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.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Full-time 1 year
Part-time 2 years

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

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

Apply now for your place

Course content

How this course is delivered

We've made some changes to the way our courses are taught to keep everyone safe, connected and involved in university life.

At the moment, students have a blend of on-campus and digitally enabled remote learning that provides lots of opportunities to interact and engage with lecturers and other students.

Find out what these changes mean for this course

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.

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 GIS
Applications in GIS
Applied Remote Sensing
Dissertation

Option modules

Environmental Policy and Law
Case Studies in Environmental Assessment and Management
Environmental Placement
Independent Study
Environmental Impact Assessment
Systems for Environmental Management
Planning Theory
Policy and Implementation in Town Planning
Sustainable Urbanism in Coastal Communities
International Practice in Property and Planning
Sustainable Construction
Issues in Ecology and Conservation
Advanced Taxonomy and Survey Skills
Microbiology, Ecotoxicology and Environmental Remediation
Water Treatment Technology
Wastewater Treatment technology
Water Quality Analysis
Atmospheric Environment
Waste Management and the Circular Economy
Advanced GIS and Remote Sensing
Research field skills course, Brazil

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.

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

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

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
TNT Courier.

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

The entry requirements listed here are our typical offer for this course if you wish to begin studying with us in 2021. They should be used as a general guide.

Degree and experience
Normally an 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 students whose language skills do not match the IELTS scores set out here should consider applying for this course through the Extended Masters programme at the university's Language Institute.

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.

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 8,676 GBP

International (full-time)15,300 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.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included in your fees, while studying a course in the School of Environment and Technology are listed here.

Travel and accommodation costs are included for all mandatory taught residential field trips, but you’ll need to provide your own food and drink.
Where taught residential field trips are optional, a contribution will be required towards travel and accommodation. This will vary depending on where and how long the field trip is but you should budget approximately £1,500.
The independent mapping project is a mandatory part of the Geology BSc(Hons) involving independent fieldwork that is undertaken in the summer between years 2 and 3. The cost of this fieldwork is not included in the fee, and you will need to meet this additional cost yourself.
Some students require specialist outdoor equipment and/or personal protective equipment (PPE) and should budget up to £100.
If you choose to take an optional paid placement you’ll be expected to cover your own travel, accommodation, food and drink.
You will have access to computers and necessary software, however 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. Find out what free software is available. from the University of Brighton
In most cases coursework submissions are electronic but students may wish to print notes which would involve an extra cost.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status.

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2021–22.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & 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.

Brighton 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 Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus. Subjects taught here include architecture, business, computing, construction, engineering, geography, product design, law and pharmacy.

On campus you will find professional-standard facilities including a flight simulator, trading room, design and digital media suites and specialist research laboratories, alongside the library, student centre, a nursery, fitness facilities and Students’ Union. There are excellent public transport links.

The Big Build
A major transformation of our Moulsecoomb campus began in summer 2018. By the time the Big Build is complete, there’ll be new halls of residence, academic building, and Students’ Union and fitness facilities – all created with sustainability, inclusivity and community in mind.

As the development grows it will provide many exciting learning opportunities for our students, ranging from live projects, placements and internships with the companies involved to guest lectures and site visits. Find out more...

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
Moulsecoomb campus is linked to Varley Park and Moulsecoomb Place halls. All halls are self catered, but if you prefer you can add in a food and drink plan.
- Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
- Moulsecoomb Place halls are all self-catered and are located right on campus.

Want to live independently or in a university-managed house? We can help – find out more about unihomes and unilets or private renting.