Wiki für Studium

Geoscience Master

This page serves as an overview of important information about the Master's programme Geoscience. The first part deals with the abundance of compulsory modules in the semesters and initial information on elective modules. A precise breakdown and sorting as well as tips and tricks can be found further down. The tips are purely from the point of view of the regulations. Which modules are nice to take or have easy exams is completely disregarded here. In terms of planning, it also makes sense to read up on all semesters first and then make decisions.


  1. Study and Examination Regulations 2020
    1. General information
    2. Computational and Mathematical Geoscience
      1. 1st Semester
        1. Compulsory modules
        2. Elective modules
      2. 2nd Semester
        1. Compulsory modules
        2. Elective modules
      3. 3rd Semester
        1. Compulsory modules
        2. Elective modules
      4. 4th Semester
      5. Elective modules
      6. free elective modules
    3. Environmental Geoscience
      1. 1st Semester
        1. Compulsory modules
        2. Elective modules
      2. 2nd Semester
        1. Compulsory modules
        2. Elective modules
      3. 3rd Semester
        1. Compulsory modules
        2. Elective modules
      4. 4th Semester
      5. Elective modules
      6. free elective modules
    4. Hydrogeology and Hydrochemistry
      1. 1st Semester
        1. Compulsory modules
        2. Elective modules
      2. 2nd Semester
        1. Compulsory modules
        2. Elective modules
      3. 3rd Semester
        1. Compulsory modules
        2. Elective modules
      4. 4th Semester
      5. Elective modules
      6. free elective modules
    5. Tectonics and Geo-Thermochronology
      1. 1st Semester
        1. Compulsory modules
        2. Elective modules
      2. 2nd Semester
        1. Compulsory modules
        2. Elective modules
      3. 3rd Semester
        1. Compulsory modules
        2. Elective modules
      4. 4th Semester
      5. Elective modules

Study and Examination Regulations 2020

General information

The programme consists of 120 credit points (CP), i.e. 4 semesters of an average of 30 CP. These are composed of a specialization containing:

  • Computational and Mathematical Geoscience:
    • 72 CP Compulsory modules
    • 38 CP Elective modules:
      • 15 CP Mathematics and Computational Methods
      • 15 CP Geoscience and Applications
      • 8 CP German Language modules [1]
    • 10 CP free elective modules
  • Environmental Geoscience
    • 79 CP Compulsory modules
    • 27 CP Elective modules:
      • 19 CP from the deposited catalogue [2]
      • 8 CP German Language modules [1]
    • 14 CP free elective modules
  • Hydrogeology and Hydrochemistry
    • 75 CP Compulsory modules
    • 33 CP Elective modules:
      • English elective modules
      • min. 4 CP German elective modules
      • 8 CP German Language modules [1]
    • 12 CP free elective modules
  • Tectonics and Geo-Thermochronology
    • 88 CP Compulsory modules
    • 32 CP Elective modules:
      • from the deposited catalogue
      • 8 CP German Language modules [1]

The term "SWS" means the hours you have to spend per week per semester in face-to-face teaching units.
[1] Students from Germany must fill the 8 LP with modules from the other two elective areas.
[2] Students who have already completed modules from this area in the bachelor's degree must fill the remaining credit points with modules from the specialization catalogues of Hydrogeology and Hydrochemistry.

Computational and Mathematical Geoscience

1st Semester

Compulsory modules

Credit points 16
Lectures: 4 SWS
Exercises: 4 SWS
Lab work: 2 SWS
Modules: Theory of Potential Methods, Scientific Communication in Geoscience, Multivariate Statistics and Geostatistics

Elective modules

Modules amounting to approx. 14 CP are to be selected.

2nd Semester

Compulsory modules

Credit points 16
Lectures: 6 SWS
Exercises: 4 SWS
Lab work: 2 SWS
Modules: Introduction to Bayesian Analysis with R, Inverse Problems in Geophysics, Theory of Electromagnetic Methods, Numerical Analysis of Differential Equations

Elective modules

Modules amounting to approx. 14 CP are to be selected.

3rd Semester

Compulsory modules

Credit points 10
Lectures: 4 SWS
Exercises: 3 SWS
Modules: Advanced Theory of Potential Fields, Numerical Simulation Methods in Geophysics

Elective modules

Modules amounting to approx. 20 CP are to be selected, or as many as are needed to fulfil the amount of points required.

4th Semester

The last half year before you receive your M.Sc. degree is coming up. This semester is about the Master's thesis and a seminar. Good luck to you who are reading this right now. I am proud of you that you have successfully completed the previous semesters and I am sure that you will also manage the last half year!

Elective modules

Modules amounting to 38 CP are to be selected from the given catalogue in any semester.

free elective modules

Modules amounting to 10 CP are to be selected from the range offered by the TU Bergakademie Freiberg or a cooperating university. Modules from the catalogue of elective modules can also be selected as free elective modules, as long as these have not already been selected as elective modules.




Environmental Geoscience

1st Semester

Compulsory modules

Credit points 16
Lectures: 3 SWS
Exercises: 10 SWS
Modules: Scientific Communication in Geoscience, Individual Term Project, Basics of Climate Change

Elective modules

Modules amounting to approx. 14 CP are to be selected.

2nd Semester

Compulsory modules

Credit points 21
Lectures: 9 SWS
Exercises: 7 SWS
Lab work: 7 days
Modules: Atmospheric Gases and Aerosols, Introduction to Instrumental Analysis, Environmental Geochemistry, Introduction to Earth System Science

Elective modules

Modules amounting to approx. 9 CP are to be selected.

3rd Semester

Compulsory modules

Credit points 12
Lectures: 3 SWS
Exercises: 2 SWS
Lab work: 3 SWS
Modules: Applied Remote Sensing in Geosciences, Biosphere Atmosphere Interaction

Elective modules

Modules amounting to approx. 18 CP are to be selected, or as many as are needed to fulfil the amount of points required.

4th Semester

The last half year before you receive your M.Sc. degree is coming up. This semester is about the Master's thesis and a seminar. Good luck to you who are reading this right now. I am proud of you that you have successfully completed the previous semesters and I am sure that you will also manage the last half year!

Elective modules

Modules amounting to 27 CP are to be selected from the given catalogue in any semester.

free elective modules

Modules amounting to 14 CP are to be selected from the range offered by the TU Bergakademie Freiberg or a cooperating university. Modules from the catalogue of elective modules can also be selected as free elective modules, as long as these have not already been selected as elective modules.




Hydrogeology and Hydrochemistry

1st Semester

Compulsory modules

Credit points 14
Lectures: 5 SWS
Exercises: 4 SWS
Modules: Scientific Communication in Geoscience, Introduction to Hydrogeology, Hydrogeochemistry, Environmental Engineering Geology [part 1]

Elective modules

Modules amounting to approx. 16 CP are to be selected.

2nd Semester

Compulsory modules

Credit points 22
Lectures: 5 SWS
Exercises: 7 SWS
Lab work: 5 SWS
Modules: Hydrogeology Field Trip, Hydrogeological Project, Field Methods in Hydrogeology, Tracers in Hydrogeology, Environmental Engineering Geology [part 2]

Elective modules

Modules amounting to approx. 8 CP are to be selected.

3rd Semester

Compulsory modules

Credit points 9
Lectures: 2 SWS
Exercises: 2 SWS
Lab work: 3 SWS
Modules: Hydrochemical-Analytical Lab Course, Contaminant Transport in Groundwater

Elective modules

Modules amounting to approx. 21 CP are to be selected, or as many as are needed to fulfil the amount of points required.

4th Semester

The last half year before you receive your M.Sc. degree is coming up. This semester is about the Master's thesis and a seminar. Good luck to you who are reading this right now. I am proud of you that you have successfully completed the previous semesters and I am sure that you will also manage the last half year!

Elective modules

Modules amounting to 33 CP are to be selected from the given catalogue in any semester.

free elective modules

Modules amounting to 12 CP are to be selected from the range offered by the TU Bergakademie Freiberg or a cooperating university. Modules from the catalogue of elective modules can also be selected as free elective modules, as long as these have not already been selected as elective modules.




Tectonics and Geo-Thermochronology

1st Semester

Compulsory modules

Credit points 30
Lectures: 12 SWS
Exercises: 6 SWS
Lab work: 4 SWS + 3 days
Modules: Trace Elements in Magmatic Systems, Geochronology and Isotope Geochemistry, Applied Remote Sensing in Geosciences, Scientific Communication in Geoscience, Petrology of Metamorphic Rocks, Tectonics and Mineral Deposits, Rheology, Neotectonics, Microtectonics [part 1]

Elective modules

The semester is relatively full, a maximum of one elective should be taken.

2nd Semester

Compulsory modules

Credit points 17
Lectures: 7 SWS
Exercises: 3 SWS
Modules: Research Seminar: Tectonics /Geo-Thermochronology, Thermochronology, Plate Tectonics and Magmatic Processes, Rheology, Neotectonics, Microtectonics [part 2]

Elective modules

Modules amounting to approx. 13 CP are to be selected.

3rd Semester

Compulsory modules

Credit points 11
Lectures: 2 SWS
Exercises: 2 SWS
Lab work: 8 SWS
Modules: Deformation Analysis, Field Exercise

Elective modules

Modules amounting to approx. 19 CP are to be selected, or as many as are needed to fulfil the amount of points required.

4th Semester

The last half year before you receive your M.Sc. degree is coming up. This semester is about the Master's thesis and a seminar. Good luck to you who are reading this right now. I am proud of you that you have successfully completed the previous semesters and I am sure that you will also manage the last half year!

Elective modules

Modules amounting to 32 CP are to be selected from the given catalogue in any semester.

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