Overview

Key facts

After studying a core module dealing with conceptual and theoretical bases, students choose a specialisation: either physical geography, which covers topics such as the cryosphere, glaciology or alpine geomorphology; or human geography, which explores subjects such as political ecology and management of natural resources along with their political and social dimensions.

Students have a broad choice of seminars and conference cycles, as well as field work. The students also participate in research teams, notably in the context of their Master's thesis. The Unit of Geography is of human dimensions, which means that it is able to offer quality teaching and mentoring, with a genuinely professional qualification as the outcome.

The Unit of Geography, part of the University of Fribourg Department of Geosciences, offers a Master's degree that focuses on current environmental problems and encompasses physical and human geography. This study programme gives students the means of understanding and analysing the socio-environmental issues at stake, such as the consequences of climate change, urbanisation and the growing scarcity of natural resources.

The course is based on the complementarity between the approaches and methods used in the natural and social sciences. Throughout the programme, students are taught the theoretical and methodological approaches that are required to assess the environmental issues at stake and thus acquire a genuinely professional level of training. All the teaching is delivered in English.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Models, modelling and representations

Hazards, risks and vulnerability

Climate change: state of the art and debates

Climatology and glaciology

Physical geography

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-09-15 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-08-31 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2027-02-16 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-09-30 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2027-01-31 00:00:00 , National
Starting 2027-09-15 00:00:00
- Apply before 2027-02-28 00:00:00 , International

More details

deadlines for candidates who have to apply for a visa: By 28 February for the autumn semester By 30 September for the spring semester

Language

English

Credits

120 ECTS

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Fribourg, Switzerland

Disciplines

Geography View 9 other Masters in Geography in Switzerland

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

We are not aware of any English requirements for this programme.

Other requirements

General requirements

Master's degree programmes are built on the knowledge and abilities that were acquired when obtaining a Bachelor's degree.

Holders of a Bachelor's degree awarded from a Swiss university can be admitted to a Master's degree programme within the corresponding discipline without any additional requirements.

Holders of a Bachelor's degree awarded from a Swiss university or holders of a Bachelor's degree awarded by a foreign university, provided that the Bachelor's degree is recognised and considered equivalent by the University of Fribourg, can be admitted to a Master's degree programme within another discipline with prerequisites.

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Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

1740 CHF / year

≈ 1740 CHF / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

1440 CHF / year

≈ 1440 CHF / year

Living costs

Fribourg

Switzerland

1330 - 1960 CHF / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Geography.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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