Program overview
Geodesy and Surveying Engineering — in simple terms, it's about learning how to precisely measure the Earth's shape, size, and gravity field, and how to use satellites, drones, and ground instruments to 'take a CT scan' of the Earth. Core courses include satellite navigation and positioning (e.g., GPS, BeiDou), fundamentals of geodesy, error theory and data processing, engineering surveying, photogrammetry and remote sensing, and more. You'll learn to operate equipment like total stations, GNSS receivers, and laser scanners, and also get hands-on with programming (Python, MATLAB) to process massive datasets. This major suits students who enjoy math and physics, have an interest in space technology, and are willing to work with instruments and do fieldwork (though many tasks can now be done indoors). Chinese universities have a strong edge in this field — for example, Wuhan University, Tongji University, and China University of Mining and Technology — not only with advanced equipment but also through close integration with national mega-projects like the BeiDou satellite system, high-speed rail, and subways, giving you access to cutting-edge practical projects.