Direct answer
The University of Aberdeen MSc Geographical Information Systems programme requires a UK 2:2 (lower second class) Honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject. Chinese applicants must meet country-specific academic equivalencies and minimum English language scores. The official page provides a country selector for China but does not display a fixed percentage or GPA on the public page; the exact equivalent must be rechecked live via the university’s country tool. Self-funded international students receive an £8,000 Aberdeen Global Scholarship, reducing the published 2026/27 international tuition fee from £22,000 to £14,000.
Degree qualification requirements
The programme requires a 2:2 (lower second class) UK Honours degree or equivalent in one of the following subjects: Agriculture, Archaeology, Computing Science, Ecology, Engineering, Environmental Science, Forestry, Geography, Geology, Geomatics, Marine & Coastal Science, Marine Biology, Marine Science, Mathematics, Physics, Planning, Plant Science, Soil Science or Zoology.
Candidates with degrees in other subject areas will be considered if they can demonstrate interest, aptitude and/or experience in a field relevant to the application of geospatial technologies.
Entry requirements for Chinese applicants
The official page includes a country selector listing China. When a country is selected, the page updates to show relevant entry requirements. The public page text does not display a specific Chinese degree classification, percentage or GPA. To view the live equivalency for Chinese qualifications, you must visit the programme page and select China from the dropdown. The university states that the qualification information is provided as a guide only and does not guarantee entry.
English language requirements
All applicants must meet one of the following minimum scores:
- IELTS Academic: Overall 6.5 (Listening 5.5, Reading 5.5, Speaking 5.5, Writing 6.0)
- TOEFL iBT: Overall 90 (Listening 17, Reading 18, Speaking 20, Writing 21)
- PTE Academic: Overall 62 (Listening 59, Reading 59, Speaking 59, Writing 59)
- Cambridge English B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency: Overall 176 (Listening 162, Reading 162, Speaking 162, Writing 169)
Personal statement requirements
Motivation and understanding of the degree is an important factor in securing admission. The personal statement must answer the following questions:
- What is your background in geospatial technologies?
- What specific aspects and areas of geospatial technologies are you interested in?
- What applications of geospatial technologies would you like to pursue whilst in Aberdeen, and why?
- How do you think your background (both academic and work-related) is relevant to the study of the geospatial technologies?
- How do you see a qualification in the geospatial technologies helping your future career?
Document requirements
Applications must include:
- An up-to-date CV or resumé
- A degree certificate showing qualifications (can be provided later if the current programme is not yet completed)
- A full transcript showing all subjects studied and marks achieved, with an original and official English translation
- A detailed personal statement explaining motivation for this particular programme
Study options and start dates
The MSc Geographical Information Systems is available on campus full time over 12 months or part time over 24 months. Start dates are offered in both September and January. The programme is also available to study part time online.
Tuition fees and scholarships for 2026/27
International students: Published tuition fee is £22,000. Self-funded international students receive the £8,000 Aberdeen Global Scholarship, reducing the fee to £14,000. Full terms and conditions apply.
UK students: Tuition fee is £10,000. University of Aberdeen graduates are eligible for the Alumni Postgraduate Scholarship, reducing fees to £7,000.
The Alumni Discount Scheme offers a 20% discount for postgraduate tuition fees to all alumni who hold an undergraduate degree from the University of Aberdeen. This discount cannot be claimed in conjunction with any other scholarship award.
What requires live rechecking
The official page provides a country selector tool that displays entry requirements for China, but the specific equivalency is not embedded in the static page text. To confirm the exact Chinese qualification equivalency, you must open the programme page, select China from the dropdown, and note the displayed requirement. The university cautions that all qualification information is a guide only and does not guarantee entry. For the most current details on the Aberdeen Global Scholarship terms, visit the dedicated scholarship page linked from the programme page.
FAQ
What degree classification do I need for the MSc Geographical Information Systems?
A UK 2:2 (lower second class) Honours degree or equivalent in a relevant subject such as Geography, Environmental Science, Engineering, or Computing Science. Applicants with degrees in other subjects may be considered if they demonstrate relevant interest, aptitude or experience.
How do I find the specific entry requirement for my Chinese qualification?
Visit the programme page on the University of Aberdeen website, use the country selector dropdown to choose China, and the page will display the relevant equivalency. The static page does not show a fixed percentage or GPA for China.
What English language test scores are accepted?
IELTS Academic (overall 6.5, Writing 6.0, other components 5.5), TOEFL iBT (overall 90, Writing 21), PTE Academic (overall 62, all components 59), and Cambridge English qualifications (overall 176, Writing 169, other components 162).
What should I include in my personal statement?
Your personal statement must address your background in geospatial technologies, the specific areas you are interested in, the applications you wish to pursue in Aberdeen, how your academic and work background is relevant, and how the qualification will help your future career.
Can I start the programme in January?
Yes, the on-campus MSc Geographical Information Systems offers both September and January start dates. The programme can be studied full time over 12 months or part time over 24 months.
What is the Aberdeen Global Scholarship?
All eligible self-funded international Postgraduate Masters students receive an £8,000 scholarship, which reduces the published international tuition fee from £22,000 to £14,000 for the 2026/27 academic year. Full terms and conditions apply.
What documents do I need to submit with my application?
You must supply an up-to-date CV, a degree certificate, a full transcript with an official English translation, and a detailed personal statement. If you have not yet completed your current programme, you can provide the degree certificate later.
Official sources
The entry requirements, fees, and programme details on this page are drawn from the University of Aberdeen’s official postgraduate taught degree programme page for MSc Geographical Information Systems: Geographical Information Systems | Postgraduate Taught Subjects | The University of Aberdeen.
For information on application timing and deferral options, see the university’s guidance on apply and deferral. If you are comparing institutional rankings and subject strengths, you may find the discussion on Australian QS versus subject ranking references useful. For context on study abroad agency fees in Australia, refer to this 2026 ranking and recommendation overview. For those also considering UK institutions such as King’s College London, see this 2026 agency recommendation and ranking update.