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  • Geographic Information Science (PhD / MPhil)
  • 2013/2014 entry
  • Contact us
  • Duration
      • PhD: five–six years part-time or three years full-time.
      • MPhil: three years part-time or two years full-time.
  • Entry requirements
  • Fees
    • Fees (2013/2014)
      • Part-time (home/EU students): £2050 pa
      • Part-time (overseas students): £5825 pa
      • Full-time (home/EU students): £3900 pa
        Full-time (overseas students): £11,600 pa
  • Funding

    • We are recognised for receipt of Economic and Social Research Council studentships (UK and EU students only). A limited number of full-time and part-time College Research Studentships (fees-only) are available. The closing application date for those wishing to be considered for studentships is normally March.

      Find out more about funding for PhD study.

Geographic Information Science (PhD / MPhil) - 2013/2014 entry


  • Overview

    • Geographic information science (GISc) can be understood as the theory, practice and effective use of technologies such as geographical information systems (GIS) for the description, explanation, and prediction of spatial patterns and processes.

      The Birkbeck GISc academic team covers different areas of geographic information knowledge, including spatial analytical methods, cartography and visualisation, remote sensing, and geocomputation.

  • Research resources

    • Our research computing laboratory has powerful GIS software, provides networked PCs and is used for a range of system GIS applications and remote sensing/image processing functions.

  • Research training and support
  • Application information
    • What to do before you apply
    • Finding a supervisor
      • Joana Barros, MSc, PhD: Geocomputation, specifically agent-based and cellular automata models applied to urban systems; complexity theory; representation of dynamics in GIS; urban development in developing countries; applying dynamic models to urban development of cities in Latin America.
      • Paul Elsner, MMM, MPhil, PhD: GIS and remote sensing for renewable energy resource assessment and planning, spatial decision support systems, monitoring and modelling environmental change, geomorphometry, hydro-optical modelling, unmanned aerial vehicles for low-cost remote sensing approaches, geoinformatics for sustainable agriculture, remote sensing and REDD.   
      • Maurizio Gibin, MSc, PhD: GIScience; spatial analysis; geographic data analysis of socio-economic and population data; health geography; geodemographics; methods to deploy geographic information effectively; cartography and analytical design in thematic mapping.
      • Shino Shiode, BA, MEng, MPhil, PhD: Quantitative interpretation of, and applications on, the spatial-temporal changes of urban, criminal and epidemiological phenomena and events; spatial analysis and statistics; GIS tool development; geocomputation; geovisualisation and GI applications in urban, crime and medical geography.
    • Application deadlines and interviews
      • You can apply throughout the year.
    • Online application
      You can apply online from the link below.