The English-language master’s course of study Meteorology is research-oriented. You will learn to independently take up and answer current questions on general, applied and theoretical meteorology. The education includes modules in theoretical, experimental and applied meteorology including climatology. You will also take experimental and numerical laboratories and modules in an interdisciplinary elective area. You complete your studies with a 23-week master’s thesis in the fourth semester.
In our commitment to diversity, we welcome people of all backgrounds and cultures. We are particularly proud of the fact that more than 1500 students from 38 countries are currently studying in our German and international courses. For an international faculty like ours, diversity and inclusion are important resources for incorporating multifaceted approaches and ways of thinking into innovative teaching and research. We are therefore committed to cosmopolitan coexistence, where everyone is welcome regardless of origin, gender and religion.
Additional Information on the Application
You obtained your first university degree in Germany and would like to apply for the master’s course of study in Meteorology? Then please apply via AlmaWeb and submit the following documents in addition by e-mail or by mail to the dean of our faculty:
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Application for evaluation of admission requirements (informal letter or email)
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Transcript of records/certificate of a first degree qualifying for a profession in a natural science subject covering at least two modules with physical or mathematical basics of the bachelor's course of study BSc Meteorology or equivalent physical or mathematical knowledge.
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Proof of knowledge of the English language at the level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference or equivalent)
If you apply for a start in a winter semester, please submit these documents by 1 September of the same year. If you apply for a start in a summer semester, please submit these documents by 1 February of the same year.
The master's admissions committee uses these documents to check whether you meet the requirements for the admission to the master's course of study. You will receive a written notification about this, which you should submit to the Studierendensekretariat with the other documents for your enrolment.
Please apply via AlmaWeb by 15 September of each year for the winter semester and by 15 March of each year for the summer semester.
You obtained your first university degree abroad? In this case, please apply directly via uni-assist e.V.. Please apply for a winter semester by 31 May of the same year and for a summer semester by 31 December of the previous year.
Structure of the Course of Study
The course of study consists of four semesters and focusses on current research of the Institute for Meteorology and its cooperation partners. It includes
- a compulsory area for an intensive study of the basic issues of meteorology,
- elective areas, which are structured directly by the scientific working groups,
- a physics elective area to deepen fundamental knowledge in the field of physics and a free elective area to set an individual focus,
- a research area with intensive training in a scientific subject.
The course of study is completed in the fourth semester with a master's thesis. You can also do this in cooperation with domestic or foreign companies, universities or research institutions. After graduation, you will be able to contribute to meteorological research at an international level.
| Modules | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Sem. | P1 – Dynamics and Synoptics | P2 – Atmospheric Radiation | Elective Area 1 Elective Area 2 Elective Area 3 Elective Area 4 Free Elective Area | ||||
| 2nd Sem. | P3 – Advanced Weather Discussions | P4 – Dynamics of the Global Climate System | |||||
| 3rd Sem. | P5 – Current Research in Meteorology | P6 – Advanced Scientific Working in Meteorology | |||||
| 4th Sem. | Master's Thesis | ||||||
The information on the module numbers and credit points can be found in the detailed overview.
Further information on the offered modules and courses can be found in our course catalogue and in the semester plans for winter semester and the summer semester.
Elective Areas
For the elective area 1 (general meteorology), you choose two modules with a total of ten CP from the following compulsory elective modules:
| Sem. | Module No. | Module Title | CP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/3 | 12-111-1024 | A1 – Atmospheric Aerosol | 5 |
| 1 | 12-111-1025 | A2 – Atmospheric Chemistry – The Multiphase System | 5 |
| 1/3 | 12-111-1026 | A3 – Numerical Weather Prediction and Climate Modelling | 5 |
| 2 | 12-111-1043 | A4 – Polar Climate | 5 |
| 2 | 12-111-1028 | A5 – Cloud Physics | 5 |
| 1/3 | 12-111-1041 | A7 – Atmospheric Trace Substances and their Modelling | 5 |
For the elective area 2 (theoretical meteorology), you choose two modules with a total of ten CP from the following compulsory elective modules:
| Sem. | Module No. | Module Title | CP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/3 | 12-111-1029 | T1 – Dynamics of the Middle Atmosphere | 5 |
| 2 | 12-111-1031 | T2 – Atmospheric Models: Parameterizations and Scales | 5 |
| 2 | 12-111-1040 | T3 – Radiative Transfer Lab | 5 |
| 1/3 | 12-111-1032 | T4 – Scattering and Atmospheric Optics | 5 |
| 2 | 12-111-1033 | T5 – Terrestrial Radiative Transfer | 5 |
| 2 | 12-111-1034 | T6 – Data Assimilation | 5 |
| 1/3 | 12-GEO-M-AG01 | Introduction to Data Science | 5 |
For the elective area 3 (experimental meteorology), you choose two modules with a total of ten CP from the following compulsory elective modules:
| Sem. | Module No. | Module Title | CP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/3 | 12-111-1035 | E1 – Airborne Physical Measuring Methods | 5 |
| 1/3 | 12-111-1036 | E2 – Ground-based Radar and Microwave Remote Sensing | 5 |
| 2 | 12-111-1037 | E3 – Upper Atmosphere | 5 |
| 1/3 | 12-111-1038 | E4 – Active Remote Sensing with Lidar | 5 |
| 2 | 12-111-1039 | E5 – Spaceborne Remote Sensing | 5 |
| 2 | 12-GEO-M-DS01 | Introduction to Advanced Data Analytics | 5 |
For the elective area 4 (physics), you either choose a module from the English-language bachelor's course of study in Physics (BSc IPSP):
| Sem. | Module No. | Module Title | CP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/3 | 12-PHY-BIEP3 | Experimental Physics 3 – Electromagnetic Waves and Foundations of Quantum Physics | 8 |
| 1/3 | 12-PHY-BIPTP1 | Theoretical Physics 1 – Classical Mechanics 1 | 8 |
| 2 | 12-PHY-BIPTP2 | Theoretical Physics 2 – Electrodynamics 1 | 8 |
| 2 | 12-PHY-BIPTP4 | Theoretical Physics 4 – Quantum Mechanics | 8 |
| 1/3 | 12-PHY-BIPTP5 | Theoretical Physics 5 – Statistical Physics | 8 |
or a module from the German-language bachelor's course of study in Physics (BSc Physics):
| Sem. | Module No. | Module Title | CP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/3 | 12-PHY-BPEP3 | Experimental Physics 3 – Optics and Quantum Physics | 8 |
| 2 | 12-PHY-BPEP4 | Experimental Physics 4 – Structure of Matter | 8 |
| 1/3 | 12-PHY-BEP5 | Experimental Physics 5 – Solid State Physics | 8 |
| 1/3 | 12-PHY-BTP1 | Theoretical Physics 1 – Theoretical Mechanics | 8 |
| 2 | 12-PHY-BTP2 | Theoretical Physics 2 – Quantum Mechanics | 8 |
| 1/3 | 12-PHY-BTP3 | Theoretical Physics 3 – Statistical Physics | 8 |
| 2 | 12-PHY-BTP4 | Theoretical Physics 4 – Electrodynamics and Classical Field Theory | 8 |
You can only choose the modules 12-PHY-BIPTP1 and 12-PHY-BIPTP2 from the BSc IPSP if you did not complete the module “Mathematical Methods – Methods of Classical Physics“ (12-PHY-BMAME or 12-PHY-BMAME1) in your bachelor's degree programme.
Free Elective Area
For the free elective area you can take two further modules of the elective areas 1–3 with a total of ten CP. You can also take modules from other courses of study according to the Fächerkooperationsvereinbarungen. There are cooperation agreements with the Institute for Geography for the following modules:
| Sem. | Module No. | Module Title | CP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/3 | 12-GGR-B-PG01A | Fundamentals in Physical Geography/Geoecology I – Parent Material and Landform | 5 |
| 5 | 12-GGR-B-PG09 | Biosphere and Environmental Change (only lecture “Biogeography”) | 5 |
| 2 | 12-GGR-B-PG02 | Soil and Analysis of Geosystems | 10 |
| 2 | 12-GGR-B-GF04 | Fundamentals of Remote Sensing | 5 |
| 1/3 | 12-GGR-B-GF05 | Introduction to Geoinformatics | 10 |
| Sem. | Module No. | Module Title | CP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/3 | 12-GEO-M-RS01 | Remote Sensing Products for Earth Research | 5 |
| 1/3 | 12-GEO-M-AG02 | Earth System Components | 5 |
| 2 | 12-GEO-M-DS02 | Spatio-Temporal Data | 5 |
| 1/3 | 12-GEO-M-DS03 | Applied Data Analysis of Earth-Surface Processes | 5 |
| 1/3 | 12-GEO-M-DS04 | Data Analysis in Hyperspectral Remote Sensing | 5 |
| 1/3 | 12-GEO-M-SK01 | Research Data Management and Social Responsibility | 5 |
| 2 | 12-GEO-M-SK02 | Scientific Writing | 5 |