Master of Science in Geology
The master's programme in Geology offers an in-depth training in general geology and a specialized training in selected disciplines of geology. The programme offers the possibility to specialise in one of the majors offered.
What
The Master in Geology – organised jointly by Ghent University and Catholic University of Leuven – offers an in-depth training in general geology and a specialized training in selected disciplines of geology. Emphasis is put on acquiring general academic skills such as research and exploration, reporting, co-operation with fellow students and researchers. The student receives the necessary training to analyze and solve new, broader and more complex geological problems. One obtains the scientific attitude to solve these problems by selecting and applying advanced methods (qualitative and quantitative field analysis, direct and indirect observation techniques, physical and chemical analytical techniques, modelling of geological processes etc).
One should not only have hands-on knowledge of the techniques and the basic principles, but also be able to appraise the potential and the limitations of the different techniques. In a rational and scientific way, the student is able to process and to report the research results, to publish them in reports and in a master thesis (monograph), and to present and defend these results orally in a structured way, aided by modern communication techniques.
The Master in Geology has the social attitudes and skills to work in an interdisciplinary team with the aim to reach the best possible coherent solution for a specific problem.
For whom
The admission requirements vary. Depending on your preliminary training, you are either able to enrol directly, or there are additional requirements.
Structure
The master's programme offers the possibility to specialise in one of the four majors offered:
- Basins and Orogens (60 credits)
- Groundwater and Mineral Resources (60 credits)
- Geodynamics and Georesources (54 credits)
- Surface Processes and Paleo-environments (55 credits).
Depending on the chosen major, students take up an additional 30 to 36 credits for elective courses. In the second year, a research project (master's dissertation) of 30 credtis is scheduled. The master's dissertation is an original piece of research work. It aims to develop and strengthen the research capacity skills of the students. The student selects a topic and is given guidance by a supervisor. The master's dissertation consists of a literature review part, practical research and an original analysis of the topic.
If you want to combine your master’s degree with a teacher’s degree, then there is the option of following an ‘Educatieve master’ instead of the above described master. The ‘Educatieve master’ however is a Dutch taught programme. More information can be found on www.ugent.be/educatievemaster.
Labour Market
The strong multidisciplinary character of this programme does not only open the door to innovative research, but also to dynamic industrial sectors, governmental agencies, NGO’s etc. Students of the master's programme in geology also acquire step by step an enormous advantage: the use of professional English. 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.
Weaknesses
- 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 (peer-learning visit) in 2017. A screening of the Education Monitor by Ghent University’s Education Quality Board is planned in the years 2021-2024.
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.