Geographical Information Science MSc
1-2 years, full- or part-time
This degree looks at the systems and software used to analyse geographic data. GIS is an increasingly important field, with real-world applications in areas like business, modelling, environmental protection, forecasting and regional planning.
Course information
UK fee £10,950
International fee £23,650
Taught by School of Geography, Geology and the Environment
Contact:
+44 (0)116 2523823
geogadmin@le.ac.uk
Course description
Course description
Geographic Information (GI) plays an increasingly important role in many areas of our lives: environmental protection, business and marketing, communications, forecasting, modelling, agriculture, and local and regional planning.
Understanding GI systems (the software tools) and GI science (the technical discipline) is essential for effective management and analysis of spatial data. Working alongside industry partners, the course comprises four core modules plus four option modules (selected from a larger pool) and a dissertation.
You will learn key skills in: using a range of GI software; scientific programming; dealing with the growth in data from social media and the internet; and, analysing spatial data in the broader context of data science. Alongside the core modules, you’ll have the opportunity to specialise in areas such as environmental health, remote sensing and earth observation, visualisation, and field data capture.
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
2:2 degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject and/or several years' appropriate professional experience.
English Language Requirements
IELTS 6.5 or equivalent, with at least 6.0 in each component score.If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence of your English language ability. If you do not yet meet our requirements, our English Language Teaching Unit (ELTU) offers a range of courses to help you to improve your English to the necessary standard.
International Qualifications
Find your country in this list to check equivalent qualifications, scholarships and additional requirements.
Countries listFees and funding
Fees and funding
UK Students
Starting in September 2025
- MSc: £10,950
- MSc with Industry: £10,950
An additional fee of £3,520 will be charged if a placement is secured.
If you are resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Did you know you can apply for a Government Postgraduate Loan? Find out if you’re eligible.
International Students
Starting in September 2025
- MSc: £23,650
- MSc with Industry: £23,650
An additional fee of £3,520 will be charged if a placement is secured.
You will need to pay a deposit of £3,000 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
Find out more about scholarships and funding.
Accreditation
Accreditation
This degree is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Careers and employability
Careers and employability
You have the option of choosing to study this course 'with industry' in which a paid industrial placement forms part of your course, including your overall assessment through reflective learning. Whether or not you opt for the 'with industry' variant of the course, it is designed to give you the tools to work towards a career in a wide variety of fields in the engineering and technical industries.
Our Career Development Service is here to support you, with advice on interviews, CVs, work experience, volunteering and more. From Freshers’ Week to Graduation and beyond, they are here to help you reach your professional goals.
Course structure
Core modules
Core modules
- Fundamentals of GIS
- Fundamentals of Data Science
- Geographical Visualisation
- Remote sensing
- Geospatial Data Analytics
- Geographical Artificial Intelligence
Plus your Dissertation
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Option modules
Option modules
Choose two option modules from:
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Industrial placement (optional)
Industrial placement (optional)
Studying a 'with industry' masters degree is the perfect way for you to enhance your career prospects and deepen your understanding of your specific area of expertise. By experiencing real-world scenarios and applying your skills and knowledge to business challenges, you will gain a unique insight into how your studies can be utilised in industry. This will not only showcase your abilities to future employers, but will also enhance your studies when you return to University to complete your programme.
Please note that the 'With Industry' degree has a higher fee than the regular MSc.
The 'With Industry' option is not available if you take the course part-time.
Modules shown represent choices available to current students. The range of modules available and the content of any individual module may change in future years.
Why Leicester?
Our map library has over 100,000 accessions including aerial photographs and atlases.
Resources available to you at Leicester include a dedicated computer lab containing industry-leading GIS software as well as a terrestrial laser scanner and GIS enabled smartphones for collecting spatial data in the field. We also have a virtual reality theatre.
This is the oldest established MSc in GIS at any English university with a track record in producing successful graduates, many of whom go on to work in the geospatial industry.
Teaching and learning
Teaching includes lectures, seminars, self-paced learning, directed reading and practicals. Assessment is a mixture of coursework and exams. Your dissertation will be assessed separately.
Key dates
September 2025 start
- Application deadline: 8 September 2025 (Please note if you require a visa to study you will be required to submit your course application by 25 July 2025)
- Deposit payment deadline: 8 August 2025
- CAS request deadline: 5 September 2025
- 70% tuition payment deadline: 5 September 2025
Apply now
| Course | Qualification | Duration | Start Dates | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Course Geographical Information Science | Qualification MSc | Duration 1 year full-time | Start Dates September each year | Availability Apply Now |
| Course Geographical Information Science | Qualification MSc | Duration 2 years, part-time | Start Dates September each year | Availability Apply Now |
| Course Geographical Information Science with Industry | Qualification MSc | Duration 18-24 months full-time | Start Dates September each year | Availability Apply Now |
My experience at Leicester has been fantastically underpinned by knowledgeable and supportive staff. The breadth of the course made my time thoroughly enjoyable, with a great atmosphere throughout the University. Leicester has proven to be the perfect environment to enhance my academic career.