MSc Geographical Information Science

Fees for entry in 2027 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2026 were as follows:

• MSc (full-time)
  UK students (per annum): £15,200
  International, including EU, students (per annum): £33,600

The fees quoted above are fully inclusive of tuition, administration and computational costs.

Fees for entry are subject to yearly review. The University reserves the right to increase your tuition fee by up to 7% each year for courses lasting more than one year, including to reflect rising costs associated with delivering our educational and wider student experience. Postgraduate fees information .

Always contact the admissions team if you are unsure which fee applies to your qualification award and method of attendance.

International student CAS deposit

Self-funded international applicants are required to pay a deposit of £2500 towards their tuition fees before a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) is issued. Some applicants will be required to pay a higher deposit. More information on tuition fee deposits .

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

We know that student finance can be complicated. The links below provide further information to help guide you.

• Learn more about - student finance options for UK students .
• Learn more about - fees and finance for international students .
• Graduates of The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University can receive a 10% discount on their master's degree tuition fees as part of our Manchester Alumni Loyalty Discount scheme.

This course will introduce students to the principles and applications of GIS to address questions associated with spatial variations in surface elevation, focussing on approaches to digital terrain analysis and geomorphometry. We will examine the principles, acquisition, and processing of digital elevation models from topographic (and bathymetric) data collected using active and passive remote sensing methods, including from LiDAR and Structure-from-Motion via small unscrewed aerial systems. Case studies and examples will predominantly draw from applications in glaciology and glacial geomorphology, but techniques covered are relevant to a wide range of applications across geomorphology, physical and urban geography, geology and environmental science

The unit aims to:

Equip students with necessary knowledge and skills to use digital elevation data for landscape analysis, and gain experience of the collection, handling and manipulation of 3D spatial data.

Syllabus (indicative curriculum content):

• Course orientation and introduction to Digital Terrain Analysis (DTA), assessment guidance
• Working with Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) – structure, resolution, quality
• Generating DEMs - LiDAR 
• Generating DEMs – Structure-from-Motion
• Visualisation and derived data – mapping and geomorphometry
• Applications of DTA (guest lecture(s))
   

Lectures (6x 1 hour) supported by computer labs (4x 2 hours) on the generation and processing and applications of digital elevation data using appropriate GIS and remote sensing software . Independent learning via reading outside of lectures. Application of learning via a mini-research project supported by computer lab surgeries (3x 2 hours).

The unit runs over one semester, consisting of lectures, guided-computer practical exercises, and project surgeries. Students are expected to supplement the knowledge gained in lectures and practicals with their own reading and independent study. Practical worksheets will provide experience of data processing techniques and give students opportunity to seek clarification with teaching staff. Students will undertake an individual project using topographic data, which forms the main summative assessment via an individual poster presentation to assess data visualisation techniques from the course and production of derived data. Project results will be shared during an (asynchronous) online poster session at the end of the course .

All resources (except poster session) will be delivered synchronously but with the addition of asynchronous access and materials. For example, practical materials and/or recorded lectures made available through VLE.

Links to all resources are made available through the course VLE.  

• Recognise and explain a range of digital elevation data types, collection methods, and processing techniques.
• Analyse the use, strengths, and limitations of 3D spatial data. 
   

• Critically evaluate topographic data types, processing techniques, and approaches to 3D data visualisation.

• Source, manage and process digital 3D data  in appropriate GIS and EO software to explore research questions using digital terrain analysis and/or geomorphometry.
• Use GIS software to visualise 3D spatial data. 
   

• Develop succinct written and visual communication skills.   
• Gain experience in developing precise research questions that can be addressed in a time-limited project. 
   

Formative Assessment Task
Short-answer questions associated with guided computer practical sessions.
In-class practical exercises
Verbal feedback during practical sessions. Model answers posted on VLE (weekly).
Expected outcome: Understanding of key theoretical principles, data types and processing approaches.

Assessment task 1
Mini-project proposal.
2 pages + 1 page references (1000 words).
Feedback via comments/grades on VLE (within 15-working days of submission)
30% weighting.

Assessment task 2
Poster presentation of results of mini-project, including end of course poster session (online).
1 x A0 (2000 words), including participation in poster session.
Feedback via comments/grades (within 15 working days of submission - after end of course)
70% weighting.

Indicative textbooks:

Wilson, J.P., Gallant, J.C. (eds.) 2000. Terrain Analysis: Principles and Applications. John Wiley & Sons. Chapters 1-2.

Wilson, J.P., 2018. Environmental applications of digital terrain modeling. Oxford, UK: John Wiley and Sons

Journals: 
Geomorphology; Computers & Geosciences; Earth-Science Reviews; Progress in Physical Geography; IEEE Transactions in Geoscience and Remote Sensing; International Journal of Geographical Information Science; Earth Surface Processes & Landforms. 
 

Teaching and learning will be designed to be inclusive through providing materials online in advance of sessions in accessible formats (e.g. visual media, lecture recordings as well as text and images). Students can engage with discussion in class and online via the VLE discussion board.

Assessment instructions and criteria are clearly communicated in advance of the deadline via the course VLE and all lectures are recorded.

Individualised feedback is provided for all students for both assessments, and formative feedback is provided in class and via model answers to practical exercises (supplied after each class). Assessments are spaced to give students time to act on feedback and designed to build confidence; formative assessment supports A1, feedback for A1 is directly relevant for A2.  

Essential software used as part of this unit is either available via UoM licences or Open Source and meets accessibility requirements (e.g., ArcGIS Pro).