MSc Environmental Sciences

Human activities can disrupt natural systems at local to global scales. This MSc trains you to understand, observe, model and monitor the physical, chemical and biological processes behind these issues, so decisions are evidence-based. You’ll study systems such as water tables, landslides, landfills and diffuse/concentrated pollution, and the interactions between environmental stressors and living organisms across the critical zone, ecosystems and human activities. Three specialisations are offered:


Aquatic Science
Natural Hazards and Risk
Earth Surface Processes in Mountain Environments

Students must hold a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Geosciences and Environment, subject area Environmental Sciences or Geology, awarded by the University of Lausanne;
another degree or academic title judged to be sufficient to gain access to the programme, with or without further conditions.

Alumni pursue a wide variety of roles—for example, doctoral research at ETH Zurich, director of a solar-energy company, positions at the Swiss Federal Office of Topography, roles in energy, water and telecommunications utilities, and teaching. The degree also provides excellent preparation for careers such as:


Public administration roles responsible for environmental policies
Environmental NGOs
Corporate environmental management
Research institutes
Consulting firms

Describe, understand and model physical and/or chemical processes of natural and anthropogenic origin.
Use quantitative methodologies in environmental science (field measurements, lab work, data analysis).
Choose appropriate techniques for the evaluation and monitoring of environmental problems.
Address themes on theoretical/empirical foundations while considering complexity, uncertainties and limits of knowledge.

Students who want an interdisciplinary, model- and data-driven environmental science Master linking observation–modelling–monitoring.
Learners motivated by fieldwork, laboratory practice and quantitative analysis across aquatic systems, natural hazards & risk, or mountain-environment surface processes.
Profiles aiming for careers across public sector, NGOs, consulting, corporate environmental management, or further research/PhD.