Geology, Quaternary Geology - Master Programme

Are you interested in climate variations and how ice age cycles have affected landscapes, animals and plants? Do you find it appealing to use knowledge about Planet Earth’s dynamic processes to assist in efforts to meet current societal challenges? This Master’s programme gives you leading-edge expertise that is in demand in the national and international labour market.

The programme provides you with specialised knowledge about climate variations, glaciers and ice age cycles over the past 2.6 million years. You study the characteristics and distribution of deposits and the processes that created them and which in part are still ongoing. You will also gain specialised knowledge about the changes that took place during the Quaternary period regarding plants, animals, oceans, lakes and wetlands, as well as human evolution and humankind’s effect on the environment. Environmental analysis and dating methods are also included.

Your lectures and exercises will be held in well-equipped facilities. The department has a wide range of advanced research equipment. Here, you will find instruments for geochemical analysis, state-of-the-art microscopes for analysing sediment and microfossils, and various dating laboratories, for example to determine the age of ancient wood material whose tree rings can tell us about climate change and cultural development over thousands of years.

Fieldwork is also an important part of the programme. You will participate in field courses and excursions to southern Sweden and the Scandinavian mountains to learn more about sediments, landforms and glaciers. The programme has a strong connection with research and all members of the teaching staff are researchers. The department has several world-leading research teams. The language of instruction is English. You will conduct oral and written presentations and gain extensive experience of working in groups.

Programme structure

In the first semester, you will take courses in glacial sedimentology and palaeoecological methods and environmental analysis. In the following spring semester, you can study marine geology and take a course on global environmental change from a geological perspective. You can also combine courses in Quaternary geology with other courses, for example in bedrock geology. On admission to the programme, you will automatically be placed on the first semester’s two courses.

The second year of studies consists of an optional course (15 credits) and degree project (45 credits). The degree project normally includes fieldwork in Sweden or abroad, followed by analysis work in one of our research laboratories. Data processing and a literature review are included in the thesis work.

Career prospects

Demand for geological expertise will only increase in the future to address the major societal challenges we are facing. With a Master’s degree in Geology, you will be well-equipped with both general and specific subject knowledge. Many of our students get jobs as environmental consultants or specialists within the mining, construction or civil engineering sectors. Others make a career in public authorities, such as the Geological Survey of Sweden, county administrative boards or the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, often focused on sustainable management of groundwater and other geological resources. You can also work in municipal planning, nature conservation and other types of public information within the field. Geological knowledge is in demand all over the world and there are good opportunities to find jobs abroad, for example concerning water supply in developing countries or in major infrastructure projects. The programme also qualifies you for third-cycle studies.

More info: https://www.geology.lu.se/education/programme-structure