Teaching team includes external collaborators: researchers, private GISc consultants, and GISc professionals working in private industry and public bodies. Learning resources include a virtual learning environment, GIS software (ArcGIS, free to UK-based students, and IDRISI, available at student rates), GIS practicals (ESRI Virtual Campus, IDRISI and selfcontained) and e-library facilities. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF), Sociology at Birkbeck was ranked 13th in the UK.

To be considered for direct entry to a Master's degree at Birkbeck, you will normally be required to have successfully completed a Bakalavr/Specialist Diploma from a recognised university with a minimum final grade of 3.5 for programmes requiring a UK 2:2