Georesources Management (MSc) RWTH Aachen University

The mandatory and most of the elective modules are taught completely in English. Some of the elective modules are available in German only. 

Although German is not necessary, we strongly advise students to obtain basic knowledge of the language for everyday use. Therefore, we offer German language courses at the RWTH Language Center. At the moment, those courses are fully funded for international students of the Department of Earth Sciences and Geography.

The Master's degree programme provides students with in-depth knowledge of the concepts, methods and current interdisciplinary research topics in the provision and protection of the Earth's ecosystem services, e.g. geological subsurface, land surface, habitat, resources and water, as a task of georesource management. They deal with future challenges in the sustainable achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and the area of conflict between society, the environment and the economy, leading them to a high level of scientific qualification and independence in this specialist field.

The Master of Science (MSc) professional qualification is characterised by the acquisition of interdisciplinary geoscientific, economic and legal specialist knowledge in theory and practice as well as their scientific foundations. These foundations serve as the preparation for professional practice in both the strategic planning and expert work environment as well as in the field of research and development.

The qualification of the students is aimed at acquiring competence in business and economics, but also environmental and resource policy decision-making. They develop the necessary basic data for spatial and regional planning, settlement and industrial planning by evaluating the georesource potential available in a given area and taking georisks into account. In the case of competing demands for the use of a given area, such assessments can lead to the determination of priorities that take into account both the overall economic environment and the geological, ecological and technological factors of environmental protection.

The course-specific study objectives of the Master's degree programme in Georesource Management are divided into thematic blocks (“streams”), which include individual specialisation for tasks in the following areas in particular:

• Overview of the spectrum of issues, content and working methods of the overall discipline of georesource management

• In-depth foundations in law and project management

• Development of interdisciplinary concepts and recommendations for action to sustainably achieve the Sustainable Development Goals

• Ability to work on geoscientific issues within an economic and legal framework

• Competence in the oral and written presentation of research content and results

Non-EU applicants: 1 March for the following winter semester (starting in October) or 1 September for the following summer semester (starting in April)

EU applicants: 15 July for the following winter semester (starting in October) or 15 January for the following summer semester (starting in April)

Streams of specialisation within the programme:

• Methods of Geosciences
• Management, Economics and Law
• Water and Environment
• Environmental Pollution and Geohazards
• Sustainability and Environmental Management
• Renewable Energy
• Resources Management
• Mobility and Transfer

It's possible to download the current course curriculum at the end of the following page: https://www.fgeo.rwth-aachen.de/cms/geowissenschaften-und-geographie/Studium/Studiengaenge/Master-courses-of-study/Georessourcenmanagement/~caoy/Kurzprofil-des-Studiengangs/lidx/1/.

It's possible to spend one or two semesters abroad at one of our partner universities: https://www.fgeo.rwth-aachen.de/cms/geowissenschaften-und-geographie/Studium/Internationales/Outgoings/Auslandsstudium/~zafjd/Partnerhochschulen/lidx/1/.

It's possible to integrate up to two internships as elective parts of the curriculum.

No tuition fees

Approx. 300 EUR per semester (including semester ticket for public transport)
There is no special fee for international students.

https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/studium/vor-dem-studium/internationale-studieninteressierte/organisation-des-studienaufenthaltes/internationale-studierende/~bqmo/kosten/?lidx=1

Bachelor of Science or Engineering with at least 180 ECTS and

• at least 20 ECTS from the natural sciences (biology, chemistry, mathematics and/or physics)
• at least 30 ECTS from the geosciences (e.g. geology, mineralogy, geochemistry, crystallography, geoengineering)

The degree programme is aimed at graduates of natural science Bachelor's degree programmes in which at least one sixth of the content is geoscientific. In addition to traditional geoscience-oriented Bachelor's degree programmes, this may also include Bachelor's degree programmes in the fields of environmental and environmental engineering, raw materials engineering, civil engineering or geography with minor subjects from the fields of geosciences and natural sciences or natural sciences with minor subjects from the field of geosciences.

Applicants must provide proof of their English language skills according to RWTH Aachen University regulations at enrolment (not application). An overview about the accepted language certificates can be found here: https://www.fgeo.rwth-aachen.de/cms/geowissenschaften-und-geographie/Studium/Studierende/Angewandte-Geowissenschaften-und-Georess/~lemb/Sprachkenntnisse/lidx/1/.

Non-EU applicants: 1 March for the following winter semester (starting in October) or 1 September for the following summer semester (starting in April)

EU applicants: 15 July for the following winter semester (starting in October) or 15 January for the following summer semester (starting in April)

http://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/Studium/Im-Studium/~ehg/Stipendien-Foerderung/?lidx=1

International students may take up work in the private sector during the semester or the semester break for up to three months without having obtained a work permit. Students thus may take up full-time work for 90 days or part-time positions (up to four hours per day) for 180 days. This regulation is also stated on the residence permit. During the semester, students are allowed to take up jobs with up to 19 working hours a week. During the semester break, students may work full-time, but they may only do this for a maximum of 13 consecutive weeks.

Student assistants are more flexible with regard to working hours because the full- and part-time regulations do not apply. As a student assistant, you are allowed to work up to 19 hours per week throughout the year.

"Studierendenwerk Aachen": https://www.studierendenwerk-aachen.de/en/housing.html

Availability of university accommodation in Aachen is limited. Participation in individual allocation procedures is therefore usually required. Because of the high demand for university accommodation, it may be necessary to resort to the private accommodation market. As apartments for families and couples are particularly high in demand, applicants interested in this type of accommodation will almost definitely need to draw on the private accommodation market like the majority of RWTH Aachen University's students. There are a number of options for finding private accommodation in and around Aachen; the International Office can provide students with information before or upon their arrival. Prices for university accommodation vary between 200 EUR and 330 EUR per month; accommodation on the private market is priced between 290 EUR and 550 EUR per month, depending on the size and the number of rooms. For short-term accommodation, there are many hotels, a few youth hostels and a boarding house located in and around Aachen (reservation is recommended).

Career Center of RWTH Aachen University: http://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/Studium/Nach-dem-Studium/~ejx/Karriere/?lidx=1

"Praxisinitiative Aachener Geowissenschaftler" (PAG): http://www.fgeo.rwth-aachen.de/cms/Geowissenschaften-und-Geographie/Studium/Studierende/Angewandte-Geowissenschaften-und-Georess/~cxve/Praxisinitiative-PAG-/?lidx=1

https://www.rwth-aachen.de/cms/root/studium/im-studium/~hqdb/internationales/?lidx=1

With 260 institutes in nine faculties, RWTH Aachen University is one of Europe's leading institutions for science and research. Currently, more than 44,500 students are enrolled in 144 academic programmes. More than 8,500 of them are international students hailing from 130 different countries. The scientific education students receive at RWTH Aachen University is firmly rooted in real-world application. As a result, our graduates are highly sought after by businesses to work as trainees and fill executive positions. National and international rankings show that our graduates have a high aptitude for managing complex tasks, constructively solving problems in teams, and taking on leadership responsibilities. Thus, it should come as no surprise that one in five board members of German corporations is an alumnus of RWTH Aachen University.

Work conducted in the research centres at RWTH Aachen University is strongly oriented towards the current needs of industry, commerce, and the professions. This has resulted in numerous innovations, patents, and licences. The individual competence centres at RWTH Aachen University collaborate effectively across departments and faculties in interdisciplinary groups and forums, while still maintaining a strong focus on their own department specialisation. For instance, the computer science and biology departments - and even the social sciences - all have a clear connection to the school's engineering focus. This has been a crucial factor in motivating multinational corporations such as Philips, Microsoft, and Ford to locate their research institutions in the Aachen region.

Excellence in teaching and research constitutes the basis from which RWTH Aachen University works with other leading institutions and technical universities around the world.

As Germany's westernmost city, Aachen is located on the borders of Belgium and the Netherlands. Its population is about 260,000. Aachen's historic centre around the distinctive cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage Site) is characterised by a student lifestyle. At the city's doorstep, the hilly Eifel landscape with its rivers, lakes, and forests offers a picturesque countryside for outdoor recreation. Aachen benefits from its central location in the heart of Europe!