Search
Did you study here?
Write a short review & help students like you! Over 1,500 students already shared their experience.
- Programme website
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel
- Programme Brochure
- Visit Flanders
- Department Website
- University website
- University of Leuven Admissions information
- City Guide
- Student Experiences from Belgium - STeXX.eu
| Application Deadline: | June 1 (EEA); March 1(Non EEA) | ||
| Annual Tuition Fee: | ≈ € 578 - | ||
| Location: | Leuven / Belgium / View location on map ▾ Hide location on map ▴ | ||
| Duration: | 24 months | Start Date: | September |
| Educational Form: |
| ||
| Education Variants: |
| ||
| Special: |
| ||
| Credits (ECTS): | 120 | ||
| Languages: | Dutch English | ||
Location of University of Leuven
The Master of Geography is a two-year advanced study programme jointly organized by K.U.Leuven and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). This interuniversity Master´s programme offers comprehensive training in approaches to social geographical and/or natural geographical phenomena: it aims to provide a deeper understanding of geographical problems and methods, knowledge of theoretical debates within the discipline and practical training in the use of geographical techniques.
The overall aim of the programme is to train geographers to play an active role in contem porary society. Since teaching is research-based, K.U.Leuven and VUB have joined forces to create this joint degree programme, taught in English and offering two majors:
- Environmental Change
- Space and Society
Geographers study the interaction between human societies and their environments, characterize the resulting regions and localities and analyze the spatial distributions and processes of particular natural and human phenomena. Being equally a natural science and a social science equipped with geographical information and scientific techniques, geography integrates the physical and human environments. Thus, geographers have long applied integrated and multidisciplinary approaches to solve real-world problems on all spatial scales - from the local to the global.
There is a growing demand for qualified professionals in the field of geosciences. As a graduate of this interuniversity Master of Geography programme, your skills will be highly sought after by surveying companies, mapping agencies, service and utility providers and public entities, as well as by international and national administrations dealing with urban and rural land-use planning, disaster management, environmental conservation and management. Graduates considering a career in research or education can pursue a PhD after completing this Master´s programme.
Contents
The full programme comprises 120 credits. In addition to core courses (45 credits), students take the compulsory courses within their chosen major (15 credits) as well as a number of specialised electives within the same field (minimum 30 credits). The remaining 30 credits are allocated to the Master’s thesis. Courses are taught at K.U.Leuven’s Arenberg Campus in Heverlee and at the VUB campus in Etterbeek. A joint degree will be awarded upon the successful completion of the programme
The Master in Geography aims to gain the analytical and synthetical ability, necessary to understand independently and critically the scientific and social aspects of the environmental problems in our country, in a European dimension and on global level. It aims to enable the student to approach the relation between society and environment in an integrated way.
The student will learn to overview and to function within the realm of the geographer. This is possible in the area of fundamental and applied geographical research, as well as in the area of communication and education of geographical sciences.
In the master thesis the research activities are emphasized, next to the acquiring of knowledge and abilities on an advanced level.
The global aim of the master is to produce geographers that can play an active role in our current society. Teaching is based on scientific research. To be able to realize this the KULeuven and the VUB work together for their master in geography, since their focusses of research are similar. The following specialties are offered in English:
- Environmental Change
- Space and society
You are normally required to take an English Proficiency Test if you come from a non-English speaking country.
Most European Universities recognise the IELTS test.
More informationRequirements
Direct access:
- Bachelor of Science in de geografie
- Bachelor of Science in de biologie, minor geografie
- Bachelor of Science in de geologie, minor geografie
All international applications will be thoroughly examined according to the required prerequisites, an admission commission will decide about acceptance of the applications before the end of June.
Non-native English students are required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS certificate.
TOEFL (Computer-based test 213 pt., Internet-based test 79 - 80 pt., Paper-based test 550 pt.) or IELTS (6.5 - 7 pt.)
Additional information
In order to gauge whether the expected entry level matches your curriculum, we require that you submit a complete transcript of your academic records.
(1) A complete list of course titles for which you have obtained a credit should be part of this. Indicate the course size (in ECTS-credits).
(2) Also indicate the result you obtained, preferably according to the ECTS-scale; if a different scale is used, please provide an summary explanation on the meaning of the scores.
(3) For the courses that you deem most relevant as a preparation for the master that you are considering, provide a shot (about one half to one page) description according to the standard guidelines for an ECTS-study guide.
Additional Requirements
| Minimal degree required: | Bachelor's degree |
| Minimal amount of work experience | Not specified |
Language Proficiency
| IELTS Band: | 6.5 |
| TOEFL Paper-based: | 550 |
| TOEFL Computer-based: | 213 |
| TOEFL Internet-based: | 79 |
Funding details
Motivated and talented international students, interested in participating in an international master programme of the Faculty of Science of the K.U.Leuven are invited to apply for a scholarship.
For the following masters you can apply for the Scholarship :
- Master of Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Master of Biology
- Master of Molecular and Cellular Biophysics
- Master of Chemistry
- Master of Physics
- Master of Geography
- Master of Mathematics
- Master of Statistics
Amount of Scholarship
The amount of the scholarship can be up to 8.000 Euro for 1 year. The Board of the Science@Leuven Fund will decide exactly how much a scholarship will be. The scholarship will always cover the tuition fee for 1 year, the insurance and a basic health insurance coverage. The amount awarded for living expenses can vary.
Most master programmes of the Faculty of Science are 2-year programmes. A scholarship for the second master year will be only be continued for students having had outstanding results the first master year.
Contact
Contact University of Leuven
Using the form on this page, you can directly ask questions to the contactpersons at the university.
Fill out your contact information and message. The information you fill out in this form will be sent directly to the university. They will reply to you on the e-mail address you provide here.
Explain your academic background in the message; the more sophisticated your e-mail, the better the answer.
MastersPortal.eu cannot take any responsibility for the answering of contacts or for the content of their replies.
MastersPortal.eu - Finds the Masters for you!