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Name of the Masters programme
Earth Sciences: Earth Surface Processes, Climate and Records
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Earth Sciences: Earth Surface Processes, Climate and Records at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Study the natural processes of the Earth's system
As a Master’s student of Earth Sciences, you will study the natural processes and cycles of the Earth’s system within and between rock, soil, water, living things and air. You will quantify the magnitude and rate of these processes in both space and in time. You will look at the influence of humanity on the Earth’s Systems to address questions such as: What can past and present elemental fluxes tell us about the future? How can we use earth system knowledge to effectively address global challenges such as climate change?
In this two-year programme you will choose one of three specialisations:
- Geology and Geochemistry
- Earth and Climate
- Global Environmental Change and Policy
More information on this programme? Visit the website!
Earth Sciences: Earth Surface Processes, Climate and Records
You have acquired a broad background by following a set of compulsory courses in the first year. In the second year you will focus on a set of optional courses, finishing the Research Project started in the first year and the Master Thesis.
You can read more about the programme and course descriptions in the studyguide.
More information on this programme? Visit the website!
Earth Sciences: Earth Surface Processes, Climate and Records
You have great career prospects with the MSc in Earth Sciences from VU Amsterdam.
The qualities you have developed during the programme are relevant for a large number of positions. There are great career prospects for graduates with an MSc in Earth Sciences from VU Amsterdam. If you want to enter the job market straight away you could work in many areas: geology, environmental science or you could take up a position in an environmental consultancy firm for example or in a governmental institution. You could work as an engineering geologist, a geoscientist, a minerals surveyor, a climate policy advisor or flood specialist. Your specialist subject will help determine the course of your career.
You could also register for a national or international PhD programme. You could take up a position in Research and Development. Or you could become a science teacher in secondary education.
More information on this programme? Visit the website!
Earth Sciences: Earth Surface Processes, Climate and Records
I have an international degree
The Admission Board will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application. In order to gain admission to one of our Master’s programmes, you will need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited research university including at least three full years of academic study amounting to a minimum of 180 ECTS or equivalent. We do not require a GRE or GMAT test score.
Specific admission requirements for the MSc Earth Sciences programme:
Students who hold a certificate of University of Applied Sciences (HBO) or an equivalent of a VU Amsterdam BSc degree obtained at an institution inside or outside of the Netherlands may be admitted to the Master's programme in Earth Sciences on the basis of a decision to that effect taken by the Admission Board. The Examination Board will determine whether the qualification in question is sufficiently relevant to warrant admission. The Admission Board may place additional requirements on the student before granting admission to the programme.
For the specialisation in Global Environmental Change and Policy, the following admission requirements apply:
Academic results
Bachelor degree at university level (preferably interdisciplinary) containing:
- at least 6 ec in Earth Sciences at the end of the 3rd year
- at least 6 ec in Environmental Sciences or Sustainability Sciences at the end of the 1st year
Basic Knowledge or affinity with environmental topics:
- previous study programme, course work, thesis
- relevant work experience (can include volunteer work)
General English language proficiency requirements
VU Amsterdam requires all applicants to take an English test. You can, however, begin your application without having the test results. Exceptions are made for students who have completed a bachelor or master in Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, New Zealand or Australia.
The minimum English language proficiency requirements for admission to this master programme are:
- IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall
- TOEFL Internet-based test: 92 overall
- Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE): A, B, C
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): A, B, C
I have a Dutch university level (WO) bachelor’s degree (VU bachelor's degree, VU premaster or bachelor's degree at another university)
The Admission Board will decide upon your admission after having evaluated your complete online application. In order to gain admission to one of our Master’s programmes, you will need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited research university including at least three full years of academic study amounting to a minimum of 180 ECTS or equivalent. We do not require a GRE or GMAT test score.
For VU Bachelor’s degree students
Students with a Bachelor's degree in Earth Sciences from VU will receive direct admission to the Master's programme in Earth Sciences, specialisations Geology and Geochemistry and Earth Surface Processes and Records.
Students with a Bachelor's degree in Earth Sciences, Economics & Sustainability (‘Aarde, Economie’ & Duurzaamheid) from VU will receive direct admission to the Master's programme in Earth Sciences, specialisations Earth Sciences and Economics and Earth Surface Processes and Records (when certain subjects form the minor Earth Surface have been chosen).
Students with a BSc-degree Earth Sciences will be admitted to the following Master’s *specialisations according to the Variant which was followed in the Bachelor’s programme:
- Geology and Geochemistry: BSc variant I;
- Earth Surface Processes Climate and Records: BSc variant I & II;
- Earth Sciences and Economics: BSc variant I & II, with extra required subjects in Spatial Economics (contact the master coordinator);
Students who do not receive direct admission to a certain Master's specialisation, because their BSc variant is not entirely appropriate for this specialisation, may still be admitted by a decision to that effect taken by the Admission Board. The Admission Board will, in such cases, place additional requirements on the student before granting admission to the Master's programme.
Language requirements
VU Amsterdam requires international students and students with a HBO degree to pass an English language proficiency test. This requirement can be met if no longer than two years before the start of the programme the applicant has successfully completed one of the following examinations with the minimum scores indicated:
- IELTS (Academic): 6.5 (due to Covid-19 the IELTS Indicator will also be accepted for admissions in 2020)
- TOEFL paper based test: 580
- TOEFL internet based test: 92
- VU TOEFL ITP: 580
- Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE): A, B, C
- Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE): A, B, C
More information on this programme? Visit the website!
Overview of Masters programmes - Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
More information on this programme? Visit the website!
Institution
Location: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam De Boelelaan 1105
1081 HV Amsterdam
Niederlande
Nord Holland
| T | +31 20 59 89898 | |
| E | international@vu.nl |
Facts about the Masters programme
Location
Amsterdam
Field of study
Science & Mathematics
Degree
Master of Science
Language
English
Start
winter semester - September
Application deadline
Type of study
Full-time
Duration of study: 2 years
Tuition fees EU: 2168 EUR / year
Tuition fees Non EU: 15320 EUR / year
Facts about the Masters programme
Location
Amsterdam
Field of study
Science & Mathematics
Degree
Master of Science
Language
English
Start
winter semester - September
Application deadline
Type of study
Full-time
Duration of study: 2 years
Tuition fees EU: 2168 EUR / year
Tuition fees Non EU: 15320 EUR / year