Geography

The Master of Science in Geography is a two-year advanced study programme jointly organised by KU Leuven and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). The interuniversity master programme provides the students with comprehensive training in geography's approaches to social geographical and/or natural geographical phenomena. 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.

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 their focal points of research are similar. The following specialties are offered in English:

• Earth and Climate;
• City, Society and Space;
• GIS and Spatial Modelling.

Common Basis

Human-Environment Interactions

• Environmental Change
• Geography of Globalisation
• Society Environment Interactions

Research Methods in Geography

• Geographical Research Methods 1: Earth Observation
• Geographical Research Methods 3: Numerical Modelling
• Geographical Research Methods 2: Survey and Data Analysis
• Research Seminar

Profile

The students choose one of the profiles, in which they will also make their master thesis.

EARTH AND CLIMATE

• Physical Geography Field Trip Abroad

Earth Surface Processes

• Soil and Water Conservation
• Tectonics and Geomorphology
• River Geomorphology
• Natural Hazards

Ice and Atmosphere

• Atmospheric Modelling
• Dynamics and Modeling of Glacial Systems
• Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere

Strenghtening Courses

Students choose module "Development" or module "GIS and Earth Observation".
Students complete their program by taking courses from the other choice module, from the other profiles, or from the list of elective courses.

• Natural Risk Management
• Geography of Developing Countries
• Agro-Systems
• Spatial Databases
• Modelling Land Use Changes
• Advanced Earth Observation Techniques
• Practical Geostatistics
• Hydrogeology
• Geological and Geotechnical Aspects in Coastal Lowlands
• Surface Water Hydrology
• Stable Isotope Geology
• Global Biogeochemical Cycles
• Natural Resources Economics and Policy
• GIS Programming
• Urban Political Ecology
• Operational Meteorology

CITY, SOCIETY AND SPACE

• Social and Economic Geography Field Trip Abroad
• Space, Society and Policy
• Housing
• Economic and Financial Geography
• Geographies of Mobility and Transportation
• Urban Social Geography
• Cultural Urban Geography
• Urban Political Ecology
• Urban Studies: Research Methodology, part 1
• Theory of Urban Planning and Design
• Strategic Spatial Planning
• Landscape 2
• History of Urban Design
• Culture and Tourism
• Heritage and Sustainable Tourism Development
• Destination Development
• Modelling Land Use Changes
• Advanced Earth Observation Techniques
• Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Development and Cultures
• Urban Anthropology
• Development Cooperation
• Geography of Developing Countries
• Natural Resources Economics and Policy
• European Population Issues

GIS AND SPATIAL MODELLING

• Physical Geography Field Trip Abroad
• Social and Economic Geography Field Trip Abroad
• Spatial Databases
• Spatial Data Infrastructures
• GIS Programming
• Advanced Earth Observation Techniques
• Natural Risk Management
• Modelling Land Use Changes
• GIS Internship
• Space, Society and Policy
• Natural Resources Economics and Policy
• Urban Political Ecology
• Geographies of Mobility and Transportation
• Object Oriented Programming
• Agricultural Economics and Food Policy in Developing Countries
• Basic Programming
• Sustainable Mobility and Logistics
• Remote Sensing of Vegetative Systems
• Generalized Linear Models
• Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere
• Geography of Developing Countries
• Destination Development

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree
• Applicants with a Belgian diploma: these applicants do not have to take an English proficiency test.
• Applicants with a university degree earned in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom or the USA: the certified diploma and transcripts suffice, provided they confirm that the entire university study was completed in English. Absolutely no other diplomas will be accepted as evidence even if the applicant has followed an exclusively English-taught programme.
• Other applicants should submit a satisfactory score on an internationally recognized test of English language proficiency: TOEFL (minimum score 94 internet-based with at least 19 for reading, 18 for Listening, 19 for speaking and 21 for writing) or IELTS (minimum score 7 overall, whilst at least 6,5 for reading, 6 for listening, 6 for speaking and 6 for writing).
• Certified copies of transcripts and diplomas are required for all applicants. These documents also suffice for applicants from
  * universities that have an exchange agreement with the Faculty of Science of KU Leuven
  * universities that are in the global top 200 in the most recent Times Higher Education or QS rankings
• A complete list of course titles for which you have obtained a credit should be part of this. Indicate the course size (in ECTS-credits) and the result you obtained, preferably according to the ECTS-scale; if a different scale is used, please provide an summary explanation on the meaning of the scores.
• For the courses that you deem most relevant as a preparation for the master that you are considering, provide a short (about one half to one page) description according to the standard guidelines for an ECTS-study guide.

Scholarships

• Master Mind Scholarships