The two-year English-language Master's program in Geophysics comprises 120 credit points (LP) and offers a specialization in the fields of seismics and seismology, research areas for which the GPI has been known worldwide for more than 50 years. The courses are held entirely in English. The students come from various European and non-European countries.

Official documents:

Contents of the Master's program in Geophysics:

  • In the first year of study a specialization in seismics and seismology takes place. Our students can achieve optimal learning results through modern and innovative teaching methods in a stimulating international learning environment.
  • Elective subjects can be chosen individually during the first year of study, for example one of the geophysical in-situ lectures. In recent years, these lectures have taken our students to the volcanoes of the Aeolian Islands, the earthquake region of the Apennines, 800 m deep potash mines in Thuringia and Indonesia. In addition, further courses from the fields of physics, meteorology, geosciences, volcanology and related disciplines can be attended.
  • In the second year you will be fully integrated into one of the research groups in order to work on your Master's thesis and prepare yourself optimally for your future career in research and industry.

The structure of the program is shown in the Module Handbook (in German).

Requirements for Access:

  • Bachelor's program in Geophysics or a course of study with essentially the same content in the amount of at least 180 LP according to the ECTS system
  • Minimum amount of credits in the fields of geophysics (20 course credits), physics (20 course credits), mathematics (20 course credits), with a minimum score of 20 ECTS points. If the applicant is missing course credits in geophysics, the applicant can still be admitted with additional course requirements.
  • The applicant did not lose the examination entitlement in geophysics or a related subject.
  • Proof of very good English language skills at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), proven by
    • Cambridge Certificate: FCE, CAE or CPE,
    • International English Language Testing Service (IELTS); with a score of
      at least 6.0 points and no subtest worse than 5.0 points,
    • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL); with a score of at least
      72 points and at least the following scores in the individual sub-areas: 18
      reading (18), listening (17), speaking (20), writing (17),
    • Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) with at least
      the following scores in the individual sections: listening (400), reading (385) or
    • the Abitur certificate (general qualification for university entrance),
      whereby the foreign language must have been taken for at least 5
      learning years up to the degree entitling the holder to university
      admission, and the final or average grade of the last two learning years of
      the language course must correspond to at least the German grade 4
      (sufficient) or at least 5 points.

In individual cases, other proofs may be accepted at the applicant's request. Alternative proofs are in particular:

  • a graduation certificate of an English-language course of study,
  • a higher education entrance qualification from institutions with English as a teaching language,
  • a Bachelor's thesis written in English.

Application:

Students can begin their Master's program in either the winter or summer semester. However, due to the modular structure, applicants from outside the KIT are strongly recommended to start the Master's program in the winter semester. The application deadline for the winter semester is 15 July for international, non-EU applicants, and 30 September for German citizens, EU citizens and educational residents. Further information can be found under the following link: Information on the Master's Programme in Geophysics

The program is not restricted in admission.

Recognition of achievements:
The recognition of academic achievements from within or outside the higher education system can be requested from the Vice-Chairman of the KIT Department Examination Board. Students are advised to contact the academic counseling service beforehand.