Geospatial science is a cross-disciplinary field that deals with the use of spatial information technologies to understand people, places and earth processes. It has application in a breadth of disciplines including:
Practising geospatial science involves collecting, managing, analysing and disseminating geospatial data.
Many of our students have a degree in social or physical sciences but little or no previous knowledge of geospatial science. Through our programme you’ll receive a solid education in the fundamentals of geospatial science at a postgraduate level, with courses in:
With one core course and a choice of electives, you have the opportunity to select a programme of study suited to your needs. The programme structure also offers you the flexibility to integrate geospatial science with an outside interest through a one-semester research report course.
The role of geospatial science in research is firmly established. It is expected to grow as more academic disciplines adopt geospatial science methods to address important research questions of the 21st century. You may be able to take your interest to master’s level.
New Zealand has a shortage of workers with knowledge and skills in geospatial science, so completing this programme offers great job opportunities. The geospatial industry is particularly well established in New Zealand’s government sector. However, as a rapidly growing discipline based on new and evolving technologies, there’s significant potential for entrepreneurship and innovation, and an increasing number of people work in the private sector or are self-employed.
You can combine your Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Geospatial Science) with knowledge gained from your work experience, or with a bachelor’s degree in another discipline, to open up a wide range of career opportunities, including:
All students must meet university entrance requirements to be admitted to the University.
To enter the Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Geospatial Science) you will have been awarded or qualified for the Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in the intended postgraduate subject, or equivalent.
You will need to have achieved a grade average in your bachelor degree that demonstrates an adequate level of preparation for the postgraduate programme. This normally means that a B- grade average or above is required.
You will need to provide verified copies of all academic transcripts for studies taken at all universities other than Massey University.
To study this programme you must meet Massey University's English language standards.
For information on prior learning, exemptions and transfer of credit or other questions:
If you need help with your English language skills before you start university, we have courses and programmes that may help.
from the Schedule to the Diploma including
Completion of an endorsement
See ‘Courses for this programme’ below for schedules of courses.
| 145739 | GIS Principles and Applications | 30 |
| 90 credits | ||
|---|---|---|
| 145740 | GIS Programming and Practice | 30 |
| 145799 | Research Report (30) | 30 |
| 158740 | Location Systems: Spatial Databases, Tools and Applications | 15 |
| 189761 | Applied Remote Sensing | 30 |
| 230705 | Interpretation in Geospatial Analytics | 15 |
| 233706 | Environmental Geographical Information Systems | 30 |
| 233707 | Environmental Remote Sensing | 30 |
Completing an endorsement is compulsory. A Postgraduate Diploma in Arts (Geospatial Science) requires 120 credits.
If you study full-time, you’ll take 120 credits per year or 60 credits per semester.
You will take a compulsory course in GIS Principles and Applications and 90 credits from a choice of courses. For these 90 credits it is possible to take a combination of courses in GIS, GIS Programming, Geoinformatics and Remote Sensing. Alternatively, you can choose to focus on GIS or Remote Sensing and you can even include an individual project in your area of interest.
There are maximum time limits to complete postgraduate qualifications. If you do not complete within the maximum time, you may be required to re-apply for the programme if you wish to continue your studies.
Where your qualification is completed within the stated time limit and to a high standard, you may be able to graduate with a class of Honours, Distinction or Merit.
Your tuition fees may be different depending on the courses you choose. Your exact fees will show once you have chosen your courses.
There will also be some compulsory non-tuition fees and for some courses, there may also be charges for things such as study resources, software, trips and contact workshops.
If you already know which courses you are going to take, you can use our fees calculator to get an estimate of your fees.
You may be eligible for a student loan to help towards paying your fees.
The New Zealand Government offers fees-free tertiary study for eligible domestic students. Find out more about the scheme and your eligibility on the Fees Free website. To use the site's eligibility checking tool, you will need your National Student Number.
Current and returning Massey students will find their National Student Number on their student homepage.
Compare qualifications and academic information across different New Zealand institutions.
Review this important information before you apply for this programme. This gives you full details of the rules and regulations about what you need to study and what you must achieve in order to graduate with this qualification. That includes structure, courses and requirements. These regulations should be read in conjunction with all other Statutes and Regulations of the University including the below.
General Regulations for Postgraduate Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Postgraduate Certificates.
If you are ready to apply, have a look at our application checklist. It will help you get prepared with what you need. Please also check the entry requirements carefully before you apply.
You will apply for the programme using the Apply now button on this page. You’ll also choose your specialisation (major, subject or endorsement) if applicable.
Some programmes have additional requirements such as the submission of a portfolio or CV. Click on Apply now and you will be able to submit those documents as part of the application process.
You will receive an Admission Offer of Place when you have been accepted into the programme. You need to accept this before you can enrol in your courses. International students also need to pay their fees at this point.
You’ll then get access to your own student homepage (also known as the student portal). This is where you can enrol in courses. Any updates on your application or enrolments will also be on your student homepage. Make sure you check this regularly.
When you choose courses, ensure you check for any requirements that apply including:
Each of our courses has its own webpage where you can find this information. You can use our course search to find course pages.
More information on courses is in the ‘Courses for this programme’ section on this page.
You can find information on application due dates and semester dates on the key dates page.
We look forward to welcoming you to Massey!
If you have any questions, contact us through the Enquire button on this page.
Each Massey programme is made up of courses (in some tertiary institutions they are called ‘papers’).
You will have some compulsory courses and some you can choose from.
Each course is worth a certain amount of credits (often 15 credits, but this does vary). You must gain a set number of credits to be able to graduate from this programme.
There may also be some rules about which courses you need to pass to progress to the next year, or stage, of your study (known as progression). There are also courses you must pass to graduate with a specialisation.
The first three digits of our course numbers show you which subject the course is about.
The second three digits show you the level and course ID number. For instance:
| 1 | 6 | 2 | . | 3 | 0 | 1 | |
| Subject area | Level | Course ID number | |||||
Use this tool to help determine how much time you will need each week to complete your studies.
For returning students, there may be changes to the majors and minors available and the courses you need to take. Go to the section called ‘Transitional Provisions’ in the Regulations to find out more.
In some cases the programme or specialisation you enrolled in may no longer be taking new enrolments, so may not appear on these web pages. To find information on the regulations for these programmes go to the Massey University Calendar.
Please contact us through the Enquire button on this page if you have any questions.
There are a number of scholarships available for new and current students. They could relate to your situation, achievement or interest.