19 Spatial Science Masters Degree Programs

During our MA in New Media Design, you’ll learn how to analyze and locate spatial, moving, and non-linear forms of expression and how to apply them to your spatial concepts. You’ll be in the perfect position to develop complex and advanced design and technological solutions for challenges of a multi-disciplinary nature thanks to the sound media competence you’ll have as a graduate.

Welcome to the ISLANDS programme, a dynamic 2-year Research Master that delves into the fascinating intersection of Islands and Sustainability with a curriculum entirely taught in English. Our program is tailored to provide a comprehensive blend of research and professional skills spanning spatial, social, and environmental sciences.

This master's degree aims to train specialists in planning and managing the territory from a multi-scale perspective, covering urban, rural, peri-urban and natural spaces. Its objective is to transmit the necessary skills so that its graduates are capable of leading work teams for territorial planning and urban planning. This entails the preparation of planning documents (binding or indicative) and the design of participatory processes in line with territorial development. It starts from a resolutely multidisciplinary approach and pays special attention to the sustainability of the territory in its environmental, economic and socio-cultural dimensions.

The two-year Research Master's in Spatial Sciences has two key features. First, it allows students maximum scientific freedom to learn and discover. Second, it lets students develop serious scientific research skills. Throughout the programme we take inspiration from Einstein's words: 'I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious'. Research Master students don't have to be extraordinarily talented or gifted. But students need to have a passionate curiosity about people and places. With this driving curiosity, the research master Spatial Sciences is a good choice.

The Designing Spatial Transformations track in the Master in Designing Spatial Transformations at the Faculty of Spatial Sciences offers you the tools and knowledge to address complex spatial challenges. Graduates are equipped to design intelligent interventions and co-design proposals with stakeholders, addressing multifaceted challenges in urban and rural settings.

Tackle large-scale, complex, societal challenges with the use of spatial data. Natural disasters, poverty, food shortage, epidemics, and climate change; are the greatest challenges society is facing today and are characterized by enormous complexity. These so-called wicked problems are impossible to solve in a way that is simple or final.

Spatial planners are fascinated by on-going and future changes in cities and regions and take on the role as managers of spatial transformations - think of: regenerating shopping districts or old industrial sites; designating water retention areas; shaping urban mobility concepts for the future. Related challenges vary in scale, from individual property to strategic policy making. Within the Master's Spatial Planning, you have a choice between three Master's specialisations.

UCL’s Spatial Planning Degree Apprenticeship MSc is designed to advance your career in planning, blending UCL's Spatial Planning MSc studies with supported workplace learning and practical experience. This urban planning degree meets the UK government’s Chartered Town Planning Apprenticeship standard, so successfully completing the course will award you both a Spatial Planning MSc and Chartered Town Planner (MRTPI) status.

The ISLANDS programme combines a thorough training in scientific research with a thematic specialization in Islands and Sustainability. It also provides multi-faceted training of research skills for social science and environmental research, including Individual Research Training by senior staff and training to work in a multi- and interdisciplinary research group. ISLANDS students will be required to study at the University of Groningen in the first semester and the first half of the second semester of the first year of the programme. Then they study at one of the island-based universities of the consortium where they undertake a Research Internship Module. After returning to Groningen, students will again go to an island-based university to undertake their Master's thesis project in the second semester of the second year. ISLANDS graduates receive a double degree from the University of Groningen (including an acknowledgement that this is an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master degree involving all partner universities) and the island-based University. The ISLANDS programme builds on the existing Research Master in Spatial Sciences programme at the University of Groningen (RUG).

The MA in Geography: Spatial Justice is designed for students who wish to deepen their understanding of critical geographical ideas and themes and apply this knowledge to the most pressing societal and environmental challenges of the 21st century. Students will be empowered to think geographically, to develop their critical thinking skills, undertake independent research in an area of specialist interest, and significantly enhance their professional skills. 

The new specialization “Smart Environmental Planning and Design” in the Master of Spatial Planning program equips students with cutting-edge knowledge and practical skills to address contemporary environmental and urban challenges, focusing on global green deals and digitalization of the planning process.

The program in MA in Interior and Spatial design trains interior design artists to implement aesthetic, functional, and psychological aspects of a given space or space. Graduates will possess essential technical knowledge, and artistic skills, and have an understanding and thorough knowledge of the design thought process and their importance during the planning procedure. They also acquire primary manufacturing-, production processes, and their conditions. Students gain both practical and professional experiences throughout the course of their studies and are prepared to pursue their education in the doctoral program if they wish.

You will master data science and machine-learning algorithms, tools, and data structures, and apply them to understand core theories and concepts in urban analytics and city science. You will be able to employ cartographic and geographic theory and concepts to map and model big geographic data. You will understand the main engineering concepts and principles around scientific computing and data infrastructure and use them to model smart cities and urban digital infrastructure.

The programme prepares specialists on handling and analysing spatial data and developing decision support systems.

This programme provides you with a rigorous grounding in social theory and mainstream debates and techniques in human geography. It also offers a thorough training in qualitative and quantitative methods. Options allow for the development of specialisms in historical-cultural themes, postcolonial and decolonial geographies, spatial modelling, and debates surrounding environmental conflict and science and technology.

The main aim of the program is to acquire knowledge in the field of collecting, processing, and analysis of spatial data for the needs of modern navigation systems.