Master of Science in Geology
Ghent University offers a Master’s programme in Geology with two main specialisations, each of them covering a key discipline of ‘System Earth’. These specialisations are Basins and Orogens, and Groundwater and Mineral Resources.
What
The global and sustainable management of water and soil, of natural resources and energy sources is high on the international agenda. Managing these resources wisely requires a fundamental knowledge of Earth’s geo-features. Although the concept of Global Change is nothing new to a geologist, it does cover many different aspects. Earth is an incredibly dynamic system. Unravelling this is one of the biggest challenges of our century.
Ghent University offers a Master’s programme in Geology with two main specialisations, each of them covering a key discipline of ‘System Earth’. These specialisations are Basins and Orogens, and Groundwater and Mineral Resources. The Basins and Orogens major covers the emergence and evolution of large oceanic and continental sediment basins, and how this was influenced by the structure and composition of the lithosphere, by fluids, by climate and by the biosphere. The Groundwater and Mineral Resources major focuses on the characterisation and preservation of two of Earth’s most vital compartments (groundwater and mineral resources) - humankind’s main priority. It goes without saying that development co-operation is an important element in our programme.
For whom
The admission requirements vary. Depending on your prior education, you are either able to enrol directly, or there are additional requirements.
Structure
Each specialisation is supported by a 60 ECTS credits-worth of major-specific course units staggered across two years, as well as an accompanying Master’s dissertation of 30 ECTS credits. The research project that eventually results in a Master's dissertation can be initiated already in the first year. The major-specific course units are programmed in the first term. The Basins and Orogens major contains course units with a focus on sedimentary processes, ocean and climate dynamics, and the evolution of the biosphere. Micropaleontology is a key aspect in all of this. On the other hand, the curriculum also focuses on petrological and geophysical aspects. Both disciplines contain field work. The Groundwater and Mineral Resources major covers the fundamental and applied study of natural resources and groundwater. Its aim is for a sustainable management and protection of these vital resources. A 30 ECTS credits-worth minor allows for professional preparation by means of electives. You can opt for a work placement or course units with an obvious link to sustainability, entrepreneurial action and transversal skills.
Immersion into a professional or other scientific-academic environment will broaden your horizons and will confront you with the needs of the professional world or with new scientific perspectives.
In addition to the (domain) Master’s programme described above, you can also choose a Master’s Programme in Teaching (in Dutch: Educatieve Master). Find out more at Educatieve Master (in Dutch).
Labour Market
Our programme’s strong multidisciplinary character opens career perspectives in innovative research, in dynamic industrial sectors, e.g. the environmental sector, drinking water companies, the government, NGOs and authorities responsible for developmental co-operation, exploration of hydrocarbons and geothermic energy, the geotechnical sector, the construction sector and large dredging companies, underground storage of greenhouse gases, etc.
In addition, students of the Geology programme gradually acquire the huge advantage of becoming proficient in English on a professional level. The world will be your oyster!
Quality Assurance
At Ghent University, we strive to educate people who dare to think about the challenges of tomorrow. For that purpose, we provide education that is embedded in six strategic objectives: Think Broadly, Keep Researching, Cultivate Talent, Contribute, Extend Horizons, Opt for Quality.
Ghent University continuously focuses on quality assurance and quality culture. The Ghent University's quality assurance system offers information on each study programme’s unique selling points, and on its strengths and weaknesses with regard to quality assurance.
More information:
Unique Selling Points
- Multiperspectivism: Geology does not stop at national borders and is by definition an international discipline. Our study programme strongly focuses on problem-solving thinking based on interdisciplinarity, and aims to stimulate a critical attitude towards geological thinking. Throughout the curriculum, we train our students to apply their acquired knowledge in the field, we encourage them to think about scientific new angles, and cultivate an attitude of lifelong learning.
- Curriculum: the renewed curriculum aims to consolidate a broad scientific training by gradually building up the basic knowledge and skills of geology during the Bachelor’s. The ensuing Master’s curriculum (120 ECTS-credits) are centered around two axes that reflect the research expertise, namely geology of basins and orogens (folding region of the earth’s crust), and groundwater and mineral resources.
- Curricular freedom: sufficient room is created in the Master’s curriculum (30 ECTS-credits) for further in-depth study (elective course units), a work placement (professional development), internationalization (Erasmus+) or the Master’s Programme of Teaching.
- Integration of theory and practice: in the Master’s curriculum, students are able to choose a long professional work placement at a company or scientific institute at home or abroad, during which they goes through all stages of the professional field with special attention to problem-solving and applied thinking skills. Our graduates quickly find work.
- Four-dimensional thinking (space-time) is a unique aspect of the Geology programme. The contemporary geologist is a conscious scientist with the ability to offer efficient solutions for long-term sustainable natural resource management.
Strengths
- Motivated team of lecturers: we aim to apply the latest findings of geological research in the education we provide. During the master years, research-based education is strongly covered in the course units of the majors ‘Groundwater and Mineral Resources’ and ‘Basins and Orogens’.
- Relationship with the professional field: at the students behest, a professional work placement in a company or scientific institute was integrated into the master’s curriculum, bringing them into contact with real-life situations. Within the regular course units, the relationship with the professional field comes to the fore by inviting alumni as guest lecturers or by means of partnerships (including the Flanders Marine Institute, Geological Survey of Belgium).
- Approachability: we are a relatively small study programme, which means that we can uphold low-threshold and efficient consultation and coordination between students and lecturers.
- Teaching methods: we take care to ensure that the variety of teaching and assessment methods prepare students for the challenges of the future, the geological professional field, and problem-solving thinking, all the while paying sufficient attention to both oral and written communication.
- Fieldwork work placements: the field is and remains the geologist’s primary area of activity. Our study programme focuses strongly on (international) fieldwork work placements, during which students have to apply their acquired spatial geological insights in a dynamic geological dimension.
Challenges
- Monitoring study results for generation students. We will pay more attention to communication about the expectations and the exact content of first-year course units.
- We monitor a balanced workload in the Bachelor’s and Master’s programme via assignment rota that include scheduled feedback sessions. After all, our programme consists of a variety of teaching methods in which students receive interim assignments (reports of field work placements or excursions, writing papers, discussing case studies, etc.).
- The social relevance of geology should be emphasized more.
This study programme is accredited by the Accreditation Organization of the Netherlands and Flanders (Dutch: NVAO). Accreditation was extended following the positive outcome of the institutional review in 2022. Programme quality was validated by a quality review, i.e. a screening of the Education Monitor by the Education Quality Board. The Quality Assurance Resolution (in Dutch) can be found here.
This information was last updated on 01/02/2023.
In case of questions or suggestions with regard to the publicly available information, please contact the study programme.