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Master of Geography (Leuven et al)

Master of Science
The Master of Science in Geography is a two-year advanced study programme jointly organised by KU
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.
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Master of Geography (120 ECTS)

Education

What is the Master of Geography all about? Key information

The objective of this programme is to provide a deeper understanding of geographical problems and methods, knowledge
to the theoretical debate within the discipline, and training in the use of geographical working techniques. Location
Leuven et al.
The global aim of the master is to generate geographers that can play an active role in our contemporary society. Teaching
is based on scientific research. Therefore the KU Leuven and the VUB work together for their Master in Geography, since Ects + duration
their focal points of research are similar. The following specialties are offered in English:
120 ECTS (2 years full-time)
Earth and Climate;
Educational level
City, Society and Space;
Master’s
GIS and Spatial Modelling.
Academic calendar
Structure
1st semester: end of September -
The full programme comprises 120 ECTS. In addition to core courses on human-environment interactions and research > end of January (exams in
methods in geography (27 ECTS), you take the compulsory courses within your chosen specialisation (33-34 ECTS) as January)
well as a number of specialised electives in your field (29-30 ECTS). The remaining 30 ECTS are allocated to the master’s
thesis. 2nd semester: half of February ->
end of June (exams in June)
The programme offers three specialisations:

Earth and Climate: this specialisation focuses on terrestrial ecosystems and environmental changes, emphasising
KU Leuven academic calendar
timely and relevant research topics in the geosciences like global warming, ice-climate interaction, soil and water
Applying
conservation, long-term landscape development, natural hazards and risk assessment.
Application deadline
City, Society and Space: in a strongly urbanised world there is a growing need to better understand social, economic,
cultural, and political dynamics of urban areas. This specialisation focuses on the multifaceted issues that cities are
1 March (for non-EEA citizens)
experiencing in the current era of globalisation. 1 June (for EEA citizens)
GIS and Spatial Modelling: within this specialisation you will become acquainted with new approaches and
How to apply
techniques for acquiring, managing, analysing and mapping spatial data.
www.kuleuven.be/application
Within this specialisation you can also opt to include a two-month GIS internship in your study programme.

Courses are taught at KU Leuven’s Arenberg Campus in Heverlee and at the VUB campus in Etterbeek. A joint degree will
Tuition fee 2018-2019
be awarded upon the successful completion of the programme. €922.30

Most recent information

Departments
on www.kuleuven.be/tuitionfees
This highly competitive programme is jointly offered by the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at KU
Chat with our students
Leuven and the Department of Geography at VUB and is firmly rooted in current research at both universities. Both
departments continue to develop and maintain innovative and internationally recognised research programmes on Student Ambassadors
fundamental and applied aspects of the geosciences, covering a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. Within the
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at KU Leuven, geographical research activities are focused on earth Open days
surface processes and climate, human-environment interactions, sustainable development, tourism, and education in the Meet us in Belgium
geosciences. Research in the Department of Geography at VUB is focused on the dynamics of glacial systems, the study Meet us abroad
of hazardous geomorphological and volcanological processes, small-scale cartography and map projections, remote
sensing, and the geography of world cities. Brochure
Application deadline for 2019-2020 Download the brochure
Request the brochure
1 March 2019 (for non-EEA citizens)
1 June 2019 (for EEA citizens) Faculty website
KU Leuven uses an online application system. You can submit your application form Faculty of Science
via www.kuleuven.be/application. Students with a Flemish degree can consult www.kuleuven.be/inschrijven.

Tuition fee
The current tuition fee is €922.30. The tuition fee for the 2019-2020 academic year will be determined in the spring of 2019.
Please consult the website for the most recent information: www.kuleuven.be/tuitionfees.

Master mind

Excellent students who are eligible for a Master Mind Scholarship are invited to submit their application before 1
February 2019.

Profile

Is this the right programme for me?

Ideal prospective students have already obtained a broad basic knowledge of the natural and social sciences as well as
broad introductory knowledge of geography. A complete introduction to geography is not required.

Admission requirements

Admission requirements Master of Geography

General admissions

Career perspectives

Career perspectives
Geographers study the interaction between human societies and their environments, characterise the regions and localities
that result, and analyse the spatial distributions and processes of particular natural and human phenomena. Being equally
a natural science and a social science equipped with geographical information science techniques, geography integrates
the physical and human environments. Thus, geographers have long applied integrated multidisciplinary approaches to
solve real-world problems at all spatial scales from local to global.

We witness a growing demand for competent professionals in the broad field of geo-sciences. As a graduate from the
interuniversity master's programme geography, you may be recruited by surveying companies, mapping agencies, service
and utility providers and public entities. You will also be placed high on the recruitment list of international and national
administrations dealing with urban and rural land use planning, disaster management, environmental conservation and
management. Careers can also be pursued in research and education, whereby this master's programme is most often
complemented by a relevant PhD programme.

Start your career, during your studies

During your bachelor's and master's programme you can already shape your own profile by choosing a certain
specialisation, studying abroad (Erasmus), doing a work placement, or starting your own business.

The Student Career Centre is happy to put you on the right track towards your first work experience. The centre also
coaches you in the search for an interesting job and helps you with job interviews. For students wanting to start their own
business KU Leuven also has Lcie, the KU Leuven community that encourages students with innovative and
entrepreneurial ideas.

Don’t know where to start? The Student Career Centre's databases contain offers for jobs, volunteer work, innovation
projects and student jobs. You can also visit one of the events organised by the Career Centre.

Contact

Faculty of Science Leuven

Geel Huis
Kasteelpark Arenberg 11 box 2100
3001 HEVERLEE, Belgium
tel. + 32 16 32 14 01
info.wet@kuleuven.be

Programme Director
Prof. M. Loopmans
Tel. +32 16 32 64 11 of +32 16 32 78 00
maarten.loopmans@kuleuven.be

Visit the programme's web page.

General
Study Advice Service
 Naamsestraat 80 box 5415
3000 LEUVEN, Belgium
To contact us, please complete the contact form on our website.

Objectives

The Master of 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 KU Leuven and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel work together for
their Master of Geography, since their focusses of research are similar. The following specialties are offered in English:
- Earth and Climate
- City, Society and Space
- GIS and Spatial Modelling

Admission requirements

Master of Geography (Leuven et al)

In the context of the wellbeing law certain data must be stored for each student and they must be informed timely on the
subject of:

the risks to which the student is exposed during the study programme (practicals, traineeships, master's theses,…)
the associated preventive measures for each risk, such as medical follow-up, personal protective equipment and
instructions.
The risks and preventive measures are collected in the HSE-file for students. Through this link you can consult the HSE-
file. The HSE-file will be used for traineeships and/or master’s theses. For more information about traineeships, we refer to
the following site: traineeship.. For questions, please contact the HSE Department.

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