Programme structure
The Master's programme in Geosciences is a two-year full-time study consisting of 120 ECTS credits.
The programme has the following structure:
- Mandatory courses, 20-50 ECTS credits, depending on the programme option
- Recommended courses, 10-40 ECTS credits, depending on the programme option
- Master's thesis, 60 ECTS credits
If you are admitted with a non-geoscience background, your course of study has the following structure:
- Mandatory courses, 40 ECTS credits
- Elective courses, 20 ECTS credits
- Master's thesis, 60 ECTS credits
The programme has 4 programme options:
- Applied Basin Analysis: Processes, Resources and Evolution of Life
- Environmental Geosciences, Geohazards, and Geomatics
- Earth’s Structures and Planetary Processes
- Water and Climate
Programme options that no longer admit students
- Environmental Geoscience
- Geohazards and Geomechanics
- Geophysics, Geodynamics and Planetary Sciences
- Geomorphology and Geomatics
- Hydrology and Glaciology
- Meteorology and Oceanography
- Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry
- Petroleum Geoscience
- Sedimentology, Paleontology and Stratigraphy
- Structural Geology and Tectonics
Course of study
| 4th semester | Master's thesis | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd semester | Master's course | Master's thesis | |
| 2nd semester | Master's course | Master's course | Master's thesis |
| 1st semester | Master's course + HMS courses | Master's course | Master's course |
| 10 ECTS credits | 10 ECTS credits | 10 ECTS credits | |
The Master’s programme is organised into four semesters. In the first semesters, you will take mandatory courses and courses based on your interest. From the second or third semester, you start working on your Master's thesis under the guidance of a supervisor.
Courses
The course of study above is general for the programme. Some programme options may have a different structure, and mandatory and recommended courses depend on the programme option. Please see each programme option for more information.
All programme options have mandatory courses in Health, safety and the environment (HSE) at the beginning of the first semester.
- HMS0501 – Safety and Physical Environment
- HMS0502 – Positive Learning Environment
- HMS0503 – Laboratory Safety
- HMS0504 – Field Safety
HSE courses do not give ECTS credits.
Master's thesis
The Master's thesis consists of 60 ECTS credits. The thesis project and supervisor are allocated at the start of the second semester. Availability of thesis topics depends on the programme option, please find information about available theses:
Available Master's theses by programme options at the Department of Geosciences.
You report your interest to the supervisor of the Master's theses of your interest and which are within the programme option you are admitted to. The supervisor will subsequently allocate the Master's theses to the students who have reported their interest. If there are several who are interested in the same thesis, the supervisor can select candidates on the basis of academic background, average study grade or enthusiasm for the thesis. All students admitted to the Master’s programme are entitled to have a Master's thesis.
The Master’s study ends with a presentation and examination of the thesis. Students must have completed all mandatory courses, including HSE courses before they can present their thesis.
Honours certificate
Are you academically ambitious? It is possible to supplement your master's degree with an honours certificate worth 20 credits. You take the certificate concurrently with the master's programme.
Recognition of Masters's courses from former education
If you are admitted to the Master's programme and have completed master's courses outside the University of Oslo, you may apply to have these course (s) recognised as part of your degree. Contact the Student administration at the Department for Geosciences for more information.
Diploma and degree
This programme leads to the following degree: Master in Geosciences
The diploma is issued when you have completed the courses that meet the requirements for a degree. Read more about diplomas.