MSc Physical Geography: Climate and Environmental Sciences at Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)

Environmental processes and dynamics are driven by the diverse properties of physical systems on global, regional, and local scales. Accelerating climate change affects the underlying processes and thereby landscape dynamics, and moreover socio-ecological systems. These changes impose fundamental research challenges and, as a consequence, increase the volume of spatial data.

Faculty: Faculty of Sciences  |  Duration: 4 semesters (2 years)  |  Study mode: full-time; English-taught  |  Intake: Winter semester  |  Location: Erlangen, Bayern, Germany

What you will study

The first three semesters are dedicated to your individual specialization, in particular a diversified methodological training. You choose courses in your selected focus area and apply your acquired knowledge and skills during a field trip towards the end of the second semester. During a training research course, you pursue your own project and get actively involved in the organization and logistics of research, data acquisition and analysis, knowledge production and knowledge transfer.

Career pathways

Currently, the degree program offers specializations in Climate Research, Geoinformatics, and Environmental Analysis. You gain in-depth knowledge and methodological skills in fields such as GIS (Geographic Information System) and remote sensing, geo databases, climate modelling, ecological modelling, time series analysis, vegetation ecology, dendroecology, and soil science lab methods.

Official programme page