Geographical Information Systems BSc(Hons): After you graduate

"I had applied to join the Air Force before I went to university, but I wasn't accepted. So I decided I needed a computer and geography-related qualification. GIS really interested me and, at the time, Kingston was the only place that offered it as a degree course. 

"I found I really enjoyed the GIS programme. It was quite hands-on, you got to go out in the field, but you also did lots of computer work. It was quite varied.

"After graduating, I achieved my ambition and joined the Air Force in April 1995. I went through as an officer in pilot training followed by fast jet training. I then went on to specialise in photoreconnaissance work, which involved going into Afghanistan, Iraq and the Balkans. In 2002 I become a fast jet instructor.

"When I joined the reconnaissance squadron, the guys who worked on the GIS side found it really strange to have a pilot who was so knowledgeable about what they were doing. It helped immensely because they could say what it was they wanted and I would go on the mission and bring it back to them. I knew exactly what they were after, so I could find it more easily. I also understood the language and the kit so I would spend a lot more time than the other pilots going through things after a mission.

"I like almost everything about my work – it's so different to being stuck behind a desk and the travel is great.  It's nice to do something that definitely gets a result. During the Afghan conflict, I was the first British pilot to fly over the country. That was really rewarding. It's certainly no ordinary career."

"I enjoyed geography at school and felt that a degree in GIS, combining geography with mapping and IT, would offer lots of opportunities. I chose to study at Kingston because I wanted to stay around London and Surrey, which was where I had grown up.

"The course combined many of the things I liked, but also allowed me to develop my IT skills, which I knew would be of benefit no matter what I did after graduating. At the time, GIS was very much an emerging technology, which was quite exciting.  The GIS group was small, although some classes were shared with other courses. There was always a good atmosphere and the tutors usually had a good sense of humour.

"After uni, I eventually got two job offers at the same time. I accepted one from the Ministry of Defence in its Military Survey Division. It looked like the perfect job, as it seemed directly related to my degree. In fact, within a few months, I was not finding it a challenge and the MOD was a bit stuffy and set in its ways.

"An acquaintance told me BSkyB was recruiting for the job of support engineer on its recently launched digital satellite service. I got the job, which was shift work, mostly IT and database focused. So, while my degree was not directly related, I could not have got the job without it.

"After being a support engineer for a couple of years, I became an integration engineer, which meant less shift work. I now have a varied and challenging job that includes configuring and launching new channels to Sky's electronic programme guide and testing new software releases.

"As well as having a degree in an IT-based discipline, the presentations, documentation and project work included on the course have helped considerably throughout my career.

"The degree you choose should be one you are genuinely interested in, whether you intend to use it directly in your future career or not. There are more and more jobs using GIS skills and not many jobs that don't use IT, so the GIS degree can be the best of both worlds, no matter what you eventually decide to do."

"I had a great time at Kingston doing my GIS degree. When I graduated, I went to the Centre for Advanced Spatial Analysis (CASA) at University College London where I worked for three years as a researcher and consultant on numerous GIS projects. During that time, I also completed my masters degree by research.

"In 2004 I moved to City University to start a PhD in the new field of ethnophysiography.* This is a really interesting area of research and one that draws heavily on my expertise in GIS. I'm just about to submit my thesis. It all started with a BSc from Kingston and now I'm about to submit my PhD – Kingston really did provide me with a great start!

"In 2007 I applied for a post back at Kingston University as a lecturer in GIS. As an ex-graduate it is really good to 'come home' and, more so, to know that the staff and the University have sufficient confidence in the standard of their graduates to employ them as staff.

"I'm really enjoying my time back at Kingston and, in particular, helping to pass on the wonders of GIS to a new generation of students. It's not that long since I did my degree so I know what it feels like to be a student in Kingston. The current students look like they're enjoying the course and Kingston as much as I did and it's terrific seeing their enthusiasm for the course.

"Outside of the University, I'm a keen climber and cricketer and spend a lot of spare time working as a member of crew on the RNLI lifeboat at Chiswick. I'm enthusiastic about GI in all applications and the application of GIS to new and unusual themes. The guys I work with are a great bunch and genuinely look after the students and encourage them to learn."

*An area of study which examines how people conceptualise the landscapes they inhabit.

"I finished school in Germany, then did an apprenticeship as a land surveyor and worked for three years as spatial database manager for the city council in Gütersloh, Germany. I then enrolled as a mature student at Kingston University. The doors of higher education opened for me thanks to my work experience.

"I selected Kingston because I heard about the credibility of its GIS teaching and the course had a high rating in a national broadsheet survey. I had become interested in GIS because it has taken over many aspects of land surveying. GIS covers a wide range of interesting themes and a degree will allow me to work in different business sectors.

"Being in the vicinity of London was another major pull. Also, Kingston itself has a pretty good nightlife and there are many parks in the area. The centre has some nice shops, although the riverside is my favourite location in town.

"On the course, I have enjoyed the remote-sensing exercises and that we can often select the coursework topics. The atmosphere during workshops and lectures is very intimate. I also enjoy the group work. It's a chance to get to know each other and prepare for team work in post-university life.

"All of the course lecturers are sound. The classes are lively and interesting. Lectures are well structured and a lot of background information is provided via Blackboard (a web-based learning system). The seminars and workshops are spot-on, since the lecturers always have enough time for individual questions.

"The field trips are the big and well-remembered highlights of my Kingston years to date. We have been to the Isle of Wight, Wales and Malta. The atmosphere in Wales was much better than the weather, while Malta was perfect – stimulating exercises in a Mediterranean setting. You can not get more out of higher education.

"To conduct the fieldwork for my tropical land-cover change project, I used the techniques I had been taught in the lectures. The University even provided me with a GPS receiver. But the most useful element was the counsel from my personal tutor.

"After graduation, I was told by the lecturers of an opportunity at a well known GIS company called CadCorp. Companies and organisations regularly contact Kingston looking for GIS graduates and the lecturers always pass on details of opportunities and support our applications. 

"I now work at CadCorp in a really interesting job with lots of great people doing GIS. I have plans to study for a postgraduate qualification in remote sensing and am looking forward to achieving my PhD in one of the geomatic disciplines."