Career opportunties | Career opportunities | Geo-information Science and Earth Observation

Be prepared for a great career with a degree in Geo-information Science and Earth Observation.

An MSc degree in Geo-information Science and Earth Observation will enable you to put your skills and expertise to excellent use, opening up exciting and challenging career perspectives.

All over the world, in any industry, there is a growing need for experts in geographic information systems (GIS), spatial data science, and remote sensing. As a GIS specialist with in-depth knowledge and skills related to geospatial technologies, you will be a key player in developing and advancing data-driven sustainable solutions to some of the most pressing global issues, such as climate change and energy transition. You could work for a wide range of international non-governmental or corporate organisations, governments, consultancy agencies, research institutes, public service corporations, telecommunications companies, water authorities, and national mapping agencies, to name but a few. This is why 60% of graduates find a job within six months after graduation (90% within one year).

An internship is one of the best ways to shape your professional profile

In the second year of our Master's, you will complete an internship to gain experience in the professional work field. More about internships during our Master's Geo-information Science and Earth Observation or Spatial Engineering.

Job opportunities for geo-information specialists

Experts in geo-information systems who can acquire, analyse, and visualise geo-information to develop innovative solutions are in high demand both in the private and public sectors. You can work as a policy advisor, geo-information consultant, GIS analyst, geospatial data scientist, environmental management consultant, remote sensing specialist, data engineer, and more.

You can also opt for a career in academia and do a PhD at any university worldwide. Or you can start your own company!

Depending on your specialisation, there are several job opportunities. You can find more examples and inspiration on the specialisation pages.

In ITC alumni work in different sectors

50% government agency
20% education and research
20% private sector and self employed
10% Non Governmental Organisation (NGO)

Alumni stories

One of humanity’s most significant challenges is to achieve a healthy balance between harnessing natural resources and maintaining an optimal natural environment. At the University of Twente’s Faculty of Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation, ITC, we aim to equip individuals worldwide to tackle this challenge. Though from widely differing backgrounds, our students have two things in common: academic excellence and a drive to create change in their world.

Here, we present a few change agents, each of whom has completed a Master’s programme at ITC.

Bormy Chanthong founded KHMER IO Innovation

Bormy Chanthong first studied Computer Science and Engineering in Cambodia. This gave him many career options, but it was only after his master's degree in Twente he really felt anything was possible for him. 'It was then that I was able to combine my software skills with everything that Faculty ITC had to offer, ranging from Geographic Information System (GIS) to 3D modelling, drone mapping, and remote sensing. That gave me even more opportunities to pursue.’

Darryll Matthew Minister of Education and Sports in Antiqua and Barbuda

How does a graduate of Geo-Information Management become a politician in his home country in the Caribbean? ‘It has been an interesting journey,’ answers Matthew, who studied at ITC in years 1999-2000. ‘People ask me why I wanted to study at this tiny institution in this tiny region of the Netherlands. I wanted to experience something totally different. I wanted to see the world and learn to live on my own. And it was a great experience. ITC was one of the highlights of my life.’

Emma Baah Agyapong co-founder of the Environment & Agroforestry Foundation (EAF)

The Environment & Agroforestry Foundation (EAF) is a non-profit organisation that has been working to conserve biodiversity in Ghana and to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations since 2017. 'Our vision is to manage Ghana's natural resources, environment and agriculture to produce long-term socio-economic and ecological benefits,' says Agyapong. ‘We work in three regions and we do this together with local communities, because they directly deal with natural resources and influence their own environment.’

Kisanet Molla founded SEWOB

Kisanet Molla was born and raised in Tigray, a northern region of Ethiopia currently at war. She comes from a large family of eight siblings, who lost their mother at a young age. ‘I would be nothing without my family,’ she says repeatedly. Unfortunately, Kisanet hasn’t been able to talk to or see her loved ones in Ethiopia for months. ‘All communications have been cut off due to the war,’ she explains. On top of that, the alumna would not be able to safely return to Tigray. She has been actively advocating for the war in her home country to stop, placing herself in a dangerous position.

Parya Pasha Zadeh helps protect coral reefs

Right after she obtained her Master’s in Geo-information Science and Earth Observation in 2013, Parya Pasha Zadeh didn’t stay far from her alma mater. She was immediately offered a teaching position at ITC. After more than five years of teaching, she wanted to do something else, so she became a project officer at ITC. ‘I like being in academia, but I didn’t see myself getting excited about increasing the accuracy of a certain model with 2 percent. The thing I like most is seeing the bigger picture and making connections.’

ITC Graduate School

On completion of your Master of Science programme, you can opt for a career in research. Junior researchers studying for a PhD degree at the faculty ITC are registered in the ITC Graduate School. Each graduate student carries out a PhD project embedded in one of the themes of the research programme under the supervision of one or more ITC professors. There are around 150 graduate students at ITC. Most graduate students are full-time PhD students aiming to gain their PhD degree. Depending upon the fellowship, full-time PhD students have between three and four years to complete their thesis. ITC also hosts so-called ‘sandwich PhD students’, who spend a considerable time carrying out research in their home countries.