Technische Universität München (TUM), Germany, Chair of Cartography

Vienna University of Technology (TUW), Austria, Research Group Cartography, Technische Universität Dresden (TUD), Germany

Institute for Cartography

University of Twente (UT), The Netherlands, Department of Geo-Information Processing

Master of Science in Cartography

Background and Objective

Spatial context is relevant to an enormous amount of questions, problems and decisions. Maps and cartographic communication processes are keys for enabling humans to deal with all kind of spatial data in an efficient way. The domain of cartography can be seen as by definition very broad and interdisciplinary. The international Master of Science in Cartography was established in 2011 and is a joint programme of:

• Technische Universität München (TUM), Germany
  Chair of Cartography
  
  
• Vienna University of Technology (TUW), Austria
  Research Group Cartography
  
  
• Technische Universität Dresden (TUD), Germany
  Institute for Cartography
  
  
• University of Twente (UT), The Netherlands
  Department of Geo-Information Processing

The four partner sites represent centres of excellence in the field of cartography, recognized at the European and global levels.

The Chair of Cartography of TUM, the Research Group Cartography of TUW, the Institute of Cartography of TUD and the Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation of UT complement each other in an ideal way to provide an exceptional program with excellent job employment prospects in this interdisciplinary field.

The composition is a complementary approach of the partners’ different research and educational profiles in an area where each partner is a leader in their own country and recognized internationally.

After four successful years, the Cartography M.Sc. has been selected for Erasmus+ by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Union. The five year grant includes a preparatory year (starting mid of October 2014), followed by three student intakes from 2015 until 2018. During this time, 38 highly remunerated scholarships might be awarded to the best students.


Programme Structure

The programme takes place at all four cooperating universities and is completely taught in English. Students stay together as a group during the whole time and have to spend their 1st semester at TUM in Germany. Then they have to study the 2nd semester at TUW in Austria. After that they study their 3rd semester at TUD in Germany. In the 4th semester students prepare their Master’s thesis at one of the four co-operating universities.

The full-time Master program starts every year in winter semester (October) and will enrol up to 25 students from all over the world. Language of instruction is English. The full-time programme awards a total of 120 ECTS and is to be completed in two years. Students obtain 30 ECTS in each semester/at each university, respectively 30 ECTS for their Master thesis.

The qualification finally awarded to the students is the joint degree “Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Cartography” issued by TUM, TUW, TUD and UT together.


Programme Contents

The programme focuses on a comprehensive education in cartography and geoinformatics, in particular on spatial information technologies, mathematic principles of map making, spatial data handling, theories and technologies of visual analytics, geovisualization and communication of spatial information.

• During the 1st semester at TUM, the foundations in cartography and geovisualization are taught.
  
  
• In the 2nd semester at TUW students gain knowledge in multimedia cartography, especially in web mapping, mobile internet and location-based services.
  
  
• Students specialize in mobile cartography and 3D cartography in the 3rd semester at TUD.

The curriculum is structured in complementary and consecutive modules. It is based on lectures, exercises, seminars and project works. During the first and third semester, online modules from the University of Twente are integrated in the curriculum.

About Technical University of Munich

Our university

Technische Universität München is one of Europe's leading technical universities for research. Its unparalleled choice of subjects covers engineering, the natural and life sciences, medicine, economics, and education. No university in Germany offers such a wide-ranging combination.

TUM capitalises on its unique advantages by promoting multidisciplinary in research and teaching. It focusses on the following strategic areas: Health & Nutrition, Energy & Natural Resources, Environment & Climate, Information & Communications, Mobility & Infrastructure. At the same time, it seeks answers to pressing questions about the social aspects of new technologies.

As an entrepreneurial university, TUM fosters close relationships with major industrial concerns. The university inspires and empowers its students and researchers to think and act like entrepreneurs. It also systematically supports patent applications and start-ups

. The university supports the diverse talents of its students and staff. Its top-class course offering has a strong research character. Meanwhile, TUM offers individual support: through the "Young Academy" programme for its most dedicated young students, with mentoring and career advice as well as exchange opportunities with more than 150 partnerships worldwide, complemented by about 300 Erasmus partner institutions. The TUM Graduate School gives doctoral students the chance to obtain cross-disciplinary qualifications. And with its Tenure Track system, TUM is setting new standards in the German higher education sector. Under this system, young professors are rewarded with attractive career prospects if they meet high performance standards.

TUM is an international university with a high proportion of foreign students and researchers. It offers more than 20 courses in English. With the establishment of TUM Asia in Singapore, it became the first German university with an overseas campus. It also has locations in Brussels, Cairo, Mumbai, Beijing, and São Paulo.

TUM was awarded the title of "University of Excellence" in 2006 and 2012 in recognition of its drive for innovations and reform. In international rankings, it regularly places among the best universities in Germany.