Remote Sensing

Remote sensing is the science of deriving information about the Earth’s (or even non-terrestrial planetary) surface without being in contact with it, through the capture, processing and analysis of electromagnetic radiation of different wavelengths. Remote sensing is integral to a wide range of applications including: global climate change, deforestation, fire mapping, oil exploration, ice sheet dynamics, earthquakes, pollution, oceanography, ecology and conservation, resource management, food security and humanitarian applications.

The MSc in Remote Sensing is the leading Master's level programme in remote sensing in the UK. The programme is run by UCL Geography, one of the UK’s leading Geography Departments, but draws on expertise and teaching from across UCL, particularly Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering. The course also has direct involvement from King’s and Imperial Colleges elsewhere in London, and institutions beyond, providing a unique perspective. The programme is integrated into the Department’s modular MSc structure so that students benefit from interaction with students in Conservation, Climate Change, Environmental Mapping, Modelling and Spatial Analysis, as well as a wide choice of modules. The course draws on world-leading researchers in, amongst other things, climate change, polar observation, vegetation modelling and monitoring, lidar mapping and fire modelling.

The programme is structures in three parts in three college terms. A core course provides essential foundation on remote sensing principles during the autumn term, for which the module of Digital Image Processing and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) is taught here by the ESE. The module includes lectures and hands-on computing practice using image processing and GIS software packages. In the spring term, students pursue specialist options and ESE offers a module of Environmental Geoscience. The module has always been popular to students for its independent coursework projects and a ground truth checking field trip to SE Spain. During the final four months of the course, starting from the summer term, students will work on individual research projects to produce their MSc theses.

Term one

Analytical and Numerical Methods
Scientific Computing
Mapping Science 
Principles and Practice of Remote Sensing

Term two

Terrestrial Carbon: Modelling and Monitoring
Climate Modelling
Global Monitoring of Environment & Society
Airbourne Data Acquisition
Image Understanding
Ocean and Coastal Zone Management
Terrestrial Data Acquisition

Dissertation

Students on the MSc programme embark on a dissertation (60 credits) after the examinations in May, which lasts until the end of the programme in September. The department enjoys strong links with industry, and projects are often carried out in collaboration with organisations outside the college. With the range of expertise available in the department, this leads to a very wide variety of possible topics for investigation.

The minimum entry requirements are a good second class honours degree in a cognate subject or related discipline, from a UK university or the equivalent from an overseas institution. Acceptable degrees include oceanography, marine studies, geography, civil engineering, geology, mathematics, and physics. Extensive work experience covering related areas will be considered. Formal qualifications in mathematics are not a prerequisite for entry to the programme but students are expected to have an aptitude for mathematical studies and if necessary to undertake revision prior to the start of the programme.

English language requirements
Acceptable qualifications

International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Version

This test is UCL's preferred English language qualification.

Standard level: Overall grade of 6.5 with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the subtests.
Good level: Overall grade of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the subtests.
Advanced level: Overall grade of 7.5 with a minimum of 6.5 in is each of the subtests.

Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English

PRIOR TO JANUARY 2015

Standard level: Overall score of 45, pass in all components.
Good level: Overall score of 51, pass in all components.
Advanced level: Overall score of 56 with ‘good’ level obtained in all components.

FROM JANUARY 2015 ONWARDS

Standard level: Overall score of 176 with 169 in all subtests
Good level: Overall score of 185 with 169 in all subtests
Advanced level: Overall score of 191 with 176 in all subtests

Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English

PRIOR TO JANUARY 2015

Standard level: Score of 58 or above. No less than 52 in each skill.
Good level: Score of 67 or above. No less than 52 in each skill.
Advanced level: Score of 74 or above. No less than 58 in each skill.

FROM JANUARY 2015 ONWARDS

Standard level: Overall score of 176 with 169 in all subtests
Good level: Overall score of 185 with 169 in all subtests
Advanced level: Overall score of 191 with 176 in all subtests

City & Guilds (Pitman Examination in International ESOL)

Standard level: Pass at Mastery level when achieved with a pass at Mastery level in the Pitman International Spoken test (ISESOL).
Good level: Pass at Mastery level when achieved with a pass at Mastery level in the Pitman International Spoken test (ISESOL). 
Advanced level: Not acceptable.

UCL Pre-sessional English Courses

These courses are run by UCL Centre for Languages & International Education (CLIE).

Standard level: Mark of 65%, with at least 60% in each of the subtests.
Good level: Mark of 70%, with at least 60% in each of the subtests.
Advanced level: Mark of 75%, with at least 65% in each of the subtests. 

UCL Diploma in English for Academic Purposes

This Diploma is run by the UCL Centre for Languages & International Education (CLIE).

Standard level: Overall mark of 65%, with at least 60% in each of the four subtests.
Good level: Overall mark of 70%, with at least 60% in each of the four subtests.
Advanced level: Overall mark of 75%, with at least 65% in each of the four subtests.

Pearson Test of English (Academic)

UCL will accept the Pearson Test of English (Academic), often referred to as PTE (Academic), with the following grades:

Standard level: 62 overall, with a minimum of 59 in each component
Good level: 69 overall, with a minimum of 59 in each component
Advanced level: 75 overall, with a minimum of 62 in each component.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

• ✔️ Flexible study schedule
• ✔️ Experienced teachers
• ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

Dennis Curry Scholarship in Micropalaeontology

One scholarship is available for UK-resident entrants taking the Micropalaeontology route through the Geosciences MSc, and who are not already receiving full financial support (fees and living costs) from other sources.

The award is based on academic merit.

Value 

£4,000

Deadline

31 August

Application and Information

Applicants should send written notice of their intention to compete for the scholarship together with an academic CV and a short letter of no more than 500 words describing their areas of interest in the discipline to:

Dr Paul Upchurch

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7679 7947

*NOTE: All scholarship and student funding schemes are subject to availability of funds, and details given here are subject to change at any time. Potential applicants are urged to check information regularly to ensure they are aware of current procedures, deadlines etc.

Students are encouraged to visit and liase with industry throughout the programme, but most particularly when working on their project in the second half of the year.

The application processing fee for most graduate taught programmes is £50 for online applications and £75 for paper applications.