Physical Geography: Climate and Environmental Sciences (MSc)

Our international master’s program in Climate and Environmental Sciences covers a wide range of subjects and allows for specialisations in the fields of Climate Research, Geoinformatics, and Environmental Analysis. Students are encouraged to select their courses from a wider range of alternative offers and get an in-depth education according to their personal field of interest. Thus, they can shape their individual profile by attending seminars on research methods and writing their master’s thesis in one of the three research focus areas.

The program is conceived broadly from a methodological point of view. Within the frame of ambitious and innovative courses, students can develop their own projects and deal with questions of major practical and societal relevance.

In addition, students become actively involved in ongoing research projects. They play an active role in the organisation of research and participate in the production of knowledge. Accordingly, this master’s program does not only provide students with a firm theoretical background, but also hands-on training and an introduction to state of the art scientific methodology. It helps them to acquire further employment-oriented skills such as autonomous project development, project implementation, and academic writing. Field trips and academic projects give additional opportunity to sharpen students’ fieldwork skills. Innovative teaching concepts enable them to work in interdisciplinary contexts and to contribute to the solution of space-related problems.

Environmental research, paleoclimatology, and climate impact research are our institute’s main fields of work. We conduct research projects all over the world with a particular focus on high mountainous areas. This research is to some extent unique in Germany and highly renowned worldwide.

• Above average Bachelor degree in (Physical) Geography or a related study program (Agricultural Science, Forestry, Landscape Ecology, Geoinformatics, Ecosystem Management, Environmental Engineering, B. Ed. in Geography, Climate and Environmental Sciences). Applicants with a grade of 2.3 and better (according to the German grading system) are admitted immediately after examination of their documents. Applicants with a grade up to 2.5 are invited to a selection interview. Applicants with a grade worse than 2.5 cannot be admitted.
• Language: Confirmation of the required English level B2 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, or an equivalent score in an internationally recognised test, e.g. IELTS 5.5, TOEFL pbt 552. The proficiency of a basic knowledge of German (comparable to level A1) has to be proven within the first academic year. FAU actively supports your efforts to learn German.

• Semester 1-3: Specialisation in your field of study
  The first three semesters are dedicated to your individual specialisation, in particular a diversified methodological training. You choose courses in your selected focus area and apply your acquired knowledge and skills during a field trip towards the end of the second semester. In the frame of a training research course, you pursue your own project and get actively involved in organisation and logistics of research, data acquisition and analysis, knowledge production and knowledge transfer.
• Semester 4: Master’s Thesis
  The fourth semester is dedicated to the Master’s thesis, which you will prepare upon close consultation with your supervisor.

Currently, the degree program offers specialisations in Climate Research, Geoinformatics, and Environmental Analysis.

You gain in-depth knowledge and methodological skills in fields such as GIS (Geographic Information System) and remote sensing, geo databases, climate modelling, ecological modelling, time series analysis, vegetation ecology, dendroecology, and soil science lab methods.

The program is taught in English and prepares students for the international job market. It has a clear research focus and qualifies participants for a PhD at a University or for scientific work in research institutions or governmental agencies. Graduates also qualify for a large variety of exciting and challenging positions in consulting, management, or public services.