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Read full story → Admissions open — Fall 2026 · Online + Field Labs
Make maps that move the world
MAP Academy is the Awwwards-grade school for cartographers, GIS analysts and spatial storytellers. Master QGIS, PostGIS, remote sensing, UAV photogrammetry and award-winning map design — from first coordinate to hired portfolio.
★ NEW: AI-Assisted Cartography
● About MAP Academy
We teach the art & science of where
Founded in 2018 by field cartographers and open-data hackers, MAP Academy (map-academy.net) grew from a tiny Lisbon map studio into the world's most creative geospatial school. We blend rigorous GIS science with graphic design, storytelling and code — so your maps don't just inform, they win awards and get you hired.
FIG.01 — Field studio, Dolomites 2025. 42 students, 12 drones, 1 storm.
Why 12,800+ learners chose us
- Project-first: 23 real portfolio maps, not quizzes. From slum upgrading in Nairobi to wildfire risk in California.
- Tool-agnostic mastery: QGIS, ArcGIS Pro, PostGIS, Python (GeoPandas), GEE, Blender, Figma + MapLibre.
- Mentors from industry: ex-Mapbox, UN Mappers, National Geographic cartographers.
- Career engine: 1:1 portfolio reviews, GIS job board, freelance client pipeline.
- Open ethos: 40% of lectures free, all data open, scholarships for Global South.
23Portfolio projects
140hLive + video
38Expert mentors
∞Lifetime access
2018 — ORIGIN
Garage mapsFirst 12 students in Lisbon learn hand-drawn relief shading.
2021 — SCALE
GIS Pro online10k learners, QGIS + Python track launches.
2024 — FIELD
Drone & LiDAR labsUAV mapping expeditions in Iceland, Morocco, Alps.
2026 — FUTURE
AI CartographerGenerative styling, real-time 3D globes, digital twins.
● Programs 2026
Choose your expedition
Three flagship tracks. All include live critiques, GIS certification, career support and lifetime community.
Bestseller · 12 weeks
CARTOGRAPHY & DESIGN
Typography, color, hillshade, print + interactive. Make beautiful maps for media, studios and brands.
€890
- Blender relief + Figma
- MapLibre & D3.js
- 5 portfolio pieces
Pro · 16 weeks
GIS ANALYST PRO
Spatial analysis, PostGIS, Python, remote sensing. The hiring track for NGOs, gov & tech.
€1,190
- QGIS + PostGIS + GEE
- GeoPandas automation
- Esri & GISP prep
Field + Online · 10 days
DRONE & 3D MAPPING
UAV piloting, photogrammetry, LiDAR, digital twins. Fly, capture, process, deliver.
€1,490
- DJI + Pix4D + Metashape
- Alps field camp
- Commercial license help
● Curriculum
From zero to hired mapper in 5 stages
1
Foundations of Where
Projections, datums, OSM, geodata ethics. Your first 3 maps in week 1.
Projections, datums, OSM, geodata ethics. Your first 3 maps in week 1.
2
GIS Power Tools
QGIS deep-dive, PostGIS queries, spatial joins, suitability modeling.
QGIS deep-dive, PostGIS queries, spatial joins, suitability modeling.
3
Remote Sensing & Python
Sentinel-2, Google Earth Engine, GeoPandas automation, NDVI, change detection.
Sentinel-2, Google Earth Engine, GeoPandas automation, NDVI, change detection.
4
Design That Wins
Visual hierarchy, fonts for maps, storytelling, interactive MapLibre sites.
Visual hierarchy, fonts for maps, storytelling, interactive MapLibre sites.
5
Portfolio & Career
Capstone for real client, mock interviews, Upwork + UN jobs playbook.
Capstone for real client, mock interviews, Upwork + UN jobs playbook.
● Student Lab
Maps made by students
4,200+
MAPS PUBLISHED
MAPS PUBLISHED
18
DESIGN AWARDS
DESIGN AWARDS
120TB
SATELLITE DATA PROCESSED
SATELLITE DATA PROCESSED
96%
WOULD RECOMMEND
WOULD RECOMMEND
● Mentors & voices
Learn from obsessed mapmakers
★★★★★
"I came from graphic design. In 4 months I got a GIS job at a climate NGO. My wildfire-risk map is now used by 3 municipalities."
Sofia Marin
GIS Analyst, Barcelona
GIS Analyst, Barcelona
★★★★★
"The drone camp in the Alps changed everything. I now run my own UAV mapping business — 27 paid flights in 6 months."
Jonas Keller
UAV Pilot, Zurich
UAV Pilot, Zurich
★★★★★
"Best online school, period. Live critiques are brutal in the best way. My portfolio got featured and recruiters started writing to me."
Amara Okafor
Cartographer, Lagos
Cartographer, Lagos
● Journal / News
Latest dispatches
Tutorials, expedition diaries, GIS career guides and open-data drops. Updated weekly by our instructors.
● FAQ
Questions?
Answered.
Still unsure? Write to us — a human mentor replies within 24h. No bots, no sales pressure.
Do I need experience to start?
No. 60% start from zero. Foundations week covers everything, and mentors adapt tasks to your level — designer, developer or geographer.
Which software will I learn?
QGIS, PostGIS, Python (GeoPandas), Google Earth Engine, MapLibre GL, Blender for relief, Figma for layout. All with free / open licenses except optional ArcGIS Pro trial.
Is it online or in-person?
Core is live-online (evenings CET + recordings). Drone track adds optional 10-day field camp in the Alps with all equipment included.
Will I get a certificate and job help?
Yes: verifiable MAP Academy + GISP-aligned certificate, portfolio review, mock interviews, access to 180+ hiring partners and freelance board.
What if I fall behind?
Lifetime access + free repeat of any cohort. Plus 1:1 catch-up calls and weekend labs.
● FALL 2026 — ONLY 48 SEATS PER TRACK
Your portfolio
starts with one map.
Early-bird −20% until Oct 15. Scholarship for 5 students.
● Contact / Enroll
Talk to a mentor
Tell us your goal — career switch, freelance, academic research — and we'll recommend the track + send syllabus.
Campus & online
HQ: Herengracht 420, Amsterdam
FIELD BASE: Chamonix, Alps
EMAIL: hello [at] map-academy.net
HOURS: Mon–Fri 9:00–18:00 CET
