Study plan for MASV-PHYG Master's Programme in Physical and Environmental Geography, vår 2026

ECTS Credits

120 ECTS

Name of qualification

Master of Philosophy in Physical and Environmental Geography

Language of Instruction

English and Norwegian

Objectives and content

The program is designed to equip students with the theoretical, methodological, and practical skills necessary to earn a Master of Philosophy in Physical and Environmental Geography. It includes courses totalling 60 ECTS and a master’s thesis worth 60 ECTS.

The master’s programme emphasizes that the Earth’s climate and environments are highly variable. It teaches relevant theories and analytical tools to enable a dynamic, process-based understanding of the total environment, past climate change, and the ongoing climate and nature crises.

Topics for master’s projects can range from purely physical geographic perspectives to environmental geographical ones, or they can include both within a broader framework.

Examples of topics with a Physical Geographical perspective include glaciers, natural hazards, sea-level change, hydrology, groundwater, periglacial features, wind, caves, and geomorphological development related to past and present climate and environmental changes.

Examples of topics with an Environmental Geographical perspective include natural forests, mires, and the carbon budget. Other topics are vegetation and landscape changes, biodiversity, disturbance or degradation in human-made environments, and urban ecology.

The aim is to provide the student with knowledge, skills, and general competence to work with contemporary scientific problems in Physical and Environmental Geography, including critical thinking; relevant sampling techniques, field methods, and laboratory procedures; analytical skills to interpret temporary geographical and geospatial data (GIS/remote sensing); and in academic dissemination, both written and oral.

Required Learning Outcomes

A student who has completed the programme should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge

The student...

  • has advanced knowledge in Physical and Environmental Geography and specialised insight into the research topic of the Master's project.
  • has thorough knowledge about the theories and methods relevant to the research topic of the Master’s project.
  • can apply knowledge to new areas within Physical and Environmental Geography.
  • can analyse academic problems based on previous work, relevant scientific theories, and the societal importance of Physical and Environmental Geography.

Skills

The student...

  • can complete an independent research project under supervision.
  • can select and define a researchable theme for a master's thesis and develop a research problem that can be completed within the available time and resources.
  • can select and evaluate suitable methods for gathering empirical data and provide an epistemological justification for the methodological decisions.
  • can delimit, plan, and carry out the collection of empirical data through fieldwork.
  • can systematically search libraries, scientific databases, and other databases, and critically interpret and evaluate data and literature.
  • can discuss and analyse different sources of information critically, evaluate empirical data, and present geographical arguments and analyses.
  • can write a research report, individually and in teams, within given time and resource limits, applying Physical and Environmental Geographical terminology and good academic writing, with precise, up-to-date, and systematic references, with due credit to secondary sources.

General competence

The student...

  • can perform a field project in accordance with the guidelines for proper behaviour and safety at the University of Bergen.
  • can apply their knowledge and skills in new areas to complete advanced assignments and projects.
  • can communicate extensive independent work and master the language and terminology of Physical and Environmental Geography.
  • can exchange opinions with others who have a background in the field and provide constructive comments on their work.
  • can communicate about academic issues, analyses, and conclusions in Physical and Environmental Geography, both with specialists and the public.

Admission Requirements

To apply for the master's programme in Physical and Environmental Geography, you need a bachelor's degree of 3-4 years' duration, or an equivalent educational background.

The degree must include at least 1,5 years (80-90 ECTS) of full-time studies in geography, including 1 year (60 ECTS) in physical and environmental geography or related disciplines (e.g., quaternary geology, cartography, GIS, remote sensing, climatology, hydrology, vegetation and landscape changes).

  • Background focused on either processes in landscapes influenced by glaciation (30 ECTS) or remote sensing applied in Physical and/or Environmental Geography (30 ECTS) is recommended.

You also need to document (general entry requirements):

  • Average grade of minimum C (2.5) (equivalent to Norwegian grade C)
  • Proficiency in English
  • Letter of motivation to explain your background and your thematic and methodological interests for your master's project.

Applicants with an interest in past and present climatic, geomorphological, and environmental reconstructions (e.g., related to glaciers, hydrology, sea level, wind, as well as vegetation and landscape changes) from glacierized regions of the last ice age and the present interglacial (the Holocene) will be prioritized.

Recommended previous knowledge

Applicants with only basic knowledge in physical geography may take the following bachelor-level courses in physical and environmental geography at the Department of Geography, or similar, to qualify for admission to the master's programme in Physical and Environmental Geography:

  • GEO204 Quantitative methods (5 ECTS)
  • GEO212 Terrestrial Climate and Environmental Changes (15 ECTS)
  • GEO291 Field Course in Physical and Environmental Geography (10 ECTS)

Compulsory units

Degree requirements:

Sequential Requirements, courses

First Semester:

  • GEO319 Vitskapsteori og forskningsdesign for natur- og miljøgeografar (10 ECTS)

Choose two:

  • GEO313 – Field and Laboratory Methods in Physical Geography (10 ECTS)
  • GEO318 – Hydrology, Groundwater and Water-Related Geohazards (10 ECTS)
  • GEO330 – Theories of Sustainable Land Use (10 ECTS)

Milestone 1: Presentation of project description.

Choose three:

  • GEO316 – Practical Skills in Remote Sensing and Spatial Analysis (10 ECTS)
  • GEO317 – Special Topics in Geography (10 studiepoeng)
  • GEO341 – Master Level Field Course in Physical Geography (10 ECTS)
  • Courses at UNIS, the Department of Earth Science, the Department of Biological Sciences, or other institutions may be approved in advance by the Department of Geography.

Milestone 2: Presentation of theory, research design and fieldwork plans.

Third semester:

Milestone 3: Poster presentation of data, main findings and methodology.

Fourth semester:

Study period abroad

Master's students in Physical and Environmental Geography can participate in an exchange semester during the second semester at one of our Erasmus partner universities or take courses at the University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS). The application deadline for the Erasmus Exchange is 1 September, and for UNIS, it is 15 October, in the first semester.

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures, seminars, labs, and field courses.

Assessment methods

Emna som inngår i det tilrådde studieløpet brukar i all hovudsak følgjande eksamensformer:

  • skriftleg eksamen
  • munnleg eksamen
  • heimeeksamen i kombinasjon med munnleg eksamen
  • mappeinnlevering
  • feltrapport

Originalitet i eksamenssvar og studentoppgåver

Alle oppgåver som vert levert for godkjenning/sensur, skal vere studenten sine eigne om ikkje anna er opplyst. Dette gjeld også der oppgåvene ikkje inngår i grunnlaget for karakterfastsetting. Kjelder som nyttast skal bli gitt i samsvar med universitetet sine reglar. Brot vil vurderast som fuskesak.

Grading scale

A-F

Access to further studies

Master i natur- og miljøgeografi kvalifiserer for å søke opptak til studium på ph.d.-nivå.

Employability

Geografar har ein brei arbeidsmarknad som følgje av spennvidda og den praktiske tilnærminga i faget. Geografifaget utdannar profesjonelle yrkesutøvarar til offentleg forvaltning og det private næringslivet.

I dei seinare åra har dei fleste kandidatane gått inn i stillingar der dei arbeider som leiarar, planleggarar, forskarar, lærarar, saksutgreiarar og konsulentar innan område som miljø- og energiforvaltning, samferdsel og klimaforsking. Fleire kandidatar arbeider som forskarar og saksutgreiarar ved frittståande forskings- og utgreiingsinstitutt, mens andre har gått til yrker innan skuleverket, oljeverksemd og databransjen.

Evaluation

Alle studieprogram og emne blir evaluert i tråd med UiBs kvalitetssystem for utdanning.

Administrative responsibility

The Department of Geography at the Faculty of Social Sciences.