Joint Master Applied Geophysics

Applied Geophysics is concerned with the development and application of exploration techniques for investigating the Earth’s shallow subsurface, a region of vital interest for a broad range of problems with a high societal relevance.

Join the online ETH Zurich information events on November 7, 14:00 to 14:45 and 15:00 to 15:45 CET

Join the online TU Delft Master’s event on November 28, 19:00 to 19:45

Other online information events in Autumn 2024 will be announced soon

Applied Geophysics

The Joint Master’s degree programme in Applied Geophysics offers a unique international and multifaceted education in theoretical as well as practical aspects of Applied Geophysics.

The Joint Master in Applied Geophysics is offered by three of Europe’s leading technical universities – TU Delft (The Netherlands), ETH Zurich (Switzerland), and RWTH Aachen (Germany). The two-years 120-ECTS programme brings together outstanding students with world-leading scientists in the field of Applied Geophysics. You will be part of an international group of students with diverse backgrounds sharing the passion for exploring the Earth’s subsurface to address global sustainability challenges for our future.

“Our mission is to educate students in geophysical methodologies to help solving global challenges for a sustainable future – to provide clean energy, to exploit natural resources in a responsible way, to respond to the effects of climate change, to provide critical data for infrastructure building and maintenance and to monitor natural hazards.”

Evert Slob, Joint Master in Applied Geophysics teaching staff, Professor of Geophysics, TU Delft.

A brief overview

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At a glance

For more detailed information, download our information brochure here

Admission, scholarships and application

The application window opens in mid-October of the year before your programme start and closes on 1 April. More information about application process, admission criteria, fees and scholarships can be found here

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Content

The Joint Master in Applied Geophysics programme of study and research leads students to outstanding skills in the mathematical and physical tools, programming and numerical methods of Applied Geophysics along with their application to solve real-world problems.

Specific learning goals of the master programme are:

Gain a quantitative understanding of the physics underlying geophysical phenomena as well as the instruments and sensing principles to study them
Receive in-depth training in developing and applying mathematical and numerical tools to interpret various types of geophysical data
Put theoretical knowledge into practice in hands-on exercises and participate in field courses
Learn most relevant application fields of Applied Geophysics such as geo-energies and natural resources exploration, natural hazard monitoring and engineering.

“The IDEA League Joint Master in Applied Geophysics program offers opportunities that reach beyond excellent lectures and state-of-the-art knowledge. You get to know many people and you make friends, which helps in forming a professional and support network that may shape future paths and sets a firm ground to build your career.”

Dr. Sebastian Uhlemann, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA, Recipient of AGU Early Career Award.

Living and studying in different cities

The Joint Master in Applied Geophysics programme provides students with the unique opportunity to live and learn in three vibrant European cities. The experience of living in diverse cities enriches students’ outlook by exposing them to various cultures. This enhanced student mobility improves students’ chances of pursuing careers in competitive global industries.

Year 1, September – January

TU Delft’s principal research strength is in the geophysical methods for subsurface characterization and monitoring of subsurface processes.

The city of Delft offers a wonderful blend of ancient canals lined with merchant houses and modern architecture.

Key courses cover seismic and electromagnetic theory, as well as signal analysis.

Year 1, February – June

ETH Zurich’s principal research strength is in exploration, engineering and environmental geosciences as well as geothermal energy.

Zurich has a natural beauty of all seasons – inviting for a swim in the lake in the summer and nearby Alps for the winter season.

Key courses cover seismic data processing, numerical modelling and inversion, and a one-month geophysical field course.

Year 2, October – February

RWTH Aachen’s principal research strength is on geothermal exploration, numerical methods, hydrogeophysics and basin modelling.

The city of Aachen situated on the rim of the Eifel mountains is a historical spa town and home of a world heritage cathedral.

Key courses cover numerical methods, machine learning, hydrogeophysics, and borehole geophysics.

Programme overview

Detailed information about the logistics and organisation including schedules, regulations and housing information can be found here

”Our lectures cover not only fundamentals, but we also teach our students in emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning in Geosciences.”

Prof. Dr. Florian Wellmann, Joint Master in Applied Geophysics teaching staff, Professor of Computational Geoscience, Geothermics and Reservoir Geophysics, RWTH Aachen.

Curriculum and themes

The curriculum covers methodological aspects in the physical, mathematical, computational as well as data analysis and signal processing foundations of Applied Geophysics. Key skills are taught in compulsory courses. A broad range of elective courses allows students to delve into topics of their interests.

A complete overview of the courses for 2023-2025 can be found here. An overview of the courses for 2024-2026 can be found here

Core competencies conveyed during the course of study:

Geophysical sensors and data acquisition

Field-based research and education plays an essential role at all three partner universities. Example lectures: “Field Geophysics and Signal Analysis with Exercises” at TU Delft, “Geophysical Fieldwork and Processing” at ETH, “Hydrogeophysics and Engineering Geophysics” at RWTH Aachen

Inversion of geophysical data, signal processing, numerical methods, and machine learning

Researchers at all three partner universities conduct world-leading research in geophysical data modelling and inversion as well as their application to real-world problems.

Example lectures: “Inverse Theory I & II” and “Numerical Modelling for Applied Geophysics” at ETH, “Machine Learning” at RWTH Aachen, “Seismic Acquisition to Data Information Content” at TU Delft”

Exploration, environmental and engineering applications

All three partner universities teach and research at the fore-front of applying geophysical techniques to problems of high societal relevance.

Example lectures: “Advanced Reflection Seismology and Seismic Imaging” at TU Delft, “Geothermal Energy” and “Geofluids” at ETH Zurich, “Application of Geophysical Prospection Methods in Earth and Environmental Science” at RWTH Aachen

Industry relations

The Joint Master in Applied Geophysics programme is run in close collaboration with industry. Companies actively support the programme through internships, research projects, and grants for scholarships. Industry experts contribute special lectures and participate in co-supervising master’s thesis projects.

Your career prospects

Graduates of the Joint Master in Applied Geophysics work in a wide range of companies and government institutes in the energy, civil engineering and environmental sector. The quantitative nature of the studies opens more possibilities outside geophysics, in for example, financial institutions, insurances and consultancy agencies. Many graduates also continue a research path in PhD research programmes in various parts of the world.

Employment of graduates from 2020-2022 by sector

”Graduates from our programme are both immediately attractive for positions in industry as well doctoral studies in Earth Sciences..”

Prof. Dr. Hansruedi Maurer, Joint Master in Applied Geophysics teaching staff, Professor at the Institute of Geophysics, Exploration and Environmental Geophysics group, ETH Zurich.