All courses are held in English, and participants must write their Master's theses in English.
The Master’s degree programme in Earth Sciences at the University of Freiburg provides in-depth scientific education combined with practical training. The programme follows a multidisciplinary approach, integrating analytical methods, laboratory experiments, fieldwork, data analysis, numerical simulations, case studies, and teamwork. Students shape their individual academic profiles by selecting one of two majors – Earth and Planetary Sciences or Environmental Earth Sciences – allowing them to tailor their studies to their interests and professional goals.
The Earth and Planetary Science (EPS) major offers an integrated and comparative approach to understanding Earth and other planets. It connects geoscientific analysis of Earth with the study of other planetary bodies, using shared physical principles and analytical tools. Rather than treating Earth and planetary science separately, the programme systematically links them: geoscientific methods are applied to planetary environments, and planetary observations are used to sharpen and deepen the understanding of Earth processes. You will learn to develop solutions to today’s challenges by examining the interactions among the geosphere, pedosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere, and by exploring their links to the anthroposphere. You will gain the skills to design strategies for the sustainable management of Earth’s systems and to implement innovative, environmentally sustainable technologies
The Environmental Earth Sciences Major: Our Earth is under pressure – pollution, droughts, erosion, landslides, and floods are just a few of the mounting challenges. Climate change stands as the most alarming consequence, threatening the well-being of future generations. These complex and interconnected issues demand bold solutions and innovative thinking. Ensuring the stability of the Earth system has become a central task for global society now and in the future. The Environmental Earth Science (EES) major empowers you to confront these challenges head-on. Tackling complex environmental problems and natural hazards – both natural and human-induced – requires not only a well-founded scientific basis in the natural sciences but also interdisciplinary approaches. In Freiburg, you will learn both, helping you understand these problems and identify ways to maintain a sustainable and habitable environment.
Graduates of the Master’s programme are qualified for a broad range of career paths, including positions in environmental consulting firms, geological and raw materials companies, Earth remote sensing, civil engineering, research institutes, governmental organisations, space agencies, and educational institutions. The programme also provides an excellent foundation for pursuing a doctoral degree.
Students earn 5 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits upon successful completion of each module. The modules are classified either as core or elective. In total, 120 credits are required for the successful completion of the programme.
Earth Sciences aren’t just learned in the lecture hall – they need to be experienced in the field. Our excursions give you the chance to apply the theoretical knowledge from lectures and explore the Earth as a dynamic system up close.
Destinations typically include the Alps, southern Germany, and Switzerland, while other international excursions offered vary from year to year. In recent years, the programme has held excursions to Italy, Iceland, Cyprus, Scotland, and the Canary Islands. Over the course of the programme, students are required to complete a minimum of ten days of excursions.
Excursions not only enhance subject-specific skills such as geological mapping, sampling, and analysis, but also foster key transferable skills including teamwork, problem-solving, and independent work in the field. At the same time, they offer the opportunity to explore new regions, gain international perspectives, and create memorable experiences beyond the classroom.
For an impression of some recent excursions, view our Instagram.
ERASMUS: Around 50 academic subjects at the University of Freiburg are involved in Erasmus+. The departments have concluded cooperation agreements with more than 300 European partner universities in over 30 countries and offer students more than 1,500 spots to study abroad. All departments involved in the Erasmus+ programme at the University of Freiburg have appointed Erasmus departmental coordinators who are responsible for selecting and supporting Erasmus+ students.
EUCOR: Five Universities – Three Countries – One Campus
Eucor – The European Campus offers the students of its five member universities the unique opportunity to take courses “à la carte” at any of the partner universities. Students remain enrolled at their home university, e.g. Freiburg, but can attend courses of their choice at the other four universities (Basel, Haute-Alsace, KIT, Strasbourg) without having to pay registration fees and with the possibility to have the acquired ECTS credits recognised for their degree.
190 EUR per semester:
Participants must ensure that sufficient funding is available to finance their participation in a course of study. The average cost of living in Freiburg for one month is currently approx. 850 EUR to 1,000 EUR.
Some details:
The application for admission and the documents referred to must be uploaded via the University of Freiburg’s web portal within the deadline. The following documents must be attached to the application for admission:
If the documents required are not in German, English or French, an officially certified translation into German or English is required.
A limited number of jobs are available at the institute for student assistants.
As Freiburg is an attractive city, finding a suitable and affordable place to live can take a little while. The University of Freiburg offers all newly enrolled international students the possibility to apply for student housing via the International Office. In addition to these dormitories, which are run by the Studierendenwerk Freiburg (www.swfr.de/en), several independent residence halls are listed on the university website (https://uni-freiburg.de/internationaloffice/housing/). The Studierendenwerk Freiburg and the International Office also offer a list of available private rooms.
Additional programme for international students (APIS): APIS
The University of Freiburg was founded in 1457 as a classical comprehensive university, making it one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Germany. Awarded for its excellence in both research and teaching, the university also boasts a long history, with numerous Nobel laureates. Brilliant scholars and creative thinking distinguish it today as a modern, top-notch university, well equipped for the challenges of the 21st century. As an organisation with around 24,500 students, 288 degree programmes, and 6,536 employees (2021), the University of Freiburg is committed to family friendliness, equal opportunities, and environmental consciousness in its day-to-day operations. The structure of the university is multifaceted, ranging from 11 academic faculties – from the humanities and the social and natural sciences all the way to engineering – to 19 research centres. This goes to show that we are a dynamic, large-scale institution with a diverse educational offering. As studies, research, and continuing education are all an integral part of this offering, we maintain a close relationship with the city and the region as well as with the international academic community. Bilateral partnerships, research projects, joint study courses and memberships in international networks such as the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and of EUCOR – The European Campus are examples of the university's strong transnational relations. All our students, including those from abroad, can take courses at the Universities of Basel (Switzerland) and Strasbourg (France) without having to enrol. Via EUCOR, The European Campus mobility grant, they also receive allowances for travel expenses to their partner institutions.
Freiburg im Breisgau is a city in south-western Germany on the edge of the Black Forest. Freiburg was founded by Konrad and Duke Bertold III of Zähringen in 1120 as a free market town – hence its name, which translates to "free town". Freiburg holds a central position in Europe at the border triangle of Switzerland, France, and Germany, and is the city with the most hours of sunshine per year in Germany. It is nestled in one of the oldest cultural landscapes north of the Alps, a location which has had an unmistakable influence on the town. The university plays an essential part in the quality of life in Freiburg; both in the academic sphere and in the perception of the general public, the activities of the university are of central importance. Since its founding, teaching, learning and research have formed an indivisible whole.
With approx. 230,000 inhabitants, Freiburg has a friendly size, offering the safe surroundings of a smaller city whilst at the same time excelling in terms of culture, shopping and infrastructure. Both the inhabitants and the city government of Freiburg attach great importance to ecological values and sustainable development. This "green city" atmosphere influences many aspects of city life – from the numerous cyclists on the streets to cutting-edge solar energy research. Surrounded by the beautiful landscapes of the Black Forest and the wine-growing regions of the Rhine Valley, Freiburg is a popular destination for tourism and leisure activities.
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