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KU Leuven Master of Geography
KU Leuven

KU Leuven

Master of Geography

MSc

2 years

English, Dutch

Full time

EUR 4,591 / per year *

On-Campus

* for non-EEA; EUR 1157 for EEA | for the most recent – and only official – information on tuition fees, please check the KU Leuven webpage

Key Summary

    About : The Master of Geography offers a comprehensive study of geographical concepts, methods, and applications. You'll engage in critical analyses of contemporary geographical issues and gain hands-on experience in research methodologies. The program typically spans one to two years depending on your study mode.
    Career Outcomes : Graduates can pursue careers in urban planning, environmental consultancy, geographical information systems (GIS), and research roles within government and private sectors. They may also find opportunities in academia, non-profit organizations, and international development.

About the programme

The Master of Geography is a two-year advanced study programme jointly organised by KU Leuven and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) with joint degree awarded upon the successful completion of the programme. Within the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at KU Leuven, geographical research activities are focused on Earth surface processes and climate, human-environ ment interactions, society and space, tourism, and education in the geosciences. Research in the Department of Geography at VUB is focused on the dynamics of glacial systems, the study of hazardous geomorphological and volcanological processes, small-scale carto graphy and map projections, remote sensing, and the geography of world cities.

The full programme comprises 120 ECTS. In addition to core courses on human-environment interactions and research methods in geography (27 ECTS), you will take the compulsory courses within your chosen specialisation (36 ECTS) as well as a number of specialised electives in your field (27 ECTS), including the option of taking an internship (15 ECTS). The remaining 30 ECTS are allocated to the master’s thesis.

For your specialisation, you select a combination of two out of the four modules (18 ECTS each):

  • Earth and Climate: this specialisation focuses on terrestrial ecosystems and environmental changes, emphasising timely and relevant research topics in the geosciences like global warming, ice-climate interaction, soil and water conservation, long-term landscape development, natural hazards and risk assessment.
  • Society and Space: in a strongly urbanised world there is a growing need to understand social, economic, cultural, and political dynamics of urban areas better. This specialisation focuses on the social and political issues of the current era of globalisation.
  • Geo-information Sciences: within this specialisation you become acquainted with new approaches and techniques for acquiring, managing, analysing and mapping spatial data.
  • Mixed Methods: you explore the latest research methods in geography, both quantitative and qualitative. You’re trained to be a critical methodologist who can choose the right method for every research question.
Read more on the institution's website