Program Overview

Master of Science in Geography, Environment and Planning

The Master of Science in Geography, Environment and Planning offers a comprehensive education in exploring and resolving contemporary territorial and socio-environmental challenges in diverse geographical contexts.

Presentation

This program provides a formation emphasizing:

• Territory: analysis of territories, including their planning, governance, socio-economic structures, and environmental and spatial systems, at multiple scales.
• Sustainability: analytical and critical perspectives on territorial planning, development in North and South countries, human-environment relationships, and socio-environmental transitions.
• Geographical analysis: approaches including diagnosis, representation, visualization, and modeling of the territory using quantitative and qualitative methods.

Specializations

The Master can be completed without specialization or with one of four specializations:

• Urbanism durable (Sustainable Urbanism)
• Gestion durable des environnements de montagne (Sustainable Management of Mountain Environments)
• Développement durable Nord/Sud (Sustainable Development North/South)
• Analyse et modélisation territoriales (Territorial Analysis and Modeling)

Content of the Formation

Students benefit from a common formation on contemporary, plural, and cutting-edge approaches in geography, environment, and planning, as well as tools and practices necessary for the sustainable management of territorial and socio-environmental projects.

Thematic modules are proposed on the nature and inequalities in cities; environmental management and means of subsistence in rural areas; mobility and territorial policies; and methods for geographical information analysis. These modules allow students to develop specialized understanding of interactions between humans, territory, and the built and natural environment.

Exchanges and Mobility

Participating in a university exchange is a unique and enriching experience, provided it is well-prepared. The first thing to remember is to start the process well in advance. For example, if you aim to leave in the 3rd year of your bachelor's, you must start your application process at the beginning of your 2nd year.

Professional Perspectives

University studies develop a wide range of transversal skills: case study management, analysis and synthesis, software use, communication, cartography, etc. This array of skills, combined with specialized knowledge acquired during studies, prepares students for professional functions in very diverse sectors of integration:

• Public services, private sector, study offices, NGOs, associations
• In areas such as:
  • Urbanism and territorial planning
  • Mobility
  • Environmental protection
  • International cooperation
  • Research and teaching
  • Etc.

Useful Information

• Organizer: Faculty of Geosciences and Environment, School of Geosciences and Environment
• Address: Faculty of Geosciences and Environment, UNIL-Mouline Quarter, Geopolis Building, CH-1015 Lausanne
• Contact: List of contacts for the Master
• Grade: Master of Science in Geography, Environment and Planning
• Credits ECTS: 120
• Duration: 4 semesters
• Language of Instruction: French (recommended level C1), with some teachings in English (recommended level B2)
• Admission Conditions: Hold a Bachelor's degree in the field of Geography from a Swiss university or a Bachelor of Science in Geosciences and Environment from the University of Lausanne, with a specialization in Geography or Environmental Sciences. Another degree or university title may be deemed equivalent and allow access to the Master, with or without conditions.
• Registration: This course starts only in the autumn semester. Registration deadline: before April 30th. If you need to obtain a visa for studies in Switzerland: February 28th. Application dossier to be submitted within the deadlines to the Service of Registrations and Inscriptions.
• Part-time: Possible under certain conditions.
• Start of Courses: Mid-September

Note

Subject to ratification by the competent authorities. Only regulatory texts are authentic. Last update: December 9, 2025