Department of Geology

Master of Science in Geology

At Ghent University students can choose between the Dutch Master of Science in Geology and the English Master of Science in Geology.

The English master is mainly focused on research, with emphasis on the acquisition of general academic skills, such as research and exploration, reporting and collaboration with fellow students and researchers. You will receive the necessary education to analyse and solve new, broad and more complex geological problems. In this way you will develop a scientific attitude to solve problems following the right research method (qualitative and quantitative field analysis, direct and indirect observation methods, physical and chemical analytical techniques, modelling of geological processes, ...) and the methods to evaluate concerning possibilities/limitations.

This master is provided in a collaboration from Ghent University and KU Leuven. There is choice out of two majors. he UGent offers the major “Past & Futureproof Earth”. Besides the two majors that are also available in the Dutch education, namely Basins and Orogens and Groundwater and mineral resources, you can choose for the majors Geodynamics and Georesources and Surface processes and paleoenvironments. The major “Geosciences” is offered by KU Leuven and requires a registration at KU Leuven.

Majors (60 credits)

Past & Futureproof Earth

PThis major focusses on the extraction and deciphering of climate change and its impact from the various Earth’s archives through geophysics, paleontology or geochemistry, and on “Earth Stewardship”, entailing the sustainable exploration, modelling and management of groundwater and mineral resources.

Geosciences

In this broad major you will tackle subjects ranging from geodynamics and georesources to paleoenvironmnental reconstructions and surface processes. This research falls into three broad groups: biogeology, geodynamics & geofluids, and applied geology & mineralogy.

Elective courses (25 credits)

Those who acquired the taste of research and who wants to take this road, may chose from a wide variety of English elective courses. chooses for the Research minor. This minor is provided fully in English in the shape of elective courses. Besides a list of broadening elective courses (shared by both majors), within the major “Past & Futureproof Earth”, you can select specialized courses from 5 domains which are closely tied to the professional environment. In this minor you will get the chance to get even more deeply acquainted into your topic or to explore links with other research topics.

The Master dissertation (30 credits)

Every master program finalizes with a master dissertation. This is a personal scientific work on a certain topic of choice. This happens already during the first year in consultation with the supervisor; this is the professor who guides and supports the work, together with the scientific staff. During this first year, you will elaborate your own research as a small project application (5 sp). During the final year, you independently work out on this scientific topic. This involves a certain further specialization, an element that is often posed as a requirement for a solicitation. The master dissertation is an important and extensive part of the master education.

Consult the online study guide Master of Science in Geology for more detailed information on the content of all courses

Grants/Scholarships

A limited number of grants/scholarships for students from less-developed countries is offered by Ghent University and by the Flemish Government. See the links below for more information about deadlines, application procedure and eligibility: