Geosciences

4.5 billion years – hardly any other science’s research interests stretch across such a long period of time. But in geosciences everything is measured by different standards. This is not surprising, as geology's main topic is the construction of the earth: In this context where a 1,000 or even 10,000 years are a relatively small time span.

Geosciences provide important fundamentals for understanding our planet. The bachelor study programme is all about these fundamentals: The spectrum taught is extremely broad and ranges from general scientific and subject-specific fundamentals to palaeontology, mineralogy, petrology, hydrogeology and hydrochemistry. The latter deals with the water in the earth’s crust and is a one-of-a-kind research focus in Austria.

The NAWI Graz Central Lab "Water, Minerals and Rocks", installed in 2011, is a special highlight, as it pursues a multi-disciplinary approach, containing university education, highest level fundamental and applied research in geo sciences in Graz and integrates a cooperation with chemistry and engineering.

The programme

The  NAWI Graz bachelor's programme geosciences (since 2017) is the result of further developing the NAWI Graz bachelor in earth science (offered since 2006). This step is closely related to the implementation of the NAWI Graz Geocenter, which unites four institutes in Earth Sciences and Geotechnics of University of Graz and Graz University of Technology.

The study programme's content takes into account all disciplines of the NAWI Graz Geocenter. These are Mineralogy & Hydrogeochemistry, Engineering Geology, Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering, Rock Mechanics and Tunnelling, Hydrogeology, Petrology und Geochemistry, Geology, Palaeontology und Stratigraphy. Thus, the new name of geosciences reflects the expansion of the programme's content. The programme conveys following competencies:

• Sound knowledge and understanding of methods in geology, petrology, palaeontology, mineralogy, geochemistry and geophysics
• Knowledge of mathematics, chemistry, physics, zoology and botany
• Ability to combine fundamental and applied questions in the field of geoscience and geotechnics
• Working on scientific questions with the aid of computers
• Utilization of databases and relevant specialist literature
• Scientific thinking and its application
• The ability to apply knowledge universally and interdisciplinary
• Team spirit and oral as well as written communication skills

What you should bring . . . 

Students in the geosciences programme have to show a general interest in natural sciences and know how to do meticulous work. And there is something else: Future geoscientists should enjoy working in nature since field courses take place outdoors. In addition to that, those who enjoy experimenting and know their way around computers have the necessary prerequisites to be successful in the study programme.

. . . what you get

The NAWI Graz study programme geoscience provides students with many advantages:

• not an overcrowded study programme
• no lag time
• individual support
• open access to study programme (no limited places to study)
• early integration in research
• good career prospects

A very important foundation of the programme is research-driven teaching, which means that students are permanently involved in research projects. This ensures modern and up-to-date qualifications needed for an international labour market.

BSc - what to do next?

Students, who have completed the study programme, are awarded a "BSc" (Bachelor of Science). Completion of the bachelor study programme allows interesting combinations with other fields of study. And as the academic degree will be recognized in another country, students will be able to pursue their further education abroad.
The bachelor programme geosciences is the basis of the consecutive four-semester master study programme geosciences (English taught) which leads to the academic degree "Master of Science", abbreviated "MSc".

Master study programme Geosciences (English programme)

Working as an geo scientist

Once the master study programme geosciences is completed, it opens the door to many interesting activities in different areas. The spectrum ranges from research, analyses and management and from quality control to vocational training.

Geoscientists work for instance in engineering geology (road, tunnel and plant construction), in hydrogeology and hydrogeochemistry (groundwater supply, deep wells, mineral waters, water resources management, environmental protection), environmental geology (industrial depollution), in raw material research (minerals, oil, natural gases), in materials industry (refractory products, ceramics, concrete) or in scientific research.