University of Tartu

M.Sc. in Geoinformatics for Urbanised Society

The two-year master's programme consists of four equal cycles:

• intensive and practical studio format (30 ECTS)
• specialisation courses and work placement (30 ECTS)
• elective and optional courses (30 ECTS)
• master's thesis (30 ECTS)

During the first year, the students work half of their time in spatial data and planning project courses in 'studio' format. While the year starts with field works for data acquisition and moves on through the management of databases and data analyses, it ends with a well-visualised planning project prepared by the students using spatial data. As a result of the year, the students know and can choose and use proper geoinformatics tools and methods for quantitative analysis.

The spatial data and spatial planning studios are complemented by special courses in geography (urban social geography, geography of information society, energy fluxes and material cycles) and courses for developing students' practical skills (spatial data analysis, programming, project management). In addition, students can attend several optional courses in specific fields of geography, e.g. ArcGIS, geospatial analysis with Python/R, PostgreSQL/PostGIS, visual geodata mining, 3D modelling, applied remote sensing, introduction to urban planning, socio-spatial changes in cities in transition, economic geography of urban systems, or landscape ecology in urbanised society. Next to the courses provided by the Department of Geography, students can attend courses from other institutes to advance their skills in statistics, computer sciences, contemporary regional studies, or other fields.

After the first academic year, the 3-week-long internship (work placement) provides the student with practical experiences in solving real-life tasks in a team. An internship enables the students to broaden their understanding of working with spatial data and the arrangement of work in organisations and teams. It also helps to grow the professional network of students, either in Estonia or abroad. The department helps the students to find organisations for conducting the internship. For example, we have long-term internship cooperation with Regio, Positium, Hendrikson&Ko and Tõravere Observatory. The students may also apply for internships abroad, e.g. with the help of Erasmus+ Traineeship grant.

The students design the content of the second academic year by choosing courses that support specialisation and preparing the master thesis (20 ECTS) or optional courses according to the broad interests of the students (10 ECTS). The students are encouraged to spend their third semester of studies abroad as exchange students. The department has several partner agreements with universities around Europe to study as an Erasmus exchange student. The university provides additional opportunities to study worldwide with the help of bilateral partnerships with many universities. If staying in Estonia, the students are recommended to take courses on Estonian language and culture to better integrate into the society and professional culture.

The students work continuously on their master thesis during their studies, both individually under the supervision of the supervisor as well as in special master seminars. At the beginning of the fourth semester, an individually designed course about statistical methods supports the progress of the master thesis. The fourth semester is dedicated to writing the thesis.

Examples of courses:

• Spatial Data Analysis
• Demography, Global Migration and Contemporary Cities
• Planning Project
• Geography, Communication and Spatial Mobility
• Energy Flows and Material Cycles
• Introduction to Programming
• Spatial Data Studio

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Upon graduating, the student

• has a comprehension of geoinformatics and geodatabases and can use GIS software to handle spatial data;
• knows the geographical, social and economic processes in urbanised society as well as the related geodatabases;
• knows the environmental problems in urbanised society, the environmental technology and spatial databases used to manage and mitigate the issues;
• can use the contemporary analytical methods of spatial data and the cartographic methods to visualise spatial data;
• knows the principles and methods of spatial planning;
• has the skills to compile planning projects with the help of GIS software;
• knows the concepts of the information society, smart city and integrated planning and can implement them in planning;
• has acquired experience in teamwork and can work in teams;
• can give consultation within the field of specialisation;
• can participate in scientific research and has skills for academic writing.

Modern life relies increasingly on BIG data and digital work processes – geoinformatics helps manage and analyse historical and real-time spatial data to support decision-making and policy development.

Successful completion of the master’s programme ‘Geoinformatics for Urbanised Society’ enables employment in all sectors as a spatial data manager, spatial analyst, or GIS consultant for planning and regional policy. The alumni work in several local, state, and EU institutions, consultancy companies for planning and environmental management, or companies that provide location-based analyses and IT services or cartographical solutions.

The following list of domestic and international companies and institutions shows where many of our alumni with GIS specialisation have found employment:

Regio, ReachU, Positium LBS, CGI, TerraPro, Navionics, Affecto, Telia, Hendrikson&Ko, Estonian Land Board, Estonian Agricultural Registers and Information Board, Environmental Board, Environmental Agency, Estonian Defence Forces, Estonian Weather Service, Met Office, Tartu Observatory, Tartu City Government, Tallinn City Government, ESPON.