Master of Science in Earth Sciences

The Master’s degree programme in Earth Sciences offers in-depth scientific training in the Earth and Planetary Sciences and Environmental Earth Sciences majors. Students are instructed in independent scientific work, and they acquire in-depth knowledge of terrain-based and analytical methods as well as the handling of data and models. Successful completion of the Master’s degree qualifies students for an academic career in the field of science and research as well as for a professional career, particularly at Geological Surveys, Geological companies, Space Agencies, and the private industry sector (e.g.: Raw materials industry, civil engineering companies). Environmental Earth Sciences Major: Our Earth is under pressure – pollution, droughts, erosion, landslides, and floods are just a few of the mounting challenges. Climate change stands as the most alarming consequence, threatening the well-being of future generations. These complex and interconnected issues demand bold solutions and innovative thinking. Ensuring the stability of the Earth system has become a central task for global society now and in the future. At the University of Freiburg, the Environmental Earth Sciences Major empowers you to confront these challenges head-on. Tackling complex environmental problems and natural hazards – both natural and human-induced – requires interdisciplinary approaches. Learn how to recognise these complex interrelationships within the Earth system. Develop solutions to today’s challenges by focusing on the interactions among the geosphere, pedosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere—and understand their connections with the anthroposphere. Create strategies for sustainable management of the Earth system and gain the skills to implement innovative and sustainable environmental technologies. Our interdisciplinary approach equips you with a deep understanding of the Earth’s surface processes and the skills to craft practical, sustainable solutions. Earth and Planetary Science Major: The Earth and Planetary Science Major at the University of Freiburg is the first Master's degree programme of its kind in Germany, in which Earth Sciences and Planetary Sciences are treated jointly and in a comparative mode. With a steadily growing number of space missions, planetology is becoming increasingly important. The interdisciplinary programme is aimed at all Bachelor’s graduates who have a natural science background and have acquired some geoscientific skills. In this Master’s programme, you will learn the basic processes and methods that are the indispensable tools of both earth scientists and planetologists. These include, for example, advanced remote sensing, chemical-mineralogical rock and mineral analysis, as well as quantitative modelling based on geophysical data. The lecturers in the major are involved in various space missions on the one hand and carry out various research projects on Earth on the other, so that there is a close link with current research projects.