Program overview
Geodesy is an engineering discipline grounded in mathematics and the natural sciences that focuses on acquiring, modelling and processing spatial measurement data. Interpreting, structuring and visualising such geodata underpins how we design and manage built and natural environments. Research and applications in the field range from medical and automotive navigation uses to environmental monitoring, planning space missions and mapping other planets.
What you will learn
This English‑taught master’s programme trains you to develop and apply modern methods for engineering measurement, satellite geodesy, planet and Earth system research, computer vision, and 3D/4D real‑world modelling with geographic information systems (GIS). Core teaching covers acquisition, analysis, fusion, compression and visualisation of high‑quality spatially referenced data; geodatabase systems and data modelling; geodetic sensor technology; object motion and deformation analysis; digital image processing, automatic image analysis and remote sensing; geodetic reference systems and international reference frames; gravity field analysis; and satellite orbit determination and related calculations.
Why it matters for your career
Graduates leave with skills useful across academia, government and industry—anywhere high‑precision spatial information is needed, from navigation and positioning to environmental science and planetary exploration. The programme’s blend of theoretical foundations and practical data‑processing tools prepares international students to work with geodetic instruments, remote sensing data and GIS platforms in interdisciplinary teams.
Typical applicant expectations
This master’s curriculum is organised across four semesters (120 ECTS) and combines a solid first-semester foundation with two semesters of focussed specialisation, plus a research-based final semester. The opening term (30 ECTS) builds core technical skills through modules such as Geoinformatics, Adjustment Theory, Introduction to Space Geodesy, Geodatabases and Infrastructures, and Photogrammetric Computer Vision. These courses teach the mathematical and computational foundations for handling, modelling and analysing geospatial data, satellite positioning principles, spatial database design and web/infrastructure concepts, and image-based 3D reconstruction workflows.
During the second and third semesters (together 60 ECTS) you choose one dedicated specialisation stream: Geoinformation Technology; Space Geodesy and Navigation; Engineering Surveying and Estimation Theory; or Computer Vision and Remote Sensing. Each track deepens domain-specific competencies — for example, Geoinformation Technology emphasises software systems and spatial infrastructures, Space Geodesy and Navigation focuses on satellite-based positioning and reference frames, Engineering Surveying and Estimation Theory concentrates on precise measurement, network adjustment and uncertainty quantification, and Computer Vision and Remote Sensing advances image analysis and automated feature extraction from remote-sensing data. You also integrate multidisciplinary and free electives (12 ECTS) to broaden skills or complement your specialisation.
The fourth semester (30 ECTS) is reserved for an independent master’s thesis where you apply the acquired methods to a research or application-oriented project, demonstrating scientific rigour, problem-solving and the ability to communicate results. Overall learning outcomes include proficiency in processing and analysing geospatial data, competence with satellite and surveying techniques, expertise in geospatial databases and infrastructures, and experience in photogrammetric/computer-vision methods — preparing graduates for roles in GIS, surveying, remote sensing, navigation systems, research, or further academic study.
Program structure and requirements (concise)
For detailed module descriptions and syllabi, consult the official module directory linked in the programme information.
This is a consecutive Master's programme, so applicants must already hold a relevant first university degree that prepares them for professional practice in the field. The formal entry requirement is a bachelor’s (or equivalent) qualification in geodesy or a closely related subject.
Acceptable prior degrees include, but are not limited to:
Winter Semester (International)
31 August 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
31 August 2026
Graduates are prepared for technical and research roles in surveying and geodesy, satellite and navigation industries, remote sensing and GIS companies, environmental and urban planning organisations, and aerospace or defence sectors. Typical positions include geodesist, GNSS/positioning specialist, GIS analyst/developer, remote sensing specialist, photogrammetry/computer vision engineer, and surveyor for infrastructure projects.
The programme also provides a solid foundation for research and doctoral studies; graduates may pursue careers in academic and governmental research institutions (e.g. national mapping agencies, space research centres like GFZ or DLR) or take specialist roles in industries requiring high-precision spatial data, such as autonomous vehicles, environmental monitoring, and planetary exploration projects.