Atmospheric Sciences

The Master’s Programme Atmospheric Sciences provides an in-depth understanding of atmospheric processes and their interactions with land, oceans, ice and biosphere from the molecular to the global scale and from short-term phenomena such as turbulences and storms to long-term climate changes; with a focus on snow and ice, climate and global change, applied meteorology (environment, energy, glaciology), the application of advanced observation systems (satellite technology) for data assimilation and process modelling in the area of environment and forecasting, or the analysis of the significance of complex orography in the dynamics of atmospheric flows. A special focus of the education in Innsbruck refers to mountain aspects. The entry requirement for the Master’s Programme Atmospheric Sciences is a bachelor’s degree in a related field with basic skills in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and computer languages. Alongside a deeper comprehension of the basic knowledge acquired in the bachelor’s programme, students learn to independently apply scientific methods to the interpretation of weather maps, to prepare large-scale and local weather forecasts based on the comprehension of the workings of current operational forecasting models. Besides providing technical expertise in the field of meteorology, the programme additionally teaches students to evaluate scientific topics of meteorology and atmospheric physics in an interdisciplinary context, and to autonomously apply them to new areas of study, incorporating the university’s research specialities.

1st semester

• U Atmospheric Radiation and Remote Sensing 
• VU Physics of the Climate System 
• VU Geophysical Fluid Dynamics 
• VU Mountain Meteorology 
• Boundary Layer Meteorology 
• VO Numerical Methods for Models in Atmospheric Sciences 
• PS Numerical Methods for Models in Atmospheric Sciences  

2nd semester

• Atmospheric Chemistry and Biogeochemistry 
• The Cryosphere as Part of the Climate System 
• Advanced Weather Forecasting 
• Geostatistics 
• Scientific Programming 
• Field Course Atmospheric Sciences 

3rd semester

• Elective Modules 
• Interdisciplinary Skills 
• Numerical Modeling of Weather and Climate 
• Modeling of the Cryosphere and Climate System 
• Reading, Writing and Presenting Scientific Content

4th semester

• Master's Thesis 
• Master's Thesis Defence 

Requirements

• Completed a bachelor's degree in a relevant related field.
• Transcript of records including number of ECTS-Credits completed,
• Curriculum vitae,
• Proof of German language ability (level B2)

as well as (originals or officially certified copies):

• Notice (“Bescheid”) confirming awarding of bachelor’s degree,
• Diploma certificate,
• Examination certificate,
• Diploma Supplement
• Transcript (list of examinations completed).

Scholarships

• Erasmus+