Master in Earth Sciences
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Key Information
Campus location
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
2 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
EUR 2,314 / per year *
Application deadline
01 Apr 2024
Earliest start date
Sep 2024
* EU students: €2.314 per year | non-EU students: €15.790 per year
Introduction
What can past and present conditions tell us about the future? How can we use Earth system knowledge to effectively address global challenges such as climate change? As a Master’s student of Earth Sciences, you will learn to find sustainable solutions for present and future challenges regarding our planet and climate.
Understanding the Earth’s system is essential to tackle climate change. You will study natural processes and cycles of the Earth’s system within and among rock, soil, water, organisms and air. You will quantify the magnitudes and rates of these processes in space and time, and their impacts on society.
Earth Sciences offers three programmes:
Geology and Geochemistry (G&G)
With G&G you focus on the Earth’s crust and mantle, applying field and laboratory research to understand the geodynamics, geochemistry and sedimentary archives of the Earth and other planets
Earth and Climate (E&C)
With E&C you focus on the Earth's surface and study climate records, applying field work with laboratory research to understand and reconstruct land-surface processes, ocean and climate dynamics, biogeochemical cycles, (paleo-)ecology, and the role of humanity.
Global Environmental Change and Policy (GECP)
If you want to help create sustainable solutions to the world’s greatest societal and scientific challenges through sound interdisciplinary research, GECP gives you the knowledge and skills to tackle the complex problems our planet faces today.
Admissions
Curriculum
Discover your Earth Sciences programme
You will study the key interactions within the Earth System in all its complexity. Understanding this complexity is not only fascinating in itself – it provides the knowledge and skills you need to address the complex challenges faced by our planet today.
Within our three specialisations, you will deepen and broaden your knowledge of the Earth's interior and exterior to become a professional with expert knowledge about our planet’s processes, problems and perspectives.
Tackle the complex problems of our planet
This two-year Master’s programme gives you the knowledge and skill-set to tackle the complex problems our planet faces today. You will specialise in one of three subjects: Geology and Geochemistry, Earth and Climate, or Global Environmental Change and Policy. Each specialisation has different streams, allowing you to build your own individual profile in preparation for your future professional career.
Choose your own path
The programme is renowned for integrating other subject areas into its specialisations, such as Mathematics and Informatics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Environmental Sciences. You choose whether you want to become a broadly trained Earth Scientist or focus on one of the streams offered by the three specialisations.
Work on projects
The programme is worth 120 ECTS; around 50 ECTS are research project-related, which means you will be involved in a company traineeship, or take part in a research project complete with fieldwork, lab work and/or computer modelling.
The Master’s programme in Earth Sciences at VU Amsterdam has an excellent reputation. It is small-scale, which means you will have personal contact with all students, but it has a large scope, allowing you to choose from a broad range of topics. In that sense, Amsterdam and the programme are much alike: impressive but small enough to make you feel right at home!
International
The master looks at global Earth systems and international challenges such as climate change, the energy transition, policy and economic, natural hazards, and biodiversity loss. We also organise, when possible, international fieldwork. The focus is not limited to Dutch cases, and by crossing the border, aims to achieve a broader inclusion.
Wherever possible we provide personal mentoring throughout your studies from a staff member who will help you shape your curriculum and get the most out of your studies, as well as prepare you for your future career. Faculty members and fellow students come from a diverse range of countries and backgrounds, making the Master’s Earth Sciences at VU Amsterdam a truly international programme. Our teachers have high international profiles based on excellent research and successful fundraising; several have received international awards.
Career Opportunities
A Master's degree in Earth Sciences gives you great career opportunities.
Do you want to enter the labour market? Then you can work in many areas, such as in geology and environmental sciences. You can work as a technical geologist, geoscientist, mineral researcher, climate policy advisor or flood specialist. Your specialisation will help determine the course of your career.
You can also register for a national or international PhD programme and take a position in research and development. It’s also possible to do something completely different, such as becoming a science teacher in secondary education.
What can you do after your Master's degree?
Start working
At the end of the programme, you will have acquired a sound knowledge of sustainability-related Earth Sciences knowledge, combined with the additional perspectives of economics and governance. This unique combination will enable you to pursue advanced careers in research, consultancy, international organisations and companies, and governments.
Education and research
Graduates will also qualify for national and international sustainability PhD programmes. Alternatively, you could take up a position in Research and Development, or you could become a science teacher in secondary education.