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QGIS Desktop GIS Mapping

Introduction to QGIS

Master the fundamentals of desktop GIS using QGIS, the world's leading open source geographic information system. Hands-on, practitioner-taught, and immediately applicable to your real-world mapping and analysis needs.

3 Days
On-site or Remote
Certificate Included
View Dates & Book Learn More
Introduction to QGIS
Expert Instructors
Hands-on Learning
Course Materials
Post-Course Support

Course Overview

This comprehensive introductory course provides participants with a solid foundation in desktop GIS concepts and practices using QGIS. Participants will learn how to create, edit,analyse, and visualise spatial data through hands-on exercises and real-world examples.

The course covers essential GIS workflows including data acquisition, layer management, coordinate reference systems, spatial analysis, and map production. By the end of the course, participants will be confident in using QGIS for their day-to-day mapping and spatial analysis needs.

What You Will Learn

  • Installing and navigating the QGIS interface
  • Understanding and managing coordinate reference systems and projections
  • Styling and symbolising maps for effective visualisation
  • Using the field calculator and expressions
  • Installing and using QGIS plugins
  • Working with vector and raster data formats
  • Creating and editing spatial data
  • Performing basic spatial analysis and geoprocessing operations
  • Creating print-ready maps with the layout manager
  • Best practices for data organisation and project management

Who Should Attend

This course is ideal for:

  • GIS beginners with no prior experience
  • Professionals transitioning from proprietary GIS software
  • Researchers and academics working with spatial data
  • Environmental consultants and urban planners
  • NGO staff and government employees
  • Anyone who needs to work with geographic data

No prior GIS experience is required, though basic computer literacy is expected.

Prerequisites

  • Basic computer skills

  • Interest in working with maps and spatial data

  • Laptop with QGIS installed (we can help with installation)

Course Materials

Comprehensive course workbook

Illustrated step-by-step exercises for every module

Sample datasets for exercises

Real spatial data used throughout the course

Quick reference guides

Keep these open while you work in QGIS

Certificate of completion

Issued through the Kartoza GIS Academy

30-day post-course email support

Questions answered by your trainer after the course

Free and open source tools only

QGIS is free — no software licence costs ever

Choose Your Training Session

Select a date, venue, and number of attendees below. We offer flexible options to suit your needs.

No Scheduled Sessions Yet

We don't have any public sessions scheduled for this course at the moment, but we can arrange custom training for your team.

Request Custom Training

Why Train With Kartoza?

Join thousands of professionals who have advanced their careers with our training

Industry Experts

Learn from practitioners who contribute to open source projects and work with organiations worldwide.

Practical Focus

Our courses emphasize hands-on exercises and real-world scenarios you can apply immediately.

Customized Training

We tailor content to your team's specific needs, data, and workflows for maximum relevance.

Open Source Leaders

As major contributors to QGIS, PostGIS, and other projects, we teach from deep expertise.

"Kartoza's training transformed how our team approaches GIS. The hands-on approach and expert guidance gave us skills we use every day."
Training Participant GIS Professional