This course will enable you to develop a high level understanding of quantitative and computational geographical methods. This includes skills in GIS software and statistical programming languages, such as R or Python.
Within an applied setting, you will develop skills in the visualisation, modelling and statistical analysis of conventional and novel sources of data, ranging from censuses and social surveys through to satellite imagery and social media using both web-based and traditional techniques.
Human activity is increasingly associated with the generation of large volumes of data. For example, transactional data collated by retailers for marketing and store location purposes, administrative data assembled to help with the efficient running of public services, data shadows created through social media use, and an increased prevalence of smart-card linked transport systems record our travel behaviours.
Many grand human challenges concern problems of a geographical nature; be this how we can mitigate the human impact of climate change; ensure global food and water security; design energy systems that are resilient within the context of future population dynamics; or, how to design future cities where spatial inequities in health and wellbeing might be eradicated. The growing volumes of big data about the form, function and dynamics of human activities are providing new opportunities to advance such debates within a framework of Geographic Data Science.
We constantly review and develop our postgraduate programmes. This MSc is also available with the alternative title Data Science and Analytics for Society MSc for entry September 2026, and gives students the option to graduate with either of these two MSc titles.
This course is for you if you want to understand and analyse the role of geography in everyday life through geographical and computational reasoning.
The qualifications and exam results you'll need to apply for this course.
You'll need to demonstrate competence in the use of English language, unless you’re from a majority English speaking country .
We accept a variety of international language tests and country-specific qualifications .
International applicants who do not meet the minimum required standard of English language can complete one of our Pre-Sessional English courses to achieve the required level.
Do you need to complete a Pre-sessional English course to meet the English language requirements for this course?
The length of Pre-sessional English course you’ll need to take depends on your current level of English language ability.
If you don’t meet our English language requirements, we can use your most recent IELTS score, or the equivalent score in selected other English language tests , to determine the length of Pre-sessional English course you require.
Use the table below to check the course length you're likely to require for your current English language ability and see whether the course is available on campus or online.
If you’ve completed an alternative English language test to IELTS, we may be able to use this to assess your English language ability and determine the Pre-sessional English course length you require.
Please see our guide to Pre-sessional English entry requirements for IELTS 6.5 overall, with no component below 5.5, for further details.
| QS 综合 | 院校 | 学制 | 学费 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 第 62 位 | 伦敦政治经济学院London School of Economics and Political Science | 1年 | 32000英镑/年 |