In September 1999, the Department of Geomatic Engineering at University
College London (UCL) introduced a new MSc in Hydrographic Surveying, in partnership
with the Port of London Authority (PLA). In May 2001 this degree programme
was approved by the courses board of the International Hydrographic
Organisation and the International Federation of Surveyors as a Category A
course. The aim of this article is to explain the background to the partnership
between UCL and the PLA, and to describe how the course has been designed to
meet the IHO/FIG criteria
