Education

The Master of Geography is a two-year advanced study programme jointly organied 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: 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 contemporary society. Since teaching is research-based, KU Leuven and VUB have joined forces to create this joint degree programme, taught in English and offering three majors:
- Terrestrial Ecosystems and Environmental Change
- Space and Society
- Development and Environment
The Master of Geography is an initial Master's programme. You can follow this programme on a full-time or part-time basis.

Profile

This Master's programme supposes 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. Prospective students should have completed the following coursework in previous university studies:

Maths: 6 ECTS
Statistics and Data Analysis: 4 ECTS
Physics: 6 ECTS
Chemistry: 5 ECTS
Geology: 6 ECTS
Biology: 4 ECTS
Social Sciences: 3 ECTS
General Geography: 8 ECTS
Physical Geography: 8 ECTS
Social and Economic Geography: 8 ECTS
Spatial Analysing Techniques: 4 ECTS
Geographical Computer Science (Topography, GIS ...): 8 ECTS

For specific admission requirements, click on the desired programme in the 'Choose your courses of study' section.

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 VUB work together for their Master of Geography, since their focusses of research are similar. The following specialties are offered in English:
- Terrestrial Ecosystems and Environmental Change
- Space and Society
- Development and Environment

After graduation

Geographers study the interaction between human societies and their environments, characterise the resulting regions and localities 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 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 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.

Information sessions

KU Leuven organises a Verderstudeerbeurs each spring. In addition, faculties also organise information sessions for many of their bridging and graduate programmes.

All information sessions for (future) Master's students

Spotlight

The Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at KU Leuven and the Department of Geography at VUB jointly offer a highly competitive degree programme firmly rooted in current research at both universities. Both departments continuously develop and maintain innovative and internationally recognised research programmes on fundamental and applied aspects of the geosciences, covering a wide range of spatial and temporal scales. These generally involve international collaborative efforts, and both departments participate in various international research networks.

Master's students can obviously benefit from this strong emphasis on research in carrying out their own research projects. By being part of a professional research team, students are presented with the best opportunity to learn and develop scientific skills. In many cases, students spend a couple of months abroad for fieldwork and data collection within the framework of their Master's thesis.

Contact

Faculty of Science
Programme director
Prof. dr. G. Verstraeten
Tel. +32 16 32 64 11 of +32 16 32 78 00
gert.verstraeten@ees.kuleuven.be
Administrative Office
Geel Huis
Kasteelpark Arenberg 11 bus 2100
3001 HEVERLEE
tel. + 32 16 32 14 01
info@wet.kuleuven.be

General information

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

Useful links

Visit this programme's website.

Download this brochure

Download this Master's brochure.

Order this Master's brochure.