Master of Geospatial Science
Student type:
Quick facts
-
Entry score
Not applicable
-
Duration
Full-time 2 years -
Location
Melbourne City -
Fees
AU$24,960 (2019 annual)
Next intake
February, July Entry score
6.5 IELTS
Duration
Full-time 2 years Location
Melbourne City
Overview
We prepare you for leadership roles in geospatial science, building your understanding of spatial analytics and big spatial data for making critical decisions about our built and natural environment.
Geospatial scientists are experts in using spatial analytics to make sense of big spatial data captured from the latest sensor technologies.
A Master of Geospatial Science will equip you with the advanced skills required for leadership roles in government, industry, and research.
Gain the professional-level expertise in the analysis, management, capturing and visualisation of spatial information, and become proficient in the latest technologies and infrastructures to support these skills.
With a history of more than 50 years in geospatial science at RMIT, the program is delivered by a team of world-leading academics in the field.
With unparalleled industry connections, the program provides rigorous scientific training in geospatial science and is grounded in the technical and practical knowledge required for the workplace.
Through the program you will develop a unique breadth of expertise across geospatial science, including:
- knowledge of fundamental spatial information technologies, including geographic information systems (GIS), spatial databases, and cloud and mobile geospatial computing.
- advanced skills in mapping and visualisation for creating engaging and interactive geospatial presentations.
- knowledge of the latest spatial data capture systems, including satellite remote sensing, GPS satellite positioning, drone and aerial imagery, wearable sensors, sensor networks, and crowdsourced data.
- specialised knowledge in key areas that complement geospatial science, and tailored to your specific needs, which may include environmental science, natural resource management, computer science, business and project management, architecture and urban planning, mathematics or statistics.
With a Master in Geospatial Science, you’ll be equipped to meet the growing national and international demand for expertise in spatial analytics, spatial data management, cartography, positioning, and remote sensing.
Details
Geospatial science is a highly practical discipline and this underpins the learning environment in the program.
The primary modes of delivery are face-to-face lectures, tutorials and extensive practical activities.
All courses use online learning materials to support the teaching and learning program.
Students have the opportunity to engage in field excursions, camps and other off-site activities.
RMIT has extensive links with industry across all aspects of spatial sciences, including remote sensing, geographic information systems, geovisualisation, photogrammetry, surveying, cartography, and land administration and land management.
The program has strong links across industry with many opportunities for you to participate in industry-related teaching and learning activities such as field and project work.
As part of the program you can conduct research by liaising with industry to define/create a problem; undertake an analysis and create a report; and finally present your research and receive feedback from industry partners.
The program enjoys an excellent reputation and is widely recognised by industry employers as producing graduates who are well informed, motivated, adaptable and industry-ready.
Professor Allison Kealy is the program coordinator.
Professor Simon Jones (professor of Remote Sensing) is internationally renowned for his research in remote sensing, land cover, and change mapping.
Professor Matt Duckham (discipline leader of Geospatial Science) has taught GIS on five continents, and is a co-author of a major textbook on GIS (GIS: A Computing Perspective).
Dr Karin Reinke (senior lecturer) is an expert in resource management and environmental monitoring, particularly with applications to wildfire management.
Dr Gang-Jun Liu (senior lecturer) is an expert in GIS, in particular in the industry-standard ESRI ArcGIS platform.
Associate Professor Colin Arrowsmith is a research leader in geography and GIS, with particular expertise in the areas of tourism and cultural heritage.
The Master of Geospatial Science consists of 192 credit points. After completing 96 credit points of study approved by the program manager, you may exit with a graduate diploma.
Year one consists of seven core courses where you will gain a breadth of knowledge in the fundamental courses and can choose one elective geospatial course.
Year two consists of a dissertation which will be developed in conjunction with an internal academic supervision and may be pure research, vocationally oriented or a combination of both.
You will also study a further two geospatial electives and two broader electives to match your specific interests.
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Geospatial Science | City Campus |
2 years Full-Time
|
2 years Full-Time
|
MC265 | 092796G |
Choose a program structure
Program code: MC265
Career
Graduates are well equipped to take on advanced roles within the spatial sciences in an industry, government or research context.
The skills are in high demand both nationally and internationally across a wide range of industries and the government sector including:
- environment and natural resources, such as environmental impact assessments, environmental monitoring, and agriculture and forestry
- land development, such as land use planning, geodesign, spatial data infrastructures, and sustainable development
- mining and exploration, including mineral exploration and environmental engineering
- facilities management and construction, including site selection, insurance and logistics
- transportation and utilities, such as water demand modelling, transport planning, mapping and navigation, and intelligent transportation
- governance and policy, including urban planning, e-government and community mapping
- emergency and disaster management, such as bushfire mapping, flood awareness, biosecurity, evacuation and emergency response
- data analytics and ICT, including mobile and wearable computing, web-mapping, cloud computing and interactive visualisation.
Geospatial Science graduates can choose from diverse career opportunities including tourism, environmental management, surveying and property development, building and construction, land management, software development and marketing and sales.
Geospatial Science careers often provide career flexibility, opportunities to work overseas and great earning potential.
Employment resources
Find out about job and career opportunities in the Surveying Industry.
RMIT supports the Surveying Taskforce in the promotion of the Surveying profession.
If you have any questions about the geospatial industry, employment or your career options, please contact David Mitchell, the Geospatial Science Industry Liaison Officer.
RMIT resources
Information and positions for graduates
Employment agencies
- Armstrong Personnel
- Australian Job Search
- CareerOne
- Careers Online
- ETX Consultants
- Indeed
- LinkedIn Job Search
- Seek
- Spatial Jobs Online
Potential employers
The following are some of the organisations that have employed graduates of Geospatial Science programmes.
Professional organisations
Upon successful completion of an undergraduate or postgraduate degree, geospatial science graduates are eligible for admission to a number of professional organisations:
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)
The Bachelor of Applied Science (Surveying) (Honours) programme is RICS accredited. RICS is the leading organisation in the world for professionals in property, land, real estate, construction, and related environmental issues. The RICS accreditation allows our surveying graduates to be RICS members and gain automatic recognition in many developed and developing countries around the world. This program is the only undergraduate degree in Surveying in Victoria and it provides our students with many global career options.
Download or view the RICS digital brochure (PDF 1.2MB 20p).
The Institution of Surveyors Victoria (ISV)
Holders of RMIT's Bachelor of Applied Science (Surveying) (Honours) degree are eligible on graduation for Graduate Membership of the Institution of Surveyors, Victoria. After a period of about two years of professional experience they may be eligible for associate or corporate membership.
As undergraduates, students are encouraged to become involved with the ISA as student members. There is no fee for student membership for the first year, and a nominal fee for subsequent years.
The Young Surveyors Group of the Institution provides information and functions of specific interest to younger members. Membership is free to all graduates and students.
Mapping Sciences Institute, Australia (MSIA)
Holders of RMIT's Bachelor of Science (Geospatial Science) (Honours) degree are eligible on graduation for Associate Membership of the Mapping Sciences Institute, Australia (MSIA). After a period of about two years of experience they may be eligible to become a member.
As undergraduates, students are encouraged to join as student members and participate in the affairs of MSIA.
Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI)
The Surveying Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI) is the national body combining the professional disciplines of surveying, mapping, engineering and mining surveying, remote sensing and photogrammetry and spatial information. Members’ training or qualification and experience will be recognised and rewarded through formal certification.
The Surveyors Registration Board of Victoria
If holders of the Bachelor of Applied Science (Surveying) (Honours) degree or the Bachelor of Science (Geospatial Science) (Honours) degree wish to become registered as a Licensed Surveyor, the appropriate elective subjects will need to have been completed. They will then be eligible for admission into a period of training from the Surveyors Registration Board of Victoria.
Programs of this nature are available in all States of Australia and New Zealand. The program is also recognised by the Surveyors Board of Malaysia.
Graduates are eligible for admission to the Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute of Australia (SSSI).
Graduates may also be eligible for membership of the Mapping Sciences Institute of Australia (MSIA).
Admissions
You must have:
- An Australian bachelor degree in any discipline, or equivalent.
OR
- You may also be considered if you have at least ten years’ of work experience in geospatial science, geometrics, land information, surveying, geography, environmental science, geology, earth science, or environmental engineering.
International qualifications are assessed for comparability to Australian qualifications according to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Exemptions
Some applicants might be eligible for exemptions that might change the duration of their program. Please refer to the Articulation and Pathways section for more detail.
You must have:
- An Australian bachelor degree in any discipline, or equivalent.
OR
- You may also be considered if you have at least ten years’ of work experience in geospatial science, geometrics, land information, surveying, geography, environmental science, geology, earth science, or environmental engineering.
International qualifications are assessed for comparability to Australian qualifications according to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Exemptions
Some applicants might be eligible for exemptions that might change the duration of their program. Please refer to the Articulation and Pathways section for more detail.
Entry requirements
To study this program you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 6.5 (with no individual band below 6.0)
- TOEFL (Paper Based Test): minimum score of 580 (TWE 4.5)
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 92 (with minimum of 20 in all sections)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 58 (with no communication band less than 50)
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 176 with no less than 169 in any component
For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit English language requirements and equivalency information.
Don't meet the English language test scores? Complete an Advanced Plus Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
Fees
2019 indicative fees
Full-fee places: AU$24,960*
* Amount quoted is the indicative 2019 tuition fee per annum, and is based on a standard year of full-time study (96 credit points). A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load.
Additional expenses
Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$303 maximum fee for 2019.
Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.
This program is offered on a full-fee paying basis only. If you are offered a place, you will need to pay the full tuition costs of your program. However, eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) may apply to defer payment of some or all of their tuition fees via the Commonwealth Government’s FEE-HELP loan scheme.
Fees shown above apply to 2019 only and are based on an annual full-time study load of 96 credit points unless otherwise noted. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load. Tuition fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
For more information and to learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees see postgraduate study fees.
How does a HELP loan work?
If your FEE-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to 100% of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying). The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
This program is approved for income support.
You may be eligible for student income support payments from the Commonwealth Government if you are undertaking a graduate certificate, graduate diploma or an approved professionally oriented masters by coursework program. For more information see Income support for Masters students.
If you are enrolled in an eligible program you will also need to satisfy all other student payment eligibility requirements. You can contact Centrelink or the Department of Human Services for further information about student income support entitlements, your eligibility and how to apply.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student. The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2019 is $303.
You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the SSAF through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.
The annual tuition fee for 2019 is AU$33,600.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2019 commencement is AU$68,160.
In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) in each calendar year.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) - Student visa holders must have cover for the total duration of their visa.
- Some programs incur additional expenses.
You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.