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Master of Science (MSc) Thesis-based in Geomatics Engineering

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Completion requirement

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements and the Schulich School of Engineering requirements, the Department normally requires:

a) A minimum of 12 units at the graduate level, with no fewer than 6 units of Geomatics Engineering specific graduate courses.

b) Professional Development Seminars (course and course).

c) A thesis related to original engineering research.


Independent Study Courses

Thesis-based Master's students can have no more than one independent study course count towards their degree requirements.

Completion requirement

Advanced Credit

The applicant must make Advanced Credit requests as part of the admission process, in consultation with the proposed supervisor and the Graduate Director. Credit will not be given for course work taken as part of another completed degree/diploma or for courses taken to bring the grade point average to a required level for admission. Students who receive advanced course credit when admitted to a master’s program may be able to accelerate the completion of their degree.


Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade)

Students admitted to the Schulich School of Engineering will not be allowed to request the Flexible Grade Option (CG Grade) for any course that is applicable to their degree; or apply any course awarded a grade of CG towards their graduation requirements.

Students may choose the CG grade for a course taken extra to load.

The use of the CG grade will affect students' eligibility for internal awards.


Credit for Undergraduate Courses

Not applicable.


Time Limit

Typical completion time is one to two years for full-time students in a master's program. Maximum completion time is four years.

See individual program pages on the Future Students website: https://grad.ucalgary.ca/future-students/explore-programs.


Other Information

  • Students enrolled in any of the engineering graduate programs may opt, in addition to their normal required course load, to undertake an international project outside Canada. The duration of the project should be between 4 and 6 months. Upon successful completion (on a credit/fail basis) of Engineering 689, the statement “International Graduate Internship Project” will appear on the parchment. The course is not repeatable for credit.

  • Graduate students have the opportunity to participate in the Transformative Talent Internship option.

  • In addition, the Department offers a designated set of graduate courses in each of the specialization areas and interdisciplinary areas. Additional graduate courses are offered as Special Studies and Project courses. The Department also offers a Distinguished International Lecturer Series, which consists of approximately four to five courses offered annually by invited professors and researchers.

Completion requirement

Supervisory Assignments

Supervisors and supervisory committees are assigned according to the Faculty of Graduate Studies regulations (see academic regulations) and are approved by the Department Head or the Graduate Program Director.


Research Proposal Requirements

A thesis proposal accepted by the supervisor is required no later than 16 months after initial registration. Contents of the thesis, reflecting an applied approach to a problem, should contain new elements of engineering principles and applications.

The thesis proposal should include the following:

1. Statement of the problem.

2. Research objectives.

3. Literature review.

4. Methodology and procedures.

5. Outline of thesis contents.

6. Proposed time schedule.

7. Bibliography and references.

The Master of Science thesis proposal requirements, including the outline of the proposal’s contents, are the same as those for the Master of Engineering (thesis-based). The thesis topic, however, should deal with original theoretical or practical research in Geomatics Engineering.


Required Examinations

The Schulich School of Engineering has established common minimum examination requirements for all its graduate programs. Departments and graduate programs may have additional requirements over and above those of the Schulich School of Engineering.

Thesis Examination

In addition to the Faculty of Graduate Studies requirements for Thesis Examinations, the Schulich School of Engineering minimum requirements are as follows:

Composition of the Committee

The examining committee consists of: the Supervisor, an additional member of the University of Calgary academic staff, and Internal Examiner who may be internal to the home program. If applicable, the Co-Supervisor will also be part of the committee. The examination is chaired by a neutral chair (non-voting), proposed by the Department Head or Graduate Director. The examining committee must be approved by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

The student shall make a public twenty-minute presentation of their thesis research, normally immediately before the oral examination. Examining committee members should attend this presentation but should refrain from asking questions. The maximum allowable two-hour examination period does not include the time spent on student presentation.

Completion requirement

Thesis-based candidates are typically admitted with financial support provided by an interested supervisor, the department, or an official organization. For information on awards, see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this Calendar.

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