Bachelor of Science in Geography and Geomatics
Geographers and geomatics specialists study every aspect of the Earth, from natural processes to human activities, with a particular focus on how they interact. The Geography and Geomatics programme goes far beyond the geography you may be familiar with from school: you learn to piece together the puzzle of our planet and truly understand the connections between nature, people and space. Would you like to help map the world – both literally and figuratively?
What
Geographers and geomatics specialists study every dimension of the Earth, from natural processes to human activities, with a particular focus on how they interact. The programme goes far beyond the traditional geography you may be familiar with from school. You learn to understand the complex puzzle of our planet and identify connections between nature, people and space. Geography studies the Earth’s surface in relation to people. It examines natural phenomena such as climate, landforms and earthquakes, as well as how people use, alter and affect the landscape. Consider cities that develop at river mouths, vineyards that flourish in the south of France, or dykes that provide protection against flooding. Geography thus bridges the natural and social sciences and addresses pressing questions: how can we strike a sustainable balance between people and the environment? How does climate change affect the risk of flooding? How can we tackle urbanisation and mobility? Geomatics is the technological pillar of geography. It encompasses the methods and techniques used to collect, analyse and visualise geographic data. You learn to work with GPS, drones, satellites and Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and use statistics, modelling and GeoAI to uncover spatial patterns. You then translate your findings into clear maps and 3D visualisations.
For whom
The Geography and Geomatics programme is a good fit for anyone who wants to understand the world around them through a combination of natural and social sciences. You have a broad interest in topics such as landscapes, climate, mobility, economics and society. You enjoy working with data, maps, models and digital tools, but also like heading outdoors for excursions and fieldwork. You need a solid foundation in mathematics for this programme, which is assessed through an initial test. A secondary education programme with six hours of mathematics a week provides ideal preparation. If you took four hours of advanced mathematics within a science-oriented programme, some topics will be new to you. All other subjects start from the basics, but progress quickly. Technical aptitude and confidence in working with computers, measuring instruments and visual information will also be helpful. Good observational skills, depth perception and spatial awareness are useful, but you will continue to develop these skills throughout the programme.
Structure
-
Bachelor
The Bachelor’s programme in Geography and Geomatics starts with a broad general education. The course units introduce you to the main theories and methods of geography, as well as to both the theoretical and operational aspects of geomatics.
Your first year combines general science course units with introductions to physical, social and economic geography. You also explore the world of GIS (Geographic Information Systems), surveying and cartography. In other words, you learn how maps, data and technology come together to help us better understand and represent the world. In the second and third years, the focus shifts towards the programme’s core subjects. In the second year, you study course units such as Sociology, Transport Geography, Climatology and Meteorology, Soil Science, Mineralogy, Botany and Landscape Studies. The technical dimension is also covered extensively through Remote Sensing, Land Surveying and Programming. Step by step, you build a strong profile that combines science and technology.
In the third year, you explore geographic topics in greater depth, including landscape studies, geomorphology, population and urban geography, and ecology, as well as geoprogramming and cartography – topics closely related to the geomatics course units. Through these topical subjects, you discover the wide range of professional opportunities available to geographers and geomatics specialists. Based on your own interests, you choose a specialisation in geography or geomatics and write a Bachelor’s dissertation on this subject. For a further 15 credits, you choose either the Geography and Geomatics track or the Education track. The latter allows you to progress to the subsequent Educational Master’s programme.
- Master
In the Master’s programme, you choose two of five advanced majors, corresponding to the five research areas of the Department of Geography: physical geography, landscape studies, urban geography, cartography and GIS, and surveying and hydrography. You also choose one of two broadening minors, both of which include a work placement that prepares you for a career in research, industry or the public sector. In addition to the (domain) Master’s programme described above, you can also choose a Master’s Programme in Teaching (in Dutch: Educatieve Master). For more information, go to educatieve master (120 sp).
Labour Market
Geographers and geomatics specialists can pursue careers in a wide range of fields. After graduating, you can work in education, scientific research, industry or the public sector. Depending on your specialisation, your job may have a stronger geographic focus or be more oriented towards geo-IT and technology. Geographers may, for example, work in soil and landscape research or in water management and drinking water supply. They contribute to climate research and weather forecasting, analyse topics such as employment, mobility and urban development, and work in heritage and landscape conservation, nature and environmental management, and spatial planning. The technological side of geography – geomatics – opens up many additional opportunities. Many graduates work as land surveyors, either as employees or as self-employed professionals. Geomatics specialists also work for companies that collect, manage and use geographic data.
Quality Assurance
At Ghent University, we strive to educate people who dare to think about the challenges of tomorrow. For that purpose, we provide education that is embedded in six strategic objectives: Think Broadly, Keep Researching, Cultivate Talent, Contribute, Extend Horizons, Opt for Quality.
Ghent University continuously focuses on quality assurance and quality culture. The Ghent University's quality assurance system offers information on each study programme’s unique selling points, and on its strengths and weaknesses with regard to quality assurance.
More information:
Unique Selling Points
- Unique study programme. Our curriculum integrates the disciplines of geography and geomatics, which makes us a unique study programme in the Flemish higher education landscape, and a leading example for study programmes abroad. We offer an in-depth exploration of the interaction between man and nature in a spatial context. We do so with specific attention to the most recent technological developments.
- Interdisciplinary and international focus.Our curriculum is founded on a broad scientific education with contributions from various disciplines in the natural and social sciences. This broad foundation contains theoretical concepts as well as real-life examples in the field of geography and geomatics. We also put professional and technical knowledge and skills into practice. We encourage our students to explore the environment from multiple perspectives, to gain international experience, and to take up social commitment.
- Excellent research. We introduce our students to our long-standing tradition of high-quality international research by actively involving them in ongoing research throughout the curriculum. The many projects and foreign excursions, as well as the Bachelor’s and Master’s dissertations testify to our research-based education. Our students gradually develop their research skills, and learn to apply them in an autonomous manner.
- Terrain and work field. The actual terrain, and society at large, take centre stage in a geographer’s and geomatician’s (professional) life. We bring our students into contact with that terrain in various ways, and we introduce them to the role of geographers/geomaticians in society by means of guest lectures, work placements, fieldwork, (foreign) excursions, “measurement camps” and Master’s dissertations.
- Broad employment opportunities. Our graduates are highly sought after in various sectors on the job market, both in private companies as well as in government agencies. Many of those jobs have an international dimension. Prospective employers can be found, among others, in the spatial planning, environment, heritage, mobility, foreign aid, surveying, geo-ICT, dredging, and education sectors.
Strengths
- Vision and curriculum. A recent curricular reform has led to an integration of the two central components of our discipline, i.e. geography and geomatics. We were able to realize and implement these curricular improvements thanks to a highly committed team with a well-considered vision. The new curriculum leaves room for a choice of in-depth and broadening electives, as well as electives with a professional focus (e.g. the Master of Science in Teaching), depending on our students’ personal interests.
- Broad curriculum. The Geography and Geomatics programme is so much more, and much more diverse than the secondary school subject ‘Geography’. Given our emphasis on research-oriented, scientific, social and technological aspects of geography and geomatics, we expect our students to have a broad field of interest and sufficient prior knowledge of mathematics and the sciences. We collaborate regularly with secondary school teachers of geography to keep (them) abreast of new developments.
- Active learning.Small student groups allow us to use many active teaching methods, both on campus and online. In a low-threshold and step-by-step way, we guide our students in thinking and acting/daring to think and act independently, critically and creatively (together).
- Assessment. We apply a varied set of assessment methods that evolves together with our students’ growing independence.
- After graduation. Our study programme boasts an active alumni association, allowing our graduates to come into contact, and/or stay in touch with other alumni during a wide variety of activities.
Challenges
- Study Yield. Based on feedback from students, we will continue to monitor the workload together with our students and we will continue to focus on clear communication about mutual expectations. By means of (among other things) interim feedback sessions and counselling, a coordination of deadlines and organizational improvements, we will continue to work on a set of optimal preconditions so that students have every opportunity to graduate as planned, within five academic years.
- Talent development and internationalization. We already make use of the strong links with the professional field through a mandatory (international) work placement and the Master’s dissertation. We will continue to stimulate the outgoing mobility of students by offering them a range of high-quality partnerships with foreign universities.
- Sustainable entrepreneurship. Encouraging students to engage in sustainable entrepreneurship is currently less explicit and systematic. We want to further stimulate the entrepreneurial spirit of our students through a strong emphasis on the work placement and strong(er) ties with the professional field.
Accreditation
This study programme is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (Dutch: NVAO). Accreditation was extended following the positive outcome of the institutional review in 2022. Programme quality was validated by a quality review, i.e. a screening of the Education Monitor by the Education Quality Board. The Quality Assurance Resolution (in Dutch) can be found here.
This information was last updated on 01/02/2023.
In case of questions or suggestions with regard to the publicly available information, please contact the study programme.