Geographic Data Science Postgraduate Diploma

Birkbeck's Postgraduate Diploma in Geographic Data Science will provide you with advanced scientific and technical training in capturing, analysing and visualising geospatial information. Thanks to increases in computing power and availability of GPS, we can record and store an unprecedented amount of information about the world. Geographic information plays an increasingly crucial role in our society, transforming sectors as diverse as transportation, insurance, banking, telecommunications, logistics, energy, retail, agriculture, healthcare, urban planning and scientific research.

On this programme, you will learn how to analyse and extract insights from geospatial data, uncovering hidden patterns that can help address the big challenges that we face in the twenty-first century. You will work with real-world data on a number of domains and problems, such as simulating the dynamics of change in the natural and built environment, spotting good locations for renewable energy plants, predicting crime hot-spots, and producing effective maps to visualise natural and human phenomena.

The emphasis throughout this course is on enabling you to develop new skills that have real-world applications for your work and career. You will acquire key data science skills that are in high demand in industry and important tools for research in the field: geographic information systems, such as ArcGIS and QGIS; scientific programming in Python; geo-statistical and modelling in R; map-making and cartography; big data management with spatial databases, such as SQL and NoSQL; web mapping and development; remote sensing and analysis of satellite imagery; simulation and agent-based modelling.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Geographic Data Science is aimed at professionals and researchers who work with, or wish to work with, geographically referenced data. It is ideal if you are interested in studying at postgraduate level for personal or professional reasons, but don't yet want to commit to a full MSc.

CAREERS AND EMPLOYABILITY

Graduates can pursue careers in archaeology, surveying, government and business/industry. Possible professions include geographical information systems officer, higher education lecturer, or commercial/residential surveyor. This degree may be useful in a variety of roles within local government, the defence industry, and planning and policy, in areas such as cartography, GIS analysis, remote-sensing applications and software development.