Application information

Qualification for the masters of science course in climate and environmental sciences is demonstrated by successful completion of a bachelor degree course in the natural sciences area of climate and environmental sciences at a German university (e.g. geography, meteorology, ecoclimatology, hydrology, environmental physics, geoecology, landscape ecology, forestry and agricultural sciences) with an overall grade of at least 2,5 according to the general examination regulations of the University of Augsburg or another natural sciences degree equivalent to these courses, taken in Germany or abroad, with an equivalent overall grade. Applicants who have achieved examination results with 140 credits in a course, are enrolled on the master’s course in climate and environmental sciences under the resolutive condition that they complete a course with an overall grade of at least 2.5 by the end of the semester following the first-time enrolment on the master’s course in climate and environmental sciences.

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A detailed list with the required application documents can be found on the online application portal of the University of Augsburg. It is possible to start the course in the winter and in the summer semester. You will be notified of the matriculation date with the letter of acceptance from the student record office. [ more info...] Applicants with foreign record of prior learning, please note that, depending on your country of origin, further requirements may have to be met.?For information on these, please refer to the information sheet?for bachelor courses, whose regulations count by way of analogy to the masters degree courses, especially regarding German skills.

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Course structure

On the one hand, the course imparts advanced scientific and methodological knowledge in the area of climate research and on the other hand, it offers a specific range of compulsory optional modules in environmental sciences, whereby three of the four disciplines offered must be selected and taken according to individual focus. The range includes subject areas that are closely related to the accentuation of climate research and have emphasised significance in the context of climate research. A particular feature is the substantial integration of non-university research facilities in the qualification concept, which specifically strengthens the link to front-line research and potential employment prospects.

Integration of non-university research facilities

Students of the master’s degree course in climate and environmental sciences are given the specific option of undertaking parts of the competence acquisition planned in the course in a non-university research facility. Students who make use of this opportunity should be involved in a current ongoing research project, participate in a workgroup of the relevant non-university research facility and in doing so acquire competencies in conceptualising, implementation and presentation of results of scientific project studies of current fields of research.

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This acquisition of non-university competence can, to a limited extent?(maximum of 30 credits), take the place of the usual acquisition of competence in the university in certain modules. In particular,?modules K3 (major work placement) and K4 (advanced seminar), possibly also modules or module components in the environmental module group are suitable for this. The content of the modules concerned and non-university research work must correspond with each other. This alternative opportunity of acquiring competence must always be approved by the examination board on a case-by-case basis, in close coordination between the university and the research institution concerned and must include checking of achievement of objectives. This generally occurs in the form of a colloquium talk with scientific discussion and producing a poster suitable for a conference, both based on the content and activities of the non-university research placement. Its scope must correspond to the workload of the equivalent acquisition of competence in the university. In particular, this time can also be used as preparation for the master’s dissertation. Examples of already integrated non-university research facilities?are:

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• Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Oberpfaffenhofen
• Karlsruher Institut für Technologie, Campus Alpin, Garmisch-Partenkirchen
• Max-Planck-Institut für Meteorologie, Hamburg
• Potsdam-Institut für Klimafolgenforschung, Potsdam
• Deutscher Wetterdienst, Observatorium Hohenpei?enberg
• Kommission für Erdmessung und Glaziologie der Bayerischen Akademie der Wissenschaften, München
• Landesanstalt für Umwelt, Messungen und Naturschutz Baden- Württemberg, Karlsruhe.

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Employment prospects

Global climate change and its diverse consequences on different spatial and timescales are classified as being the most significant and consequential environmental problems of the 21st century. This topic is extremely closely related to most subdisciplines of the area of geosciences and geography. The outlined importance of climate and environmental science tasks implies an increasing demand for expertise in this field; this not only applies in the area of basic research and the applied science (e.g. climate consequence research, development of adaptation and attenuation strategies), but also in diverse affected areas of industry, authorities, political organisations, societies and associations.