Geographical Information Systems (GIS) MSc programmes: After you graduate
What our graduates say
Check out what our graduates have gone on to do and how studying at Kingston helped them achieve their goals.
Name: Armen Asyran
Course: Applied Geographical Information System MSc with Distinction (2005)
"I had around five years' professional experience in Armenia before starting this course, where there was an emerging demand for high-calibre specialists in IT and GIS. This factor, plus a love of maps and geography, influenced my choice.
"I did quite a lot of research on where to study, and Kingston University offered distinct advantages, such as the high standing of the University in the GIS industry and in the UK educational system.
"The course exceeded all my expectations, especially in terms of the quality of teaching and the curriculum structure. The MSc has given me a good theoretical background in the underlying principles of GIS and related disciplines, as well as equipping me with sufficient technical expertise. I also had a chance to extend my interest in the application of GIS to disaster management.
"The MSc has been a significant boost to my professional development. On my return to Armenia I set up a private company and started developing GIS services, forming partnerships and links with clients such as local and international NGOs, public utilities and other organisations. Recently, I was invited to work as a GIS consultant at the Environmental Conservation Research Centre of the American University of Armenia – one of the leading research centres in Armenia.
"I have now obtained funding to pursue my goal of studying for a PhD so have returned to Kingston as PhD student."
Name: Howard Macey
Course: Applied Geographical Information System MSc with Distinction (2005)
"I came to Kingston to study Applied GIS after a period out of the education system and with a desire to update my knowledge and skills in GIS. The staff really helped me adjust to the demands of an MSc course and I really enjoyed the work, which was hard but very rewarding
"The course offers a really good insight into GIS, both in a theoretical and practical context. We were able to use state-of-the-art equipment and data to undertake a wide variety of practicals. This gave a firm appreciation of how GIS is used in the real world. I particularly enjoyed the Contemporary Issues in GIS module during which outside speakers from the GI industry gave interesting guest lectures.
"My dissertation was enjoyable because it allowed me the opportunity of studying a subject close to my heart – waste management and recycling – using GIS as an analytical tool. The advice and supervision I received was excellent and I ended up getting a distinction in the dissertation as well as the overall MSc. Staff also helped me turn my research into a conference paper which was presented at ESRI's User Conference in San Diego.
"I went on from my MSc and got a great job with a GIS company in London. My GIS masters has laid the foundation for an exciting and fulfilling career. I'm already involved in some major GIS initiatives and getting involved in the GI industry more widely. I keep in regular contact with the GIS team at Kingston who remain supportive and interested in what I get up to. I'd recommend the GIS masters!"
Name: Paul Taylor
Course: Applied Geographical Information System MSc with Distinction (2007)
"After finishing my undergraduate degree in geology, I was interested in getting a more rounded exposure to the application of the geomatic disciplines. I had used aspects of GIS and remote sensing within several undergraduate projects – as the subject is widely used in the public and private sectors, I decided to pursue a masters in GIS.
"What I particularly liked about the course at Kingston, was that it allowed me to combine the skills I had learnt within my previous degree with the GIS skills I learnt within the masters course. The course also contained a very strong focus on the application of the GIS skills within both an academic environment but also for use in industry. The course tutors also worked hard, not only to introduce us to many different potential applications of GIS but also to demonstrate how these were currently being used within both industry and academia.
"I found it really useful that a considerable part of the course can be accessed online. This provided flexibility over the times I was able to work, while still being able to obtain help and advice on a particular area or concept if required.
"Kingston also offered me opportunities to apply the knowledge that I had learnt on the course at events outside the University. For example, during the course I was fortunate enough to present one of my research projects at an external conference held in Dorset.
"While at Kingston, I was impressed by the degree of integration which exists between the GIS and other academic departments. The campus-style nature of the University allowed me to approach specialists from other science and engineering departments during my research project, who were very happy to offer different expertise and perspectives, adding extra depth and value to the research question I was trying to answer.
"In the future I'm looking forward to applying the skills that I have learnt with the working environment. Academically I'm also hoping to convert the results of my research project into a paper which I hope to publish."
Where this course will take you
GIS graduates go onto a wide range of different careers. Examples of the job types our BSc and MSc graduates have gone into include:
- 2nd Lieutenant (army)
- 4D games artist
- Account executive
- Account manager
- Administrator
- Admissions co-ordinator
- Airline pilot
- Airport fire fighter
- Analyst programmer
- Application engineer
- Assistant land surveyor
- Assistant manager
- Associate (IT)
- Associate consultant
- Associate manager
- Benefits officer
- Business analyst GIS
- Business analyst programmer
- Carer
- Cartographer
- Cartographic consultant
- CEO
- Company director
- Conservation information assistant
- Consultant
- Corporate GIS officer
- Data administrator/trainee programmer
- Data analyst
- Data applications consultant
- Data communications administrator
- Data manager
- Data production
- Data sales manager
- Data technician
- Deputy director: information management
- Design estimator
- Design manager
- Digital support engineer
- Director
- Engineer
- Eurobond dealer
- Fire fighter
- GIS and mapping specialist
- GIS analyst
- GIS assistant
- GIS consultant
- GIS consultant: sales support
- GIS developer
- GIS engineer
- GIS lecturer
- GIS manager
- GIS officer
- GIS operator
- GIS research assistant
- GIS sales administrator
- GIS software engineer
- GIS specialist
- GIS support assistant
- GIS systems administrator
- GIS systems engineer
- GIS technical specialist
- GIS technician
- GIS trainer
- GIS transport technician
- Gold support account manger
- Government consultant
- Head of demographics
- Head of IT
- Highways information systems officer
- HR officer
- Information officer
- Information systems assistant
- Internet business owner
- Internet/GIS officer
- Investment banker
- IT assistant
- IT engineer
- IT executive
- IT sales
- IT support
- IT support consultant
- IT technician
- IT trainer
- Knowledge analyst
- Knowledge management team senior
- Lieutenant (army)
- Major (army)
- Managing director
- Mapping support engineer
- Market analyst
- Market research manager
- Marketing communications manager
- Marketing manager
- Merchandising associate
- Museum assistant
- Network consultant
- Network engineer
- Network manager
- Online administrator
- Oracle database consultant
- Oracle developer
- Personnel manager
- PhD studies
- Photographer/explorer
- Pilot (RAF)
- Planning engineer
- POI database manager
- Police officer
- Pollution control officer
- Presales
- Pre-sales GIS consultant
- Product manager: Routeview
- Product marketing director
- Product specialist
- Production assistant
- Professional basketball player!
- Project accountant
- Project consultant
- Project manager
- Quality control manager
- R&D analyst
- Remote sensing analyst
- Research and intelligence officer
- Research scientist
- Royalty manager
- Sales and marketing director
- Sales executive
- Sales representative
- Senior applications developer
- Senior computer operator
- Senior consultant
- Senior draughtswoman
- Senior engineer
- Senior GIS consultant
- Senior IS analyst
- Senior manager
- Senior market analyst
- Senior software engineer
- Software developer
- Software engineer
- Stock broker
- Support manager
- Surveying technician
- Surveyor
- System administrator
- System engineer
- Systems analyst
- Systems developer
- Tactical advisor
- Teacher (primary)
- Teacher (secondary)
- Technical assistant
- Technical consultant
- Technical officer
- Trainee accountant
- Trainee engineer
- Training co-ordinator
- Transport consultant
- Transport planner
- VSO
And here is a list of some of the employers for whom our BSc and MSc GIS graduates have gone to work, including Universities at which graduates have gone on to study higher degrees:
- A. Nelsons and Co
- Alwen Hough Johnson
- Amber Valley Borough Council
- Accenture
- Andersen
- AutoDesk
- Barclays Bank
- BASS
- BHS
- Blue Prince
- Bournemouth Borough Council
- Bristol Water
- British Gas Services
- Brown & Root
- BSkyB
- Cable & Wireless
- CACI
- Cadcorp
- Caerphilly Borough Council
- Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
- Cargil Investor Services
- CFBT Thames Careers Guidance
- Chichester District Council
- Claritas UK Ltd
- Classictrax
- CMT
- Coca Cola
- Computerised Marketing Technologies Ltd
- Computerware Europe BV
- Consumer Access Ltd
- Cornwall County Council
- Crown Castle International
- Curries-Toyota
- CWR
- Data Encoding Ltd
- DHSS
- Dolland & Aitchinson HQ
- Dorling Kindersley
- Dover District Council
- Druid Systems Ltd
- Dynamic Systems Ltd
- E & SW Chambers
- East Dorset District Council
- Easyjet
- EDS Defence Ltd
- Engineering Surveys Ltd
- Environment Agency
- Erdas UK Ltd
- Esat Telecom
- ESRI UK Ltd
- EuroBell
- Exmoor National Park
- FI Group plc
- Gapkids
- GDC
- GE Information Sevices Ltd
- GE Smallworld
- Geological Survey, Botswana
- Getmapping plc
- GTO
- Harrods Ltd
- Headcount
- Heath Group
- Hertfordshire County Council
- Horizon Design Consultants
- HSBC
- IBM
- Infotech Enterprises Europe
- Infoterra Ltd
- Innogistic software plc
- Intergraph UK
- International Rectifiers
- Kick Start Web Services
- Kingston College
- Kingston University
- London Borough of Tower Hamlets
- LBI
- Leeds Bradford International Airport
- Lehman Brothers
- Logica
- London Borough of Barnet
- Lovell Johns
- MapInfo
- Menzies Aviation Group
- Meta4 UK Ltd
- Metropolitan Police
- Middlesex University
- Mid-Southern Water
- Military Survey
- Ministry of Defence
- Motherwell Information Systems
- Multimap.com
- Municipality of Muscat, Oman
- MVA Ltd
- National Criminal Intelligence Service
- National Physical Laboratory
- National Trust
- Nerve Wireless
- Nestle
- New South Wales Department of Mineral Resources
- Northamber plc
- Northcliffe Newspapers
- Novell
- Old Farthing School
- Oracle Corporation UK Ltd
- Ordnance Survey
- Parallax Computer Solutions
- Pentagon Group
- Pershing
- Petroleum Development Organisation, Oman
- Portsmouth City Council
- Powder Byrne
- Program products
- Project UNICOM - MOD
- Ranger Oil UK Ltd
- Retail Answers
- Rochford District Council
- Room Underwriting Systems
- Royal & Sun Alliance
- Royal Air Force
- Royal Navy
- Royborn Bros.
- RSK Environment/Sky Vision
- Runnymede District Council
- SAIC Ltd
- Schlumberger Sena
- Scoot Technology
- Seeboard
- Selfridges
- Shell
- Sieber Systems UK Ltd
- SmartLogik
- Sony Music Entertainment (UK) Ltd
- Southampton University
- Spelthorne District Council
- Statoil
- Studio 33 (UK) Ltd
- Sultan Qabos University
- Surrey County Council
- Svitzer Ltd
- Swansea University
- Swetenhams Marketing Services
- Telewest
- Thames Water
- The Data Consultancy
- The Data Store
- The GeoInformation Group
- The Parachute Regiment
- The Queens Royal Lancers
- Third Dimension Limited
- Thorn Advertising Marketing Ltd
- Threshers
- Town Planning Consultancy
- Transport for London
- Tricon Restuarants International
- Trinity Hospice
- University College London
- Unisys
- University of East London
- Vivendi Water UK
- VSO
- West Berkshire County Council
- West Sussex Fire Brigade
- Westminster City Council
- William Mercer Ltd
- Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum
- Windward Ltd
- Wye College
- Download a prospectus
- Order a prospectus
- Favourite this course
Learn more about the facilities available to you as a GIS student.The GIS group has strong links with the geographical information industry, including the Association for Geographic Information, Ordnance Survey and the GeoInformation Group. Guest speakers from a range of organisations give lectures about the latest industry developments.
The Faculty of Science, Engineering and Computing holds a number of open day events throughout the year. These are a great opportunity to find out more about this course, the Faculty itself, and the facilities we offer.
Kingston graduate and honorary doctor Ed Parsons – the technology expert who helped develop Google's Street View photo maps. Find out more.