MSc in Geology

The MSc in Geology at Aarhus University has both practical and theoretical approaches and involves classroom teaching and field excursions. Students learn how to analyse a geological problem by setting up a working model, collecting and analysing data from the field or laboratory, using it in numerical models, and producing a scientific report.

The programme is flexible and research-centred, encouraging students to expand their knowledge and tailor their research to suit their own personal and professional interests.
There are many different specialisations to choose from. The MSc programme is designed to address societal challenges and educate candidates to find solutions to my gate and monitor soil and water pollution, find suitable locations for green-energy systems, and produce solutions to various other climate issues

Specialized Research

Teaching in the programme is integrated with research at the highest international level and with a high degree of flexibility that makes it possible for the students to explore their own interests, both in the laboratories and in the field.

We offer the following four specialisations: Water, Climate, Energy and Deep earth systems.

The master's degree programme in geology is closely related to the Master's degree programme in, Geophysics, and the two programmes have many joint courses. A background in basic geophysics, calculus, programming and chemistry is assumed.

Students work closely with technical staff and with some of the best Danish and international researchers in the field. Teamwork is promoted to provide a forum for group research and discussion as well as opportunities to collaborate with private companies for research.

The thesis, which is heavily weighted, is a chance for students to tailor their degree to their own personal and career interests while benefiting from close collaboration with fellow students and faculty members.

Career

Graduates in geology from Aarhus University work in both the private and public sectors both in Denmark and abroad, with areas such as:

• Climate challenges
• Water supply
• Environment Purification and protection
• Foundation exploration for offshore wind turbines
• Geothermal energy
• Extraction of gravel, sand and metals
• Product development with geo-materials
• Groundwater mapping

Admission requirements

The following Bachelor’s degrees qualify students for admission to the Master’s degree programme in Geology:

• A Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Aarhus University or the University of Copenhagen.

Other degrees can provide admission to the Master’s degree programme, provided the university assesses that their level, extent and content correspond to the degrees mentioned above.

In the assessment of whether a bachelor's degree qualifies for admission to the MSc in Geology, Aarhus University considers the following to be important:

• It should be a Bachelor of Science degree with subject components within geology equaling 60 ECTS, including at least 10 ECTS within each of the following topical areas:
  • Petrology/structural geology/resource geology
  • Hydrogeology/hydrology
  • Quaternary geology/glaciology/climate
  • Sedimentology/stratigraphy/basins
• In addition, the program should include fundamental subject components equaling 30 ECTS within the majority of the following topics: Geophysics, programming, physics, chemistry, mathematics (calculus), probability theory and statistics.

In connection with possible admission, further requirements can be stipulated regarding the composition of the degree programme.

Language Requirements

Since English is the language of instruction in all subjects, all applicants are required to provide evidence of their English language proficiency.

Legal right of admission

Students with a Bachelor's degree programme in Geoscience at Aarhus University have the right to be admitted to the Master's degree programme in Geoscience on the condition that application is made for admission to the Master’s degree programme no later than three years after completion of the Bachelor’s degree programme. The legal right of admission requires receipt of the application by Aarhus University within the appropriate period of time.

Selection criteria

As the Master’s programme only admits a limited number of students each year, meeting the admission requirements does not in itself guarantee admission to the programme.

Allocation of student places is based on an overall assessment. In evaluating qualified applicants, the admissions committee assess applicants on the basis of the following criteria:

Academic background

• Overall grade level – Bachelor’s degree
• Grades achieved on relevant courses*
• Relevant courses* (measured in credit units) included in your Bachelor’s degree

* Relevant courses include core courses within the subject areas of Geology, Geophysics, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Probability theory, Statistics and Programming.

Please note that grades obtained after the time of application cannot be included in the assessment of grade level.

The admissions committee assess each applicant on the basis of the information provided in diplomas, transcripts, and course descriptions.

Programme structure

The Master’s degree in geology counts as 120 ECTS credits and consists of subjects within the 4 specializations. You specialize by participating in course activities and projects and by writing a thesis. The first year consists of coursework, while the second year is a research project that you can choose and is carried out under the supervision of a faculty member.

Before you arrive in Denmark, you structure your own individual study programme with the help of the study officer from the Department of Geoscience by choosing courses from a course catalogue. Your programme is based on your academic qualifications and interests and the subjects you studied for your Bachelor’s degree.

Forms of teaching

At the University of Aarhus, you are in close contact with researchers in a way that you rarely experience at other universities. The door to the professor’s office is always open if you need clarification of the study material, and you are encouraged to ask questions at lectures and during exercises. We make heavy demands on your academic skills and independence. In return, you gain considerable benefits in the form of academic challenges and scientific knowledge, in addition to broad competencies.

The teaching at the university focuses on independence, critical thinking and collaboration. Part of the teaching is in the form of lectures that introduce new angles to the material compared with the textbooks. The theoretical and practical exercises take place in small groups where you study relevant issues in depth. Depending on the courses taken and the thesis topic, most geology students spend a certain amount of time on laboratory work and work related to field courses. The degree programme also includes a number of excursions to key geological locations in Denmark and abroad.

The varied forms of teaching, collaboration in groups and the opportunity for close scientific dialogue with the researchers provide you with general competencies that are in great demand in the global job market. These competencies include abstract, critical and independent thinking, analytical skills and strategic planning. You can use these skills in many contexts – even in jobs for which you did not know you were qualified.

PhD programme

If you have the necessary skills and interests, you have the option of applying for admission to the PhD programme. You can apply when you have completed your Bachelor’s degree and one year of your Master’s degree or when you have completed your Master’s degree. In the PhD programme, you start working on a research project and are gradually trained through courses and personal guidance to become a researcher.

1 Semester

Elective Courses (30 ECTS)

2 Semester

Elective Courses (30 ECTS)

3 & 4 Semester

Master's Thesis in Geology (60 ECTS)

Student Life

The Department of Geoscience is a small community of about 110 students, brought together by shared research, field trips, and common interests. Students have access to several study areas and facilities, including quiet reading rooms, a common kitchen, computers, and, of course, a classic Danish pop-up Friday bar.
Thanks to the department's small size, students benefit from a favourable professor-to-student ratio. Additionally, the department values an "open door" policy, which means that teachers are available to assist and engage in discussion with students.
Classes take place in well-equipped labs with technical staff to assist. The Department has more than 1.000 m2 of laboratories and electrical workshops, with equipment including practical machines for sample preparation, chemical labs, and an ultra-clean metal-free lab. We have state-of-the-art analytical equipment such as XRF, XRD, GCMS, SEM, ICP-MS, and highly advanced microscopes for many purposes, as well as seismic and other geophysical equipment to carry out surveys on land or sea.

The MSc in Geology is a two-year Program offering four different specializations: Water, Climate and Environment, Energy and Natural Resources, and Deep Earth Systems.

The main specialisation is chosen in the first year, and can be combined with courses from other specializations. Modules in each specialisation are either 5 or 10 ECTS. A full year of study is 60 ECTS. The second year is dedicated to the Master’s thesis.

Our graduates are in high demand and most find jobs shortly after graduation. Furthermore, Aarhus will be the centre for Water Valley Denmark, which has the ambition of being world-leading in sustainable water technology, thus creating numerous new jobs in the field.

Geologists find work in both the private and public sectors in Denmark and abroad, working in areas such as environmental and resource consulting, water supply, environmental clean-up, foundation soundings for e.g., offshore wind turbines, geothermal energy, raw materials industry (gravel, sand and metals), education and research, as well as product development with geomaterials. Some jobs may involve fieldwork.