MSc Geography is a 2-year postgraduate program that can be pursued after completion of a bachelor's degree in geography. It is the study of the earth and its relation with humans and its effect, which usually includes the distribution of population and resources, economic and political activities.
To apply for this program, the applicant should hold a bachelor's degree in geography with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognized university.
The subjects that are taught during the course of study are Geographical thoughts, Dynamic geography, Economic geography, Man & Natural environment, Quantitative techniques in geography, Climatology & oceanography, etc. Students learn skills that are quite unique like geographical information systems, cartography etc.
The average fees charged for the course is around INR 3,000 - INR 10,000 per annum in public institutes and around INR 20,000 - INR 50,000 per annum in private institutes.
After completion of the program, the graduates can work in both academic and industrial sectors. Some of the areas of employment for them in India are Pollution Control Boards, Forestry & Environmental Consultancy, Ministry of Environment & Forest, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Geological Survey of India, etc.
The graduates can work as a Lecturer, Research fellow, Geographic Information systems (GIS) analyst, Geographer, Cartographer, Marine Geologists, Oceanographer, Operations Manager, Senior executive assistant, Geoscientist, Urban & Regional Planner, Climate Change Analyst, Environmental consultant, Conservation officer, Landscape architect, etc
The average MSc Geography salary of fresh graduates is expected to be INR 2.35 lakh to INR 6.5 lakh per annum.
| Course level | Postgraduate |
| Full-form | Master of Science in Geography |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Examination Type | University level (if exams are conducted) |
| Eligibility | Bachelors of Science in Geography with minimum 50% marks |
| Admission Process | Merit-based |
| Course Fees | INR 3,000-10,000 per annum in public institutes and around INR 20,000-50,000 per annum in private institutes. |
| Average Salary | INR 3,98,000 per annum |
| Areas of employment | The academic and industrial sector Pollution Control Boards, Forestry & Environmental Consultancy, Indian Bureau of Mines, Ministry of Environment & Forest, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Geological Survey of India, Ground Water Survey & Development Agency, Petroleum Sector, Coal industry, etc. |
| Job Positions | Lecturer, Research fellow, Geographic Information systems (GIS) analyst, Geographer, Cartographer, Marine Geologists, Oceanographer, Operations Manager, Senior executive assistant, etc. |
- It is a postgraduate degree program of 2 years that deals with the study of earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere and its relation with the people.
- The geographers are taught both the physical properties of the earth’s surface and the human societies spread across it.
- The students are taught to analyze the patterns in all the spheres, examine the historic and recent changes in the natural environment, and studies related to the socio-cultural aspects, resource economy, and burning problems like floods, deforestation, and environmental degradation at the regional level.
- The course helps to develop skills in geographic information science, cartography, remote sensing, fluvial geomorphology, and world language.
- The subjects that are taught are Regional Planning, Political Geography, Population Geography, etc.
- The course can help the students to get jobs in both the public and private sectors.
Why MSc Geography?
- Geography is enormously an important subject. Those who chose to study this are creating a huge difference in the world we live in. They bring together the physical dimensions of the world with the human side of things and thus help to minimize the negative human impact on the environment.
- Geographers are required to help find solutions to some of the biggest issues in the world, such as climate change, urban over-development, natural disasters, etc. With the development of human society, global issues are increasing and thus the employment opportunities are also growing exponentially.
- There is a broad range of career options after MSc Geography like Geographic Information systems (GIS) analyst, Geographer, Cartographer, Marine Geologists, Oceanographer, Operations Manager, Senior executive assistant, etc.
- Some of the skills learned during the course are quite unique and can also be marketed on their own, like cartographic (maps), Geographic Information Systems (Google maps), and data presentation skills.
MSc Geography Admission Process
The admissions into most of the colleges are either based on the previous academic records or through the postgraduate entrance examination conducted by the institute. The steps involved in the admission process are given below.
- Fill the online or offline application form.
- Upload all the documents required or send it along with the post.
- Pay the application fees online or a demand draft in the name of the institute.
- Merit-list of the selected students will be released in a few months, based on the marks uploaded by the students.
Read more about MSc Geography Admission Cutoffs
MSc Geography Eligibility
The candidates who want to pursue MSc Geography should:
- Complete a bachelor's degree, either BA or BSc, in Geography.
- Score a minimum of at least 50% marks in their bachelor's program from a recognized university.
- Be physically fit and healthy to be able to work in the fields.
MSc Geography Entrance Exams
No particular exam is conducted for admission into the MSc Geography. The colleges conduct their own exam or select students based on merit.
Some of the colleges based entrance exams are given in the table below.
| Entrance Exams | Registration | Exam Dates |
|---|---|---|
| CUET PG | April 2023 | June 1 – 10, 2023 |
| BITSAT | February 2023 | June 2023 |
| NEST | February 2023 | June 2023 |
| IIT JAM | September 07 – October 11, 2023 | February 12, 2023 |
| DUET | April 2023 | July 2023 |
| TISS NET | December 14 – January 15, 2023 | January 28 – February 28, 2023 |
*Most of these exam dates and application processes have been postponed due to Covid 19.
How to Prepare for MSc Geography Entrance exams?
- Geography can be a very tricky subject sometimes because of its vast application of maps and locations. Remembering everything accurately can be a challenge.
- If the candidates want to crack the MSc Geography entrance exam, they will have to remember all the terms and names of places very accurately.
Here are some of the tips which will help students prepare for these entrance exam:
- They should revise all the tricky chapters regularly. There are chances that they will forget the data very soon if they don't revise regularly.
- Try to have an upper hand on maps. Practice as much map work as you can to gain accuracy and speed.
- Make charts and mind-maps for quick revision on a regular basis.
How to get admission in good colleges?
- The admission into this program is purely based on merit. So to be able to get selected in the good colleges, the candidates will have to prepare beforehand.
- They will have to score good marks in their bachelor's program.
- The institutes for MSc nursing will select the students based on their academic performance during the bachelor's program.
MSc Geography Syllabus
The table below describes MSc Geography syllabus in detail for all the different semesters of the course. Some of the subjects might vary from college to college as it is not fixed.
| Semester | Syllabus |
|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Geographical Thought I |
| Dynamic Geography | |
| Economic Geography | |
| Man and Natural Environment | |
| Quantitative Techniques in Geography | |
| Semester 2 | Geographical Thought II |
| Climatology & Oceanography | |
| Principles and Theory of Economic Geography | |
| Man and Natural Environment | |
| Quantitative Techniques in Geography | |
| Semester 3 | Advanced Geography in India |
| Agricultural Geography | |
| Disaster Perception and Management | |
| Urban Geography | |
| Regional Planning | |
| Political Geography | |
| Water Resource and their Management | |
| Research Methodology | |
| Semester 4 | Geography of Rajasthan |
| Agricultural Geography | |
| Climatology | |
| Industrial Geography | |
| Fundamentals of Remote Sensing | |
| Biogeography | |
| Water Resource and their Management | |
| Applied Geography |
MSc Geography Colleges in India
Have a look at the table below to find which all colleges offer this course in India and what is the fee charged by them.
| Name of the College | Admission Process | Annual course fees |
|---|---|---|
| Presidency College, Chennai | Merit-based | INR 925 |
| Queen Mary's College, Chennai | Based on counseling | INR 622 |
| Lady Brabourne College, Kolkata | Merit-based | INR 34,267 |
| Nirmala College for Women, Coimbatore | Merit-based | INR 2,855 |
| S. S Jain Subodh PG college, Jaipur | Merit-based | INR 19,000 |
Source: College Website
Top Universities
The following are some universities which are not ranked by agencies but offer good curriculum in MSc Geography.
| Name of the University | Admission Process | Annual course fees |
|---|---|---|
| Kavayitri Bahinabai Chaudhary North Maharashtra University, Jalgaon | Merit-based | INR 1,000 |
| Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh | Merit-based | INR 26,380 |
| Kanoria PG Mahila Mahavidyalaya, Jaipur | Merit-based | INR 7,850 |
| Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar | LPUNEST | INR 76,000 |
| Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University, Kanpur | Entrance- based | INR 24,000 |
Source: College Websites and NIRF data
College Comparison
The following table compares some of the best MSc Geography colleges in India based on their ranking, fees, etc.
| Top Colleges | Presidency College, Chennai | Queen Mary's College, Chennai | Dibrugarh University, Assam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overview | It is the first institute established by the British India Government. It is among the top colleges in India with an international reputation for education and research. | It is known for its women-centered programs in humanities, social sciences, life sciences, nutrition & home management, Physical education, and Indian music. | It is a leading research and innovation-driven university in north-east India. |
| Ranking | #3 by NIRF 2019 among top colleges | #40 by NIRF among top colleges | #86 by NIRF 2019 among top universities |
| Admission Process | Merit-based | Merit and counselling | Merit-based |
| Annual course fees | INR 925 | INR 622 | INR 26,380 |
| Average salary package | INR 1,56,000 | INR 1,80,000 | INR 3,34,000 |
Source : College Websites and NIRF data
Want to study MSc Geography abroad? Read more about Top Geography Colleges and Universities in the USA
Course Comparison
The following table compares some important aspects of MSc Geology and MSc Geography course.
| Parameters | MSc Geography | MSc Geology |
|---|---|---|
| Objective | This course deals with the segregation of the earth’s surface. | This course is an in-depth discipline on the study of the features of the earth on the ground level. |
| Overview | The study in the course helps to determine the physical features, type of weather, soil, plant life, populace, land use, industries, and regional separation. | The study in the course mainly explores mineral deposits, natural resources, precious gems, etc. |
| Course details | Its subdivisions include physical geography and human geography. And these both include subjects like Biogeography, Cartography, Climatology, GIS, Geomorphology, Historical geography, Pedology, Transportation geography, and urban geography. | Its subdivisions include mineralogy, structural geology, planetology, geomorphology, geological engineering, etc. |
| Job Profiles | The geographers can find employment in government departments, research institutes, private institutes, etc. | Geologists can find employment opportunities in the Geological Survey Department, Ground Water Board, Oil and Mining Companies, and so on. |
| Top Institutes | Presidency College Chennai, Queen Mary's College Chennai, Lady Brebourn College Kolkata | Loyola College, Banasthali Vidyapeeth, Nalanda Open University |
| Average Annual Fees | INR 3,000 to INR 50,000 | INR 20,000 to INR 1,00,000 |
| Average Annual Salary | INR 3,00,000 to INR 6,00,000 | INR 3,00,000 to INR 8,00,000 |
Source: College Websites
MSc Geography Job Prospects and Career Options
MSc Geography graduates can get jobs in both the public and private sectors.
- They can work in the field of urban and regional planning for the government.
- They can be employed in major consulting firms, to conduct innovative social research.
- They can work as a teacher or assistant professor in schools and colleges.
- They can work as physical geographers, who are involved in environmental management or advising on climate change adaptation.
- They can market their own skills as a GIS analyst, Cartographer, etc.
In government sectors the MSc Geography graduates can get jobs in Pollution Control Boards, Forestry and Environmental consultancy, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Geological Survey of India, Ground Water Survey and Development Agency, Indian Bureau of Mines, Petroleum Sector, Coal Industry.
Some of the MSc Geography job options and their description are mentioned below:
| Job Profile | Job Description | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| GIS Analyst | They have to deal with a large set of data, processing and analyzing it into user-focused displays like maps, graphs, charts, etc. The job requires a lot of time analyzing data and mapping software. They hold extensive knowledge and experience with GIS techniques, technology, principles, and also strong proficiency with computers that may include HTML, Python, ArcGIS, and Microsoft Office Software. | INR 2,47,250 |
| Cartographer | They usually create maps for businesses like logistics, that require modern and up-to-date geospatial graphical representation for field employees working in the surface, water, or air operations. The job involves working with extremely high tech equipment that creates satellite images. Through these images, they capture a variety of routing maps that can be used by the professions. | INR 3,00,000 |
| Geoscientist | They conduct research on earth's different facets to explore natural resources, observe & forecast natural hazards in atmosphere & hydrosphere, investigating & modeling of earth systems, etc. They usually spend time working in the field. They plan and conduct studies that involve traveling to a specific location and collecting samples. They also use tools like aerial photographs or drilling records. | INR 19,89,000 |
| Urban and regional planner | They are typically independent contractors hired by developers, private firms, government, and private property owners. Their work is to map out, most effective use of a community's land and infrastructure, based on a number of factors. They should know and adhere to local legislation and zoning codes, they must have knowledge about the infrastructure of the area they are developing and should consider future issues like traffic, crime, and sustainability. | INR 5,30,476 |
| High School Teacher | They teach the high school students and can also work as an assistant professor in colleges and universities. | INR 3,85,000 |
Source: Payscale Survey
MSc Geography Future Scope
- The graduates can either work as a cartographer, urban & regional planner, geospatial analyst, climate change analyst, environmental consultant, conservation officer, landscape architect, teacher/ lecturer, etc, or they can continue with further studies in Ph.D.
- They can apply for various competitive exams like UPSC and SSC, conducted by the state and central government departments. Through these exams, they can get placed in Telecom, the Educational sector, Military services, etc.
- They can apply for the NET exam conducted by UGC to work as an assistant lecturer.
- They can apply for probationary officer posts in various public sector banks. For this, they will have to qualify the entrance test carried out by the banks.
- They can apply for the entrance test carried out by Railway recruitment board for the posts in Indian Railway Traffic Service and Indian Railway accounts service.
MSc Geography FAQs
Ques. Is MSc Geography a good subject?
Ques. What is the difference between Geography and Geology?
Ques. How are admissions conducted for MSc Geography?
Ques. What are the best institutes for MSc Geography?
- Presidency College, Chennai (#3 by NIRF 2019 among the top colleges)
- Queen Mary's College, Chennai (#40 by NIRF 2019 among the top colleges)
- Dibrugarh University, Assam (#86 by NIRF 2019 among the top universities)
Ques. What are the job opportunities for MSc Geography graduates?
Ques. What are the areas of employment for MSc Geography graduates in India?
Ques. What is the average salary expected by the MSc Geography graduates?
Ques. What are the skills that the students learn while studying MSc Geography?
Ques. Can a B.Tech student do MSc in Geography?
Ques. Why is the syllabus of MSc Geography?
- Geographical Thought
- Dynamic Geography
- Economic Geography
- Man and Natural Environment
- Quantitative Techniques in Geography
- Climatology & Oceanography
- Principles and Theory of Economic Geography
- Advanced Geography in India
- Agricultural Geography
- Disaster Perception and Management
- Urban Geography
- Regional Planning
- Political Geography
- Water Resource and their Management
- Industrial Geography
- Fundamentals of Remote Sensing
- Biogeography
- Water Resource and their Management
- Applied Geography
Ques. Are there any institutes that conduct exams for MSc Geography?
- JNU
- DU
- BHU
Ques. Does any institute offer distance learning for MSc Geography?
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