Work-integrated Master’s degree programme (4 years)
| About the programme Language: English (See language requirements) | Place of study: Aarhus | Commencement: August / September (See if this programme also offers a January/February start for international applicants). Programme type: Flexible work-integrated Master’s degree programme (4 years) |
The work-integrated Master’s degree programme in Geoscience offers a unique opportunity to build on your bachelor’s degree in Geoscience while gaining valuable work experience through part-time employment in industry or public administration. The programme is highly relevant to society and combines the best of geoscience, with a focus on Earth’s structure—both chemical and physical—water resources, geothermal energy, long-term climate development, and CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage).
You can specialize in a range of topics, including Water (groundwater), Climate, Petrology, Sedimentology, Basin Analysis, Quaternary Geology, and geoscientific methods and modelling. The programme is research-based and flexible, allowing you to explore your own interests both in the laboratory and in the field.
Geoscience combines both practical and theoretical approaches and includes lectures, lab work, and excursions. You will learn to analyze geoscientific problems by developing working models, collecting and analyzing data—using IT and numerical modelling—and producing scientific reports. You will work with measurements, observations, and advanced computer models to address questions posed by modern society, such as locating groundwater, sand and gravel resources, or identifying optimal geothermal conditions for heat extraction.
The programme not only provides academic specialization but also gives you hands-on experience and helps you build a professional network, enhancing your career opportunities in both the private and public sectors.
A flexible work-integrated Master’s degree programme is designed for students who are employed while studying. You complete the programme alongside your job or entrepreneurial activities.
The programme creates a strong link between theory and practice, as you are able to apply your academic learning directly to relevant work tasks. You bring the latest academic knowledge into your workplace, while at the same time gaining valuable experience in applying this knowledge in practice.
The programme has a standard duration of four years.
The specific requirements regarding the number of working hours needed for admission to the scheme are outlined under Admission Requirements.
In this section you can learn more about the admission requirements relevant to the work-integrated Master's degree programme in Geoscience. Depending on your educational background and your qualifications, there are different ways to meet the admission requirements:
This section is relevant for you, if you have:
The two sections listed below are relevant only for students with a bachelor's degree from a Danish institution:
Below these sections, you can learn more about the employment requirement and the English language requirement. You can also find out which ranking criteria we use to assess your application when prioritizing among the submitted applications.
If you have an international educational background, you must meet both the general admission requirement and the specific admission requirements:
You must have a bachelor's degree or equivalent that is comparable to a Danish bachelor's degree in both level and duration (180 ECTS).
For more information about how your bachelor's degree is assessed, please see the national database.
If you meet the general admission requirement, the university will continue on to assess whether or not you meet the specific admission requirements.
You can be admitted to the master's programme if the university assesses that your education has a level, scope, and content that corresponds to the academic requirements specified below.
| Subject area | Number of ECTS |
| Subject components within geology, geophysics and physics | 60 |
| Fundamental subject components within programming, mathematics, chemistry, probability theory and statistics | 30 |
| Total | 90 |
| If you hold a Bachelor's degree in Physics from Aarhus University, you must have the following subject areas: | Number of ECTS |
| Subject components within geophysics and physics | 30 |
We cannot assess in advance whether your specific degree will meet the above requirements. Therefore, we recommend that you apply for the programme if you believe that you meet the academic requirements. In this regard, it is a good idea to compare your degree with the programmes that provide direct admission.
No Bachelor's degree programme(s) from Aarhus University entitles applicants to an offer of admission to this work-integrated Master's degree programme.
Certain Bachelor's degree programmes from Aarhus University and various other Danish Universities have been determined to meet the admission requirements to this work-integrated Master's degree programme in Geoscience:
When applying for a work-integrated Master’s degree programme, you must meet the requirement of being in relevant employment.
“Relevant employment” means that you work at least 25 hours per week in a public or private company, or as an entrepreneur, and that your work tasks are professionally related to both your qualifying education and the education you are applying for.
In order to be admitted to this programme you must meet the university's English language requirements.
Students with bachelor's degree from Aarhus University with a so-called 'Legal right of admission' are exempt from the English language requirement.
All Master’s degree programmes at Aarhus University have limited intake. This means that you are not guaranteed admission even if you meet the entry requirements. When we prioritize among applicants, we assess your application based on a set of fixed ranking criteria, which you can see below.
If you have a legal right of admission, you are guaranteed a place in the programme and do not need to consider the ranking criteria.
Ranking criteria:
Grades from the qualifying degree
Grades achieved in relevant subject fields:
Geology
Geophysics
Physics
Chemistry
Mathematics, probability theory and statistics
Programming
Relevant subject fields (measured in ECTS). In this assessment, ECTS credits that are a part of the admission requirements described under ‘Other qualifying degrees’ are not included.
Geology
Geophysics
Physics
Chemistry
Mathematics, probability theory and statistics
Programming
In criterion three, the score is based on the proportion of subjects on the bachelor’s degree diploma that fall within the relevant subject fields. In this assessment, ECTS credits that are a part of the admission requirements described under ‘Other qualifying degrees’ are not included.
Please note that grades achieved after the application deadline are not included in the assessment.
Unfortunately, Aarhus University is not able to assess your qualifications beforehand. In order for your qualifications to be assessed you must apply for admission. To learn more, please go to Assessment of your qualifications.
The MSc in Geoscience comprises 120 ECTS credits and is flexible to meet individual academic needs and aspirations. During the first week of the programme, you will develop a personalised study plan, under the guidance of a department supervisor, by choosing courses from the Course Catalogue. The study plan is tailored to your academic background and interests, as it is based on the courses you have completed during your bachelor's degree programme, and is subject to approval by the study board.
Teaching is conducted by researchers who are specialists in their respective fields, ensuring that the latest findings are quickly integrated into the curriculum. A significant portion of your time will be spent on laboratory work and field courses, complemented by lectures and group work that delve deeper into the many academic challenges.
At the Department of Geoscience, and Aarhus University in general, you will experience close interaction with researchers, an opportunity seldom found at other universities. Professors are approachable for further clarification, and students are encouraged to ask questions during lectures and exercises. While the programme demands high academic standards and independence, you will gain substantial returns in the form of academic challenges and knowledge, combined with a broad skill set.
The MSc in Geoscience culminates in a Master's Thesis, often based on extensive fieldwork and/or laboratory work. Under the supervision of a researcher, you will be responsible for the project description and for completing the thesis.
For information on thesis opportunities within the research groups at the Department of Geoscience, visit their websites.
The academic regulations provide detailed information about the content of each course. You can also find an overview of the structure of the degree programme and the requirements you must meet as a student – including examination types and assessment criteria.
You will quickly become part of the community at the Department of Geoscience. The cohorts are relatively small, fostering a strong sense of camaraderie among all students.
You will have access to study spaces, reading rooms, computer labs, and, not least, the programme’s Friday bar, where you can enjoy a pleasant chat with your fellow students. During your thesis work, it is possible to have an office space where you can study and collaborate with your peers.
The Department of Geoscience has a long-standing tradition of international collaboration with educational institutions in Europe, the USA, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. This provides excellent opportunities to study abroad at one of the many partner universities. A study abroad experience is relevant if you aspire to work internationally, but also to enhance your qualifications for the Danish job market.
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Toke Højbjerg Søltoft, MSc. in Geophysics (now Geoscience), 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 mapping of subsoil by using geophysical instruments. This meant that I have always prioritised the geophysical courses when planning my study programme.
I found the degree programme to be very business-oriented, as the courses incorporate real-life issues in classes, and the many projects during the programme gave me an opportunity to work together with companies and giving me business-related experience in my study programme.
Furthermore, there were numerous options for relevant student jobs, where you could use your knowledge from the study programme dealing with real issues.
The study environment at the Department of Geoscience, where the programmes in both geology and geophysics are located, is very nice, since you quickly get to know most students and lecturers.
Today, I work as managing director in Aarhus GeoSoftware, a company that was developed as a spin-off from a research group at Geoscience in 2015. I use my knowledge from geophysics on a daily basis in my job, but my experience with overviewing large projects and taking responsibility also comes from my education. Even though I now work with software and geophysics, my geological background from my Bachelor’s degree is also very useful when working with interpreting geophysical research results and relating them to geological aspects.
Lasse Svenningsen, MSc. in Geophysics (now Geoscience), 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 modelled 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 neighbours.
The chart shows the five most common types of work for graduates from similar programmes 1-2 years after finishing their degree. The data is derived from a survey made by Epinion for the Ministry of Higher Education and Science and Aarhus University in 2020.
Graduates in Geoscience from Aarhus University find employment in both private and public sectors. Many work in private consultancy firms, particularly within the environmental field or on large construction projects such as offshore wind farms. Others are employed by municipalities and regions with management, utilising and protecting groundwater and other natural resources.
After completing the first year of your MSc programme, you can apply for admission to the four-year PhD programme. Alternatively, you can apply for the PhD programme after completing your MSc in Geoscience, in which case the programme lasts three years. A PhD in Geoscience provides an even broader range of career opportunities, typically within research and development.
You can read more about the PhD programme in Geoscience here.
