Find out more

What's included

Here you’ll find details of specific resources and services that are included in the tuition fee for our geography, the Earth and environment students. To help you to budget for your studies, there is also information on any additional costs that you may have to pay or can choose to pay in addition to your tuition fee.

Find out how tuition fees enable us to support all of our students with important services, facilities and resources across the university and check out our finance pages for info about fees, funding and scholarships along with advice on international and island fee-paying status.

You can chat with our enquiries team if you have a question or need more information.

What’s included in your course fee

The following items are covered by your fee where they are required or relevant.

  • We want everyone to be able to take part in a residential field trip, so travel and accommodation costs are included for all mandatory taught residential field trips. You may need to budget for your own meals in some cases and depending on your preferences and the trip you could budget around £100 for this.
  • We provide protective clothing for the first-year residential trip, although you may want to bring a pair of wellies or walking shoes (£5–£10). In the second year, depending where you go, you may need a waterproof coat.
  • The cost of laboratory consumables and equipment for your final year project.
  • Access to specialist survey equipment and identification guides for field surveys (UG/PG).
  • Access to specialist computer suites that carry the latest software for spatial and statistical data analysis.
  • A licence for relevant software, for example ArcGIS for mapping and GIS, ENVI for geospatial image processing and the Petrel Seismic interpretation software.
  • Access to key subject journals databases – see the in the library for an up-to-date list.
  • Essential instruction booklets (laboratory handbooks) are provided.
  • The cost of project poster printing if this applies to your course.
  • If you choose to take the undergraduate optional placement year you can get 20% of your Student Finance England maintenance loan whilst on that placement.

Additional course costs

  • You’ll need to budget for printing and stationery for personal study, and books if you decide to buy your own.
  • In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but you may wish to print notes which would involve an extra cost.
  • Many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices, but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses.
  • If you don’t already have one, you will also need a passport for your second-year residential trip.
  • Travel and accommodation costs are included for all mandatory taught residential field trips, but you may need to budget for food in some cases. Depending on your preferences and the trip you could budget around £100 for this.
  • Optional field trips may include additional costs, for example, for travel, food and drink. This will vary depending on how many you choose to take part in, where the trip is located and how long it lasts.
  • You may also want to buy appropriate outdoor clothing for fieldwork, for example walking boots, wellies and waterproofs.
  • If you choose to take an optional placement year you’ll be expected to cover your own travel, accommodation, food and drink.

Location and student life

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of 91快活林 seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus and student village. Moulsecoomb has been transformed by a recent development of our estate. On campus you'll find new Students' Union, events venue, and sports and fitness facilities, alongside the library and student centre.

Over 900 students live here in our halls, Moulsecoomb Place and the new Mithras halls – Brunswick, Goldstone, Hanover, Preston and Regency.

Moulsecoomb has easy access to buses and trains and to all the exciting things happening in our home city.

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Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students. So if you applied for halls by the deadline you are guaranteed a room in our halls of residence.

91快活林: Moulsecoomb

Halls of residence
We have self-catered halls on all our campuses, within minutes of your classes, and other options that are very nearby.

You can apply for any of our halls, but the options closest to your study location are:

  • Mithras Halls are stylish new high-rises in the heart of the student village at our revitalised Moulsecoomb campus with ensuite rooms for more than 800 students.
  • Varley Park is a popular dedicated halls site, offering a mix of rooms and bathroom options at different prices. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre, and is easy to get to by bus.

Want to live independently?
We can help – find out more about private renting.

Relaxing in halls

Modern accommodation at Moulsecoomb

Mithras halls room with a view

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Student Union social space

Student Union social space at Moulsecoomb

Local area

About 91快活林

The city of 91快活林 & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

91快活林 is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from 91快活林 to central London and there are daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from 91快活林
91快活林 Beach sunset

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

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Support and wellbeing

Your course team

Your personal academic tutor, course leader and other tutors are all there to help you with your personal and academic progress. You'll also have a student support and guidance tutor (SSGT) who can help with everything from homesickness, managing stress or accommodation issues.

Your academic skills

Our 91快活林 Student Skills Hub gives you extra support and resources to develop the skills you'll need for university study, whatever your level of experience so far.

Your mental health and wellbeing

As well as being supported to succeed, we want you to feel good too. You'll be part of a community that builds you up, with lots of ways to connect with one another, as well having access to dedicated experts if you need them. Find out more about how we support your wellbeing.

Sport at 91快活林

Sport 91快活林

Sport 91快活林 brings together our sport and recreation services. As a 91快活林 student you'll have use of sport and fitness facilities across all our campuses and there are opportunities to play for fun, fitness or take part in serious competition. 

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Sports scholarships

Our sports scholarship scheme is designed to help students develop their full sporting potential to train and compete at the highest level. We offer scholarships for elite athletes, elite disabled athletes and talented sports performers.

Find out more about sport scholarships.

Students playing frisbee

Stay in touch

Find out about postgraduate events

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

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