Cartographer

You can take a degree in a subject that includes data gathering and analysis, such as:

• geography
• geographical information systems (GIS)
• land surveying
• earth sciences
• oceanography
• meteorology

Employers may also accept degrees in other subjects like computer science, software engineering or graphic design.

A postgraduate qualification may help you to find work in a specialist field of cartography like GIS.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

• a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

You could apply to an organisation to do an apprenticeship, such as:

• Geospatial Survey Technician Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Geospatial Mapping and Science Specialist Level 6 Degree Apprenticeship
• Spatial Data Specialist Level 7 Degree Apprenticeship

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide

You may be able to start as a trainee cartographic or GIS technician and work your way up through training and promotion.

Employers may want you to have:

• an apprenticeship in geospatial surveying or similar field
• A levels in geography, mathematics or computing
• a qualification equivalent to A level standard, for example a diploma in applied science

You can apply to become a geographic technician with the Army , or join the Royal Air Force and train as an aviation data analyst (air cartographer).

At the end of your service, you could use your experience to find work in commercial cartography and mapping.

Career Tips

You can find opportunities to work as a cartographer in the public and private sector with:

• Ordnance Survey
• local and national government departments
• transport companies
• mapping and publishing companies
• surveying and energy companies

Professional and Industry Bodies

You could join the British Cartographic Society for networking, information resources and career development support.

Further Information

You can find out more about a career in cartography from:

• the British Cartographic Society
• Ordnance Survey

As a cartographer, you could:

• analyse data from sensors on drones, planes and satellites
• survey areas using laser scanning methods and 360-degree cameras
• design 2D and 3D maps in different formats
• check maps and charts are accurate and to scale
• edit maps to capture changes to roads, buildings and landmarks
• use GIS to analyse and model landscapes
• plot the heights and positions of geographical features from photographs
• carry out surveys of land, sea or coastal areas

You could work in an office.

Your working environment may be outdoors some of the time.