Why this programme

• A job-ready Masters that replaces the MSc thesis with a six-month, paid-style professional work placement, giving graduates real industry experience and a clear competitive edge in the geospatial job market.
• Designed for employability from day one, combining advanced GIS and cartography training with extended workplace experience to produce graduates ready to contribute immediately in professional roles.
• This is the only programme in the UK that focuses on cartography. It offers modern, cutting-edge cartographic and data visualisation practices and is developed in conjunction with industry via our Geospatial Industry Advisory Board.
• This programme is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) when fully completed with the award of an MSc.
• The School of Geographical and Earth Sciences has an Athena Swan Silver Award, demonstrating the school’s commitment to supporting women in scientific studies and careers, and to improving the working environment for all.

Career prospects

Graduates of the Masters in Geoinformation Technology & Cartography with Work Placement are well prepared for professional roles across the geospatial, data, and spatial analytics sectors. Typical career destinations include roles such as:

• GIS Analyst
• Cartographer
• Geospatial Data or Spatial Analyst
• Mapping or Visualisation Specialist
• Geospatial Consultant.

Sectors include:

• industry
• government
• infrastructure
• environmental organisations
• technology companies.

Fees & funding

Additional fees

• Fee for re-assessment of a dissertation (PGT programme): £370
• Submission of thesis after deadline lapsed: £350
• Registration/exam only fee: £170

Funding opportunities

The scholarships above are relevant to this programme. For more funding opportunities search the scholarships database

Entry requirements

2.1 Honours degree (or non-UK equivalent) in a Geomatics-related discipline, including but not limited to:

Geodetic Engineering, Geodetic Science, Geographical Engineering, Geographical Information Systems, Geographical Information Science, Geospatial Science, Geospatial Engineering, Land Surveying, Cadastral Surveying, Mapping Sciences, Surveying, Surveying and Mapping, Surveying Science, Surveying Engineering, Topographical Science, or Topographical Surveying.

Applicants with degrees in Built Environment, Computing Science, Art, Applied Graphics, Graphic Design, Multimedia, Environmental Sciences, Environmental Engineering, Architecture, Psychology, Social Sciences, Geography, Mathematics, Statistics, Urban or Regional Studies, or Planning may also be considered where the degree includes appropriate quantitative (mathematics and/or statistics) content.

Applicants with degrees below the minimum academic requirement may be considered where they can demonstrate substantial and relevant professional experience. Such applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Please note that applicants with a degree in Geomatics or a closely related subject, or those who meet the age and experience requirements of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), may use the programme as a route to professional qualification and may, under special circumstances, be granted exemption from some aspects of the programme, subject to approval.

(Note: this programme has slightly higher entrance and progression requirements than the MSc in Geoinformation Technology & Cartography due to the inclusion of a compulsory work placement.)

Securing a work placement

Offers for the MSc Geoinformation Technology & Cartography with Work Placement (GTC-WP) are dependent on the availability of suitable work placements negotiated by the School of Geographical and Earth Sciences with placement providers in advance. While the School endeavours to secure appropriate placements, a work placement cannot be guaranteed, as circumstances beyond the School’s control may result in a placement becoming unavailable.

If, for any reason, a placement is not available after an offer has been made, the student will be transferred to the MSc Geoinformation Technology & Cartography, and the work placement will be replaced with an MSc project.

The School will also consider suggestions for placement partners proposed by applicants. In such cases, the School will contact the proposed organisation to confirm that it meets the programme’s requirements and is willing to agree to the conditions of the placement. Placement providers should be active in geospatial data science, geomatics, digital cartography, spatial analytics, or closely related professional areas.

Progression to the placement

Progression to the work placement is conditional on meeting specified academic requirements during the taught component of the programme. If a student does not meet the progression requirements for the placement but does meet the requirements for the degree overall, the student will be transferred to the MSc Geoinformation Technology & Cartography, and the work placement will be replaced with an MSc project.

Please note that these progression requirements are more demanding than those for the non-work-placement version of the programme. The progression requirements for the placement are normally as follows:

• At the end of Semester 1, achievement of at least a C grade in each Semester 1 course at the first attempt
• At the end of Semester 2, achievement of an overall average of at least a B grade across all taught courses at the first attempt.

Visa information for international applicants

For international (non-EU) applicants, a Student visa permits participation in this assessed work placement, where it forms an integral and assessed part of the degree programme, in accordance with UKVI regulations.

International students

We are proud of our diverse University community that includes students and staff from more than 140 different countries.

• Find out more about entry requirements and other country-specific information
• International student support & visas

How to apply

To apply for a postgraduate taught degree you must apply online. We cannot accept applications any other way.

Please check you meet the Entry requirements for this programme before you begin your application.

Documents

As part of your online application, you also need to submit the following supporting documents:

• A copy (or copies) of your official degree certificate(s) (if you have already completed your degree)
• A copy (or copies) of your official academic transcript(s), showing full details of subjects studied and grades/marks obtained
• Official English translations of the certificate(s) and transcript(s)
• One reference letter on headed paper
• Evidence of your English language ability (if your first language is not English)
• Any additional documents required for this programme (see Entry requirements for this programme)
• A copy of the photo page of your passport

You have 42 days to submit your application once you begin the process.

You may save and return to your application as many times as you wish to update information, complete sections or upload supporting documents such as your final transcript or your language test.

For more information about submitting documents or other topics related to applying to a postgraduate taught programme, see how to apply for a postgraduate taught degree

Guidance notes for using the online application

These notes are intended to help you complete the online application form accurately; they are also available within the help section of the online application form. 

If you experience any difficulties accessing the online application, see Application System Help.

• Name and Date of birth: must appear exactly as they do on your passport. Please take time to check the spelling and lay-out.
• Contact Details: Correspondence address. All contact relevant to your application will be sent to this address including the offer letter(s). If your address changes, please contact us as soon as possible.
• Choice of course: Please select carefully the course you want to study. As your application will be sent to the admissions committee for each course you select it is important to consider at this stage why you are interested in the course and that it is reflected in your application.
• Proposed date of entry: Please state your preferred start date including the month and the year. Taught masters degrees tend to begin in September. Research degrees may start in any month.
• Education and Qualifications: Please complete this section as fully as possible indicating any relevant Higher Education qualifications starting with the most recent. Complete the name of the Institution (s) as it appears on the degree certificate or transcript.
• English Language Proficiency: Please state the date of any English language test taken (or to be taken) and the award date (or expected award date if known).
• Employment and Experience: Please complete this section as fully as possible with all employments relevant to your course. Additional details may be attached in your personal statement/proposal where appropriate.

Reference: Please provide one reference. This should typically be an academic reference but in cases where this is not possible then a reference from a current employer may be accepted instead. Certain programmes, such as the MBA programme, may also accept an employer reference. If you already have a copy of a reference on letter headed paper then please upload this to your application. If you do not already have a reference to upload then please enter your referee’s name and contact details on the online application and we will contact your referee directly.

Application deadlines

International & EU applicants

Due to demand for degree places on this programme, the University has an application process with application rounds which recognises that different geographical areas complete and submit their applications at different times of the year. This process aims to ensure fairness and equity to applicants from all geographic regions.

Round 1 application dates: 1 October 2025 to 5 November 2025

All International and EU applications submitted within these dates will be reviewed with no priority given to any geographic region. You will receive our decision on your application by 16 January 2026.

Round 2 application dates: 6 November 2025 to 17 December 2025

All International and EU applications submitted within these dates will be reviewed with no priority given to any geographic region. You will receive our decision on your application by 4 March 2026.

Round 3 application dates: 18 December 2025 to 4 February 2026

Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 15 April 2026.

Round 4 application dates: 5 February 2026 to 25 March 2026

Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 6 May 2026.

Round 5 application dates: 26 March 2026 to 13 May 2026

Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 17 June 2026.

Round 6 application dates: 14 May 2026 to 8 July 2026

Priority will be given to under-represented geographic regions. You will receive our decision on your application by 29 July 2026.

All international applications submitted by 17 December 2025 will be reviewed and processed normally with no priority given to any geographic region. From 18 December 2025, priority will be given to applications from geographic areas which have been unable to submit applications before that point.

As we receive a great number of applications, prospective students are only allowed to apply once per year to the same programme. However, students may submit multiple applications in a year as long as each application is for a different programme.

Home applicants

• 21 August 2026