Master's in Geo-information Science

Students with a background in environmental sciences, social sciences and programming first follow basic geo-information and geo-scripting courses. The course work consists of several compulsory subjects, restricted optional subjects and optional subjects. As an optional subject you can choose any relevant master course offered at Wageningen University or another academic institution. The courses provide you with the knowledge and skills you need for your thesis research, academic internship and future career.

At the end of the first year, you learn how to properly use GIS- and Remote Sensing concepts, methods and data when contributing to a geo-spatial project. In a team of 5 or 6 students with a multidisciplinary and multicultural background, you will execute a project in the geo-spatial domain for an external client. The project includes fieldwork, excursions, analysing and reporting, and requires synthesising knowledge from different disciplines. 

Working on your professional development is also an important element of this project. The project is evaluated in terms of process, applied research methods, synthesis of the compiled information, and the resulting advice to the client. 

Courses first year.

Thesis 

You end your personal Geo-information Science profile by completing a thesis research in one of the following fields:  

• Sensing & Measuring  
• Modelling & Visualisation  
• Integrated Land Monitoring  
• Human-space Interaction  
• Empowering & Engaging Communities

Internship 

The 24 credits academic internship is a required element of the second year of the master's programme. You work at an institute or company outside Wageningen University, or even abroad for a period of 16 weeks. Your internship is a unique learning opportunity, where you can apply your academic skills in a professional environment. You learn to focus on your field of interest and you gain work experience, preparing you for your future (academic) career. 

Courses second year.

The programme has no formal specialisations. This allows students to, in consultation with the study advisor, tailor their programme to fit their own interests, wishes and needs. They can do that that by:  

• Selecting advanced geo-information and remote sensing courses;
• Selecting geo data science oriented courses;
• Selecting advanced courses in their original or new domains;
• Choosing specific topics in the academic consultancy training part of the Remote Sensing and GIS integration course; and
• Selecting specific thesis subjects and internship locations.

For a more detailed information on the programme structure please refer to the Study handbook.  

The programme consists of:

• Lectures: a lecturer covers the course material in class.
• Tutorials: you complete an individual or small-group assignment.
• Peer learning: you work together and learn from other students, for example on a thesis ring.
• Self-study: self-study is included in your schedule, but you can also schedule it outside of it. 

At WUR we believe in personal guidance and close contact. The programme’s dedicated lecturers, study advisors and WUR’s student counsellors support you to stay on track. This reduces the risk of dropping out and ensures a personal and enriching study experience, showing our genuine commitment to your success.

The master's Geo-Information Science combines expertise in the domains of dat science, geo-sciences, environmental sciences and social sciences. The programme consists of courses based on GIS and remote sensing methods and techniques, as well as courses in geo-information processing. These include data gathering, data analysis and data presentation. You learn to use geo-information systems and remote sensing techniques to find solutions for spatial problems within relevant fields of the environmental sciences.

You can choose to include certain elements of the master's Geo-Information Science in other master's study programmes at Wageningen University. However, Geo-Information does not form an integral part of any other master's study programme which makes the master's Geo-Information Science unique within Wageningen University. 

Check more information on Studiekeuze123.nl.

The increasing demand for digital geographical information has resulted in a phenomenal growth in the discipline of Geo-Information Science. The demand for geo-information is the result of an increase in environmental problems and the need to manage the natural and the social environment. This translates directly into outstanding career prospects within the field of Geo-Information Sciences.

The overview provides more detailed information about the fields and positions taken by our alumni on graduation:

• In Research
  • PhD
  • Researcher
  • Research Assistant
• In Consultancy
  • Remote Sensing Specialist
  • Consultant
  • GIS adviser
  • Geo-information Manager
  • Geo-information Analyst
• In Education
  • Lecturer 

Student Career Services facilitates WUR students towards the labour market. If you need help in your orientation towards your future career. 

Interested in the master's programme Geo-Information Science? Find out whether your knowledge and skills match the entry level of the programme.

Purpose and reason for the admission requirements  

The admission requirements for the master's programme Geo-Information Science are defined in such a way that the students should be able to successfully complete the program nominally in two years. The programme appreciates a broad influx of study backgrounds providing a student population that applies GIS and/or remote sensing in a multidisciplinary environment. For this, it is required that the students know the basics of GIS and remote sensing. Knowledge on programming is not an official admission requirement but is advised. Digital materials are available for voluntary preparation of programming skills that are relevant for this master's programme.  

The criterion used for admission is:  

a WUR BSc degree in Forest and Nature Conservation, International Land and Water Management, Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning, Soil, Water, Atmosphere, or equivalent.  

The norm for this equivalence is:  

≥6 ECTS in at least two of the following three topics:  

• Geo-information sciences (GIS)  
• Remote sensing  
• Programming skills  

Not all topics mentioned need to be mastered at the same level; they will be weighed by the Admission Board per individual application.

Method of assessment whether this norm is met  

• Transcript of records displaying the content of previous course subjects and project work;  
• Curriculum vitae displaying relevant work, internship and/or project experience on an academic level in a relevant field if applicable.  

Scores attributed by the Admission Board  

Admitted / not admitted / admitted under condition obtaining the BSc or MSc degree / not admitted with offer of pre-master. 

You can apply for this Master's here.

The Admission Board may allow and/or suggest compensation of knowledge gaps by:  

• a GPA≥7.0* for the previous education for small discrepancies as new knowledge is sufficiently easily acquired;  
• a GPA≥7.0* and an individual pre-master's programme for larger discrepancies that can be compensated in ≤30 ECTS and one year of study.  

*Check the general admissions page for the International credentials evaluation guide for international equivalencies to a Dutch GPA>7.0. This guide includes compensating factors for a slightly lower GPA the Admission Board may include in their judgement.  

Compensation of knowledge gaps

The WUR Minor ‘Geo-information for Environment and Society’ always covers the required previous knowledge. Check our study handbook for the included courses.

Contact us to discuss the possibilities of a pre-master or how to mitigate knowledge gaps if you are still in the process of obtaining your degree.  

Studying isn’t without cost. Want to know what fees you might face? All information about the costs of this programme can be found on this page.

Being a student isn’t just about studying. It’s about renting your own room, enjoying lively parties and social gatherings, relaxing in the friendliest pubs, and joining student associations. Plus, with plenty of festivals and sports clubs, and activities of study association Artemis,there’s always something exciting going on in and around Wageningen. Additionally, there are parks, forests, and a river nearby, so if you enjoy the outdoors, you're in the right area.

All information about student life in Wageningen can be found on this page.