Description

Contents

Objectives

The Master of Geography training programme is designed to:

1. offer students an in-depth training in a number of key geo-disciplines, by an in-depth exploration of the knowledge acquired as part of the Bachelor training programme;
2. teach students advanced methods and techniques to collate and analyse spatial data, to study and model fundamental physically and culturally determined processes, which help to explain the physical and social environment;
3. enable students to acquire an in-depth understanding of one specific geo-discipline (geo-sciences, urban studies, geo-information science, landscape architecture), covering a clearly defined segment of the geo job market;
4. teach students the necessary skills enabling them to follow up developments in their own field of expertise and related areas, with due self-reliance;
5. teach students to approach and analyse concrete environmental and/or social issues from a spatial context, and to do so on a self-reliant basis as well as a member of a team;
6. teach students techniques enabling them to synthesise their own findings as well as know how acquired in a clear and intelligible manner and the skills to report thereon orally and in writing;
7. sensitise students to the importance of multidisciplinarity and to familiarise them with multidisciplinary approaches and research methods;
8. stimulate students to utilise new, technology developments in the area of geomatics to optimal effect in research in the various geo-disciplines.

Learning Outcomes

Master of Geography graduates are to:

1. have a broad-based basic knowledge of natural and/or social sciences;
2. have acquired an in-depth understanding of the fundamental physically and/or culturally determined processes, which help explain the physical and/or social environment;
3. have developed the necessary skills and attitudes to follow up developments in know how in their field of expertise and in related disciplines in a self-reliant manner;
4. have the necessary domain-related know how, skills and attitudes to successfully assume a range of positions in the geo job market, either in the area of education, industry or public sector.

Requirements

The masters programme presupposes a broad basic knowledge of the natural and social sciences, as well as a broad introduction to geography. The starting conditions are expressed in the amount of ECTS credits the student should have already
acquired.

The following Bachelors degrees provide direct access to the programme:

• Bachelor of Geography
• Bachelor of Geography and Geomatics, specialisation
  Geography
• Bachelor of Geology, minor Geography

Non-native English-speaking students are required to submit a copy of a TOEFL or IELTS certificate.

All students coming from outside the EEA, who wish to register to study in English at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

Exemptions :

• Students who have succesfully completed at least one year of secondary education with English as the language of tuition.
• Students with a primary education certificate with English as the language of tuition.
• Students who have been awarded at least 15 credits in higher education with English as the language of tuition.
• Students who have completed secondary education (ASO) in Belgium
• Students who have passed one of following specific English language tests: TOEFL (min. 550 paper-based, 213 computerbased, 80 internet-based), IELTS (min. academic module 6.5), Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (Grade B) of Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (Grade C) or TOEIC (min. 860).

English Language Requirements