Application and admission

Proficiency in English language is required and must be proved by one of the following certificates, which must be submitted at the time of application:

• Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) B2,
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Test with a minimum score of 5.5,
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) internet-based test with a minimum score of 72 points,
• Cambridge First Certificate in English (FCE), Cambridge Certificate of Advanced English (CAE), Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE),
• a minimum of seven years in English at a German high school or by equivalent certification, where the equivalency is determined by the admission board.

Note that the mere completion of a B.Sc. degree in English is not sufficient for admission!

While German language skills are quite obviously helpful for studying in Germany, they are not a requirement for successful application to the M.Sc. Geophysics.

Admission is offered for the winter term, which begins on 1 October.

The contents of the M.Sc. Geophysics are described in detail in the module handbook.

The programme is open for applications from 15 February to 31 March.

Eligibility for the M.Sc. Geophysics requires a Bachelor's degree in

• the consecutive B.Sc. Geophysik/Ozeanographie of the Faculty for Mathematics, Informatics, and Natural Sciences of the University of Hamburg,
• an equivalent subject,
• a mathematical or physical programme.

Within the above-mentioned degrees, applicants must have acquired

• a minimum of 90 ECTS credit points that coincide with the curriculum of the B.Sc. Geophysik/Ozeanographie of the Faculty for Mathematics, Informatics, and Natural Sciences of the University of Hamburg, of which
• a minimum of 45 ECTS credit points must be acquired in mathematics and/or physics,
• a minimum of 6 ECTS credit points in computer programming.

Note that the mere designation of an applicant's completed B.Sc. degree does not automatically determine eligibility!

Please upload the mandatory documents listed below in pdf format to the application portal. For documents not issued in English or German, an electronic copy of a certified English or German translation is required.

• Your online application
• English language certificates
• Application letter detailing the motivation for the study of geophysics and advanced scientific education
• Brief CV including professional experience and/or internships in the field of geophysics
• Higher education entrance eligibility
• Degree certificate or provisional Transcript of Records
  If you are still studying when you apply and cannot yet provide a final certificate containing your grades, please submit your current Transcript of Records confirming your provisional grade point average. If you are admitted to the M.Sc. Geophysics, you would then need to submit your degree certificate by the end of your first semester.
  
  

Please see here for information on financing your studies:

• General information by UHH's Campus Centre
• Information regarding the Deutschlandstipendium at UHH
• Information by UHH's Campus Centre regarding undergraduate scholarships
• Scholarships by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
• DAAD scholarship database (in German)

If you are still studying when you apply and cannot yet provide a final certificate containing your grades, please submit your current Transcript of Records confirming your provisional grade point average. If you are admitted to the M.Sc. Geophysics, you would then need to submit your degree certificate by the end of your first semester.

Programming experience is essential for the successful completion of the programme and must be proven by a minimum of 6 ECTS upon application. 

Recommended languages are, e.g,

• C, C++, Fortran
• python, matlab

Not acceptable are, e.g.,

• Microsoft Office
• html, css

If you are unsure about your programming skills, take a look at this example exercise from the B.Sc. Geophysics/Oceanography at UHH to assess whether you are able to complete it.

Eligibility for the M.Sc. Geophysics requires a Bachelor's degree in

• the consecutive B.Sc. Geophysik/Ozeanographie of the Faculty for Mathematics, Informatics, and Natural Sciences of the University of Hamburg,
• an equivalent subject,
• a mathematical or physical programme.

Within the above-mentioned degrees, applicants must have acquired

• a minimum of 90 ECTS credit points that coincide with the curriculum of the B.Sc. Geophysik/Ozeanographie of the Faculty for Mathematics, Informatics, and Natural Sciences of the University of Hamburg, of which
• a minimum of 45 ECTS credit points must be acquired in mathematics and/or physics,
• a minimum of 6 ECTS credit points in computer programming.

If the number of applicants exceeds the number of places available, a selection procedure will be
necessary:

• 75% of places will be offered following a ranking of the final grade of the first professional B.Sc.
  degree. In case of equal grades, the better grade of the university entrance exam will be decisive.
• For the remaining 25% of places, a group of students consisting of twice as many students as
  places offered will be selected from the remaining pool of applicants (not considered in the first
  group mentioned above) based on the best grades of the first professional B.Sc. degree. Within
  this group, the selection will be conducted as follows:
  1. the final grade of the first professional BS.c. degree. The accountable grade of the first professional B.Sc. degree can be improved by fulfilling one or more of the criteria below:
  2. the level of similarity of the previous degree with a B.Sc degree in Geophysik/Ozeanographie at the Faculty of Mathematics, Informatics and Natural Sciences (MIN) at Universität Hamburg,
  3. for the M.Sc. degree relevant work experiences,
  4. further qualifications, such as (but not limited to) studies abroad or the grade of the university entrance degree,
  5. a well-reasoned motivation for studying the M.Sc. degree in particular with respect to further scientific understanding.
• The criteria listed above as b. to e. can each be accounted for with 5 'points'. Every such 'point' improves the grade of the first professional B.Sc. degree by 0.1 units on the German grading scale. The ranking is established by an arithmetic mean of the final grade a. and the grade established by taking into account b. to e.

If places remain open after the procedure described above, further places can be offered following these procedures again.

The selection process is conducted by the academic study adviser in agreement with the head of the examination board.

For details of the legal basis for this regulation, please see the selection bylaws.

There are no tuition fees, however, a semester contribution must be paid. Please see here for details.