School of Geography
University of Nottingham
MSc/DIPLOMA IN GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SCIENCE
SUPPLEMENTARY APPLICATION FORM
Full name ………………………………………………………………………………….
Where did you hear about the course? …………………………………………………….
1. Do you have any post-school training or experience in the following areas?
(tick the relevant boxes)
human/economic
geography
physical/environmental
geography
planning studies
geology
surveying
statistical analysis
remote sensing
cartography
use of computers
computer programming
2. Please write a short account of the way in which you consider your past experience
and training qualifies you to undertake a taught masters/diploma in Geographical
Information Systems.
3. What future career do you envisage pursuing after completing the course?
4. How is your course going to be financed?
5. Please give any other information that you consider might be of value to the
selectors; for example do you have any plans to undertake a project?
COMPUTER SKILLS – SELF-TEST
Entrants to the MSc/Diploma in GIS should have a good working knowledge of computer
applications and operating systems. Experience shows that students who lack these skills
cannot expect to complete the course. Computing skills will be tested in the early
performance test and those who do not pass may be asked to leave the course. It is
therefore in your own interests to answer the following questions honestly.
Tick the relevant boxes.
A. Can you perform the following operations without seeking help:
1. Move, copy or delete a file using Windows Explorer.
2. Send an email message and access a WWW page.
3. Enter data into a MS Excel spreadsheet, use formulae and generate
plots.
4. Create and print a document using MS Word.
5. Import a graphics object into MS Word.
B. Have you had any experience of:
1. Using any kind of digital mapping package such
as Mapinfo?
2. Using any kind of GIS/remote sensing software
such as Erdas or ArcView?
3. Writing computer code in a language such as
Visual Basic or C?
4. Using a database package such as MS Access?
5. Producing a web page using a Web Editor such
as Dreamweaver?
Assessment
Section A
If you cannot answer all five questions positively you should take a course in ‘computing
for beginners’ before applying for the MSc/Diploma in GIS. It is highly unlikely that you
will pass the early performance test.
Section B
None of these experiences is essential, but you will find the MSc/Diploma in GIS very
difficult if you do not have some experience in at least two of the areas mentioned.
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Please return this supplementary application form with your supporting documents.