Earth Observation, MSc by Research

COURSE OVERVIEW

The MSc by Research in Earth Observation allows you to undertake a year-long individual programme of personally and professionally enriching research.

Your earth observation research project will be shaped by participation in activities such as seminars, workshops, laboratory activity and fieldwork, as well as your involvement in one of our established research groups.

While this programme usually finishes after a year, it can be used to progress to the second year of a PhD degree in the appropriate circumstances.

Swansea is a research-led University and our department makes a significant contribution. We have staff working on post-disaster landscapes (Professor Marcus Doel), new understandings of nationalism (Dr Angharad Closs Stephens), and post-conflict cultural revival (Dr Amanda Rogers). Their expertise will support your work.

In the latest Research Assessment Exercise, 95% of Geography research at Swansea was judged to be of international quality, and 60% was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Programme Summary

This MSc by Research in Earth Observation at Swansea will enable you to undertake a research project led by your own interests. It is a highly respected qualification which can enable a future career in academia or a wider scope for employment in fields such as education, government or the private sector. A thesis of 40,000 words will be submitted for assessment demonstrating original research with a substantive contribution to the subject area. The Masters is examined following an oral examination of the thesis (a viva voce examination or viva). You will acquire research skills for high-level work and skills and training programmes are available on campus for further support.

Programme Aims

This Masters programme will provide students with:

1. The opportunity to conduct high quality postgraduate research in a world leading research environment.
2. Key skills needed to undertake advanced academic and non-academic research including qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
3. Advanced critical thinking, intellectual curiosity and independent judgement.

Assessment

Students for the Masters by Research in Earth Observation are examined in two parts.

The first part is a thesis which is an original body of work representing the methods and results of the research project. The word limit is 40,000 for the main text. The word limit does not include appendices (if any), essential footnotes, introductory parts and statements or the bibliography and index. The second part is an oral examination (viva voce).