Master Program Aachen: Applied Geophysics

The science of applied geophysics delivers decisive information for production processes. It enables scientists and engineers to solve problems emerging from increasing utilisation of resource. Furthermore it supplies architects and civil engineers with vital data for the design of underground and building constructions. The Universities of Aachen, Delft and Zurich are the leading institutions in this academic field. Together with the Imperial College London they set up the alliance IDEA League. With the joint master program “Applied Geophysics” the RWTH Aachen, the TU Delft and the ETH Zurich present the first IDEA League program. The accountability for this two-year joint program is taken equally by the three universities. The excellence of the university in Delft is presented by the development of oil and gas technologies, the strength of the Switzer University are given in the field of climatic research and the RWTH Aachen convinces with its competence in geothermal and petro physics.  The grouping of the know-how in a cross-border post-graduate program is an exemplary advance according to the Bologna process.
The program with the degree “Master of Science” aims at students already holding a bachelor degree or an equal qualification in geo or climate sciences, physics or another technological subject. Each of the three universities contributes to the two-year program with five months of English spoken lectures. In the remaining eight months the students concentrate on a research project at one of the universities or in the industry.

For further information concerning this unique master program:

Competence Center
Applied Geophysics
RWTH Aachen
tel.: +49 (0) 241 / 80 94825

Professionals in the field of geosciences contribute significantly to the sustainable development of the earth’s resources, including rocks, minerals and ore, oil and natural gas, water and geothermal energy. Furthermore they supply vital information for subsurface constructions and foundations. The broad field of applied geosciences includes:

• the exploration and extraction of fossil as well as renewable energy media, such as crude oil, natural gas, coal and geothermal energy,
• the investigation of the genesis and the structure of mineral reservoirs,
• the research into the structure and properties of minerals to enable the production of new materials,
• the investigation of the mutual influences of construction and foundation soil,
• the prediction of  landslides and stone deformation, for example, in the development of tunnel or embankment dam projects,
• the development and sustainable utilisation of ground water,
• the analysis of geodynamic processes triggering earthquake and
• the determination of the stone deformation due to the enormous  forces in the earth’s inside.

Additionally geoscientists contribute with their knowledge of the short and long-term changes to the protection of the environment and to the sustainable development of the earth’s resources. The protection of ground water reservoirs, the securing of human habitats and the re-creation of the natural balance are of increasing significance for geoscientists. The management of these future challenges demands quantifying methods and the set up of models for reliable prediction of, for example, reservoirs, ground water bodies, risks of earthquakes and material deformation. Consequently, the field of applied geosciences is a quantitative science with various connections to the engineering sciences.

For further information on this program:

Univ.-Prof. Dr. Thomas Rüde
RWTH Aachen University
Hydrogeology
Lochnerstr. 4-20
52056 Aachen
tel: +49 (0) 241-80 95743
E-Mail