Admission requirements - MSc Geo-Information Science

Interested in the master's programme Geo-Information Science? Find out whether your knowledge and skills match the entry level of the programme.

This page specifically describes the previous knowledge and skills required for admission to the Geo-Information Science programme. For the additional general admission requirements of Wageningen University & Research, application deadlines and the application procedure, visit How to apply for a master's programme?

Are you interested in the programme, but not sure whether your background matches the stated requirements? Feel free to contact us.

Admission requirements

Required knowledge and skills

Purpose and reason for the admission requirements

The admission requirements for the master's programme Geo-Information Science are defined in such a way that the students should be able to successfully complete the program nominally in two years. The programme appreciates a broad influx of study backgrounds providing a student population that applies GIS and/or remote sensing in a multidisciplinary environment. For this, it is required that the students know the basics of GIS and remote sensing. Knowledge on programming is not an official admission requirement but is advised. Digital materials are available for voluntary preparation of programming skills that are relevant for this master's programme.

The criterion used for admission is

a WUR BSc degree in Forest and Nature Conservation, International Land and Water Management, Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning, Soil, Water, Atmosphere, or equivalent.

The norm for this equivalence is

≥6 ECTS in at least two of the following three topics:

  • Geo-information sciences (GIS)
  • Remote sensing
  • Programming skills

Not all topics mentioned need to be mastered at the same level; they will be weighed by the Admission Board per individual application.

Method of assessment whether this norm is met

  • Transcript of records displaying the content of previous course subjects and project work;
  • Curriculum vitae displaying relevant work, internship and/or project experience on an academic level in a relevant field if applicable.

Scores attributed by the Admission Board

Admitted / not admitted / admitted under condition obtaining the BSc or MSc degree / not admitted with offer of pre-master

Compensation of knowledge gaps

The Admission Board may allow and/or suggest compensation of knowledge gaps by:

  • a GPA≥7.0* for the previous education for small discrepancies as new knowledge is sufficiently easily acquired;
  • a GPA≥7.0* and an individual pre-master's programme for larger discrepancies that can be compensated in ≤30 ECTS and one year of study.

*Check the general admissions page for the International credentials evaluation guide for international equivalencies to a Dutch GPA>7.0. This guide includes compensating factors for a slightly lower GPA the Admission Board may include in their judgement.

Contact us through the contact button above to discuss the possibilities of a pre-master or how to mitigate knowledge gaps if you are still in the process of obtaining your degree.

Find out more about enrolment and fees of a pre-master's programme.

Additional context for admission

Compensation of knowledge gaps

The WUR Minor ‘Geo-information for Environment and Society’ always covers the required previous knowledge. Check our study handbook for the included courses.