How will I be taught?
How will I be assessed?
How will I receive feedback on my work?
Can I get credit for prior experience and qualifications?

The UNIGIS programme is based on student-centred learning. To support your studies we provide a variety of learning strategies and materials, including the UNIGIS UK Web site, downloadable study units, computer-based learning materials, core texts, workshops, discussion-lists and helplines.

Resources for Study
Study units are delivered via our UNIGIS Web Site. They may be read online or downloaded to allow off-line study. They include notes written by the UNIGIS course tutors, exercises for you to test your understanding as you progress, details of tutor assessed exercises and any additional reading material which is required for the assessments. Every study unit is supported by web pages, which provide supplementary materials, including reference to other web sites, readings, tutor comments, additional software and late-breaking news. An online “Resource Centre” is available which provides a structured gateway to the wealth of GIS materials which are on the Web. Registered students are provided with a password to access the student areas of the UNIGIS web site and have online access to the universities' electronic libraries.

In addition to the UNIGIS online materials, you will be provided with three, core GIS textbooks at the beginning of your course as a basis for your GIS library. For the next intake these books are likely to be:

Chrisman, N. (2002): Exploring Geographic Information Systems, John Wiley and Sons.

Longley, P.A., Goodchild, M.F., Maguire, D.J. and Rhind, D.W. (2005) Geographical Information Systems and Science (2nd Ed.). Wiley: Chichester.

Worboys M.F and Duckham M (2004). GIS: A Computing Perspective (2nd edition).

Assessment

The Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Geographical Information Systems are assessed entirely by coursework. Assessments are included with each unit and may require you to produce reports, tables, diagrams or computer files for submission. You may submit assignments in hard copy or electronic form. There are no examinations. Your work will be marked by one of the  UNIGIS tutors and returned to you with comprehensive feedback, to allow you to monitor your progress and improve your performance in following work.

There are guideline dates issued for the submission of coursework, which will allow you to monitor your progress towards completing the diploma in the minimum two-year period.

Credit for Prior Learning

You can apply for exemption from all or part of a unit on the basis of prior qualifications or experience. The maximum exemption you can gain is half of the Diploma course. Exemptions are not allowed for the Certificate. Full details of how to apply for exemptions are included with each unit. Requests for exemption are considered on a unit by unit basis.

Help and Support

For advice and help with all aspects of the courses, tutors can be contacted by letter, phone, fax or email. There are online forums to encourage student discussions about each Unit and about each of our supported GIS packages. SKYPE is supported as a means of facilitating direct, cost-free, video discussion between students and tutors. Your progress is constantly monitored and you will be contacted at regular intervals to discuss your work and provide support.

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