Geospatial Sciences (Hydrographic Surveying) MSc

The Geospatial Sciences (Hydrographic Surveying) MSc teaches students the theory, tools and techniques for working with geospatial data in the marine environment, from acquisition to processing and analysis. Students have the opportunity to engage and work with academics and industrial partners on cutting-edge research through seminars and a dissertation. The programme educates students in the marine geospatial sciences, equipping them for careers in this rapidly developing subject. Students will gain broad knowledge of the means of acquiring, processing, and analysing spatial data in the marine context – using vessel-based acoustic techniques, satellite positioning, AUVs, and much more.

Students graduating with a degree in Geospatial Sciences (Hydrographic Surveying) will be equipped for a diverse range of roles, with organisations such as offshore and inshore survey companies, national hydrographic departments, equipment manufacturers and port authorities. Additionally, many graduates from our programmes go on to PhD research at UCL or elsewhere.

Students will gain a range of technical skills in geospatial and nautical science that are highly valued by employers, including the use of specialist software for Hydrography and GIS (ArcMap, QGIS, Hypack); programming (Python); geospatial data acquisition, processing and management; geospatial data visualisation and analysis.

This degree is also available as a PG Diploma with fees set accordingly.

This programme meets the requirements of the FIG/IHO/ICA S-5A Standards of Competence for Category "A" Hydrographic Surveyors - the highest level of international recognition available. The programme is also accredited by RICS, whose accredited degree courses are relevant to industry, and are recognised by employers as the benchmark of quality.

A minimum of an upper second-class Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline (such as engineering, architecture, geography, urban planning, mathematics, surveying, marine & Earth sciences, computer science) from a UK university or an overseas qualification of an equivalent standard. Normally, however, only candidates with either a first- or upper second-class degree will be accepted, although applicants with a lower second-class degree supported by extensive relevant work experience will also be considered.