Admissions

Are you interested in applying to the Master's Programme in Geology and Geophysics? Find out more about the programme to see if it is right for you, how to apply and other useful information for applicants.
Basic information
  • Degree level: Master of Science
     
  • Scope of studies and planned duration: 120 ECTS credits, 2 years
     
  • Language: Teaching is given in English except for some Hydrogeology and Environmental geology courses taught in Finnish. You can also take exams and write your thesis in Finnish or Swedish.
     
  • Tuition fee per year (only for non-EU/EEA citizens): 15 000 EUR
Application date

Please note that our International Master's Programmes only have one intake per academic year. You can only submit your application during the application period. 

The applications for studies starting in autumn 2025 closed on 16 Jan 2025. Thanks to all our applicants!

As of 1 Jan 2025, non-EU/EEA citizens must pay an application fee when applying to programmes leading to a degree in higher education in Finland (excl. doctoral degrees and Erasmus Mundus programmes). 

The fee is a one-time national fee of 100 euros that covers all applications to studies beginning in the same academic term.

The fee is not collected from applicants who have:

  • a Finnish or EU citizenship,
  • a residence card for a family member of an EU citizen in Finland,
  • a European Union Blue Card,
  • a continuous residence permit in Finland granted on grounds other than studies,
  • a permanent Finnish residence permit, or
  • a long-term resident’s EU residence permit.

The Finnish National Agency of Education will collect the application fee in connection with filling out the application form at the Finnish national education portal Studyinfo. The fee must be paid or you must upload a document proving the exempted category. Otherwise your application will not be processed. 

Unfortunately, it is not possible to get an application fee waiver.

The application fee does not guarantee that you will be offered admission to studies.

Who can apply

The Master’s Programme in Geology and Geophysics is for students who want to understand geological and geophysical processes within the Earth, and how they interact with the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biota.

You are eligible to apply if you:

  1. have completed a first-cycle (bachelor's or equivalentdegree, or will do so by the given deadline.
  2. meet the degree language requirements. Find out more about proving your English language proficiency.
  3. have completed a sufficient amount of applicable studies. See the admission criteria at Studyinfo.fi for more details.

Suitable background studies are, for example, geosciences, geology, geophysics, chemistry, physics and mathematics, and they must include some studies in the discipline of geology and/or geophysics. The applicability and sufficient scope of studies are assessed after applying. No preliminary assessments are made.

The full admission criteria can be found at the Finnish national education portal Studyinfo.fi.

Why apply

Sustaining the growing population on our dynamic planet requires a deep understanding of geological and geophysical processes within the Earth, and how they interact with the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and biota. 

In the Master's Programme in Geology and Geophysics, you will:

  • learn to address pressing questions concerning our home planet's evolution, its role as the source of raw materials, and a range of environmental issues on multiple temporal and spatial scales. 
  • have the opportunity to personalize and focus your expertise within the broad field of geosciences as the themes include hydrogeology, environmental geology, palaeontology, palaeoclimatology and -ecology, mineralogy and petrology, economic geology, and solid earth geophysics. 

Upon graduation, you have gained expertise in scientific and professional skills, depending on your specialist option:

  • Assessment of geological materials (minerals, rock types, bedrock, groundwater)
  • Understanding the genesis and sustainable use of mineral commodities
  • Geoscientific perspective on the environment
  • Palaeontology and modelling global change using the geological record
  • The physical evolution of the Earth (plate tectonics, interplay of the mantle and crust)
  • Independent and team-driven project research, high-level scientific writing (M.Sc. thesis and related work), and presentation of scientific results

Geoscientific expertise is in high demand in many fields. Our graduates have embarked on careers in the mining and mineral resource exploration industry, as environmental and groundwater experts, as experts in engineering geology and applied mineralogy or continued with doctoral studies.

I chose the University of Helsinki for its commitment to solving environmental and sustainability issues and its scientific backbone.
How to apply

This video gives a general overview of the application process for the International Master's Programmes at the University of Helsinki when applying from 2 to 16 Jan 2025.

Start preparing your application well in advance, make sure that you meet the admission criteria and language requirements, and always read the full instructions on our website.

Contact Admission Services

If you have any questions about admissions at the University of Helsinki, please contact our admission advisers for guidance.

Student and alumni testimonials

Who knows better than our own students what it is like to study in the Master's Programme in Geology and Geophysics?

Meet some of our students and graduates to learn about their experiences with studies, life in Helsinki, career prospects and working life after graduation.

The most inspiring part of the programme is its people.
Practicalities of student life in Helsinki

When choosing a university, it is important to get the location right too. What has Helsinki and Finland to offer when it comes to education and a way of life? What's the cost of living? Is it easy to find housing?

Did you know that students in Finland are entitled to lots of benefits, discounts and services? For example, affordable student housing, low-cost sports services, and student-priced meals. You also get numerous discounts, for example on public transport fees across the country.

About the University of Helsinki

University of Helsinki, the oldest and largest institution of academic education in Finland, has since 1640 played a major role in the development of the Finnish cultural life and welfare state. Today, we seek solutions to problems that affect everyone.

As one of the world's top 1% research universities, we believe that the power of knowledge can change attitudes, people and society – for a better world.

Our core values
More about the programme