Program Overview

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Atmosphere, Climate and Ecosystems, Master's Programme

The master's programme in Atmosphere, Climate, and Ecosystems provides students with the opportunity to study the complex global system made up of the atmosphere, climate, and ecosystems, and the related global challenges. As a graduate of the programme, students will be prepared to enter society with broad knowledge in natural science and special competence in a specialized field of science, intermixed with global challenges.

Programme Details

• Duration: 2 years
• Credits: 120 credits (ECTS)
• Offered by: Department of Biological & Environmental Sciences at the Faculty of Science and Technology
• Study pace: 100%
• Time: Day
• Location: Göteborg
• Study form: Campus
• Language: English

Application Periods

• Autumn 2025: 15 Oct 2024 - 15 Jan 2025 (Application code: GU-12005) and 17 Mar 2025 - 15 Apr 2025 (Application code: GU-12009)
• Autumn 2026: 16 Oct 2025 - 15 Jan 2026 (Application code: GU-12003) and 16 Mar 2026 - 15 Apr 2026 (Application code: GU-12002)

Tuition Fees

• Full education cost: 284,040 SEK (Autumn 2025) and 290,000 SEK (Autumn 2026)
• First payment: 71,010 SEK (Autumn 2025) and 72,500 SEK (Autumn 2026)
• No fees are charged for EU and EEA citizens, Swedish residence permit holders, and exchange students.

Programme Structure and Content

The programme begins with four mandatory courses during the first semester:

• Global change - problem, analysis, measures (ES2613), 7.5 HEC
• Climate Change in an Earth System Perspective (GVN460), 7.5 HEC
• Atmospheric Chemistry 1 (KEM171), 7.5 HEC
• Nature-based solutions – potentials, pitfalls, and goal conflicts, 7.5 HEC

In the second term of the first year, students choose a specialization in either atmospheric science, climatology, or ecosystems. Proposed courses within each specialization are listed below.

Atmospheric Science

• Period 3: Energy and Environment: Processes, Efficiency, and Impacts (ES2417), 15 HEC
• Period 4: Aerosols (KEM720), 15 HEC

Climatology

• Period 3, January-February: Climate change history (GVN360), 7.5 HEC
• Period 3, February-March: Advanced Climate Data Analysis (GVN370), 7.5 HEC
• Period 4: Earth Systems, Field Course, 15 HEC

Ecosystems

• Period 3: Plant ecophysiology in a global change perspective (BIO506), 15 HEC
• Period 4: Plant ecology in a global change perspective (BIO503), 15 HEC

Year 2

In the final year, students do their degree project, which comprises 60 higher education credits (alternatively 45 higher education credits degree project + 15 elective higher education credits).

Who Should Apply

The programme is suitable for students who want to study the interactions between atmosphere, climate, and ecosystems and contribute to a sustainable future.

Prerequisites and Selection

Entry Requirements

• Bachelor's degree of at least 180 credits
• At least 120 credits in natural sciences
• At least 15 credits in basic chemistry
• At least 15 credits in chemistry, 30 credits in earth science, or 30 credits in biology
• Eligibility for one of the profile subjects during the spring semester of year 1 requires at least 30 credits of chemistry for the profile in atmospheric science, 30 credits of earth sciences for the profile in climate, and 30 credits of biology for the profile in ecosystems
• Applicants must prove their knowledge of English corresponding to English 6/English B from Swedish Upper Secondary School

Selection

Selection is based upon the number of credits from previous university studies, maximum 165 credits.

After Graduation

Graduates of the programme receive the degree Master of Science in Atmosphere, Climate, and Ecosystems. They will be prepared for research or tasks where solid knowledge in atmospheric, climate, and ecosystem science is of concern, such as environmental authorities, research institutes, universities, and start-ups.

Facilities

Teaching is conducted in the Natrium building, on Medicinareberget in Gothenburg (Medicinaregatan 7B).

Exchange Opportunities

Students can choose to study abroad through exchange agreements with several prominent universities in Europe and other countries.

Internship

Students have the possibility to complete an internship within the collaboration network Gothenburg Centre for Sustainable Development.