Master in Environmental Meteorology

Master in Environmental Meteorology is one of 5 English-taught Environmental Science programmes at master’s level in the register, offered by 4 institutions. 3 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland; this programme lists EUR 1,453 a year. 3 are at a public university, where EU, EEA and Swiss students pay no tuition within the standard duration plus two semesters.

What you study

This is a joint master's run by the University of Innsbruck and the University of Trento. You spend the first year at Trento and the second year mostly at Innsbruck. The programme is taught in English.

In the first year you take core courses that build your base in meteorology and environmental physics: Introduction to Meteorology and Climatology (9 ECTS), Environmental Fluid Mechanics (9 ECTS), Environmental Measurements (6 ECTS), Environmental Physical Chemistry (6 ECTS), Air Pollution Modelling including Boundary Layer (9 ECTS), Numerical Methods for Environmental Processes (6 ECTS), Hydrology (9 ECTS), and Biosphere, Atmosphere and Climate Interactions (6 ECTS).

The second year shifts to Innsbruck and covers Atmospheric Radiation and Remote Sensing (5 ECTS), Atmospheric Chemistry and Biogeochemistry (5 ECTS plus a 1 ECTS component), Dynamical and Synoptic Meteorology (6 ECTS), and Reading, Writing and Presenting Scientific Content (3 ECTS). You also choose 10 ECTS from the module Advanced Topics in Environmental Meteorology and Gender Aspects, with courses offered in Innsbruck and/or Trento. The final part is your master's thesis and its defence (30 ECTS), which you can do in either city.

How the programme is organised

It is a full-time degree of 4 semesters and 120 ECTS. The curriculum recommends a sequence for students starting in the winter semester, but it is not compulsory. One ECTS credit equals 25 hours of workload, and a full academic year is 60 ECTS.

The joint setup is governed by a cooperation agreement between the two universities. The first year (60 ECTS) is taught at Trento. The second year is based in Innsbruck, though the 10 ECTS advanced module can be taken at either institution. You can also add an extension programme of 60 ECTS in Informatics or Scientific Computing, provided you are admitted to or have passed one of the selected study programmes.

Who it suits

You should have a bachelor's degree in a relevant field. At Innsbruck, the recognised degrees include Atmospheric Sciences, Geo- and Atmospheric Sciences, and Physics. Your previous studies must cover at least 24 ECTS in mathematics and statistics, 24 ECTS in theoretical and applied physics and geophysics, and 6 ECTS in chemistry. If your background has gaps, the university may set supplementary examinations of up to 30 ECTS, which you must complete by the end of your second semester.

The programme suits people who want to work across meteorology, environmental physics and climate, and who are ready to study in two countries. You need English at B2 level or higher.

Admission, language and next steps

Admission is handled under the cooperation agreement, and the application and selection procedures are administered by the University of Trento. You apply online through Trento's dedicated page for this programme, not through a central Austrian portal. Check that page for the application period and required documents.

You will need proof of a relevant bachelor's degree or equivalent and language certificates. The teaching language is English, so you should be comfortable studying and writing at university level in English. The curriculum is the legal basis for the programme; the currently valid version is 2018W, and the English version is available from the University of Innsbruck bulletins.

Graduates will have acquired advanced knowledge and methodological skills in meteorology/atmospheric sciences in general, and in particular aspects in relation to environmental topics (e.g. dispersion of air pollutants, atmospheric chemistry, hydrometeorology, agricultural and forest meteorology, energy meteorology). They will be able to use their knowledge and skills to develop methodologically sound solutions to problems, both in the private sector and in the public/social environment.

in collaboration with the University of Trento

There is no central application portal in Austria: you apply to the institution, here University of Innsbruck. A public university sets the admission requirements and dates for this level, so read them on the programme page. Entrance examination, as the register states it: Admission procedure at the University of Trento. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, the student residence permit and housing.