Master’s Programme Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences
You want to become an expert in atmospheric processes over mountainous terrain?
Students of the Master’s Degree Programme in Atmospheric Sciences study, model and observe the Earth’s atmosphere and its interactions with hydrosphere, biosphere, cryosphere and human activities.
In courses, labs and field work, students acquire a highly interdisciplinary set of tools and skills from the fields of physics, computer sciences, chemistry, mathematics, statistics and data science and measurement technologies.
Graduates are experts in atmospheric processes taking place over mountainous terrain.
Study code
UC 066 614
FAQ
Graduates possess highly specialized knowledge in the field of atmospheric and cryospheric sciences. They are able to integrate, transfer and implement scientific methods and knowledge at the intersections of other related nature sciences.
The Master’s Programme Atmospheric and Cryospheric 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 and Cryospheric 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.
The career fields for graduates of the master’s programme range from meteorological and hydrological services, weather consulting companies, avalanche warning services, environmental agencies, domestic and foreign research institutions and operational centres, to interdisciplinary areas of responsibility where meteorology plays a key role.
The Master’s Programme Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences prepares students for relevant doctoral studies as well as careers beyond the academic area in national and international research institutions.
Graduates tracking: Shows which occupational fields students enter after graduation
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Faculty of Geo- and Atmospheric Sciences Examination Office Information for students with disabilities
Curriculum
The curriculum is the basis of a degree programme. A look at the curriculum for the Master's Programme Atmospheric and Cryospheric Science will give you a detailed overview of the structure, content, examination regulations and qualification profile of this Master's degree.
The curriculum can clarify several important questions before you start your studies. For example, which criteria have to be fulfilled for enrolment in the Master's Programme Atmospheric and Cryospheric Science, how long the programme takes, which modules have to be completed and much more.
The curriculum 2015W currently applies to the Master's Programme Atmospheric and Cryospheric Science.
Information on the curriculum (2015W)
The complete version of the curriculum reflects the currently valid version of the curriculum. It is for informational purposes only and is not legally binding. The legally binding version of the curriculum, including any amendments, may be found in the University of Innsbruck Bulletins.
In order to determine which version of the curriculum is applicable in your case, see the Catalogue of Studies,
available at: https://lfuonline.uibk.ac.at/public/lfuonline_meinestudien.studienblatt
Section: Current Curriculum version.
- English version of the Curriculum (from October 1st 2022)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin January 19th 2022, Issue 13, No. 161 (modification of the curriculum)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin February 4th 2020, Issue 13, No. 211 (equivalence list)
- English version of the Curriculum (from October 1st 2019)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin June 28th 2019, Issue 66, No. 582 (modification of the curriculum)
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin May 24th 2019, Issue 50, No. 478 (modification of the curriculum)
- English version of the Curriculum
- University of Innsbruck Bulletin June 3rd 2015, Issue 61, No. 458
Requirements
Relevant bachelor's degrees at the University of Innsbruck:
- Bachelor's Programme Atmospheric Sciences
- Bachelor's Programme Geo- and Atmospheric Sciences
- Bachelor's Programme Physics
Proof of general university entrance qualification:
The general university entrance qualification for admission to a master's programme must be proven by the completion of a subject-related bachelor's programme, another subject-related programme of at least the same higher education level at a recognised domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution, or a program defined in the curriculum of the master's programme. To compensate for significant differences in subject matter, supplementary examinations (maximum 30 ECTS credits) may be prescribed, which must be taken by the end of the second semester of the master's programme. The rectorate may determine which of these supplementary examinations are prerequisites for taking examinations provided for in the curriculum of the master's programme.
In the course of the proof of the general university entrance qualification, the completion of the following core areas within the framework of the completed bachelor's degree programme shall be examined in any case:
- 5 ECTS-Credits Weather Analysis and Forecasting
- 20 ECTS-Credits mathematics
- 12 ECTS-Credits physics and/or chemistry
- 2 ECTS-Credits programming language or computer science
Before you apply, please make sure that your bachelor degree has at least the equivalent of 20 ECTS in mathematics, 12 ECTS in physics/chemistry and 2 ECTS in programming.
Recommended Course Sequence
The exemplary course sequence given below is recommended for full-time students beginning their study programme in the winter semester. The table shows one possible course sequence for the master's programme and is not compulsory. Delays resulting from repeated examinations are not taken into account.
The standard duration of the study programme is 4 semesters or 120 ECTS-Credits, whereby according to the Universities Act of 2002, a workload of 1,500 (real) hours per academic year must be fulfilled, corresponding to 60 ECTS-Credits (one ECTS-Credit is equivalent to a workload of 25 hours).
5.0 ECTS-Credits: VU Atmospheric Radiation and Remote Sensing
5.0 ECTS-Credits: VU Physics of the Climate System
5.0 ECTS-Credits: VU Geophysical Fluid Dynamics
5.0 ECTS-Credits: VU Mountain Meteorology
5.0 ECTS-Credits: VU Boundary Layer Meteorology
3.5 ECTS-Credits: VO Numerical Methods for Models in Atmospheric Sciences
1.5 ECTS-Credits: PS Numerical Methods for Models in Atmospheric Sciences
5.0 ECTS-Credits: Atmospheric Chemistry and Biogeochemistry
5.0 ECTS-Credits: The Cryosphere as Part of the Climate System
3.5 ECTS-Credits: Advanced Weather Forecasting
4.0 ECTS-Credits: Geostatistics
4.0 ECTS-Credits: Scientific Programming
7.5 ECTS-Credits: Field Course Atmospheric Sciences
10.0 ECTS-Credits: Elective Modules
10.0 ECTS-Credits: Interdisciplinary Skills
4.5 ECTS-Credits: Numerical Modeling of Weather and Climate
3.0 ECTS-Credits: Modeling of the Cryosphere and Climate System
3.0 ECTS-Credits: Reading, Writing and Presenting Scientific Content
27.5 ECTS-Credits: Master's Thesis
2.5 ECTS-Credits: Master's Thesis Defence
Detailed recommended course schedule
| Semester | ECTS-AP | Titel |
|---|---|---|
Extension Programme
Within the scope of the Study Programme, a Extension Programme corresponding to 60 ECTS-Credits may be passed. Admission to the Extension Programme requires the admission to or the having passed of one of the selected Study Programmes. Detailed information:
Information about examination regulations, assessment and grading
Examination regulations
The examination regulation is an integral part of the curriculum, detailed information can be found under the paragraph examination regulations.
The grade distribution table is a statistical representation of the distribution of all successfully completed examinations in a given programme of study or subject (based on all registered students for the programme or subject). The grade distribution table is updated in regular intervals.
| A | B | C | D | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austrian grading scheme | Definition | %-age | ||
| 1 | EXCELLENT: Outstanding performance | 36.7 | = 100% | |
| 2 | GOOD: Generally good, but with some errors | 32.9 | ||
| 3 | SATISFACTORY: Generally sound work with a number of substantial errors | 19.1 | ||
| 4 | SUFFICIENT: Performance meets the minimum criteria | 11.3 | ||
| 5 | INSUFFICIENT: Substantial improvement necessary; requirement of further work |
December 2021
Overall classification of the qualification
Not applicable
Explanation: An overall classification (mit Auszeichnung bestanden/pass with distinction, bestanden/pass, nicht bestanden/fail) – is awarded only for examinations that conclude a programme of study and consist of more than one subject (an examination of this type is not specified in the curriculum of this programme of study).
Forms (in German only)
- Examination Records (January 2022)
- Assessment of the compulsory module: Preparation of the Master’s Thesis
- Cover Sheet for the Master's Thesis
- Recognition of examsANDSupplementary Sheet
- Application for Admission to the third and fourth repetition of a course examination
Forms and Guideline for submitting the Master's Thesis (valid since 01.11.2023)
Contact and Information
Examination Office
Standort Innrain 52d
Associate Dean of Studies
Ao.Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Georg Mayr
Dean of Studies (from 01.03.2024)
Priv.-Doz. Mag. Dr. Gertraud Meißl
Information about the Programme (in German only)
Older curricula can be found in the archive Course Catalog
From the field
Underlying assumptions of air quality need to be redefined
Long-term measurements in the urban area of Innsbruck, Austria, show that the fraction of ozone near the surface tends to be overestimated in atmospheric models. Consequently, a fundamental assumption for air quality forecasting has to be reinterpreted for urban areas. Measurements by an international team led by atmospheric scientist Thomas Karl of the University of Innsbruck also show that direct nitrogen dioxide emissions are overestimated.
Ice cliffs as an early warning system for the climate
It is rare to find glaciers bounded on land by vertical ice cliffs. These ice cliffs respond with particular sensitivity to environmental changes. Research teams from Tyrol and Styria are investigating ice formations at a site in the far north of Greenland. The researchers intend to draw conclusions about the development of the Arctic climate based on the changes in the glacier walls.
Significant decline of CO2 emissions in Innsbruck
Air monitoring measurements at the University of Innsbruck's atmospheric observatory show that carbon dioxide emissions in western Austria have fallen by around 20 percent since 2018. Emissions are therefore well below the levels predicted by various models. Observational data is becoming increasingly important for assessing greenhouse gas budgets.
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