Bachelor's Programme Earth Science
| Faculty | Faculty of Geo- and Atmospheric Sciences |
| Duration / ECTS-Credits | 6 semesters / 180 ECTS-Credits |
| Academic Degree |
Bachelor of Science (BSc) |
| Qualification Level |
Bachelor (First Cycle) ISCED-11: Level 6, EQF/NQF: Level 6 |
| ISCED-F | 0532 Earth Sciences |
| Mode of Study |
Full-Time |
| Study Code |
UC 033 615 |
| Curriculum | Information on the Curriculum (2018W) * |
| Language of Instruction | German |
| Admission Requirements |
Secondary school completion certificate or equivalent and Language Certificates |
| Supplemental Examination | The supplemental examination in Biology and Environmental Protection is dropped
|
| Application |
* Information on the Curriculum (2018W)
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.
University of Innsbruck Bulletins » (Click to open all University of Innsbruck Bulletins)
Studies Induction and Orientation Stage (STEOP)
(1) Within the scope of the studies induction and orientation stage, which takes place in the first semester, the following course examinations must be passed:
- VO System Earth 1 (CM 1 lit. a/2 hrs. /4 ECTS-Credits)
- VO System Earth 2 (CM 1 lit. b/2 hrs./4 ECTS-Credits)
(2) Successful passing of all exams of the Studies Induction and Orientation Stage entitles to passing all further courses and examinations.
(3) Before successful completion of the Studies Induction and Orientation Stage courses amounting to 22 ECTS-Credits may be passed. The requirements specified in the curriculum must be met.
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 bachelor's programme and is not compulsory. Delays resulting from repeated examinations are not taken into account.
The standard duration of the study programme is 6 semesters or 180 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).
10.0 ECTS-Credits: Solid Earth 1
5.0 ECTS-Credits: Mathematics
5.0 ECTS-Credits: Physics
5.0 ECTS-Credits: Chemistry
5.0 ECTS-Credits: Elective Module
10.0 ECTS-Credits: Solid Earth 2
10.0 ECTS-Credits: Geology 1
10.0 ECTS-Credits: Mineralogy 1
5.0 ECTS-Credits: Geochemistry
5.0 ECTS-Credits: Geophysics
5.0 ECTS-Credits: Geoinformatics
5.0 ECTS-Credits: Geology 2a (Structural Geology)
10.0 ECTS-Credits: Mineralogy 2
5.0 ECTS-Credits: Scientific Working
5.0 ECTS-Credits: Geology 2b (Earth History, Regional Geology)
10.0 ECTS-Credits: Geology 3
10.0 ECTS-Credits: Introduction to Applied Earth Sciences
10.0 ECTS-Credits: Seminar with Bachelor's Thesis 1
10.0 ECTS-Credits: Elective Module (Geology/Mineralogy)
10.0 ECTS-Credits: Elective Module
10.0 ECTS-Credits: Seminar with Bachelor's Thesis 2
10.0 ECTS-Credits: Elective Module (Geology/Mineralogy)
10.0 ECTS-Credits: Elective Module
Qualification Profile and Skills
The Bachelor’s Programme in Earth Sciences aims at imparting a wide range of basic knowledge and practice-oriented skills, thereby opening up appropriate career opportunities for graduates. On this basis, the Bachelor’s programme provides a comprehensive insight into the nature and processes of the lithosphere, hydrosphere, cryosphere, atmosphere and anthroposphere and offers methods and tools for describing and understanding them in a system-oriented way. Building on the contents of the first semester with general scientific education objectives, the students acquire a broad geological knowledge in mineralogy, petrology, geology and palaeontology.Because of the University of Innsbruck’s location in the middle of the Alps, the education has a special focus on regional alpine terrain and promotes the “geological way of thinking”, i.e. to work on and understand complex scientific connections in space and time. In the two Bachelor’s theses the students learn to independently work on, document and present selected problems in Earth Sciences. Career options after successful completion of the studies lie in the field of basic research, a broad field in Applied Earth Sciences, relevant areas in economy, as well as public authorities.
Expected Learning Outcomes
Graduates are able to elaborate, evaluate and implement scientific developments in the fields of earth sciences and to apply them in interdisciplinary contexts.
Future Prospects: Occupational Profiles and Career Opportunities
The Bachelor’s Programme Earth Sciences prepares students for a relevant master’s programme as well as careers beyond the academic area. Occupational fields of graduates are in the field of applied earth sciences (geology and mineralogy) as well as in planning offices and the environmental sector.
Postgraduate and further Studies at the University of Innsbruck
- Master's Programme Earth Sciences
- Master's Programme Materials and Nanosciences
- Master's Programme Peace and Conflict Studies
Supplementary Programme
Within the scope of the Study Programme, a Supplementary Programme corresponding to 60 ECTS-Credits may be passed. Admission to the Supplementary Programme requires the admission to or the having passed of one of the selected Study Programmes. Detailed information: https://www.uibk.ac.at/studium/angebot/es-informatik/
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.
Description of the applied grading system (including the grade distribution table ) »
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.
| Austrian grading scheme |
Definition |
%-age |
||
| 1 | EXCELLENT: Outstanding performance |
18.3 |
|
= 100% |
|
2 |
GOOD: Generally good, but with some errors |
29.6 | ||
| 3 | SATISFACTORY: Generally sound work with a number of substantial errors |
29 |
||
| 4 | SUFFICIENT: Performance meets the minimum cirteria |
23.1 |
||
| 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).
Information about the Programme (in German only)
Forms (in German only)
- Evidence of the Bachelor's Thesis according to the curriculum
- Examination Records
- Recognition of exams and Supplementary Sheet
- Cover Sheet for the Bachelor's Thesis
- Declaration of Academic Honesty
- Application for Admission to the third and fourth repetition of a course examination
Contact and Information
Examination Office
Standort Innrain 52d 
Associate Dean of Studies
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Roland Stalder
Dean of Studies
Ao. Univ.-Prof. Mag. Dr. Kurt Nicolussi