Geographic Data Science

Modules and Teaching

• One year full-time or one year part-time or two years part-time, on campus, starting in October 2026

  Course structure

  MSc:
  You must complete modules worth a total of 180 credits, consisting of:

  • three compulsory modules (30 credits each)
  • one option module (30 credits)
    • (a) from the list below, or
    • (b) from one of the following courses: MSc Climate Change, MSc Environment and Sustainability, MSc Geography, MSc International Development and Social Justice, or
    • (c) two 15-credit modules from MSc Data Science, on a case-by-case approval basis
  • a dissertation (60 credits).

  PG Dip:
  You must complete modules worth a total of 120 credits, consisting of:

  • three compulsory modules (30 credits each)
  • one option module (30 credits)
    • (a) from the list below, or
    • (b) from one of the following courses: MSc Climate Change, MSc Environment and Sustainability, MSc Geography, MSc International Development and Social Justice, or
    • (c) two 15-credit modules from MSc Data Science, on a case-by-case approval basis.

  PG Cert:
  You complete two compulsory modules worth 30 credits each over one term.

  Upon successful completion of the modules you can choose to transfer to the Postgraduate Diploma in Geographic Data Science or MSc Geographic Data Science.

  MSc and PG Dip compulsory modules

  • Geospatial Programming and Spatial Machine Learning
  • Introduction to Geographic Data Science
  • Spatial Data Analytics

  MSc and PG Dip suggested option modules

  • Environmental Observation by Remote Sensing
  • GeoAI for Social and Urban Applications

  MSc Geographic Data Science dissertation

  • GDS Dissertation

  PG Cert compulsory modules

  • Geospatial Programming and Spatial Machine Learning
  • Introduction to Geographic Data Science

• Teaching

  We encourage innovative and engaging ways of teaching to help ensure you have the best learning experience and provide a range of different modes of learning to help you juggle study with work and other commitments.

  Find out more about our teaching and teaching hours.

  What are the methods of teaching?

  MSc: Lectures and practical computing sessions. Exercises delivered through our online learning environment, individual project work and independent research.

  PG Dip: Lectures and practical computing sessions. Exercises delivered through our online learning environment.

  PG Cert and PG Cert (Intensive): Evening sessions including lectures, seminars, group and individual computer practicals.

• How will I be assessed?

  MSc: Coursework and a dissertation.

  PG Dip, PG Cert and PG Cert (Intensive): Coursework only.

  Please see individual modules for more details.

  Find out more about assessment at Birkbeck, including guidance on assessment, feedback and our assessment offences policy.

Entry requirements

At least a second-class honours degree (2:2) or equivalent in geography, computer science or a cognate discipline. In some instances we will consider professional experience in place of a degree.

Some experience of geographic information systems is desirable, but is not a requirement.

• What are the English language requirements?

  If English is not your first language or you have not previously studied in English, our usual requirement is the equivalent of an International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic Test) score of 6.5, with not less than 6.0 in each of the sub-tests. We also accept other English language tests.

  If you don't meet the minimum English language requirements, please contact us or see our international study skills page for more details about how we can help.

  Visit the International section of our website to find out more about our English language entry requirements and relevant requirements by country.

• What are the visa and funding requirements?

  If you are not from the UK and you do not already have residency here, you may need to apply for a visa.

  The visa you apply for varies according to the length of your course:

  • Courses of more than six months' duration: Student visa
  • Courses of less than six months' duration: Standard Visitor visa

  International students who require a Student visa should apply to study on our courses full-time as these qualify for Student visa sponsorship. If you are living in the UK on a Student visa, you will not be eligible to enrol to study part-time courses at Birkbeck (with the exception of some modules).

  As a Student visa student, you should also apply to study on campus only, as online and flexible options of study (if they are available for your course) may affect the conditions of your visa.

  For full information, read our visa information for international students page.

  Please also visit the international section of our website to find out more about relevant visa and funding requirements by country.

  Please note students receiving US Federal Aid are only able to apply for in-person, on-campus programmes which will have no elements of online study.

• Credits and accredited prior learning (APL)

  If you have studied at university (or have an HND or Foundation Degree), you may have accumulated credits. It may be possible to transfer these from your previous study to Birkbeck or another institution.

Fees

• Birkbeck's Lifelong Learning Guarantee

  If you've studied at Birkbeck before and successfully completed an award with us, take advantage of our Lifelong Learning Guarantee to gain a reduction on the tuition fee of this course.

• Can I apply for an international scholarship?

  We provide a range of scholarships for eligible international students, including our Global Future Scholarship. View Birkbeck's available scholarships.

Careers and employability

On graduating successfully from this geographic data science course you will have gained an array of important transferable skills, including:

• evaluating and assessing different types of digital information
• working with big datasets
• an awareness of different machine learning concepts and how to apply them
• proficiency in Python
• knowledge in R.

Studying this course will prepare you for roles in a range of fields and professions, including:

• public policy
• environmental agencies
• remote-sensing applications
• software development.

Some of our graduates from this course have gone on to be employed at government agencies such as TfL, private sector companies such as Esri, and major retail chains such as John Lewis.

Student support

How to apply

• When should I apply?

  You are strongly advised to apply now, to ensure there are still places left, and to give you enough time to complete the admissions process, to arrange funding and to enrol.

  You don't need to complete your current programme of study before you apply - Birkbeck can offer you a place that is conditional on your results.

• How can I get help with my application?

  Get all the information you need about the application, admission and enrolment process at Birkbeck.

  Our online personal statement tool will guide you through every step of writing the personal statement part of your application.

• International agents

  If you are an international agent applying to Birkbeck on behalf of an international student, please use Birkbeck's agent portal.