Courses & research | Urban and Land Futures | Geo-information Science and Earth Observation

During your Master’s in Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (GEO), you will collect a total of 120 EC within two years. In addition to the three mandatory courses of the Master’s, you will take four specialisation courses and elective courses. You can also do an optional internship and complete your studies by writing your master’s thesis.

European Credit Transfer System

Student workload at Dutch universities is expressed in EC, also named ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System), widely used throughout the European Union. In the Netherlands, each credit represents 28 hours of work. The recognition of credits is at the discretion of your Master's.

Structure

Please note: the courses listed may be adjusted based on availability and curriculum updates.

YEAR 1	NUMBER OF EC	Courses
Foundation courses Mandatory courses for all students of the Master’s.	15 EC	Fundamentals of GIS and Earth Observation Fundamental Spatial Data Engineering and Innovations Fundamental Programming for Geospatial Data Analysis
Specialisation courses Required specialisation courses for all students of the different learning pathways	20 EC	Urban and Land Futures Volunteered Geographic Information and Geo Citizen Science Designing Urban and Land Information Systems Geospatial Database Engineering Urban and Land Futures Studio
Pathway: Planning for liveable and resilient cities pathway		Planning for liveable cities Urban Futures Modelling Planning for Disaster Resilient Cities
Pathway: Making cities and land SMART pathway		Responsible Land Administration Organising Land Information in Practice Urban & Land Geo-data Acquisition and Dissemination
Elective courses You can choose a course that matches your interests and career ambitions.	35 EC	Land Use Transport Interactions GeoHealth Entrepreneurship Climate Awareness Raising Water Decisions and Health (WASH) 3D Modelling for City Digital Twins Engaging Climate Communication Geo-journalism Space for Ethics Modelling Environmental Space-Time Processes Economics & Finances for Geosciences Participatory Planning Tools and Processes
YEAR 2	Number of EC	Courses
Individual study programme	10 EC	In the second year, you can personalise your individual study programme: You can do an internship (15 EC as part of the 35 EC elective course), where you can apply your skills in industry, government, or research, anywhere in the world Further develop your professional skills to enhance your chances of securing a job Further your geospatial skills with elective courses.
MSc research proposal and MSc research / Academic research skills	40 EC	You will complete your Master’s in GEO by writing a master’s thesis. Your research theme is defined by the research group that is part of the respective specialisation. You will conduct your research within one of our research disciplines. Training and guidance on the necessary academic and research skills you will need to become an ethical academic professional and start your MSc research (5 EC).
Total EC	120 EC

Or Skype with a student and gain first-hand experience!

Internship

In the second year of your Master’s in Geo-information Science and Earth Observation, you can apply the knowledge and skills you have acquired during your studies by doing an internship at a consultancy company, government agency, research institute, or non-governmental organisation in the Netherlands or abroad. ITC has a broad network of organisations where you can do your internship project.

Examples of internships that students have done are:

Land and Resource Rights Internship, at World Resources Institute - WRI, the Netherlands.
Spatial analysis of different topics related to urban planning, at Dutch Municipalities (Amsterdam, Den Bosch, Enschede etc.)
Industrial Companies (e.g. NEO, Royal Philps, Nelen & Schuurmans, TNO, Witteveen + Bos etc.)
Governmental organisations (e.g. Kadaster)

Discover the exciting internship options at ITC!

Join us on a journey as we follow two Master students, Carolina Pereira Marghidan and John Ifejube, during their internships at the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC) at the University of Twente. Get ready to witness the impactful work they're doing in their respective placements and gain a glimpse into the future that awaits you as a prospective student. Watch the video!