Master of Science in Marine Geosciences Kiel University

The MSc Marine Geosciences study programme at Kiel University explores the depths of the oceans and integrates multiple disciplines in the marine sciences such as marine geology, oceanography, environmental sciences. This English-language Master's programme not only enhances your foundational knowledge from your Bachelor's degree but also equips you with advanced skills to address pressing environmental and societal challenges, focusing on coastal geology, marine geochemistry, marine resources, and the ocean's role in the Earth's climate system.

The study programme MSc Marine Geosciences offers an interdisciplinary, wide-ranging scientific course with numerous practical experiences, hands-on experiences in the laboratory and opportunities for field work at sea and on land as a basis for your professional career. You are invited to join the multidisciplinary marine research landscape at Kiel University within the university’s research focus Kiel Marine Science (https://www.uni-kiel.de/en/research/priority-research-areas/kiel-marine-science) and in collaboration with the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel (https://www.geomar.de/en), and start your career as a marine geoscientist in industry, academia, or a similar field. Join us on our expedition to learn more about the better part of our planet and play a role in its future.

Highlights of the programme include:

• international study programme with students from all around the world
• interdisciplinarity and a high amount of field work and hands-on training
• a mobility window to study abroad in the third semester (ERASMUS+)

The international study programme MSc Marine Geosciences starts in the winter semester, i.e. in October each year. The study programme comprises four semesters with 120 credit (ECTS) points (90 ECTS points for modules and 30 ECTS points for the Master's thesis) and is a full time-study programme. 

During the first two semesters, the basic knowledge and the instruments used in marine sciences, especially in marine geosciences, will be taught. On field trips and research cruises (sea-going training), the acquired skills will be applied and consolidated. Building on this, specialisation will take place in elective courses, which will be supplemented by insights into the various disciplines of marine science. During the third semester, a special window of mobility will give students the opportunity to gain further experience during an optional stay abroad at a partner university. At the end of the programme, each student should be able to write a high-quality scientific Master's thesis that will open the way to a great academic career or employment in industry, NGOs, or with authorities.

The international programme MSc Marine Geosciences at Kiel University is divided into five sections:

1. Technical Basics (40 ECTS): These modules are mainly offered at the beginning of the study programme, i.e. in the first semester. They cover all aspects of marine geosciences, ranging from the coasts to the seafloor and everything in between. Lectures and seminars build the foundation you need to go into the field.
2. Excursions/Field Work (25 ECTS): These modules are offered mostly in the second and third semesters, and they allow you to participate in sea-going and land-based excursions in Germany and beyond, including research cruises with RV Alkor and other German research vessels.
3. Compulsory Electives (15 ECTS): These modules provide in-depth knowledge. They allow you to create a curriculum that addresses your specific interests and needs. The breadth of elective modules offered in the study programme allows you to specialise in diverse fields in marine geosciences.
4. CAU-Wide Option (10 ECTS): These modules provide the opportunity for you to take courses from study programmes of another faculty at Kiel University to further define your academic profile. These modules will, however, not count towards your final grade.
5. Your Own (Research) Work: Apply your knowledge and skills to complete your project work and Master's thesis with one or more supervisors from more than 12 working groups engaged in the study programme both at Kiel University and GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel.

There is no formal internship. However, you can gain valuable insights into other fields within the "Project Work" 10 ECTS module. The project work is a short-term, independently conducted, self-initiated and self-organised student project that may be completed in any field of scientific research related to the marine sciences. In addition to a classic research project, students may also choose to conduct the project work in a non-academic marine sciences-related field including science communication, science outreach and visualisation, arts, industry collaboration, stakeholder dialogue/collaboration, etc. The content of the project work is deliberately open and adjustable to the individual interests and needs of the students. It is therefore a great opportunity for students to hone their skills and fill their self-identified gaps of expertise.

A Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline with a minimum of 50 ECTS points in geoscientific lectures is required to start studies without additional requirements.
The relevant Bachelor's degree must be certified with a grade of 2.5 or better.
Applicants must hand in a personal statement explaining their reasons for choosing this programme along with a CV.

An enrolment fee ("Einschreibgebühr") of 55 EUR is charged for the first enrolment at Kiel University. A semester contribution ("Semesterbeitrag") currently amounting to 403 EUR must be paid each semester. This covers administration fees ("Verwaltungskostenbeitrag"), free public transport ("bundesweites Semesterticket") for trains and buses, reduced lunch prices, a culture ticket and other benefits for students.

The monthly costs of living in Germany are currently at least 992 EUR per month. Please note that when applying for a visa (from countries requiring a visa) and also later in Germany when extending a residence permit, financial means in the amount of the living costs for one year (11,904 EUR) must be proven.

More information can be found here: www.international.uni-kiel.de/en/incomings/planning-arrival-and-stay/visa.

There is the possibility to work as research assistant at the working groups of the university and also at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel.

Please find information on accommodation in Kiel on the following website: https://www.international.uni-kiel.de/en/incomings/planning-arrival-and-stay/accomodation.

Kiel University (also referred to as the CAU) was founded in 1665. It is Schleswig-Holstein's oldest, largest and best-known university, with 27,000 students and 3,700 staff members. It is also the only full-fledged university in the state. Seven Nobel Prize winners have worked here. The CAU has been successfully taking part in the Excellence Initiative since 2006.

We use research, teaching and the transfer of science to address the great challenges of our time in health, environmental and cultural change, nutrition and energy. In doing so, we ensure peace and preserve livelihoods for future generations. We use responsible actions to make sure that scientific discoveries are transferred into all sectors of our society by interdisciplinary thought – regardless of short-lived trends – where they are incorporated into political, economic and social decisions aimed at securing peace and prosperity.

When it was founded back in 1665, the CAU had the motto “Pax Optima Rerum: peace is the most valuable asset.” This maxim is as applicable today as it was over 350 years ago. We want to follow this key idea and contribute towards creating a peaceful, fair world in which everyone lives freely and comfortably. We aim to create a world in which treating the environment with respect also enables future generations to enjoy the same benefits.

CAU’s mission:
Our mission is to deliver research and teaching that contribute to peace, prosperity and maintaining a pluralistic, free society as well as address the challenges we are facing. Our strong disciplines carry out this mission. The fulfilment of this mission requires interdisciplinary collaboration and involves transdisciplinary issues. We find solutions to today’s pressing problems and implement these solutions together with stakeholders from society, industry and politics.

Teaching profile:
We are dedicated to research-based teaching and learning. Therefore, the development of new teaching approaches is evolving constantly at the interfaces between research from the different scientific disciplines. Students from all over the world benefit from this: research results are quickly integrated into programme curricula and our academic staff is trained in state-of-the-art teaching methods.

Research profile:
The CAU is Schleswig-Holstein’s only full-fledged university with a major focus on research. Over time, four dynamic priority research areas have systematically developed. These are based on strong disciplines interacting together – Marine Science, Life Science, Societal and Cultural Change, and Nano Surface and Interface Science. Each individual research area makes a substantial contribution towards dealing with at least one of the grand challenges of our time.

Transfer profile:
A university is not an island. It is an entity that impacts on, with and for society in a number of ways, by offering space for new ideas, passing on knowledge and values, and enabling debates about controversial subjects. Universities train specialists, produce innovative products and start-ups, help companies to develop further and assist politics by giving advice and warnings. The CAU encompasses top quality, innovative science, a sense of responsibility and the transfer of knowledge. We advocate for the university’s active role in society and aim to work closely together with the community to be the driving force behind regional, national and international development by looking for and finding pioneering solutions for our most pressing issues. This is the reason why we maintain a variety of active connections with our partners in science, industry, politics and society.

Read more about our profiles.

The city of Kiel is located directly on the Baltic Sea coast and is the capital of the northernmost German federal state, Schleswig-Holstein. Famous for its sailing tradition, Kiel has hosted two Olympic sailing competitions. The city's annual "Kiel Week" is the world's largest sailing event and one of the biggest cultural festivals in northern Europe. Kiel's international flair is enhanced by its port, where Scandinavian ferries dock next to cruise liners and historic ships. Those who enjoy going out will benefit from the city's lively cultural life as well as the many clubs and bars to be found between the campus and the city centre. Kiel is a strong centre of science and research. Our students benefit from studying by the sea in a city that offers short distances and a wide range of leisure facilities by the waterside. It takes less than 20 minutes to get from the lecture hall to the beach. A fresh breeze on your face and the right books on hand create a great atmosphere for learning. The social conditions for studying in Kiel are excellent. Freshmen receive a welcome payment of 100 EUR when they come to Kiel to commence their undergraduate studies. They have the opportunity to live in one of the many halls of residence, which are reasonably priced and situated close to the universities. In our bicycle-friendly city, not only the universities but also other inner-city locations can be reached conveniently by bike. The new scientific generation represents the most important resource for making Kiel, the state capital, fit for the future.

www.kiel.de