Overview

Key facts

After studying a common module which addresses environmental issues from the perspective of human and physical geography, students explore social science subjects such as political ecology and environmental history in the specialisation module.

Students have a broad choice of seminars, as well as colloquiums and opportunities to practice fieldwork on excursions. Students can also participate in national or international research teams, particularly in the context of their master's thesis. The Unit of Geography offers cutting edge teaching and mentoring, preparing the students for critical thinking in academia, as well as providing a professional qualification beyond academia.

The Unit of Geography part of the University of Fribourg Department of Geosciences offers a specialised master's degree in Nature, Society and Politics that focuses on current environmental and social problems. This study programme gives students the means to understand and analyse the socio-environmental issues at stake, such as the consequences of climate change, urban and rural development and change, and extraction of natural resources. The course is partly based on the complementarity between the approaches and methods used in the natural and social sciences.

Throughout the Nature, Society and Politics programme from University of Fribourg, students are taught theoretical and methodological approaches that are required to assess the environmental issues at stake in a critical manner. The aim of this specialised master's degree is to deepen already acquired knowledge and to hone one's competencies in the chosen field.

At the end of the course, students will have shown that they can apply their knowledge to conduct a research project, and will have learned how to work independently and within an interdisciplinary research team. The award of the degree requires creativity and reflexivity, as well as the ability to communicate ideas and work both in English and in the student's native language.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Models, modelling and representations

Hazards, risks and vulnerability

Climate change: state of the art and debates

New approaches in human geography

Global change, development & ethics (seminar)

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

Sociology Natural Sciences Political Science View 6 other Masters in Sociology 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

Admission to the specialised master is based on the student's dossier, according to the conditions described in the study plan.

N.B. Students who have obtained a bachelor's degree in geography, or at least 60 ECTS credits in geography, should choose the master's degree in geography (option Dynamics in Glaciology and Geomorphology or Nature, Society and Politics).

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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 Nature, Society and Politics.

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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