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Master Meteorology

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.

Front view of a research aircraft
Front view of a research aircraft, Photo: Stefan Hendricks, Alfred Wegener Institute

In our commitment to diversity, we welcome people of all backgrounds and cultures. We are particularly proud of the fact that more than 1400 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.

Information on the Course of Study

Find out more about the requirements, contents and application for the course of study here:

Master Meteorology

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? In this case, please submit the following documents independently of your application via AlmaWeb:

  • Application for evaluation of admission requirements (informal letter or email)

  • Transcript of records/certificate of a first degree qualifying for a profession

  • Proof of knowledge of the English language at the level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference or equivalent)

For the winter semester 2022/23, please submit these documents to the dean of our faculty by 1 September 2022 by email or in writing.

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 for the winter semester 2022/23 by 31 May 2022 directly via uni-assist e.V..

Structure of the Course of Study

The course of study consists of a compulsory meteorological area, three elective areas, a fourth elective area in physics, an interdisciplinary free elective area and the master's thesis:

  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.

In the fourth semester, the focus is on the master's thesis. You can also do this in cooperation with domestic or foreign companies, universities or research institutions.

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
2 12-111-1042 A6 – Dust in the Atmosphere 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

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

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. Modultitel 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-BEP3 Experimental Physics 3  –  Optics and Quantum Physics 8
2 12-PHY-BEP4 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-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 Geographie/Geoecology I – Parent Material, Landform and Soil 5
1/3 12-GGR-B-PG01B Fundamentals in Physical Geographie/Geoecology II – Climate, Hydrosphere and Vegetation Cover 5
2 12-GGR-B-PG02 Geosystem Analysis, Methods, and Evaluation 10
2 12-GGR-B-GF04 Fundamentals of Remote Sensing 5
1/3 12-GGR-B-GF05 Introduction to Geoinformatics 10
1/3 12-GGR-M-PG02 Environmental Geoecological Site Assessment 5
1/3 12-GGR-M-PG06 Applied Studies in Physical Geography 10
1/3 12-GGR-M-GFP1 Environmental Remote Sensing 5
2 12-GGR-M-GFP2 Geographical Information Systems – Models and Analyses 5