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
E nvironmental 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

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Aquatic Science

Module 3A - 30 ECTS

Courses	Fall	Spring	Eval.	ECTS
F luid flow and transport in the subsurface	50 C, TP		P & O	6
E nvironmental toxicology	30 C, TP		P	3
Soil and water Chemistry	40 C, TP		E	4
Aquatic ecosystems: glaciers, rivers and lakes		48 C, TP	P	5
Tracing biogeochemical processes and fluxes using isotope analysis	20 C, TP		P	2
Field and laboratory methods (I): The UNIL campus as a microcosm		60 T, TP	P	5
Field and laboratory methods (II): Alpine catchments		50 T, C	P	5

Natural Hazards and Risk

Module 3B - 30 ECTS

Courses	Fall	Spring	Eval.	ECTS
Communication on environmental risks	32 C, TP		P	3
Advanced quantitative risk and vulnerability	40 C, TP		O	3
Risk quantification and insurance		20 C, TP	P	2
R isk management (monitoring, early warning, post-disaster preparedness)		20 C, TP, T	P & O	2
E rosion and slope movements		48 C, TP	P & O	5
Monitoring techniques for slopes dynamics	48 C, TP		P	5
Hazards and risks of slope mass movements: field camp		80 T	P	5
Flood risk modeling		48 C, TP	P	5

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 2^nd 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.

Demande de validation d'un enseignement Hors UNIL (212 Ko)

Formulaire Free choice Courses (105 Ko)

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.