This English-taught, international postgraduate programme examines geoscientific questions related to the marine environment — including climate dynamics, marine resources and marine technologies. Teaching and research are strongly shaped by a multidisciplinary approach and by the regular use of modern scientific methods, instruments and computational techniques. Much of the programme’s work is carried out in close cooperation with the leading German marine research centres located in Bremen and Bremerhaven.
Research in Bremen has a long-standing tradition within the Faculty of Geosciences and spans the full spectrum of marine geosciences: from sedimentology and petrology to geophysics and biogeochemistry, and from fundamental research to applied technological solutions. The curriculum reflects this breadth, offering exposure to both theoretical foundations and practical, instrument-based investigation.
The university’s MARUM (Center for Marine Environmental Sciences) provides an international, interdisciplinary hub for study and research. MARUM’s core research areas — Ocean and Climate; Geosphere–Biosphere Interactions; and Sediment Dynamics — directly inform teaching, giving students access to current research themes and collaborative projects. Graduates leave with methodological skills and critical-evaluation abilities that prepare them for research roles and applied positions within marine science and its technological applications.
This Master's programme takes an interdisciplinary, topic-driven approach to marine geosciences with a strong focus on understanding and modelling the processes and dynamics that shape natural marine systems. In the first year, teaching is delivered through lectures, seminars and project work concentrated on a set of core topics. By selecting three to four of these core areas, students shape an individual study profile that reflects their interests and career goals.
Complementing the core subjects are up to four practical modules that provide field and laboratory experience, training in digital/computational methods, and development of professional (soft) skills. In the second year, students carry out a substantial geoscientific project—options include a marine survey, a GeoMedia project, or an external/international research placement—which gives hands-on research experience. A research seminar runs alongside the project to guide the development and presentation of research plans and to prepare students for their Master's thesis. The final semester is devoted to writing the thesis and presenting it in a concluding colloquium.
Key modules (core subject options)
Learning outcomes you can expect
Program structure — key requirements and scheduling
This master's program seeks applicants with a strong, demonstrable interest in marine geosciences and a solid undergraduate foundation in geoscience-related subjects. You should have completed a Bachelor of Science (or an equivalent qualification) with substantial coursework relevant to the field. If your prior degree uses a non-ECTS credit system, be prepared to document the equivalent amount of coursework.
Selection is based on both academic preparation and personal qualities. Alongside the required courses, you must pass the program’s aptitude test and show a very good command of English. The admissions committee also looks for evidence that you can work independently and collaboratively and that you have the intercultural awareness needed for an international learning and research environment. Consult the program webpage for accepted English certificates and details about the aptitude test and credit equivalencies.
Winter Semester (International)
30 April 2026
Winter Semester (EU/EEA)
30 April 2026
Graduates are prepared for research and applied roles in marine geosciences, including positions in academic and governmental research institutes, environmental and marine consultancies, offshore and resource industries, and technology providers. The programme's emphasis on field methods, laboratory techniques, geophysical and geochemical approaches, modelling and data analysis equips students for roles such as marine geoscientist, sedimentologist, geophysicist, environmental consultant, or project scientist in marine surveys and monitoring.
The degree also provides a solid foundation for doctoral studies. Practical experience from internships and the geoscientific project increases employability for industry and international organisations involved in ocean and climate research, marine resource assessment, and coastal/marine environmental management.