The organization of the space in which we live results from the impact of man on his natural surroundings. It comes from a great many decisions, taken long ago or recently, which have shaped our environment by adapting it to our needs, for better and for worse. These decisions have stimulated development and also created imbalances : more productive world agriculture, industrial concentrations, urbanization, trade at every level, increase in average well-being, but also delocalization, pollution, damage to land, deforestation, erosion of biodiversity or climate change. Geography studies the mechanisms which have led to all these effects, in order to control them better. 

The objective of the training with a research focus is an introduction to the three fundamental aspects of the work of a geographer:

• to observe and describe the environment, especially with computerized databases and advanced satellite observation technology and monitoring the state of the environment through different kinds of measurements ;
• to understand and explain the processes that have been observed, especially by building models which enable them to be simulated;
• to manage resources through land development.

Students will develop skills in the field of geography and especially in the study of the interactions between human activities, geographical space and the natural environment. This is done from the perspective of both human and physical geography: it is important to bring them together. The training also provides students with the geographical techniques necessary for the study of this.

The research focus prepares students for a range of different jobs in the public and private sector or in the voluntary field as well as for being a researcher.

The teaching focus is a specially adapted programme which focuses on teaching at the higher levels of secondary education.  

The teaching strategy takes its inspiration from the idea of ‘taking responsibility for one’s own learning’ and offers a wide range of learning situations. The courses are focused on problems in society: environmental changes, mobility, urbanization, globalization and developing countries. Activities such as seminars and integrated exercises are carried out in advanced areas of geographical research. Ability to use advanced methods of geographical analysis is an important objective of the training: geographical modeling, geographical information systems and satellite teledetection.

Practical work gives students the opportunity of dealing with concrete problems and finding solutions to them, often in small groups. The computer rooms with special software for geographical analysis are always open to students. In the first year of the Master, the field work consists of a week of supervised exercises in the Alps or Spain. This is compulsory in the first year of the Master. Students who choose a research focus must do a second field course in the second year.

Students doing the teaching focus may do advanced teaching in mathematics, physics or geography.

It is possible to take courses in English. Not only will this help UCL students to become better acquainted with the language, but will also enable Erasmus students from abroad to take a semester of courses in English.  

Advanced courses are given by many visiting lecturers from different foreign institutions and some Belgian ones. These are mostly in English.