MSc in Geophysics
Aarhus University
Key Information
Campus location
Aarhus, Denmark
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 semesters
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
EUR 15,300 / per year *
Application deadline
Request Info
Earliest start date
Aug 2024
* for non-EU/EEA students
Introduction
The master's degree program in geophysics is for those of you who are interested in the Earth's climate system, water resources, geothermal energy, and other development of sustainable solutions to the resource needs of modern society (e.g. clean drinking water and sustainable energy and minerals). It is for those of you who would like to be skilled at working with computer models based on data collected in the field, such as electrical properties, sound data from soil layers, chemical variations, and climate data.
Geophysics is based on mathematical and physical theory combined with practical experiments and studies. You will work with geophysical measurements, geological observations, and advanced computer models to solve a wide range of geoscientific questions posed by modern society, such as where to find groundwater, sand, and gravel, optimum geothermal conditions for heat extraction, etc.
Specialised Research
Teaching in the programme is research-based at the highest international level. The Department of Geoscience is ranked in the top 100 Geoscience departments in the world and is renowned for its research in hydrogeophysics, subsurface mapping for geotechnical applications and CO2 storage, as well as geothermal reservoirs, seismology, and numerical modeling of surface and mantle processes.
At the Department, students have the brilliant opportunity to work closely with department staff from both Denmark and abroad. Many of our MSc students collaborate closely with the researchers in our specialized research groups or partner up with private companies or public institutions.
Specialisations in MSc in Geophysics
The MSc in Geophysics 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 specialization are either 5 or 10 ECTS. A full year of study is 60 ECTS. The second year is typically dedicated to the Master’s thesis.
The master's degree program in geophysics is research-based and has a high degree of flexibility that makes it possible to shape your education based on your own interests. We offer the following four specializations: water, climate, energy, and deep soil systems.
The master's degree program in geophysics is closely related to the Master's degree program in Geology, and the two programs have many joint courses. Geophysics differs from geology in that it is more mathematically oriented and focuses on computer modeling. Geophysical methods are suitable for reconstructing the subsurface in models based on geophysical measurements. These models are subsequently tested by geologists, who make drillings and examine the material retrieved from the subsurface.
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.
Admission Requirements
The following Bachelor’s degrees qualify students for admission to the Master’s degree program in Geophysics:
- A Bachelor of Science degree in Geology with a special study area of Geophysics from Aarhus University or the University of Copenhagen.
- A Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from Aarhus University, with an elective subject equalling at least 30 ECTS credits in Geophysics.
Other degrees can provide admission to the Master’s degree program, 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 Geophysics, Aarhus University considers the following to be important:
- It should be a Bachelor of Science degree with subject components within geophysics and physics equaling 60 ECTS as well as 30 ECTS fundamental subject components within geology, programming, mathematics (calculus, Fourier analysis, linear algebra), chemistry, probability theory, and statistics.
- The program should include at least 10 ECTS broadly distributed within each of the following topical areas:
- Exploration of geophysics (e.g. seismic, electromagnetic, gravity)
- Global geophysics (e.g. seismology, thermal, plate dynamics)
- Mechanics/thermodynamics/fluid dynamics
- Electromagnetism.
After you've been admitted, additional requirements may be stipulated regarding the composition of the MSc study program.
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 program in Geoscience with the direction of Geophysics at Aarhus University have the right to be admitted to the Master's degree program in Geophysics on the condition that application is made for admission to the Master’s degree program no later than three years after completion of the Bachelor’s degree program. The legal right of admission requires receipt of the application by Aarhus University within the appropriate period of time. Read more about the legal right of admission.
Selection criteria
As the Master’s program only admits a limited number of students each year, meeting the admission requirements does not in itself guarantee admission to the program.
Allocation of student places is based on an overall assessment. In evaluating qualified applicants, the admissions committee assesses 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, Chemistry, Mathematics, Statistics, Programming and Probability Calculus.
Please note that grades obtained after the time of application cannot be included in the assessment of grade level.
The admissions committee assesses each applicant on the basis of the information provided in diplomas, transcripts, and course descriptions.
Program Structure
The Master’s degree in Geophysics 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 program with the help of the study officer from the Department of Geoscience by choosing courses from a course catalog. Your program 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 geophysics students spend a certain amount of time on laboratory work and work related to field courses. The degree program 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 program
If you have the necessary skills and interests, you have the option of applying for admission to the Ph.D. program. 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 Ph.D. program, 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 Geophysics (60 ECTS)
Meet our Graduates
Toke Højbjerg Søltoft, MSc. in Geophysics, managing director at Aarhus GeoSoftware
I chose to study geoscience because I had an interest in groundwater, and since I have a background as an electronics technician, I quickly decided on a path within the mapping of subsoil by using geophysical instruments. This meant that I have always prioritized the geophysical courses when planning my study program.
Lasse Svenningsen, MSc. in Geophysics, Wind Energy Consultant at EMD International A/S
I work with developing new calculation methods for a software tool used in wind energy. Lots of different aspects have to be calculated in a wind turbine project. The wind field in the area needs to be modeled in space and time so we can place the turbines in the right location for optimal energy production. We also calculate their noise level and the shadows they cast on neighbors.
Career
With a Master’s degree program in geophysics, you can work with advisory engineering companies and in state and municipal institutions, working with for example groundwater research, environmental assessments, clean drinking water, and the restoration of watercourses. You can also work for companies that work with alternative energy sources such as wind and water energy as well as geothermal, and you have the opportunity to work with research in the form of a Ph.D. degree program.
The Master's degree in Geophysics is designed to meet qualification demands in both private and public businesses and organizations where advanced knowledge and skills in geoscience are required.
This Master's degree has a special emphasis on geophysics and computational qualifications, aiming for jobs handling complex models and large datasets.
Geophysics trained at Aarhus University find work in both private and public workplaces. Many geophysics work in private consultancy companies, especially in the environmental area or in connection with major construction projects such as offshore wind farms. Many are also employed in municipalities and regions with the administration, utilization, and protection of groundwater and other raw materials.
When completing the first year of your Master's degree, you can apply for admission to the four-year PhD program. However, you also have the opportunity to apply for a Ph.D. program once you have taken your Master's degree in geophysics. In this case, the PhD program lasts only three years. With a PhD in Geophysics, you will have an even broader field of work areas to choose from, typically within research and development.
With a Master’s degree in Geophysics, you have the following competencies:
- You have general knowledge of Geophysics and detailed knowledge of key disciplines, methodologies, theories, and concepts within Geophysics.
- You can independently plan, manage, and implement projects and apply the results in scientifically relevant decision processes.
- You can assess the applicability and appropriateness of theoretical, experimental, and practical methodologies for the analysis and solution of scientific questions and issues.
- You can structure your own competence development independently and critically.
- You are able to systematically and critically familiarise yourself with new subject areas.
- You can relay and communicate academic questions and issues to both a scientific and a general audience.
- You can collaborate constructively on a scientific basis to solve subject-related issues.
- You have an understanding of and insight into the connection between Geophysics and the other scientific subject areas and have qualified knowledge regarding the interaction between Geophysics and society at large.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please visit the university website for more information.
Curriculum
The MSc in Geophysics is a two-year Program offering four different specializations: Water, Climate and Environment, Energy and Natural Resources, and Deep Earth Systems.
The main specialization is chosen in the first year and can be combined with courses from other specializations. Modules in each specialization are either 5 or 10 ECTS. A full year of study is 60 ECTS. The second year is typically dedicated to the Master’s thesis.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
Our graduates are in high demand and most find jobs shortly after graduation. Furthermore, Aarhus will be the center for Water Valley Denmark, which has the ambition of being world-leading in sustainable water technology, thus helping to create numerous new jobs in the field.
Geophysicists find work in both private and public sectors in Denmark and abroad and work in areas such as groundwater research, environmental assessments, clean drinking water, wind and water energy, geothermal energy, CO2 capture and storage, and education and research. Some jobs may involve field work.