Get an introduction to the theory and practice of Geographical Information Systems (GIS).
Discover how GIS and geospatial technologies can transform the way you understand and solve real-world problems.
Study online with expert guidance and gain practical GIS skills that you can apply directly to your work and future career.
In this Masters-level online short course, you will:
- develop practical skills in GIS, spatial databases, digital mapping, and geospatial analysis
- learn how to work with spatial data, coordinate systems, map projections, and geodatabases
- apply GIS to real-world challenges, from watershed and terrain analysis to land-cover mapping, spatial interpolation, and thermal remote sensing analysis.
Develop in-demand skills
Through hands-on learning, you’ll build transferable skills in spatial analysis, data management, and geovisualisation that can enhance your existing career or open new opportunities in the geospatial sector.
Who can join this online introductory GIS course?
This distance-learning course is open to graduates and professionals from any discipline or sector.
You do not need to have a background in GIS to join us.
Build credits towards a Masters degree
This online short course is part of:
You can use the credits you earn with this course towards either of these MSc qualifications.
What you’ll study
In this course, you’ll develop a practical and technical understanding of GIS and geospatial data.
You’ll work with spatial data structures and formats, coordinate reference systems, geodatabases, and a range of GIS analytical and geovisualisation techniques.
You’ll develop your ability to manage, analyse, interpret, and communicate spatial information through applications including:
- hydrological analysis
- land-cover classification
- terrain analysis
- spatial interpolation, and
- thermal remote sensing.
Topics you’ll cover include:
- GIS, geospatial data, and geovisualisation
- Spatial reference systems, datums, and map projections
- Spatial data management and geodatabases
- GIS tools and spatial analysis
- Hydrological and watershed analysis
- Image classification and land-cover mapping
- Terrain and surface analysis
- Spatial interpolation and surface modelling
- Thermal remote sensing and land surface temperature (LST).
By the end of this introductory GIS course, you’ll be able to…
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Explain key GIS concepts and principles.
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Work with different types of geospatial data.
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Transform geospatial data between coordinate systems, datums, and map projections.
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Manage spatial data using geodatabases.
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Apply GIS tools and spatial analysis techniques.
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Create maps and geovisualisations from classified imagery and land-cover data.
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Analyse terrain, watersheds, and spatial patterns.
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Use spatial interpolation and surface modelling.
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Apply thermal remote sensing to analyse land surface temperature.
How you’ll study
Online learning
This distance-learning Introduction to GIS course is delivered flexibly, 100% online.
You can learn with us anywhere, no student visa required, and manage your study hours to suit you.
Your teaching
This course is delivered at Masters level.
Teaching is delivered through MyAberdeen, our online Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It holds all the materials, tools, and support you’ll need in your studies. Take a look around MyAberdeen.
You can access your learning materials on computer, smartphone, and laptop, 24 hours a day.
Course structure
You’ll have a new set of learning activities each week, combining tutor-led content, practical tutorials, and opportunities to interact with other students.
You’ll work through the core materials in your own time while keeping pace with the weekly course schedule.
- Weekly lectures – explore each topic through presentation slides and a video of your tutor explaining the key concepts.
- Practical tutorials – develop your GIS skills using step-by-step PDF guidance with screenshots, supported by a video of your tutor working through the activities.
- Discussion boards – ask questions, share ideas, and interact with your tutor and fellow students.
- Live online sessions – join optional weekly sessions designed for online students to ask questions and engage with your tutor in real time.
You’ll have the flexibility to fit your studies around your other commitments, while regular weekly activities help you stay engaged and make steady progress.
You’ll also have access to the online resources of our award-winning Sir Duncan Rice Library.
Your tutors
This course is delivered by the School of Geosciences.
You’ll learn from internationally experienced academics and geoscientists with expertise across GIS and related geospatial disciplines.
Industry input
Your course content is also continually reviewed by an industry advisory board. This ensures your learning is always current and aligned to the needs of industry.
This course is assessed online.
There are no formal exams for this course. You’ll be assessed via your coursework.
Assessment methods
- Building a geodatabase and selecting appropriate geospatial data to explore a real-world problem (worth 40% of your final course grade), and
- Carrying out a land use and land cover analysis of an area of your choice anywhere in the world (worth 60%).
The course totals approximately 150 hours of study and assessment time. That’s around 10 – 15 hours per week.
This is an indicative guide to the time required for a typical student at this level to achieve the learning outcomes. This includes time for independent study, as well as teaching and assessments.
You can largely set your own study hours each week to cover the materials. MyAberdeen is available 24/7, so you can log in and study when it suits you.
Activities at fixed times
There may be some activities scheduled for fixed times. This could include coursework and assessments with deadlines, or online meetings with your tutor. Otherwise, you can access and work through the course at your convenience.
Our first-class support structure will ensure that you aren’t alone in your studies.
You’ll have contact with your tutors via email, MyAberdeen, and phone.
You can use social media and discussion boards to chat with your fellow students too.
We provide a wide range of services to support you in your studies:
- Careers and Employability Service
- Disability support
- IT support
- Library support
- Student Support Service – help with finances, wellbeing and non-academic issues
- Student Learning Service – support with academic skills, writing and maths, with advice sessions and workshops available
- Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA) – run by students for students
- Toolkit – a guide to apps and free training that can make your study life easier
Wherever you are in the world, you’ll feel part of our very special Aberdeen learning community.
See a more in-depth guide to all of our online support services.
When you study with us, you can expect a first-class support structure so that you’re never alone in your studies.
But learning online does mean you have to motivate yourself and manage your own time.
Your most important commitment will be time – the time to work through, reflect on and understand your teaching materials.
Before you start a course that involves a high degree of independent study, we recommend looking at the time you will be able to devote to your studies each week:
- Be realistic
- Create a weekly schedule as a guide
If you have any questions about studying online, get in touch with our friendly team. We’re here to help.
Your course coordinator
Dr Shaktiman Singh
Shaktiman is a Lecturer and environmental scientist. He teaches across the MSc GIS programme, helping students to build strong technical skills and apply geospatial tools to real-world challenges.
Shaktiman’s teaching emphasises clarity, practical problem-solving, and critical thinking, preparing graduates for diverse careers.
His research focuses on climate-driven landscape change, including glacier melt, permafrost, and extreme weather, using remote sensing and spatial modelling to connect cutting-edge science with the classroom.
View Shaktiman’s profileWhere this will take you
Towards a Masters
You’ll earn 15 credits at Masters level (SCQF Level 11) with this course. You can use these credits towards:
Masters in Geographical Information Systems
Prepare for a career in the innovative field of Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Build your skills in this essential area of the world’s information infrastructure.
View MSc Geographical Information Systems
Masters in Energy Transition Systems and Technologies
Join an online MSc that’s training the next generation of systems engineers. Help our planet transition from oil and gas to net-zero, with a degree you can study online, part-time.
View MSc Energy Transition Systems and TechnologiesCareers
This short course will help you prepare for a career in GIS and the geospatial sector.
Roles that this course can help you progress within or work towards include:
- GIS Officer
- GIS Technician
- GIS Consultant
- Environmental Consultant
- Urban or Town Planner
- Surveyor / Geomatics Professional
- Data Analyst
- Data Scientist
You could use GIS to upskill within your existing profession or pursue GIS-related roles in local or national government, environmental agencies, the commercial sector, research, or academia.
Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
Your employer or professional institute may recognise this course for CPD hours. Talk to your employer or institute to find out more.
Free career support
Access our free careers service while you study.
- 1:1 appointments
- CV checks
- Interview prep
- Job opportunities
Entry requirements
Entry requirements
We welcome students from all over the world.
This course has no formal entry requirements. You do not need to provide proof of your qualifications.
But you do need to check the entry guidance above to understand the level of teaching delivered, to decide if this course is right for you.
If you do not have qualifications from the UK, check the equivalent teaching level for your country.
Visa requirements
You do not need a student visa to study online with us.
English language requirements
Teaching is delivered in English.
You do not have to provide proof of your English language skills to join this course. But we want to make sure that you can use English well enough to study successfully.
Recommended level of English
For this course, we recommend the following level of English language proficiency.
These are our Postgraduate Standard requirements, and these are minimum scores.
IELTS Academic, IELTS UKVI Academic, or IELTS Online (not IELTS Indicator or IELTS General Training)
- 6.5 overall
- 5.5 for listening, reading and speaking
- 6.0 for writing
TOEFL iBT or TOEFL iBT Home Edition
- 90 overall
- 17 for listening
- 18 for reading
- 20 for speaking
- 21 for writing
- TOEFL DI code is 0818
Cambridge English: B2 First, C1 Advanced, or C2 Proficiency
- 176 overall
- 162 for listening, reading and speaking
- 169 for writing
LanguageCert Academic / LanguageCert Academic SELT
- 70 overall
- 60 for listening, reading and speaking
- 65 for writing
Oxford ELLT Digital – English Language Level Test Online
- 7.0 overall
- 5.0 for listening, reading and speaking
- 6.0 for writing
PTE Academic (online test not accepted)
- 62 overall
- 59 for listening, reading, speaking and writing
Skills for English: SELT
- B2 pass with merit
Duolingo – tests taken from 1 July 2024 onward
- 120 overall
- 95 for listening, reading and speaking
- 105 for writing
University of Aberdeen English Pre-sessional Programme (PSE)
- Pass
- Valid for one year. Refresher can be offered if out of date
Pre-sessional academic English preparation programmes undertaken at other UK universities
- Pass at an equivalent of 6.5 (C1)
- B2 in all four skills
- Certification must be within one year prior to the start of your course
For full information about language requirements, see our English Language Requirements page.
Studying GIS involves storing and processing large datasets. In order to handle this, you need access to adequate computing power. You will need:
A computer (ideally a PC or laptop) with an up-to-date operating system
*A note for Mac users: While you can use a Mac, this may limit running software used in GIS.
Most of the software you’ll use is best suited to a PC or laptop running MS Windows 10 or later. If you use a Mac, we recommend you partition your hard drive so that one partition runs macOS and the other MS Windows.
Alternatively, you can use our Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) to access and use the software required. Find out about our VDI.
If you’re unsure about the suitability of your hardware, please get in touch with us prior to enrolling so that we can offer guidance. Contact the Online Learning team.
Computer specifications
Any desktop or laptop should be the highest spec you can afford, with:
- a minimum of 8 to 16GB RAM (ideally 32GB or more)
- plus graphics card/onboard RAM
- a fast processor
- a large hard drive or SSD (1TB or above).
External hard drive and memory stick
You’ll need some external storage for storing and backing up your data and coursework. We suggest:
- at least a 1TB external hard drive, and
- at least a 32GB memory stick.
Reliable internet access
We recommend:
- a wired connection
- a minimum download speed of 2 Mbps so you can take part fully in live sessions.
Speakers or headphones
- We recommend a headset with built-in microphone and earphones if you’re likely to study in an environment with background noise.
- A webcam is optional, but you may like to use one from some interactive sessions.
Software
We’ll provide access to all the specialist software you require for this course.
We’ll also give you access to Microsoft 365 applications. This means you can use online versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneDrive and install these programs on up to five personal devices.
See our IT requirements article for more information on our IT services.
Fee payment
Your course fee needs to be paid in full before you start your course.
We accept payment via Visa Debit, Visa Credit and Mastercard.
Ways to save
You may be able to get help funding this course via:
- discounts – if any discounts are available for this course, they’ll appear in the section below
- employer sponsorship – we accept full and partial fee payments from sponsors.
Find out more about funding options.
Student card
All our students are entitled to a University of Aberdeen student card. This gives you access to a range of student discounts around the city and online.
Optional book purchases
Access to all the essential books and resources you need are included in your tuition fee. They’ll be made available to you online and you do not have to buy your own copies.
We also provide optional recommended reading lists. Many of these resources are available electronically through our library, although purchases may be required if you wish to read the full list.
Printing
You may want to set aside a small budget for printing, depending on how you like to work.
This course has no formal entry requirements. You decide if it’s suitable for you.
The course is delivered at Masters level. At this level, for this course, you’d usually have at least:
- a 2:2 UK honours degree (or equivalent), or
- relevant experience that supports this level of study.
Your right to cancel starts on the date of payment of the tuition fees for this course and expires 15 days after the start date of this course.
The University of Aberdeen is not responsible for resolving any issues concerning software, hardware, or internet, in relation to your personal computer and this course.
Please read our full terms and conditions.
