Programme structure
UNIGIS is set up as a modular study programme. Students will have to complete module assignments at home and attend annual workshops at the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. The programme has a weekly study load of about 14 hours. The full master programme is scheduled to be completed within three years.
1 Year – Postgraduate Certificate (PgC) (19 ECTS)
The Postgraduate Certificate (PgC) starts with a Introduction Workshop of one day at the VU. The PgC is finished upon completion of the first four modules and a four-day workshop that is annually organized in June at the VU university campus. These first four modules of the course give a solid foundation in the principles and issues of GIS.
2 Years – Postgraduate Diploma (PgD) (38 ECTS)
The Postgraduate Diploma in GIS is attained on completion of the Postgraduate Certificate course (worth 19 ECTS) plus another four modules and another four-day workshop at the university, again organized in June. The PgD programme can be completed within two years. The remaining four modules can be selected (depending on the study pathway chosen - either GIScience or GIS and Environment) from a growing list of optional modules, allowing each student to suit his/her needs.
What will I learn?
The Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma Courses aim to provide students with an understanding of the technical, geographical and organizational aspects of GIS. In doing so, the students will obtain knowledge and skills necessary to:
- translate management and scientific problems into GIS
- design and implement appropriate methods of data capture
- design spatial analysis procedures within GIS
- design and use databases within GIS
- design map output in a variety of media
- implement quality control procedures; and
- analyse a GIS project and understand GIS within an organization.
3 Years – Master of Science (MSc) (60 ECTS)
The Master of Science in GIS is attained on completion of the Postgraduate Diploma course plus a master research project in the topic of your choice, leading to a master thesis. The MSc programme can be completed within three years.
Undertaking the MSc research project & master thesis gives you the opportunity to develop your skills in problem definition, research design and planning, data analysis and interpretation and presentation. See examples of Msc theses written by our students.
Apply for one of the Programmes
Before you apply, be sure to check if you meet the entry requirements for direct admission into the programme. As our programme has a modular structure, the same entry requirements apply to all programmes: Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and Master.
You can directly apply for the 3-year Master Programme. Please download and fill in the Master Programme application form.
However, if you are not yet determined to do the 3-year Master Programme, you can alternatively start with doing the 2-year Diploma Programme and then choose whether or not to continue with the Master Programme once you have finished the Diploma Programme. Similarly, if you are not yet determined to do the Diploma Programme, you can just start with doing the Certificate Programme and then choose whether or not to continue with the Diploma Programme once you have finished the first year. In this case, please download and fill in the Postgraduate Programme application form and tick either one of the options 'Postgraduate Certificate Programme' or 'Postgraduate Diploma Programme' on the first page.
Course fees
The 1-year Postgraduate Certificate Programme costs 3,600 euro
The 2-year Postgraduate Diploma Programme costs 6,200 euro
(this is 3,600 euro for the first year (=the Certificate programme) plus 2,600 euro for the second year)
The 3-year Master of Science Programme costs 8,800 euro
(this is 6,200 euro for the first two years (=the Diploma programme) plus 2,600 euro for the third year)
These fees also comply to Dutch students who already have a Master degree, and to students from outside the EU.
The costs for the Premaster programme are 500 or 1,000 euro, depending on whether or not you have to follow only one or both courses to bring you up to entry level.
These fees include payment for:
- All learning materials, course notes, selected texts and readings, computer based learning software, data, helpline support, assessment, feedback and certificates.
- A FREE annual educational license of ArcGIS 10.1, including extensions such as Spatial Analyst (for raster GIS), 3D analyst and more.
Note: From summer 2011 onwards, students will optionally receive a free annual student-license of ArcInfo 10, so ArcGIS with full functionality. - GeoMedia Professional v6.0 (excluding the GRID extension).
- FREE and UNLIMITED access to ESRI's Virtual Campus training courses for ArcGIS software products.
- The right to buy IDRISI software at the UNIGIS discounted student rate.
NOT included are:
- Workshop expenses:- when attending the workshops you will need to cover your travel and accommodation expenses. All workshops are held in Amsterdam.
- Hardware: you will need to have internet access and a computer at your disposal, for more details consult the handbook.
The course fee is payable either in full at the start of the course or by installments.
Note: An annual additional fee for prolongation of your subscription as a VU-student must be paid if you fail to meet the deadline to finish your studies in time. For more information on course fees, payments and the maximum period of registration as a VU-student, see the Study Guide.
Follow one or two individual courses - Contract education
It is possible to take one or two individual courses instead of following the whole programme. You can do this through contract education. A module costs 950 euro. When completed successfully, you will receive a course certificate for the module.
For more information, please contact the Programme Coordinator, Niels van Manen (unigis.sbe@vu.nl).
Note: the FREE GIS-software and FREE access to ESRI's Virtual Campus is NOT included with following individual courses. This is only included in the UNIGIS PgC, PgD and MSc programmes.
Tax deduction of Educational expenses
Did you know that you may be entitled to tax deduction for the educational expenses of the UNIGIS study?
For more information, see the Dutch Treasury (Belastingdienst).
Financial aid
If you are an international student, a good place to start looking for financial aid is: www.grantfinder.nl