Program Overview

Earth Sciences

The Master's program in Earth Sciences at VU Amsterdam is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the Earth's system and its complex interactions. The program aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address the complex challenges faced by our society today.

Overview

The program offers three specializations:

• Geology and Geochemistry (G &G): This specialization examines the Earth's crust and mantle using geological and isotope geochemical methods, studying subduction, volcanism, basin evolution, and comparing Earth's development with other rocky bodies.
• Earth and Climate (E &C): E&C focuses on the Earth's surface and climate records, applying field work with laboratory research to understand and reconstruct land-surface processes, ocean and climate dynamics, biogeochemical cycles, (paleo-)ecology, and the role of humanity.
• Global Environmental Change and Policy (GECP): If you want to help create sustainable solutions to the world's greatest societal and scientific challenges through sound interdisciplinary research, GECP gives you the knowledge and skills to tackle the complex problems our planet faces today.

Program Details

• The program is taught in English.
• The duration of the program is 2 years.
• The program is offered on a full-time basis.
• Students can register for the Master Earth Sciences with a Dutch hbo diploma, often without a pre-master.

Curriculum

The program content includes the study of key interactions within the Earth System in all its complexity. Understanding this system is not only fascinating in itself – it provides the knowledge and skills you need to address the complex challenges faced by our society today. Within the three specializations, students deepen and broaden their knowledge of the Earth's interior and exterior to become a professional with expert knowledge about our planet's processes, problems, and perspectives.