International applicants

Studying to become a land surveyor or a geomatics engineer in Québec

Université Laval is the only institution in Québec offering programs (4 years) to become a land surveyor or a geomatics engineer. To qualify for these professional titles and the professional orders that govern them in Québec, you must hold a bachelor’s degree equivalent to a North American undergraduate degree.

The Baccalauréat en sciences géomatiques (Bachelor’s Degree in Geomatics Sciences, BSc) is required to be admitted into the Ordre des arpenteurs-géomètres du Québec and perform the work reserved for professional land surveyors.
The Baccalauréat en génie géomatique (Bachelor’s Degree in Geomatics Engineering, B.Eng.) is required to be admitted into the Ordre des ingénieurs du Québec and to use the title of geomatics engineer.

The difference between a land surveyor and a geomatics engineer

A land surveyor is a public officer who is an expert in property boundaries. Land surveyors have the exclusive right to carry out all surveying operations on private or public property (staking, boundary determination, certificate of location, etc.) as well as related mapping, geodesy, and photogrammetry work.
Geomatics engineers are experts in satellite positioning technologies, geospatial databases, satellite imagery, Internet mapping, augmented reality, and 3D modeling. They provide highly precise information essential to many fields.

Application for professional status for foreign-trained applicants

Are you an internationally trained professional who would like to work in your field? In Québec, the right to practice certain professions is regulated by the Québec government. You may be asked to meet certain requirements. Learn more on the requirements for working as a:

Land surveyor (building surveyor) from the Ordre des arpenteurs-géomètres du Québec (OAGQ)
Geomatics engineer from the Ordre des Ingénieurs du Québec (OIQ)

Labour mobility agreement between France and Quebec

Labour mobility agreements have been signed between France and Québec for land surveyors and geomatics engineers so that each can practice in France as well as in Québec under certain conditions.

Mobility agreement for land surveyors (in French only)
Mobility agreement for geomatics engineers (in French only)

Graduate studies in geomatics

Our graduate programs train specialists, managers, and researchers capable of contributing to our knowledge of the land and improving land management practices. Depending on your goals and interests, you could broaden your knowledge of remote sensing, mobile mapping, satellite positioning, geographic information systems (GIS), 3D modelling, geospatial databases, cadastre, augmented reality, image processing and artificial intelligence, geoinformatics, and more.

Graduate programs

Maîtrise en sciences géomatiques avec mémoire (Master’s Degree in Geomatics with thesis, MSc)
Maîtrise professionnelle en sciences géomatiques – géomatique appliquée (Master’s Degree in Applied Geomatics, MScs)
Microprogramme de 2^e cycle en géomatique (Short Graduate Program in Geomatics – distance or in-class)
Doctorat en sciences géomatiques (Doctorate in Geomatics, PhD)

Geomatics research projects

Are you interested in pursuing a research master’s degree or a PhD? Are you looking for a dynamic and exciting multidisciplinary research environment? Research opportunities are numerous and varied (big data, AI, LiDAR, mapping and web services, 3D modelling, geovisualization, GIS, cadastre, etc.). The vast majority of projects provide funding and are carried out in partnership with industry and/or government. We invite you to browse the list of faculty members and their areas of expertise.

LIST OF FACULTY MEMBERS AND AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Find your research project

You can also check out the research opportunities for graduate students currently available in the Department of Geomatics Sciences.

FIND YOUR RESEARCH PROJECT

Distance learning in geomatics

We offer several distance learning courses as well as two programs:

Certificat en géomatique (Certificate in Geomatics – 10 courses)
Microprogramme de 2e cycle en géomatique (Short Graduate Program in Geomatics – 5 courses)

Useful links for international applicants

Find useful information on admission requirements, tuition fees, scholarships, and immigration procedures: