Teaching program

STUDY PLAN 2023/2025

The detailed study plan is available below

Plan d'études 2023  (439 Ko)

Curriculum 2023/2025

The Master of Science in Environmental Science is organised by the Faculty of Geosciences and Environment of the University of Lausanne.

At the postgraduate level, this curriculum of 120 ECTS credits has a duration of 4 semesters after the Bachelor’s degree. The compulsory courses are given in English. If English is used, the instructor concerned will respect the Directive 3.4 of the directorate of the University.

Study Plan

SUMMARY OF THE STUDY PLAN

The Master's programme is organised into four parts. In the first year, students take compulsory courses from two core modules and their chosen orientation module:

Part 1: Core modules

Click on the title to see the description

Module 1: Foundations in environmental science - 10 ECTS

Courses

Fall

Spring

Eval.

ECTS

Masters Project preparation 

20 C, TP

10 C, TP

Validation

4

Applications of environmental science seminar series

12 S

 

P

1

Statistical Analysis in Environmental Sciences

 

27 C, TP

O

3

Introduction to Scientific Programming

16 C, TP

 

P

2

 

Module 2: Environmental data and systems analysis - 20 ECTS

Courses

Fall

Spring

Eval.

ECTS

Model parameter estimation and uncertainty quatification

 

48 C, TP

P

5

Environmental time-series analysis

48 C, TP

 

P & E

5

Remote sensing of Earth systems

48 C, TP

 

P

5

Machine learning for Earth and Environmental science

40 C, TP

 

P

5

Watershed and river network modelling

 

48 C, TP

P

5

Scientific computing

48 C, TP

 

P

5

Weather and climate dynamics

 

27 C, TP

P

3

Mountain Ecosystems (course)

 

28 C

P

3

Mountain Ecosystems (Field)

 

52 T

Cci

4

Advanced Geospatial Data Analysis

24 C, TP

 

P

3

Principles of scientific data acquisition

24 C, TP

 

P

3

 

Part 2: Orientation module

Aquatic Science
Natural Hazards and Risk
Earth Surface Processes

Module 3C - 30 ETCS

Courses

Fall

Spring

Eval.

ECTS

Alpine periglacial environments

32 C, TP, T

 

O

4

Monitoring techniques for slopes dynamics

48 C, TP

 

P

5

Aquatic ecosystems: Glaciers, rivers. and lakes

 

48 C, TP

P

5

GIS-based analysis for mountain geomorphology

 

28 C, TP

P

3

Mountain streams; sediment management (for 2nd year students)

40 T 

 

P

4

Erosion and slope mouvements

 

48 C, TP

P & O

5

Dates and rates of mountain evolution

40 C, TP, T 

 

P

4

 

TOP ^

Part 3: Free choice course module - 20 ECTS

Enseignement à choix / Free-Choice Module

In the second year, students complete free-choice courses along with their Master's thesis.

In module 4 of the MSc, students complete their academic curriculum with free choice courses in the "Optional courses" module. Students can take master courses given within the Faculty, the University or a science cursus of a Swiss University  with the agreement of their Master’s thesis director. Any other courses offered in the other 2 orientations can also be taken.

Students can choose to participate in our "Séminaire interfacultaire en environnement". 3 ECTS credits will be allocated for the full participation at this seminair. The study plan also provides the possibility to register an INTERNSHIP in the Free-Choice module.

After having made his/her choice, the student must send the "Optional courses form/formulaire de cours à choix", duly completed and signed to the secretariat of the Master within the enrolment period for courses.

All MSc students must fill out this form!  

Check the registration deadlines for lessons and exams, specially in case of courses in other faculties, EPFL or other universities.

Part 4: Master's thesis - 40 ECTS

THE MASTER'S THESIS

The Master thesis of 40 ECTS credits consists of a personal research project. It is due, in principle, at the end of the 4th semester. One of the instructors in the first year of compulsory courses must serve as a master thesis director or as a co-supervisor (rapporteur).

The Master’s thesis module and the 40 ECTS credits are validated if the grade, based upon the quality of the research, the quality of the written thesis and the oral defence is equal to or greater than 4.00.

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