Master of Science in Geographical Information Management and Applications (GIMA)
Utrecht University
Key Information
Campus location
Utrecht, Netherlands
Languages
English
Study format
Blended
Duration
2 - 4 years
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
EUR 2,209 / per year **
Application deadline
Request info *
Earliest start date
Request info
* Non-EU/EEA students: 1 April
** EU/EEA, Surinam or Swiss students; €17,500: International students
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Introduction
GIMA: Offering the Best of Four Dutch Universities
Geographical information is everywhere. Think of physical planning, risk management, navigation systems, location-based services, movement analysis, augmented reality, increasing use of maps, and volunteered geographical information. This is why Geographical Information Management and Applications (GIMA) is such a relevant and complete Master of Science program; it focuses on the management and application of geographical information from a scientific perspective.
In addition, there are two aspects that make GIMA a unique program: the blended learning concept and the cooperation between four renowned Dutch universities. GIMA is also an international program. It does not only target Dutch bachelors, but also foreign bachelors and professionals with equivalent pre-education.
Blended learning
GIMA is a blended learning Master's program, which means that most of the time you are studying from the place where you think you can study best (e.g. at home, or your local library). Students study full-time (2 yrs.) or part-time (4 yrs.). For the first half of the program, there are only four short contact periods per year, one at each partner university. During those contact periods (with a duration of two weeks) you are supposed to be present in person but for the rest of the year, you can study through our electronic learning environment from wherever you are. Obviously, the same holds for the individual thesis research project and internship, each of 6 (full time) or 12 (part-time) months in length in the last half of the program.
Joint venture
The Master’s program of GIMA is the result of a unique joint venture between four Dutch universities, each with a good reputation in its field and with its own traditions:
- Utrecht University, with a focus on geography and planning;
- The Delft University of Technology, with a focus on the legal, organizational and technical aspects of geo-information handling;
- The University of Twente, with a focus on technical and application-oriented courses for developing countries;
- Wageningen University, with a focus on agricultural and rural applications.
You will thus get the best from geo-information experts from four universities in the Netherlands. Since the start of the program in 2003, GIMA has become one of the most popular and well evaluated Master's programs on geo-information applications and management in the Netherlands and our community keeps growing.
Program Outcome
The GIMA program aims at educating students to become;
- All-round managers of geo-information and/or
- All-round geo-information researchers and/or
- All-round geo-information application specialists.
Career Opportunities
GIMA graduates have excellent career prospects. Especially the demand for managers and application specialists in geo-information in the professional market is still constantly increasing.
Possible prospects
The GIMA program aims at educating students to become;
- all-round managers of geo-information and/or
- all-round geo-information researchers and/or
- all-around geo-information application specialists.
GIMA alumni work in the private sector with for example energy or utility companies, or in the field of geo-marketing or consulting. Furthermore, graduates could start their careers in the public sector, like in research institutes, municipalities, or other governmental services. Also, a combination of both sectors would be possible.
Academic Careers
GIMA is a fully-fledged Master of Science program with ample attention for academic and research skills in the first six modules. Individual Master thesis research in the second part of the program comprises 30 ECTS. This is a solid basis for a possible Ph.D. GIMA course participants have the advantage that they will be exposed to Ph.D. opportunities at four Dutch universities.
Professional Careers
- Business consultant at ESRI Nederland
ESRI Nederland is a dynamic and young IT company and market leader in the field of Geographical Information Systems. It sells the much-used ArcGIS software. - GIS specialist and project leader at GeoCensus BV
Geocensus is a private company dealing with geodesy, GIS, surveying, legal registrations, change detection, and secondment. - Senior project leader at Kadaster
Kadaster is a non-departmental public body, under the political responsibility of the Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment. It is Kadaster’s statutory task to maintain a number of registrations. Examples are the registration of real estate, topography, ships, and aircraft. Besides information from its own registrations, Kadaster also provides information from registrations of other parties. For them, Kadaster maintains so-called national facilities, by means of which Kadaster provides access to the data. Examples are the facilities for addresses and buildings, cables and pipelines, and energy labels. - Chief Meteorology at NATO
International meteorological office. Weather forecasting for aviation business. Development of Meteorological Information Systems (NAMIS, ICARUS): visualization, communication, and database handling. GIS aspects of meteorology. - GIS advisor at the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in Slovenia