All courses are held in English, and participants must write their Master's theses in English.
Learning is organised in a standard study mode during the winter semester, but it is in three-week block modules during the summer semester.
Lectures will begin in the winter semester 2025/2026 on 13 October 2025.
15 May for the following winter semester
The state of Baden-Württemberg implemented study fees for international students as well as non-EU students earning a second degree starting in the 2017/18 winter semester.
You can find further information about the tuition fees in Baden-Württemberg here.
The Master’s degree programme in Earth Sciences offers in-depth scientific training in the Earth and Planetary Sciences and Environmental Earth Sciences majors. Students are instructed in independent scientific work, and they acquire in-depth knowledge of terrain-based and analytical methods as well as the handling of data and models. Successful completion of the Master’s degree qualifies students for an academic career in the field of science and research as well as for a professional career, particularly at Geological Surveys, Geological companies, Space Agencies, and the private industry sector (e.g.: Raw materials industry, civil engineering companies).
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.
At the University of Freiburg, the Environmental Earth Sciences Major empowers you to confront these challenges head-on. Tackling complex environmental problems and natural hazards – both natural and human-induced – requires interdisciplinary approaches. Learn how to recognise these complex interrelationships within the Earth system. Develop solutions to today’s challenges by focusing on the interactions among the geosphere, pedosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and biosphere—and understand their connections with the anthroposphere. Create strategies for sustainable management of the Earth system and gain the skills to implement innovative and sustainable environmental technologies. Our interdisciplinary approach equips you with a deep understanding of the Earth’s surface processes and the skills to craft practical, sustainable solutions.
Earth and Planetary Science Major:
The Earth and Planetary Science Major at the University of Freiburg is the first Master's degree programme of its kind in Germany, in which Earth Sciences and Planetary Sciences are treated jointly and in a comparative mode. With a steadily growing number of space missions, planetology is becoming increasingly important. The interdisciplinary programme is aimed at all Bachelor’s graduates who have a natural science background and have acquired some geoscientific skills.
In this Master’s programme, you will learn the basic processes and methods that are the indispensable tools of both earth scientists and planetologists. These include, for example, advanced remote sensing, chemical-mineralogical rock and mineral analysis, as well as quantitative modelling based on geophysical data. The lecturers in the major are involved in various space missions on the one hand and carry out various research projects on Earth on the other, so that there is a close link with current research projects.
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.
Several excursions and field work are required within the semester and during the semester break. Students are required to complete 10 days of fieldwork.
The state of Baden-Württemberg implemented study fees for international students as well as non-EU students earning a second degree starting in the 2017/18 winter semester.
You can find further information about the tuition fees in Baden-Württemberg here.
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:
In order to be eligible for acceptance to the Master of Science in Earth Sciences degree programme, applicants must have English language skills that meet or exceed level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.
15 May for the following winter semester
An application for this degree programme is only possible during the application period and is made online.
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 (http://www.housing.uni-freiburg.de). 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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