Master in Soils and Global Change

Master in Soils and Global Change is one of 8 English-taught Agriculture & Environment programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 4 institutions. 8 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from EUR 2,400 to EUR 15,000; this programme lists EUR 4,500 a year. 6 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.

IMSOGLO is an Erasmus Mundus joint master's in soils and global change. Four institutions run it together: Ghent University (coordinator), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences in Vienna, University of Göttingen, and Aarhus University. You graduate with a joint diploma and spend time in at least two countries.

What you study

The programme trains you to characterise soils, understand how they evolve under global change, and develop climate-smart soil management strategies. The first semester (30 ECTS) is common to everyone and takes place at Ghent University. After that you choose one of two specialisations.

In the specialisation Soil Ecosystem Services and Global Change, you study at Ghent University and Aarhus University. Your third semester at Aarhus includes mandatory courses in Assessing Soil Erosion Risk (5 ECTS), Applied Soil Physics (10 ECTS), and Digital Soil Mapping and Soil Sensors (5 ECTS). You then pick 10 ECTS from electives such as Carbon Cycling and Climate Change (10 ECTS), Climate through Earth's History (5 ECTS), Soil Classification (5 ECTS), Arctic Soils (5 ECTS), or an Open Project Work in Soils Threats and Ecosystem Services (5 ECTS). You can also take up to 10 ECTS as an open choice. The fourth semester is your thesis (30 ECTS), which you can do at Ghent or Aarhus.

The other specialisation, Soil-Plant System Processes and Global Change, takes place at Ghent University, BOKU Vienna, and the University of Göttingen.

How the programme is organised

This is a full-time two-year master's worth 120 ECTS, taught in English. Teaching is by international scientists who bring in recent research. You move between countries as part of the degree, so you experience different learning environments and cultures. The programme starts in August or September.

Who it suits

You need a bachelor's degree of at least 180 ECTS in pure or applied sciences, for example chemistry, biology, geology, physical geography, geo-ecology, civil or agricultural engineering, environmental or agricultural sciences. Your degree must include at least 40 ECTS in natural sciences covering at least four of these areas: physics, chemistry, mathematics, ecology, biology, geology, physical geography, environmental sciences, and agricultural sciences. Grades should be very good or excellent. If you want a career in soil science, land use, or climate-smart land management, and you are ready to study in more than one country, this fits.

Admission, language and next steps

Applications go through the official IMSOGLO website, not optagelse.dk. Deadlines: 28 February for Erasmus Mundus scholarships and for applicants from third countries not associated with Erasmus+; 31 May for self-funding applicants from EU member states and associated countries. Danish and Belgian students can only apply for a scholarship for the Soil-Plant System Processes and Global Change specialisation because of Erasmus Mundus mobility rules.

English proficiency is required. Accepted tests, no older than two years, are TOEFL iBT with at least 90 out of 120 (Home Edition accepted), Academic IELTS with an overall band of at least 6.5 and at least 6 for writing, or Cambridge C1 Advanced. If your previous degree was taught in English in a list of specified countries, you can provide an English Language of Instruction Certificate from your university instead. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland study free of charge; other students pay a fee set by the institution. Contact imsoglo@ugent.be for admission questions, or mobility.nat-tech@au.dk about studying at Aarhus.

Master’s applications go straight to Aarhus University, not through optagelse.dk, and the institution sets its own deadline. Entry requirements and language tests are set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, residence permits and housing.