Master in Geology and Geophysics
Helsinki, Finland
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English, Finnish, Swedish
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
EUR 18,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for non-EU/EEA countries
Key Summary
About: The Master's Programme in Geology and Geophysics at the University of Helsinki is taught in English and totals 120 ECTS, two years full-time. It trains you to study geological and geophysical processes, Earth evolution, mineral resources and environmental issues, including crust and mantle dynamics, palaeontology and geological records. You’ll gain research, fieldwork and analytical skills.
Career Outcomes: You'll gain expertise in assessing minerals, rocks and groundwater; sustainable resource use; palaeontology; tectonics; research; scientific writing and presenting. These skills can lead to roles as geologist, geophysicist, mineral exploration specialist, environmental consultant or research scientist in academia, industry and government sectors.
How will we react to the changes of our planet?
Sustaining a growing population on our dynamic planet requires a deep understanding of geological and geophysical processes within the Earth, and of how they interact with the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biota.
The Master's Programme in Geology and Geophysics trains you to address pressing questions concerning our home planet's evolution, its role as the source of raw materials needed by modern civilisation, and environmental issues.
This program is also available in Finnish and Swedish.
Studying
Sustaining a growing population on our dynamic planet requires a deep understanding of geological and geophysical processes within the Earth, and of how they interact with the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biota.
The Master's Programme in Geology and Geophysics trains you to address pressing questions concerning our home planet's evolution, its role as the source of raw materials needed by modern civilisation, and environmental issues.
Key questions include:
- How can we decode Earth’s rock record to reveal the evolution of Earth’s crust and mantle over billions of years?
- How do we make natural resource exploration and extraction more sustainable and environmentally friendly?
- What can the Earth’s history tell us to help us forecast the impacts of climate change?
- Where can we safely construct power plants or store nuclear waste?
Students and student life
Student life and especially the student organisation culture is exceptionally rich and diverse in Finland. Also at the University of Helsinki, the student community is very active. More than 250 student organisations operate within the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY), ranging from faculty and subject organisations to political and societal organisations, and from choirs and orchestras to sports and game clubs. Their activities include anniversary celebrations, academic dinner parties, cultural events, get-togethers and excursions.
As a student and member of the Student Union (HYY), you are entitled to many benefits and services. For example, affordable student housing, basic healthcare services, sports facilities and student-priced meals. You also get numerous discounts, for example on public transport fees across the country.
At the beginning of the advanced studies, you will familiarise yourself with the central research methods in the field. The studies consist of intensive learning in small groups on practical work courses, guided laboratory work on specialised courses, and tailored short-term courses led by international and Finnish experts. In addition, you will be able to take part are a variety of field courses and excursions (in Finland and beyond) to familiarise yourself with research topics in their natural surroundings.
The MSc studies consist of three parts:
- Common courses, which are the same for all study tracks include a total of 50 ECTS credit points.
- Advanced courses in each study track, which comprise 35-65 ECTS credits depending on the specialisation. These courses are divided into essential and elective courses. Courses from other campuses, exchange studies or JOO studies (from other Finnish universities ) can be included in elective advanced studies as well.
- Optional courses, which you are free to select from other campuses, other Finnish universities, so-called JOO studies, language courses, etc. These courses can be combined with the common and advanced courses to reach 120 ECTS cp.
Advanced studies in geology and geophysics (100 cr)
- Master’s thesis (30 cr) and Maturity test (0 cr)
- Compulsory common courses (20 cr), including Conducting scientific research (10 cr), Internship (5 cr) and Scientific engagement (5 cr)
- Courses in geology and geophysics (50 cr), including Free selection of advanced courses. Courses have been arranged into thematic lists to help guide your selection, but you can freely choose from all courses. Themes include for example hydrogeology, environmental geology, palaeontology, palaeoclimatology and -ecology, mineralogy and petrology, geochemistry, economic geology, and solid earth geophysics, offering a unique opportunity to personalize an expertise profile within the broad field of geosciences.
Other studies (20 cr)
- Free selection of any courses which you are free to select from advanced studies from other degree programmes at UH, exchange studies, GISWAP studies or FIN-GEO studies (geoscience studies from other Finnish universities), language courses etc. These courses can be combined with the common and advanced courses to reach 120 ECTS cp.
Courses and teaching
Studies are planned to be taken in two years. The MSc thesis work is scheduled so that all projects start with the Conducting Scientific Research (CSR) course, which is organized annually in the spring semester (periods 3 and 4). The CSR is suggested to be taken in the spring of the first study year.
The compulsory internship is usually taken in the summer between the first and second study years and the Scientific engagement course is planned to be done over the entire two years. Otherwise, the order of taking the courses is free, but subject to availability and may contain interdependent pre-requisite requirements. Most important courses that form prerequisites for other courses are usually organised annually.
Master's thesis
As a student in the Master’s programme, you will be expected to write a thesis. The goal of the Master’s thesis is to enable you to study an area of interest to you within your specialist option, and to help you develop research skills such as scientific writing, literature review, and advanced knowledge in your area of study. The thesis typically includes a review of current literature and experiments or analysis of geological or geophysical data. You will write your thesis independently, under the supervision of one or more faculty members in your specialist option.
Why Geology and Geophysics?
Upon completion of the programme, you will have gained expertise in a number of scientific and professional skills, including, depending on your specialist option:
- Assessment of geological materials (minerals, rock types, bedrock, groundwater)
- Understanding the genesis and sustainable use of mineral commodities
- Sustainable use of the environment from the Earth Science perspective
- Palaeontology and modelling global change using the geological record
- The physical evolution of the Earth (plate tectonics, interplay of the mantle and crust)
- Independent and team-driven project research
- High-level scientific writing (M.Sc. thesis and related work)
- Presentation of scientific results to scientists, students, and the general public.
Our scholarship program is for students who are applying to the University of Helsinki. These scholarships are intended for excellent students from outside the EU/EEA, who wish to complete a Master's program at the University of Helsinki. Grants can be applied while applying to the University of Helsinki’s Master’s programs.
For more information about scholarships, please visit the university website.
Upon completion of the programme, you will have gained expertise in several scientific and professional skills, including, depending on your specialist option:
- Assessment of geological materials (minerals, rock types, bedrock, groundwater)
- Understanding the genesis and sustainable use of mineral commodities
- Sustainable use of the environment from the Earth Science perspective
- Palaeontology and modelling global change using the geological record
- The physical evolution of the Earth (plate tectonics, interplay of the mantle and crust)
- Independent and team-driven project research
- High-level scientific writing (M.Sc. thesis and related work)
- Presentation of scientific results to scientists, students, and the general public