Programme structure
In the programme option Water and Climate, you will take mandatory and recommended courses in the first semesters. The courses are a total of 60 ECTS credits. You start with the master's thesis in the second or third semester, depending on your selection of courses.
The programme has the following structure:
- Mandatory courses, 20 ECTS credits
- Elective courses, 40 ECTS credits
- Master's thesis, 60 ECTS credits
Applicants without a background in geosciences have 40 ECTS mandatory- and 20 ECTS elective courses. In addition, the master thesis which counts for 60 ECTS.
Course of study
| 4th?semester | Master's thesis | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd?semester | Elective course / master’s thesis | Master's thesis | |
| 2nd?semester | Mandatory course / elective course | Elective course / mandatory course | Master’s thesis / elective course |
| 1st?semester | Elective course / mandatory course | Elective course / mandatory course | |
| ? | 10?ECTS credits | 10?ECTS credits | 10?ECTS credits |
For applicants without a background in geosciences
| 4th?semester | Master's thesis | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd?semester | Elective course / master’s thesis | Master's thesis | |
| 2nd?semester | Mandatory course / elective course | Mandatory course / elective course | Master’s thesis / elective course |
| 1st?semester | Mandatory course / elective course | Elective course / mandatory course | |
| ? | 10?ECTS credits | 10?ECTS credits | 10?ECTS credits |
Mandatory courses
GEO4990 – The Earth System ?(autumn)
In addition, you choose at least 10 ECTS from this list. Students admitted without a background in geosciences must choose 30 ECTS.
Elective courses
You choose 40 ECTS of elective master's courses. Students admitted without a background in geosciences choose?20 ECTS elective courses.?
You select courses after consulting with your supervisor or coordinator of the programme option.
Below we have listed a few typical course combinations for different subject areas within this programme option:
Air-Sea Interaction
GEO4512 – Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere ?(autumn, 5 ECTS overlap with GEO4515/3515)GEO4901 – Dynamical Meteorology ?(autumn)GEO4922 – Cloud Physics ?(spring)GEO4926 – Turbulent Boundary Layers in the Atmosphere and Ocean ?(spring)
Glaciology
GEO4410 – Glacial and Periglacial Geomorphology ?(autumn)GEO4420 – Glaciology ?(autumn)GEO5440 – Cryospheric Modelling ?(5 ECTS, unregular teaching, spring and autumn)
Hydrology
GEO4171 – Floods, Avalanches and Landslides ?(spring)GEO4190 – Hydrogeologi ?(autumn)GEO4300 – Geophysical Data Science ?(autumn)GEO4320 – Hydrological Modelling ?(autumn)GEO4340 – Fluvial Hydrology ?(spring)GEO4432 – The Surface Energy Balance in Cold Environments ?(spring)
Meteorology (weather prediction, atmospheric physics, climate)
GEO4512 – Remote Sensing of the Atmosphere ?(autumn, 5 ECTS overlap with GEO4515/3515)GEO4901 – Dynamical Meteorology ?(autumn)GEO4902 – Numerisk v?rvarsling ?(autumn)GEO4922 – Cloud Physics ?(spring)GEO4926 – Turbulent Boundary Layers in the Atmosphere and Ocean ?(spring)GEO4962 – The General Circulation of the Atmosphere ?(spring)GEO4992 – Data Analysis and Model Evaluation Tools in Environmental and Climate Science ?(spring)
Meteorology/Hydrology/Ecology (cross-over thesis)
GEO4300 – Geophysical Data Science ?(autumn)GEO4320 – Hydrological Modelling ?(autumn)GEO4432 – The Surface Energy Balance in Cold Environments ?(spring)GEO4901 – Dynamical Meteorology ?(autumn)GEO4902 – Numerisk v?rvarsling ?(autumn)GEO4926 – Turbulent Boundary Layers in the Atmosphere and Ocean ?(spring)GEO5915 – Ecological Climatology ?(every other spring starting from 2022)
Oceanography
GEO4901 – Dynamical Meteorology ?(autumn)GEO4902 – Numerisk v?rvarsling ?(autumn)GEO4926 – Turbulent Boundary Layers in the Atmosphere and Ocean ?(spring)GEO4960 – Dynamical Oceanography ?(spring)GEO4992 – Data Analysis and Model Evaluation Tools in Environmental and Climate Science ?(spring)
Examples of relevant master's courses from other departments
FYS4150 – Computational Physics ?(spring and autumn)FYS-STK4155 – Applied Data Analysis and Machine Learning ?(autumn)IN4110 – Problem Solving with High-Level Languages (discontinued) ?(autumn)IN4200 – High-Performance Computing and Numerical Projects ?(spring)STK4150 – Environmental and Spatial Statistics ?(spring)
Generic courses
GEO4012 – Scientific Writing and Presentation ?(spring, 5 ECTS)??MNKOM4000 – Formidling og vitenskapsjournalistikk ?(spring)
More information about the master's degree
Information related to the completion of the master's thesis, including the master's agreement and other application forms, can be found at the information page for master's studies at the Department of Geosciences.
Selection of topic for the master's thesis
The master's thesis is worth 60 ECTS credits. The thesis project and supervisor are assigned towards the end of the first semester. The availability of thesis topics depends on the programme option, and further information on available topics can be found below.
Diploma and degree
This programme leads to the following degree: Master of Science in Geosciences
The diploma is issued when you have completed the courses that meet the requirements for a degree. Read more about diplomas.
Course- and semester pages
Click on each course (see the table above) to find the following:
- Timetable
- Date and location of exams
- Curriculum and learning requirements
Quality assurance
Degree programmes and courses are regularly evaluated to ensure and enhance the quality of education.