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156 weeks
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Semester 1
Course Overview
Geospatial scientists measure, map and model our world. They play a critical role in the decisions that affect our society and influence the world of tomorrow.
In this degree you'll delve into the science of collecting, analysing and interpreting geospatial information using advanced tools like Satellite Positioning Systems (e.g. GPS), 3D laser scanning, and drone-based sensors. You will learn how to manipulate and visualise complex data sets, extract meaningful information and products, and communicate your findings using advanced spatial modelling techniques.
Real-world projects and case studies will provide practical experience in analysing and explaining problems such as environmental management, climate change impacts, urban planning, natural resource management, and disaster response planning.
Our expert teaching staff will guide you through the latest trends and innovations in geospatial science, including big data analytics and geospatial modelling. This course will equip you with strong practical skills that are in high demand and will set you up for a rewarding career.
When you study with us, you'll be learning from the very best. We’re home to Australia’s top-rated geospatial research group* and your lecturers are world leading experts in their fields.
With the field of geospatial science presently facing a shortage of skilled professionals, this degree will provide you with plentiful job opportunities across various sectors such as urban planning, environmental management, transportation, public health, and natural resource management.
*Excellence in Research Australia (ERA)
Where You Can Study
Hobart
University of Tasmania, Churchill Ave, Hobart, TAS 7005
Student Information
Tuition Fee
Commonwealth Supported Place indicative annual fee: $8,635 AUD (2027)
Duration
Minimum 3 years, up to a maximum of 7 years.
Intakes
Semester 1
Eligibility
Domestic students:
We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, the University’s admissions team will work with you to find the best pathway option.
Enquire online for more advice on the application process and the available pathways to enrol and study at the University of Tasmania.
Schools Recommendation Program
Australian year 12 students can apply for this course via our Schools Recommendation Program. Rather than an ATAR, your application is based on a recommendation by your school teachers. This can factor in your year 11 results, an assessment of your capabilities, and other considerations.
Through the program, you can receive and accept an offer prior to completing year 12. You will still need to finish your year 12 studies – including any exams – to commence your studies. In addition, the Surveying major of this course requires you to pass specific pre-requisite subjects in Year 12 (or equivalent), see below for details.
If you don’t receive an offer for this course through the Schools Recommendation Program, you will be re-assessed for a higher preference offer once your ATAR is released.
Domestic applicants who recently completed secondary education
Applicants are ranked by ATAR and offers are made based on the number of places available. In 2026, the lowest ATAR to receive an offer into this course was 68.45. The lowest ATAR to receive an offer may change from year to year based on the number of applications we receive.
Applicants who have recently completed senior secondary studies but have not received an ATAR may still be eligible for admission. We will consider your individual subject results on a case-by-case basis when we assess your application.
Domestic applicants with higher education study
To be eligible for an offer, applicants must have:
Partially completed an undergraduate course at Diploma level or higher (or equivalent). Applicants must have completed at least two units of study (equivalent to 25 University of Tasmania credit points). If an applicant has failed any units, the application may be subject to further review before an offer is made; OR
Completed the University of Tasmania University Preparation Program (or an equivalent qualification offered by an Australian university).
Domestic applicants with VET / TAFE study
To be eligible for an offer, applicants must have completed a Certificate IV (or equivalent) in any discipline.
Domestic applicants with work and life experience
This course does not admit students on the basis of work or life experience.
Please enquire online for advice on pathways, or alternative course options.
Subject Prerequisites
These prerequisites apply to students from all educational backgrounds.
To be eligible for an offer for the Surveying major, you must have completed studies or have experience equivalent to a satisfactory achievement in the following Tasmanian Senior Secondary subject:
You can enquire online for information on interstate and international equivalents to the Tasmanian senior secondary subject above. If you need assistance to meet the prerequisite, we offer foundation units that you can complete before you start your course.
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION
We believe university education should be an option for everyone, no matter your background. If your ability to access or participate in education has been affected by circumstances beyond your control, you can apply for special consideration as part of your application. We will consider a range of factors, including economic hardship, a serious medical condition, or disability.
We can only approve applications for special consideration if we are confident that you have the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in your studies. If your application is not approved, the University admissions team will work with you to find the best alternative pathway to your chosen course. Special consideration is not available for international applicants.
International students:
English Language Requirements
This degree requires an IELTS (Academic) of 6.0, with no individual band less than 5.5, or a PTE Academic score of 50, with no score lower than 42 or equivalent.
For students who do not meet the English Language Requirement through citizenship or prior studies in English in an approved country, evidence of an approved English language test completed within the last 2 years must be provided.
See the English Language Requirements page for more information.
General Entry Requirements
Admission to undergraduate courses at the University of Tasmania requires the completion of qualifications equivalent to a year 12 education in Australia.
Please review the equivalent undergraduate entry requirements to see the minimum requirement relevant to your country. The ATAR information for this course is located in the “For Domestic Students” section of the entry requirements on this page.
You can also meet the General Entry Requirement for this course with the following qualifications or prior studies:
Completion of an equivalent AQF Certificate IV or above
Complete or incomplete (minimum 25 credit points) of previous tertiary study at Diploma level or higher
Course Specific Requirements
These prerequisites apply to students from all educational backgrounds.
To be eligible for an offer for the Surveying major, you must have completed studies or have experience equivalent to a satisfactory achievement in the following Tasmanian Senior Secondary subject:
You can enquire online for information on interstate and international equivalents to the Tasmanian senior secondary subject above. If you need assistance to meet the prerequisite, we offer foundation units that you can complete before you start your course.
Alternative entry pathways:
If you haven't completed the required pre-requisite unit(s), we offer foundation units to help you bridge the gap. Many run in spring and summer school so you can meet a prerequisite and not delay the start of your Bachelor level studies. HECS scholarships may also be available for domestic students.
Visit Foundation Units to find out more.
If you aren’t eligible for an offer to this course, you should consider enrolment in the Diploma of University Studies or the University Preparation Program.
Diploma of University Studies University Preparation Program
In all cases, contact us to discuss an option best suited to your needs.
Career & Study Pathways
Graduates with geospatial science degrees are in great demand and have an extremely high employment rate across a range of industries and occupations.
This degree provides a pathway to various careers across an increasingly wide range of government and private enterprise sectors, including cadastral surveying, land planning and development, environmental management, civil engineering, mining, defence, and agriculture.
Quality & Recognition
Academic Regulator
TEQSA
Professional Body
Surveying and Spatial Sciences Institute (SSSI) / State Surveyors Board
Accreditation Status
AccreditedSkills Assessor
VETASSESS / State Surveyors Board
Course Content
Introduction to Spatial Information
This unit is designed to give students a general overview of spatial information and its applications. Spatial information is becoming an increasingly prevalent part of our daily lives. The ability to incorporate spatial information into various applications is a valuable…
Remote Sensing: Observing the Earth from Above
This unit provides an engaging, hands-on introduction to the dynamic field of remote sensing. This unit delves into the latest advancements in satellite and aerial imagery, empowering students to utilise these technologies to understand and address diverse environmental and societal…
Analysis of Geospatial Information
As more businesses and scientists adopt geographical information systems (GIS), there is increasing demand for graduates with strong skills in collecting, managing, analysing, and visualising spatial datasets. GIS and spatial analysis skills will be indispensable for almost all careers in…
Remote Sensing: From Data to Information
This unit builds on the theory and skills of KGG103 Remote Sensing: observing the Earth from above, and focuses on advanced aspects of remotely sensed image analysis that turn raw remote sensing data into valuable information. These additional remote sensing…
Drone Mapping and Pilot Certification
This unit is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills required to become a certified drone pilot. The unit consists of three components: CASA RePL theory, drone flight training, and using drones for geospatial mapping. You will learn…
3D Geospatial Data Capture and Analytics
The acquisition of 3D data has become increasingly important for a range of industries such as surveying, mapping, engineering, and environmental monitoring. This unit will provide you with an understanding of the sensors, instruments, and platforms used for 3D data…
Satellite Positioning Systems and Applications
Everything on Earth and in space has a location. In modern society we use spatial information (i.e., positions), to understand the world and our place in it. The rise of easily-accessible location data via satellite positioning systems has changed the…
Geospatial Data Analytics
Geospatial Data Analytics is an innovative unit designed to provide you with foundational knowledge and practical skills in geospatial programming, building on the knowledge gained in KGG212 GIS: Spatial Analysis. With a primary focus on Python, a powerful and widely…
Programming Fundamentals
This unit introduces programming with an emphasis on building both foundational understanding and practical skills. It is designed to be accessible to students from a wide range of disciplines, while also providing a strong basis for further study. The unit…
Data Handling and Statistics 1
Data Handling and Statistics 1 is the first of three applied statistics units offered by the School of Natural Sciences (Mathematics). Statistics is the science of decision making, and as such forms a key foundation of any scientific research. This…
Internet of Things and Distributed Artificial Intelligence
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a rising set of technologies that provides access to a large quantity of data through sensors. Such devices are ubiquitous today in industrial processes, vehicles, robots, environmental monitoring, farms, hospitals, and on our personal…
Data Handling and Statistics 2
Data Handling and Statistics 2 is the second of three applied statistics units offered by the School of Natural Sciences (Mathematics). This unit is designed to extend students' knowledge of statistical data analysis. It builds on the concepts introduced in…
Geospatial Project
This geospatial project unit allows you to undertake a significant investigative project in a chosen field within the broad discipline of geospatial science. This will be achieved via guidance of the unit coordinator and unit materials. Through this project, you…
Machine Learning and Applications
The aim of this unit is to provide students with the foundation knowledge and understanding of Machine Learning and its applications in various domains including computer vision, data analytics and text mining. This unit will equip students with essential knowledge…
Data Handling and Statistics 3
Data Handling and Statistics 3 is the third applied statistics units offered by the School of Natural Sciences (Mathematics). This unit is required in the Statistics and Decision Science major and it provides an extension of the concepts, methods and…
Big Data and Cloud Computing
In recent years, the rise of internet technologies and digital tools in daily life has led to a huge increase in data, known as Big Data. Traditional methods cannot manage this data, so new high-performance and distributed systems like clusters,…
Modern Statistical Modelling
Modern statistical modelling (KMA356) is a third year undergraduate unit offered by the School of Natural Sciences (Mathematics). The unit presents modern statistical methods for developing applied models and confronting them with real world data. You will be shown how simulation…
Earth Evolution
The unit provides a broad understanding of the dynamic processes that are active at and near the surface of the Earth and is suitable for general science and arts students with an interest in the geological sciences. KEA102 is a…
Introduction to the Science of Climate Change
Human-induced climate change is the most serious problem currently facing our planet - a global problem with increasingly obvious local impacts. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has said that the next 10 years will be critical to averting…
Nature, People, Place
This introductory unit develops your knowledge of how people depend on nature, and how increasingly the conservation of nature depends on people. We will explore these relationships through a values lens: how nature is important for its own sake, how natural…
Ecology
This unit aims to provide you with an understanding of fundamental concepts in ecology focusing on the ways in which organisms interact with their environment. It will explore this organism-environment interaction at different levels of biological organisation – from individuals…
Earth, Climate and Life
The physical and living aspects of the global environment interact to produce the extraordinary variety of landscapes, ecosystems and species that occupy this planet. This unit highlights the interplay and conservation of controlling processes so that they continue to maintain…
Natural Environment Field Techniques
A field-based unit taught in one of Tasmania’s distinctive natural environments. Students who successfully undertake this unit will develop a wide variety of skills in environmental data recording in the context of a project designed both to increase knowledge of…
Our Changing Climate
Human-induced climate change is arguably the most serious problem currently facing our planet. Detecting and attributing human-induced climate change requires an understanding of the mechanisms of natural climate variability as well as trends in climate. Earth's climate is a coupled…
Fire, Weeds and Ferals: Conserving Nature in Protected Areas
This unit provides you with the knowledge and practical skills to prepare conservation management plans - a skill essential for those working towards a career managing natural environments and people in protected areas. For those with other vocational interests, the…
Environmental Impact Assessment
This unit introduces legal, administrative, social and scientific aspects of environmental impact assessment using case studies. The unit emphasises the practical aspects of environmental impact assessment in Tasmanian contexts, but environmental impact assessment processes and legislation are similar in many…
Geodesy: Observing Our Changing Planet
Geodesy is the study of the Earth's dynamic shape, size, and gravitational field. Modern space geodetic observations underpin not only our ability to determine precise location on Earth and in orbit, but a broad number of scientific fields that address…
Agricultural Landscape Systems
This unit links your knowledge in agronomy, horticulture and business to the area of agricultural land resource assessment. We will develop your understanding and land management skills via practical experiences with SE Tasmanian soil and land resources. This unit will…
Mathematics 1A
The applicability of calculus and linear algebra is so broad that fluency in it is essential for a successful career in a variety of areas including science and engineering. This unit is devoted to the conceptual and logical development of…
Mathematics 1B
This unit is a continuation of KMA152, with emphasis on the application of single-variable calculus and linear algebra to problems in mathematics, the physical and biological sciences, economics, and engineering. Topics include complex numbers, linear equations and matrices, numerical integration…
Advanced Surveying Techniques
This is the second in a series of units developing competencies in applying survey instruments, field techniques and computational analyses to measure and solve geometric problems in natural and built environments. In this unit, you will gain a deeper understanding…
Fundamentals of Surveying
The fundamental role of a surveyor is to measure and map urban and natural environments using specialist equipment and geometric computations. In this unit, you will learn about the fundamentals of surveying data collection, reduction and analysis techniques employed across…
Surveying Principles and Practice
This is the third and capstone unit in a series developing student competencies in surveying practice. In this unit, you will learn more details about the various types of work undertaken by the surveying profession and the role of surveyors…
Analysis of Observations
Observations of many different types are central to the determination of information across the geospatial sciences. In this unit, you will gain knowledge in the theory and practical application of least squares adjustment techniques including the reduction of raw measurements,…
STEM Work Integrated Learning
This unit provides an opportunity for you to undertake professional work experience in a broad range of science and engineering disciplines to support preparation for the world of work. This may take the form of work experience within the University,…
Common Questions
Physics students at the University of Tasmania have access to research facilities including the Greenhill Observatory north of Hobart, which houses 50cm and 1.3m optical telescopes. Students can undertake Honours theses involving original astronomical research, such as studying close contact binary star systems like OY Carinae.
Because of its location in the southern hemisphere, the University of Tasmania's observatories can observe stellar objects near the south celestial pole that are impossible to observe from most of the northern hemisphere, giving Tasmanian researchers a unique scientific advantage in studying such objects.
Yes, students can major in mathematics and physics during their Bachelor of Science degree and study every astrophysics unit available in their second and third years, and can then continue into an Honours year specialising in areas such as optical astronomy and astrophysics.
Students in the physics department at the University of Tasmania describe receiving incredible support from mentors and teachers, noting the sheer enthusiasm of the physics teachers and an active research culture where there is always something new being published and discussed.
Application
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Step 03
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