Geographical Information Management and Applications (GIMA)

Geographical information is everywhere and more important than ever. Think of physical planning, risk management, navigation systems, location based services, movement analysis, augmented reality, increasing use of maps and volunteered geographical information. For this reason this Master’s in Geographical Information Management and Applications (GIMA) offers you a relevant and complete programme, focussing on both the management and application of geographical information from a scientific perspective.

GIMA: offering the best of four Dutch universities

There are two aspects which make GIMA a unique programme: the blended learning concept and the co-operation between four renowned Dutch universities, each with a strong reputation in its field and with its own traditions:

• Utrecht University, with a focus on geography and planning;
• Delft University of Technology, with a focus on the legal, organisational and technical aspects of geo-information handling;
• University of Twente, with a focus on technical and application oriented courses for developing countries; and
• Wageningen University, with a focus on agricultural and rural applications.

You will thus get the best from geo-information experts from four universities in the Netherlands. Since the start of the programme in 2003, GIMA has become one of the most popular and well evaluated Master's programmes on geo-information applications and management in the Netherlands and our community keeps growing. Moreover, GIMA is an international programme. It does not only target Dutch Bachelor's, but also foreign Bachelor's and professionals with equivalent pre-education.

Blended learning

GIMA is a blended learning Master's programme, which means that most of the time you are studying from the place where you think you can study best (e.g. at home, or at the library). Students study full time (2 yrs.) or part time (4 yrs.). For the first half of the programme there are only four short contact periods per year, one at each partner university. During those contact periods (with a duration of two weeks) you are supposed to be present in person, but for the rest of the year you can study through our electronic learning environment from wherever you are. Obviously, the same holds for the individual thesis research project and internship, each of 6 (full time) or 12 (part time) months length in the last half of the programme.

Many students also feel attracted by the blended learning concept which better allows them to live where they want and combine studies with other activities (such as part time work or family). However, it should be noted that although GIMA’s blended learning offers flexibility, it also requires individual study discipline as the overall workload is at least comparable to that of more traditional Master's programmes.