Geoinformatics for Urbanised Society University of Tartu

Overview

The 2-year master's programme in Geoinformatics for Urbanised Society prepares highly qualified specialists in handling and analysing spatial data to understand global environmental and urban processes better and develop decision support systems for public, private, and non-governmental sectors.

Governance increasingly relies on sensors, BIG data, analysis, and fast decision-making in the global information society. Society needs experts who can handle geoinformatics tools to understand and find solutions to complex environmental and urban challenges related to climate and environmental change, growing social inequality, and increased spatial mobility. The master's programme focuses on building interdisciplinary competence by combining geography and IT. Particular emphasis is placed on the problem-driven approach and students' practical skills development.

Why study Geoinformatics for Urbanised Society at the University of Tartu ?

• The University of Tartu belongs to the top 350 of the world's best universities (THE World University Rankings 2025).

• The University of Tartu is ranked in the top 200 universities globally in geography (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023).

• Learn geography and IT in the age of big data and use it to analyse environmental and social processes for interdisciplinary decision-making.

• After graduation, you can work as a spatial data manager, spatial analyst, GIS consultant, urban and regional planner or pursue an academic career.

• Take part in different GIS-related events, summer schools and conferences such as Mobile Tartu and The Baltic Geospatial Information Technology Conference.

Career opportunities

Successful completion of the programme enables employment in all sectors as a spatial data manager, spatial analyst, or GIS consultant for planning and regional policy. Graduates work in several local, state, and EU institutions, consultancy companies for planning and environmental management, or companies that provide location-based analyses, IT services, or cartographical solutions.

Accreditation

Every seven years, all Estonian higher education institutions must undergo external evaluation – institutional accreditation. The latest assessment took place in 2022. The assessment council of the Estonian Quality Agency for Education decided to accredit the University of Tartu for the next seven years (2023-2029).