Climate Sciences

The Climate Sciences program at the University of Bern offers students a comprehensive and interdisciplinary education focused on understanding the complex processes that drive climate variability and change on local, regional, and global scales. This master's degree program combines rigorous coursework, practical research experience, and interdisciplinary perspectives, enabling graduates to contribute effectively to addressing one of the most pressing challenges of our time—climate change. Students will explore the physical, biological, and socio-economic aspects of climate systems, gaining insights into atmospheric and oceanic dynamics, climate modeling, data analysis, and mitigation and adaptation strategies. The curriculum includes courses in climatology, environmental physics, statistics, remote sensing, and climate policy, providing a well-rounded foundation for scientific analysis and real-world application.

The program emphasizes hands-on experience through fieldwork, laboratory work, and collaborative projects with research institutions and environmental organizations. Students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and are encouraged to develop critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and the ability to work in multidisciplinary teams. The research component allows students to engage in original research projects, often in collaboration with faculty members renowned for their expertise in climate science, climate modeling, and environmental change. Graduates are prepared for careers in environmental consulting, climate policy, research institutions, governmental agencies, and international organizations addressing climate challenges. With a strong emphasis on scientific rigor, practical skills, and global perspective, the Climate Sciences program at the University of Bern aims to develop professionals capable of making meaningful contributions to understanding and mitigating climate change impacts worldwide.

The curriculum of the Master in Climate Sciences program comprises 120 ECTS and equals the workload of 4 semesters full time study. A Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Arts or a higher academic degree are the precondition for admission to the program.

Your choice of electives and the master thesis lead to one of the five specializations:

•     Climate and Earth System Science
•     Atmospheric Science
•     Economics
•     Economic, Social and Environmental History
•     Statistics

Compulsory

Important notice for students of the 1st year:

The compulsory course "Climate Science Workshop I (II)" takes place in the week before the autumn (spring) semester starts officially at the University of Bern. Please save the dates and plan to be in Switzerland timely!

• Climate Sciences Workshop I
• Climate Sciences Workshop II
• Graduate Seminar Climate Sciences
• Master Thesis Workshop I and II

Elective courses (52 ECTS)

You shape your expertise and skills with your personal choice of elective courses. You select your courses from a broad range of lectures, practicals, laboratory courses, excursions, seminars and colloquia. Depending on your research interests and career expectations, you make your choices from a list of elective courses at the University of Bern and a list of elective courses at ETH Zurich. Your supervising committee is willing to advise you in composing a tailor-made, individual curriculum.

Graduate School Elective Courses

• Oeschger Lectures I
• Oeschger Lectures II
• Climate, Air Pollution and Agriculture
• Quantitative Paleolimnology
• Dendroecological Field Course

Institute of Plant Sciences

• Plant Metabolism
• Laboratory Safety
• Paleoecology and Paleoclimatology of the Alps and their Forelands
• Advanced Plant Biology: Paleoecology
• Paleoclimatological and Paleoecological Excursion to the Swiss Plateau and the Alps.
• Holocene Vegetation History of the Central and Southern Alps
• Global Change Ecology
• Fire ecology and Biodiversity of the past

Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

• Environmental Radionuclides and Nuclear Dating
• Atmospheric and Aerosol Chemistry

Institute of Geological Sciences

• Quaternary Dating Course
• Unconsolidated Quaternary Sediments in Drillholes and Outcrops
• Environmental- and Limnogeology (incl. field course)
• Quaternary Paleoclimate and Paleoenvironment
• Surface Processes, Geomorphology
• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
• X-Ray Powder Diffraction

Institute of Geography

• Climatology III (Cimate variability and change)
• Methods of Climate Reconstruction
• Remote Sensing in Climatology
• Micrometeorology Field Course (DE)
• Quaternary Climate Change and Terrestrial Ecosystems: Concepts and Observations
• Paleosols and Paleolimnology
• Paleosols and Paleolimnology (Excursions/Field Days; DE)
• Climate Risk Assessment
• Seminar in Climatology and Climate Risks
• Philosophical issues in understanding global change
• Climatology I (DE)
• Climatology II (Aerosols, Boundary Layer, Chemistry)
• Meteorology I (DE)
• Meteorology II and Weather discussion (DE)

Institute of Mathematical Statistics and Actuarial Science

• Multivariate Statistics
• Linear Models and Regression I
• Linear Models and Regression II
• Statistical Methods for Climate Sciences I
• Statistical Methods for Climate Sciences II

Physics Institute

• Introduction to Atmospheric Circulation and Modes of Variability
• Introduction to Climate and Environmental Physics
• Stable Isotopes
• Glaciology and Ice Cores
• Introduction to Climate Modelling including Computer Lab
• Carbon Cycle

Institute of Applied Physics

• Atmospheric Dynamics
• Atmospheric Physics
• Radiative Transfer

Department of Economics

• Seminar: Environmental and Resource Economics
• Climate Economics: Integrated Assessment
• Intertemporal Allocation of Natural Resources
• Climate Economics: Scientific and Economic Foundations
• Resource Economics
• Environmental Economics: Introduction
• Political Economy of Climate Change
• Microeconomics II

Institute of Political Science

• Climate and Energy Policy
• Water Policy

Institute of History

• Introduction into Historical Climatology

Institute of European and International Economic Law

• International Environmental Law
• The International and European Law on Climate Change

Master thesis (60 ECTS)

The MSc program emphasizes strong and competitive research. Consequently, an extended 60 ECTS master thesis is part of the curriculum. You will have the opportunity to work in the research group of your supervisor in a research project in one of the nine participating research units at the University of Bern. The master thesis is usually written in English and may consist of a research article in an international journal. Depending on your career plans, you may wish to carry out an internship (30 ECTS) at an external institution and write a 30 ECTS master thesis at the University of Bern.

Individual academic requirements

The following academic qualifications are required for admission to the specialized master's degree program in Climate Sciences (mono):

Admission to the master’s degree program may depend upon evidence of additional knowledge and expertise that was not acquired as part of the student's bachelor's degree program. This coursework may only be completed on an extra-curricular basis. The maximum scope of this additional coursework is 60 ECTS credits. The ECTS credits will be listed separately in the diploma supplement as extracurricular attainments.

As a rule, an average grade (average weighted according to ECTS credits) of at least “good” serves as an additional indicator of suitability. The grades that shall be taken into consideration are those that are available at the time of the interview and submitted with the record of individual achievement. In general, these are grades for at least 150 ECTS credits.

Definitive admission is dependent on an admission interview with the directorate of studies.

The degree used for assessment purposes may not be more than ten years old.

Language requirements

Courses at the Graduate School of Climate Sciences are given in English or, depending on the audience, in German. Advanced skills in English (oral, written and reading) corresponding to CEF level C1 are required. Students with CEF level B2 are admitted to the program with the obligation to reach CEF level C1 within the first year. This can be achieved by taking classes offered by the Academic English Services, for instance. The master thesis is usually written in English. Training in scientific writing and scientific presentations in English are part of the compulsory courses, and you will do a placement test at the beginning of the training.

If existing, you may provide an English language certificate with the admission documents or at the admission interview, but no English language certificate is required at this stage. Non-native German speakers do not have to pass any German exam for admission to the M Sc program.

For the everyday life in Bern, basic knowledge of German is helpful and taking German classes during your stay here in Bern is strongly recommended.

• Curriculum vitae in table form with uninterrupted chronology of your education and academic studies up to the present incl. up-to-date passport photo (45 mm high by 35 mm wide)
• Motivation letter (incl. family name, given name, full address, e-mail address, date and signature and – if you have one – mobile phone number)
• If you are holding a bachelor degree's: Originally certified photocopies of your degree (e.g. diploma and diploma supplement). The correspondence of the photocopy to the original must be officially certified.
• Originals (stamped and signed) or originally certified photocopies of all official proofs of your achievements (transcripts) with grades/scores
• Grading system of the degree issuing university, if the grading system is different from ours. Our scale goes from 1 to 6, with 6 being excellent and grades below 4 being unsatisfactory.
• Brief description of the content/learning objectives of the different courses/lectures (annotated course catalog or module handbook)
• Originally certified translations of the original documents (e.g. diploma, diploma supplement, bachelor's or master's degree, transcripts of diploma records), if these are not written in German, English, French or Italian. These translations have to be inseparably connected with the originally certified photocopies of the original documents.
• Photocopy of your valid passport or identity card
• Application fee: CHF 105

The University of Bern offers various funding options to support students enrolled in the Climate Sciences program. Tuition fees for this program are relatively affordable compared to other Swiss universities, with annual costs typically ranging between CHF 1,000 and CHF 3,000 for international students, depending on the specific courses and number of credits taken. In addition to the basic tuition fees, students may need to cover living expenses, which can vary but are estimated at around CHF 1,500 to CHF 2,500 per month, including accommodation, food, transportation, and personal expenses.

Financial aid for Climate Sciences students is available through several channels. The Swiss government and the University of Bern offer scholarships and grants for both domestic and international students. The Excellence Scholarships are designed to support outstanding students pursuing master's programs, including Climate Sciences, offering a full waiver of tuition fees and a monthly stipend to assist with living costs. These scholarships are highly competitive and require students to demonstrate academic excellence and potential for research.

Additionally, students are encouraged to explore external funding opportunities such as Erasmus+ for European students, which can provide mobility grants for exchange or joint programs. The university also collaborates with research institutions and environmental organizations that occasionally offer financial support for students engaged in climate-related research projects. Part-time work options are generally available in Bern, allowing students to supplement their income without interfering with their studies. The university provides a career service that advises students on finding suitable part-time employment opportunities.

For students interested in research assistant positions, the Climate Sciences department frequently offers opportunities for enrolled students to work on research projects, which often come with stipends or hourly pay. These roles not only provide financial support but also valuable research experience, enhancing students’ professional profiles.

Overall, funding for the Climate Sciences program at the University of Bern is multifaceted, combining institutional scholarships, external grants, part-time work, and research assistantships. Prospective students are advised to apply early and thoroughly explore all available options to secure adequate financial support during their studies. The university’s financial aid office provides guidance and assistance in navigating the application process for various funding programs, ensuring students are well-informed and prepared to fund their education effectively.

The Climate Sciences program at the University of Bern is an interdisciplinary field of study that focuses on understanding the complex processes governing Earth's climate system. It integrates principles from meteorology, oceanography, atmospheric sciences, geology, and environmental sciences to provide students with comprehensive knowledge about climate dynamics, variability, and change. The program aims to equip students with both theoretical understanding and practical skills necessary for climate research, policy-making, and mitigation strategies. The curriculum typically includes courses in climatology, climate modeling, greenhouse gas cycles, paleoclimatology, and climate impact assessments. Students have opportunities to engage in research projects, laboratory work, and field studies, often collaborating with scientific institutions and climate research organizations. The program emphasizes analytical skills, data analysis, and the use of advanced climate models to simulate past, present, and future climate scenarios. Graduates of this program can pursue careers in academia, governmental agencies, environmental consultancy, or international organizations dedicated to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The University of Bern provides state-of-the-art facilities and research centers supporting climate sciences, along with expert faculty members who are active in international climate research. The program also prepares students to contribute to global efforts addressing climate change and its impacts on ecosystems, societies, and economies. Overall, the Climate Sciences program at the University of Bern offers a rigorous educational pathway for aspiring climate scientists committed to understanding and solving some of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time.