Guidelines for individual study plans

The individual study agreement for the MSc program "Geosciences" requires the documentation of all modules and courses elected during the entire MSc studies. It is mandatory that the agreement is signed by the student and their respective faculty advisor before the start of the first semester. With their signature, the faculty advisor commits to offer a MSc thesis topic in their respective research group. 

The study plan follows certain regulations, which are outlined in the examination regulation as well as the introduction of the module handbook (summarized in the diagram below). The template to create the study plan can be found here.

We broadly offer the following research directions and, within each, several research specializations:

1. Geophysics: Experimental Geophysics, Earthquake processes, Tectonic Geodesy
2. Applied Geosciences: Engineering Geology and Rock mechanics, Geothermics, Hydrogeology and Environmental Geology 
3. Earth surface processes: Geomorphology and Geohazards, Sedimentology and Isotope Geochemistry, Sedimentary Geochemistry
4. Geodynamics, geomaterials and high-T Processes: Tectonics and Resources, Structural Geology, Petrology, Geochemistry, Crystallography

Each research specialization has a number of mandatory modules that need to be completed in order to lay the groundwork for a successful MSc thesis. It is not possible to opt out of the mandatory modules specific for a research specialization.

Changes to the individual study plan

Changing the research specialization is only allowed once during the MSc studies and requires the submission of a new individual study plan with the approval of old and new faculty advisor. The plan needs to be submitted as a digital copy to the examination office (sabine.feige@rub.de).

Mandatory modules cannot be exchanged.

Small changes on optional modules or the complementary module can be made after consultation with the faculty advisor and the student coordinator.

The final version of the individual study plan needs to be submitted along with the application form for the MSc thesis.