Programme director: Petri Rönnholm 

Urbanization, environmental crises, use of natural resources, security, and migration are examples of complex problems where location plays an essential role. Our ability to measure, model, analyze and visualize these complex phenomena is a key in understanding them and solving the problems. Geoinformatics represents the real world by digital models. The models enable analysis, planning, simulation, and communication for decision makers on dynamic processes from local to global levels.

The Master’s Programme in Geoinformatics has its special focus on acquisition, analysis and visualization of geospatial data. It integrates engineering applications within environmental sciences. The learning outcomes consist of technical, mathematical, computational and visual knowledge and skills in the management of spatial phenomena. The programme offers students the possibility to use state-of-the-art geoinformation technologies in developing new computational methods and applications. In addition to wider perspective, students may focus their studies on geodesy, photogrammetry, laser scanning, remote sensing, geographic information technologies or cartography.

This master’s programme educates experts for key-positions in the academia, industry, and government. Through efficient integration of knowledge and information technologies, geoinformatics enables new ways of creating science and business within socioeconomical life management. Applications range from, for example, personal location based and mobile services to public applications in environmental, hydrological, geological, and archeological mapping, as well as to regional and urban planning, security and safety monitoring tasks.

The master’s degree consists of

• Major studies (60 cr)
• Master's thesis (30 cr)
• Elective studies (30 cr)
   

Code: ENG22
Extent: 60 cr
Programme director: Petri Rönnholm

Common studies (compulsory courses, 30 cr)

Advanced studies (select 30 cr from courses below)

Course descriptions for the academic years 2018-2019, 2019-2020 (pdf).

For free elective studies you can study courses offered by Aalto University or by other universities as it is possible by Aalto internal and inter institutional agreements and procedures and course specific prerequisites. Kindly note that your elective studies do not have to form a minor, but can include different types of courses totaling 30 credits.

The structure of our Master’s Programme is designed so that you are able to study your major studies i.e. common and advanced courses during the first year. This leaves the second year for elective courses and Master’s thesis. It also makes it easy for you to go for student exchange during the second year. Alternatively, you can deepen your expertise by taking more of our advanced courses as elective courses, or broaden your expertise by choosing courses from Aalto’s other programmes or from different universities. The choice for elective studies is thus entirely yours: the most important thing is that your elective studies complement your major studies, and provide you with expertise that you personally feel important and inspiring for your career.

Please find Aalto University study offers from Aalto University cross school studies.

Programme has been planned so that it enables you to leave for exchange studies during your second year. You can find more information about exchange studies (incl. application deadlines) from here Exchange studies for Aalto students.

Please note foreign language studies (minimum 3 cr in the same language) are required for the completion of the MSc (Tech) degree in some cases. Please see more information about language requirements for the master's degree students:

Language requirements 

According to Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004), student shall demonstrate proficiency in Finnish and Swedish language that is required of central government staff in bilingual public organisations under subsection 1 of section 6 of the Act on the Knowledge of Languages Required of Personnel in Public Bodies (424/2003) andt hat is necessary for their own field; and proficiency in at least one foreign language that enablesstudents to monitor progress in their own field and operate in an international setting.

Students with Finnish Bachelor's degree

Compulsory language studies are included as part of the Finnish Bachelor’s degree for students who have studied in Finland and whose language of education is Finnish or Swedish. If the language studies have not been completed in the student’s Bachelor’s degree, the student must take 2 ECTS in the second national language and 3 ECTS in one foreign language, including both oral and written proficiency.

All other students

Students who have received their pre-university education in a language other than Finnish or Swedish, or received their education abroad, are required to complete only 3 ECTS in one foreign language, including both oral and written proficiency. Relevant courses (marked with ‘o’ and ‘w’) are offered by the Aalto University Language Center. There students who have received their education abroad and  who already have excellent command of English (e.g. English as their first language) may choose 3 credits of Finnish or Swedish courses instead, hence not covering the requirement of oral/written proficiency but meeting the language requirement of the degree. If this applies to you, please contact your school’s Learning Services for further advice, as different schools have different procedures for validating this exemption.

Language studies are included in students’ elective studies and are agreed in the personal study plan (HOPS).

Please find more information about language courses and information about learning languages from the Language Centre of Aalto University.

The master’s thesis is written on a topic related to the advanced studies of the degree programme.
Students may apply for a topic for their master’s thesis when a minimum of 60 credits counted towards the master’s degree have been completed.

The topic and the language of the master’s thesis are approved by the school upon application by the student; the school also appoints a thesis supervisor and one or two thesis advisors for it. The master’s thesis supervisor shall be one of the professors of Aalto University. 
The topic of the master’s thesis remains valid for one year.

The master's thesis includes a presentation and maturity test. 
Further instructions on the master’s thesis and the related process from Completing master's thesis .   

In the Master’s Programme in Geoinformatics students learn the state-of-the-art in modern methods for acquiring, processing and utilising geographic information. This programme combines technical, mathematical, computational and visual knowledge and offers the students the possibility to not only use geoinformatics technology but also develop and create new computational methods and applications. In addition to gaining an overall perspective, students can further focus their skills on one of the subjects within geoinformatics, such as geodesy, photogrammetry, laser scanning, remote sensing, geographic information technologies or cartography.

The Master’s Programme in Geoinformatics has a long tradition as a technically and mathematically oriented curriculum. This is why, for example, programming skills, basic courses in mathematics and statistics as well as an interest in geoIT are required. The programme provides both theoretical and practical skills, and develops academic capabilities, problem-solving skills and analytical thinking, just to name a few. Teaching is tightly connected to ongoing cutting-edge research.

Code: ENG22
Credits: 65 ECTS
Programme director: Petri Rönnholm
 

Geoinformatics is a multidisciplinary field that combines technical, mathematical, computational and visual knowledge. You will learn the state-of-the-art methods for acquiring, processing and utilising geographic data.

You can choose one of the subjects within geoinformatics to focus on, such as geodesy (positioning, navigation geodesy), photogrammetry, laser scanning, remote sensing, geographic information technologies or cartography.

Prior completion of basic courses in mathematics and statistics and programming skills as well as an interest in geoIT are required in order to apply for the Master’s Programme. All courses are taught in English.

Common studies (compulsory courses for all students 30 cr)

Advanced courses (select 30 cr courses from courses below, note prerequisites)

For free elective studies you can study courses offered by Aalto University or by other universities as it is possible by Aalto internal and inter institutional agreements and procedures and course specific prerequisites. Kindly note that your elective studies do not have to form a minor, but can include different types of courses totaling 30 credits.

The structure of our Master’s Programme is designed so that you are able to study your major studies i.e. common and advanced courses during the first year. This leaves the second year for elective courses and Master’s thesis. It also makes it easy for you to go for student exchange during the second year. Alternatively, you can deepen your expertise by taking more of our advanced courses as elective courses, or broaden your expertise by choosing courses from Aalto’s other programmes or from different universities. The choice for elective studies is thus entirely yours: the most important thing is that your elective studies complement your major studies, and provide you with expertise that you personally feel important and inspiring for your career.

Please find Aalto University study offers from Aalto University cross school studies.

Programme has been planned so that it enables you to leave for exchange studies during your second year. You can find more information about exchange studies (incl. application deadlines) from here Exchange studies for Aalto students.

Please note foreign language studies (minimum 3 cr in the same language) are required for the completion of the MSc (Tech) degree in some cases. Please see more information about language requirements for the master's degree students:

Language requirements 

According to Government Decree on University Degrees (794/2004), student shall demonstrate proficiency in Finnish and Swedish language that is required of central government staff in bilingual public organisations under subsection 1 of section 6 of the Act on the Knowledge of Languages Required of Personnel in Public Bodies (424/2003) andt hat is necessary for their own field; and proficiency in at least one foreign language that enablesstudents to monitor progress in their own field and operate in an international setting.

Students with Finnish Bachelor's degree

Compulsory language studies are included as part of the Finnish Bachelor’s degree for students who have studied in Finland and whose language of education is Finnish or Swedish. If the language studies have not been completed in the student’s Bachelor’s degree, the student must take 2 ECTS in the second national language and 3 ECTS in one foreign language, including both oral and written proficiency.

All other students

Students who have received their pre-university education in a language other than Finnish or Swedish, or received their education abroad, are required to complete only 3 ECTS in one foreign language, including both oral and written proficiency. Relevant courses (marked with ‘o’ and ‘w’) are offered by the Aalto University Language Center. There students who have received their education abroad and  who already have excellent command of English (e.g. English as their first language) may choose 3 credits of Finnish or Swedish courses instead, hence not covering the requirement of oral/written proficiency but meeting the language requirement of the degree. If this applies to you, please contact your school’s Learning Services for further advice, as different schools have different procedures for validating this exemption.

Language studies are included in students’ elective studies and are agreed in the personal study plan (HOPS).

Please find more information about language courses and information about learning languages from the Language Centre of Aalto University.

The master’s thesis is written on a topic related to the advanced studies of the degree programme.

Students may apply for a topic for their master’s thesis when a minimum of 60 credits counted towards the master’s degree have been completed.

The topic and the language of the master’s thesis are approved by the school upon application by the student; the school also appoints a thesis supervisor and one or two thesis advisors for it. The master’s thesis supervisor shall be one of the professors of Aalto University as defined in Section 16 of the Aalto University Bylaws. For special reasons and by decision of the Dean, the thesis supervisor may also be another professor of the school or a university lecturer or senior university lecturer of the school in the Aalto University lecturer career system. The thesis advisor shall hold at least a master’s degree.

The topic of the master’s thesis remains valid for one year. Students who fail to submit the master’s thesis for examination within one year shall submit a new thesis topic application to the school.

The master's thesis includes a seminar presentation or an equivalent presentation.

The evaluation and approval of the master's thesis shall be requested in writing from the school.

The master’s thesis is a public document. It shall be available at the school.

Further instructions on the master’s thesis and the related process: Completing master's thesis

Urbanization, environmental crises, use of natural resources, security, and migration are examples of complex problems where location plays an essential role. Our ability to measure, model, analyze and visualize these complex phenomena is a key in understanding them and solving the problems. Geoinformatics represents the real world by digital models. The models enable analysis, planning, simulation, and communication for decision makers on dynamic processes from local to global levels.

The Master’s Programme in Geoinformatics has its special focus on acquisition, analysis and visualization of geospatial data. It integrates engineering applications within environmental sciences. The learning outcomes consist of technical, mathematical, computational and visual knowledge and skills in the management of spatial phenomena. The programme offers students the possibility to use state-of-the-art geoinformation technologies in developing new computational methods and applications. In addition to wider perspective, students may focus their studies on geodesy, photogrammetry, laser scanning, remote sensing, geographic information technologies or cartography.

This master’s programme educates experts for key-positions in the academia, industry, and government. Through efficient integration of knowledge and information technologies, geoinformatics enables new ways of creating science and business within socioeconomical life management. Applications range from, for example, personal location based and mobile services to public applications in environmental, hydrological, geological, and archeological mapping, as well as to regional and urban planning, security and safety monitoring tasks.

Code: ENG22
Credits: 60 cr
Programme director professor: Henrik Haggrén

Common studies (compulsory courses, 30 cr)

Advanced studies (optional courses, 30 cr)

Master's thesis (30 cr)

Elective studies (30 cr)