Courses in Aerosol Physics Study Track

This track will be merged with Atmospheric Chemistry and Analysis study track, starting from 1.8.2026 (academic year 2026 - 2027). 

Courses and structure of the new study track (link to be added here) will be published in the end of November, 2025. 

The preliminary syllabus for the next academic year will be published in the end of March 2026 and the final syllabus will be published in Sisu student information system by the end of June.  

Curriculum period 2023 - 2026

Your degree will include minimum of 120 credits out of which at least 95 credits are of advanced courses. 

Compulsory studies for all study tracks (45 -50 credits): 

Atmospheric and Earth Sciences Today (5 cr)
Atmospheric science seminar for Master’s students (5 cr)
Master's thesis (30 cr)
Maturity test (0 cr)
Personal study plan (0 cr) (included in ATM301)

Select either  Climate.now (5 cr) or  Climate.now (2 cr).

Select either Project course in atmospheric sciences (3 or 5 cr) or  Integrating art and science (5 cr) or  Solutions.now (5 cr).

Compulsory courses of the study track (min 10 cr)

Aerosol physics II (5 cr)

Select at least one of the following courses:

Statistical Tools for Climate and Atmospheric Science (5 cr)
Analysis of atmosphere-surface interactions and feedbacks (5 cr)
Time Series Analysis in Geosciences (5 cr)
Introduction to Data Science (5 cr)
Introduction to Machine Learning (5 cr)
Introduction to Machine Learning for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (5 cr)
Advanced Course in Machine Learning (5 cr)
Bayesian Data Analysis (5 cr)
Neural Networks and Deep Learning (5 cr)
 

Alternative courses of the study track (complete at least 20 cr)

Basics of atmospheric chemistry (5 cr)
Atmospheric and aerosol chemistry (5 cr)
Aerosol measurement techniques (5 cr)
Simulations of Formation of Molecular Clusters (5 cr)
Aerosol Modelling (5 cr)
Chemical transport modelling I I (5 cr)
Chemical transport modelling II (5 cr)
Laboratory course in Aerosol physics (5 cr)
Atmospheric observations of aerosols, clouds and reactive trace gases (5 cr)
Mass Spectrometry in Atmospheric Sciences and Environmental analysis (5 cr)
Satellite remote sensing methods in aerosol science (5 cr)
Health Effects of Fine Particles (5 cr)
Fine particles in occupational environments (5 cr)
Aerosol Optics (5 cr)
Physical and chemical characterization of charged molecules and clusters at atmospheric pressure (5 cr) 
Nanophysics and nanochemistry (5 cr)
Atmospheric photochemistry and reaction kinetics (5 cr)
Atmospheric Radiation (5 cr)
Cloud Physics (5 cr)
Advanced Aerosol Chemistry (5 cr)
Atmosphere of planets from our solar system and beyond (5 cr)

Optional advanced courses for all study tracks (complete at most 30 cr)

Leadership for Sustainable Change (5 cr)
Introduction to Earth System Modelling (5 cr)
Sustainable.now (5 cr)
SystemsChange.now (5 cr)
Solutions.now (5 cr)
Living with changing climate (5 cr)
Forests and Climate Change (2 cr)
Climate University for Virtual Exchanges (CLUVEX) (1 cr)
Una Europa Virtual Exchanges for Sustainability (1 cr)
Environmental and Climate Regulation in the EU (5 cr)
Application of AI/ML techniques in Atmospheric Science (3 cr)
Integrating art and science (5 cr)
 

Your degree will include minimum of 120 credits out of which 95-120 credits are of advanced courses.

Take the compulsory prerequisite courses FYS2001, FYS2002 and FYS2071 if these courses or courses with the same contents are not included to your previous studies.

• / Basics of Thermophysics (5 cr)
• / Thermodynamic Potentials (5 cr)
• Aerosol Physics I (5 cr)

In addition to the compulsory prerequisite courses other studies can include study modules or courses from other programmes or courses from other study tracks. Also practical training and language studies can be included in other studies.

Generally, good knowledge of bachelor's degree level physics and mathematical methods are needed, as well as basic skills in scientific computing and statistics. In order to successfully pursue Master's studies in the aerosol physics study track it is recommended that you have the following knowledge and skills before entering to the programme: 

• Physics: basics of physics and principles of mechanics and thermodynamics are particularly important. You should be familiar with at least the following:
  • Newton’s laws
  • Concept of work. Kinetic energy and potential energy
  • Laws of thermodynamics
  • Entropy and free energies as thermodynamic concepts
  • Concept of ideal gas and the ideal gas equation of state
  • Basics of statistical gas theory
  • Basics of electrodynamics and electromagnetism (e.g. electric field, charge, Coulomb’s law)
  • Basics of electromagnetic radiation: black body radiation, refractive index, electromagnetic spectrum
• Mathematics
  • Basics of vectors and linear algebra
  • Complex numbers
  • Differentiation and integration of functions
  • First and second degree ordinary and partial differential equations
  • Solving sets of linear equations using matrix algebra
• Programming and statistics
  • some prior experience of programming and statistical analysis of observations
  • basic statistical concepts 

In case you have not completed University of Helsinki's courses FYS2001/ Basics of Thermophysics (5 cr), FYS2002/ Thermodynamic Potentials (5 cr) and Aerosol Physics I (5 cr) or equivalent courses during your bachelor's degree, you need to complete them in the beginning of your Master's studies.