Course contents

The accredited master of science course in geography not only offers the acquisition of key geographical competencies, but also the opportunity to specialise in one of the four subject areas:

• Landscape processes in the anthropocene,
• Societal transformations in the anthropocene,
• Natural resources and resource management,
• Urban and rural development and dynamics.

This not only takes into account the integrated approach of geography as a system science but also the necessary subject depth. The focal areas are deliberately aimed at primary issues and not the classic sub-disciplines of geography. It is only possible to start the course in the winter semester. The standard study period for the master of science degree in geography is 4 semesters.

Qualification objectives

• By emphasising the interdisciplinary and integrative character of geography, promoting the ability to bring about solutions to problems that extend beyond sectoral approaches and satisfy the complex reality in the geographical space. This applies in particular if one of the cross-cutting issues is chosen as an area of study.
• Strengthening scientific writing ability in corresponding seminars or areas of study.
• Creating a well-founded methodological basis, which can be aimed at certain focal areas, based on the basic knowledge acquired on undergraduate courses. This methodological basis is intended to enable students to work on many professional areas of responsibility.
• Deepening scientific and methodological competencies to state-of-the-art research standards, especially in the focal areas of study and the compulsory optional modules offered there.
• Training ability to work in a team by forming workgroups within the scope of application-orientated excercises and work placements (above all in practical modules of the compulsory optional subjects).
• Possibility of practical orientation of study through cooperation with authorities (e.g. LfU, IHK) and companies or research orientation through research placements in non-university research facilities.
• The combination of methodological, theoretical and practically orientated course enables students to reflect on current social processes with an awareness of responsibility and critically. In particular, students’ awareness of responsibility and the ability to communicate are developed within the scope of the practical modules.

Application information

You can apply with a bachelor of science degree in geography or an equivalent degree qualification acquired at home or abroad in related environmental, natural or social science subjects. If you have not yet completed your studies (< 40 ECTS missing), it is possible to apply with a qualifying, proof of academic achievement from your university in German. A successful application requires an average grade of 2.50 or better. The application is made for the winter semester, the application deadline is 15 June each year.

A detailed list with the required application documents including the  application form can be found on the online application portal of the University of Augsburg. The application is handed over to the geography admissions committee, which decides on admission to the course according to the examination regulations criteria. You will be notified of the matriculation date with the letter of acceptance from the student record office.

Applicants with foreign record of prior learning, please note that, depending on your country of origin, further requirements may have to be met. For information on these, please refer to the  information sheet for bachelor courses, whose regulations count by way of analogy to the masters degree courses, especially regarding German skills.​​​​​​​

Focal areas

Landscape processes in the anthropocene

• Area of studies characterised by natural sciences with a focus on analysis of the human influence on landscape processes.
• Research-related teaching on soil and water resources, run-off and material transport, high-mountain systems, dynamics of urban landscapes, vegetation dynamics, biogeochemistry and geoinformatics.
• Regular field events in the alpine upland and in the high mountains.

Societal transformations in the anthropocene

• Area of studies characterised by human geography on the main topic of society, the environment and space.
• Modules on political ecology, development and environment, urbanisation, society & culture, regional management, site development as well as renewable energy.
• Depending on the choice of modules, the course can be formed to be more theory-led or applications-orientated.

Natural resources and resource management

• The area of study focuses on a cross-cutting topic, which is considered holistically from difference geography perspectives.
• Modules on resources strategy, soil and water resources, environmental resources in the high mountains, biogeography, political ecology, development & environment, renewable energy and geoinformatics.
• A special feature is the close link with the Environmental Science Centre (Wissenschaftszentrum Umwelt - WZU).

Urban and rural development and dynamics

• The area of study includes cross-cutting topics of physical geography and human geography.
• Modules on soil & water resources, dynamics of urban landscapes, site development, regional management, urbanisation, society & culture as well as geoinformatics are available to choose from
• This area of study is particularly recommended for those interested in application-orientated issues.

Course structure

Methodological competence

• The subject specialisation is based on imparting the latest methods of physical geography, human geography and geoinformatics.
• High-quality and modern infrastructure is available for the acquisition of methodological competence and for extensive research work (including computer pools, computer clusters, undergraduate and biogeochemical laboratory).

Work placements and research placements

Work placements in companies and authorities as well as research placements in non-university facilities allow application or research-orientated deepening of knowledge

Regional focuses

• The workgroups of the Institute for Geography research in different regions of the world, for example, in southern and central Asia, west and central Africa, Cuba and the Alps. It also has many application-orientated projects in the southern region of Germany.
• Particular opportunities in high mountain research is provided by the University of Augsburg’s participation in the Schneefernerhaus environmental research station on the Zugspitze mountain.