Key details
Duration
Intake
Locations
Entry requirements
View full entry requirementsCredit points required
160Course code
Overview
The Masters of Applied Spatial Science will give you the skills to apply spatial science technologies and analysis techniques to solve real-world problems across a diverse range of fields and vocations. This in-depth program is delivered both online and on-campus from Darwin, which is Australia's gateway to Indonesia and Southeast Asia. The course carries a strong focus upon the application of open-source spatial science technologies as well as teaching applications of commercial platforms such as ArcGIS.
During the course, you will learn essential skills to apply the latest spatial science tools and techniques to data relevant to multiple sectors including, Environmental Science, Precision Agriculture, Disaster & Emergency Management, and Health.
The Graduate Certificate in Spatial Science is nested within the Master's degree course as entry and exit pathways to this program.
Credit transfers and advanced standing
Pathways
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
Credit transfer
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
Fees
Non-Commonwealth supported places
Full fee paying places are available in this course.
2022: Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.
International tuition fees
The annual tuition fee for full time study is AUD $31,632.00. This equates to $3,954.00 per 10 credit point unit (0.125 EFTSL).
These fees are subject to increases annually, effective at the start of each calendar year.
You can find a list of International fees and payments you can expect to pay as part of your studies in Australia.
CDU offers a number of scholarships to international students to assist with the cost of study.
Why study Science, Environmental Science and Management at CDU?
If you' re interested in finding solutions to our planet's environmental issues, there's never been a better time to study science, environmental science and management at CDU. You'll be prepared to apply the academic theories and principles you learn in class to real-world problems in a diverse range of careers.
- #2 Australian uni for undergraduate employment outcomes (GUG 2022)
- #2 in Australia for skills development in environmental sciences and agriculture (GUG 2022)
- Study your way with part-time, full-time, on campus or online flexibility
What will I study?
This program (160 credit points) contains 60cp of core studies in spatial science (a statistical unit, four spatial science units, and a research skills unit), 40cp of the research project, and 60cp of specialist electives. The special electives include 20cp of research methodology electives and 40cp of electives selected from disciplines such as Environmental Science, Health, Disaster & Emergency Management, Information Technology, Engineering, Project management, or Indigenous knowledge.
Course structure
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 160 credit points as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.
Unit type | Credit Points | Specific requirements |
Core | 60cp | Compulsory Core units totalling 60 credit points as detailed below: ENV502 Remote Sensing |
Specialist Electives | 60cp
| Specialist Elective units totalling 60 credit points. Select 20 credit points from the list below: Research Methodology PLUS Select 40 credit points of which 20 credit points must be at 500 level from one or more of the specialisation groups listed below: Environmental Science Humanitarian Aid, Emergency and Disaster Management Health Information Technology Civil and Structural Engineering Research Methods and Project Management Indigenous Knowledges |
Research Units (2 units) | 40cp | Research totalling 40 credit points as detailed below: ENV820 Research Project x 2 (20cp repeatable unit) |
Course Total | 160cp |
Students who commenced in or after 2013
The grade of "PC" cannot be counted towards a Masters Degree by Coursework AQF Level 9 course award.
Students should refer to the current Grading Policy and Common Course Rules for further information.
Study plan
Students commencing in Semester 1
Students are advised to complete either SBI209 Design and Analysis of Biological Studies OR ENV511 Statistical Methods for Impact Analysis before enrolling into ENV518 Analysing and Synthesising Spatial Data.
SBI209: This unit is recommended for students who have no background in statistics.
ENV511: This unit is recommended for students who have some background and skills in statistics
Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
Legend: | CO = Core Unit | R = Research | SE = Specialist Elective |
Recommended full-time study plan for students taking SBI209 - Design and Analysis of Biological Studies
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Year 1 | |||
ENV502 Remote Sensing | CO | ENV506 Environmental Monitoring and Modelling | CO |
ENV508 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Thinking | CO | SBI209 Design and Analysis of Biological Studies | CO |
SID403 Research Skills | CO | Specialist Elective | SE |
Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
Year 2 | |||
ENV820 Research Project (20cp) | R | ENV518 Analysing and Synthesising Spatial Data | CO |
Specialist Elective | SE | ENV820 Research Project (20cp) | R |
Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
Recommended part-time study plan for students taking SBI209 - Design and Analysis of Biological Studies
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Year 1 | |||
ENV502 Remote Sensing | CO | ENV506 Environmental Monitoring and Modelling | CO |
ENV508 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Thinking | CO | SBI209 Design and Analysis of Biological Studies | CO |
Year 2 | |||
SID403 Research Skills | CO | ENV518 Analysing and Synthesising Spatial Data | CO |
Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
Year 3 | |||
Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
Year 4 | |||
ENV820 Research Project (20cp) | R | ENV820 Research Project (20cp) | R |
Legend: | CO = Core Unit | R = Research | SE = Specialist Elective |
Recommended full-time study plan for students taking ENV511 - Statistical Methods for Impact Analysis
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Year 1 | |||
ENV502 Remote Sensing | CO | ENV506 Environmental Monitoring and Modelling | CO |
ENV508 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Thinking | CO | ENV518 Analysing and Synthesising Spatial Data | CO |
SID403 Research Skills | CO | Specialist Elective | SE |
ENV511 Statistical Methods for Impact Analysis | CO | Specialist Elective | SE |
Year 2 | |||
ENV820 Research Project (20cp) | R | ENV820 Research Project (20cp) | R |
Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
Recommended part-time study plan for students taking ENV511 - Statistical Methods for Impact Analysis
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Year 1 | |||
ENV502 Remote Sensing | CO | ENV506 Environmental Monitoring and Modelling | CO |
ENV508 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Thinking | CO | Specialist Elective | SE |
Year 2 | |||
SID403 Research Skills | CO | ENV518 Analysing and Synthesising Spatial Data | CO |
ENV511 Statistical Methods for Impact Analysis | CO | Specialist Elective | SE |
Year 3 | |||
Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
Year 4 | |||
ENV820 Research Project (20cp) | R | ENV820 Research Project (20cp) | R |
Students commencing in Semester 2
Students are advised to complete either SBI209 Design and Analysis of Biological Studies OR ENV511 Statistical Methods for Impact Analysis before enrolling into ENV518 Analysing and Synthesising Spatial Data.
SBI209: This unit is recommended for students who have no background in statistics.
ENV511: This unit is recommended for students who have some background and skills in statistics
Students entering this course with advanced standing, or wishing to reduce or vary their study plan due to work, personal, financial or other reasons should use the table as a guide to create an individual study plan.
Legend: | CO = Core Unit | R = Research | SE = Specialist Elective |
Recommended full-time study plan for students taking SBI209 - Design and Analysis of Biological Studies
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Calendar Year 1 | |||
SBI209 Design and Analysis of Biological Studies | CO | ||
Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Calendar Year 2 | |||
ENV502 Remote Sensing | CO | ENV506 Environmental Monitoring and Modelling | CO |
ENV508 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Thinking | CO | ENV518 Analysing and Synthesising Spatial Data | CO |
SID403 Research Skills | CO | ENV820 Research Project (20cp) | R |
Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Calendar Year 3 | |||
ENV820 Research Project (20cp) | R | ||
Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Specialist Elective | SE |
Recommended part-time study plan for students taking SBI209 - Design and Analysis of Biological Studies
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Calendar Year 1 | |||
SBI209 Design and Analysis of Biological Studies | CO | ||
Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Calendar Year 2 | |||
ENV502 Remote Sensing | CO | ENV506 Environmental Monitoring and Modelling | CO |
ENV508 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Thinking | CO | ENV518 Analysing and Synthesising Spatial Data | CO |
Calendar Year 3 | |||
SID403 Research Skills | CO | Specialist Elective | SE |
Specialist Elective | SE | Specialist Elective | SE |
Calendar Year 4 | |||
Specialist Elective | SE | ENV820 Research Project (20cp) | R |
Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Calendar Year 5 | |||
ENV820 Research Project (20cp) | R |
Legend: | CO = Core Unit | R = Research | SE = Specialist Elective |
Recommended full-time study plan for students taking ENV511 - Statistical Methods for Impact Analysis
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Calendar Year 1 | |||
Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Calendar Year 2 | |||
ENV502 Remote Sensing | CO | ENV506 Environmental Monitoring and Modelling | CO |
ENV508 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Thinking | CO | ENV518 Analysing and Synthesising Spatial Data | CO |
ENV511 Statistical Methods for Impact Analysis | CO | ENV820 Research Project (20cp) | R |
SID403 Research Skills | CO | ||
ENV820 Research Project (20cp) | R | ||
Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Specialist Elective | SE |
Recommended part-time study plan for students taking ENV511 - Statistical Methods for Impact Analysis
Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
Calendar Year 1 | |||
Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Calendar Year 2 | |||
ENV502 Remote Sensing | CO | ENV506 Environmental Monitoring and Modelling | CO |
ENV508 Geographic Information Systems and Spatial Thinking | CO | Specialist Elective | SE |
Calendar Year 3 | |||
SID403 Research Skills | CO | ENV518 Analysing and Synthesising Spatial Data | CO |
ENV511 Statistical Methods for Impact Analysis | CO | Specialist Elective | SE |
Calendar Year 4 | |||
Specialist Elective | SE | ENV820 Research Project (20cp) | R |
Specialist Elective | SE | ||
Calendar Year 5 | |||
ENV820 Research Project (20cp) | R |
Entry requirements
Admission criteria
Successful completion of a recognised bachelor's degree or equivalent international qualification.
International entry pathway
International Pathway
Applicants who have completed the CDU International Masters Qualifying Program (ZMQP01) or the Accelerated International Masters Qualifying Program (ZAMQP1) are eligible for entry.
Essential requirements
English language requirements
To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study. International applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.
The minimum English language requirement for this course is met by either undertaking previous education in an English-speaking country or undertaking one of the following English language tests and obtaining the minimum requirements listed below.
IELTS Academic Module | A minimum overall score of 6.5 with no band less than 6.0. |
Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) | A minimum overall score of 176, with no skill below 169. |
Common European Framework Certificate of English Proficiency | A minimum overall grade of C1, valid for three years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU. |
Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic module | A minimum overall score of 58 with no score lower than 50. |
TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) | A minimum overall score of 79 with a minimum writing score of 21. |
* All tests are valid for two years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, unless otherwise specified.
* Where applicable, international applicants must also satisfy the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) English language requirements for student visa applications.
Do you have a question regarding English requirements at CDU? Please email: international@cdu.edu.au.
I chose CDU because it has an excellent science course, with lots of opportunities for practical experience in the field. I love the small classes, community feel and the interaction with lecturers that you don't get at larger universities.
Brittany
CDU Student

Course details
Inherent Requirements
There are inherent requirements for this course. Students must read and understand the requirements for this course.
Australian qualification framework
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 9.
Additional information
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
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