About the education
Many environmental risks and societal concerns are directly related to the way we manage our land and water environments. The two-year master program “Hydrology, Hydrogeology and Water Resources” is based on a systems perspective and provides extended knowledge about water and soil systems and how these interact. This includes the spreading of dissolved substances and pollutants in various water systems and associated risks for society. Questions related to water resources are also covered: the management of water resources and conflicts as well as collaborations related to shared water resources on local, regional and global scales. The importance of water resources for both society and environment is emphasized through applications to practical water resources management challenges in society.
Students completing the programme are expected to be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of hydrological and hydrogeological processes, the main components of the water cycle, and vulnerability and resilience of water resources, use models, mathematical equations and information systems as important tools for dealing with water related problems (including environmental aspects and ecological economics), handle hydrologic data, including methods for time series analyses and management of spatial data using geographic information systems (GIS) and geostatistics, and be able to quantify and handle uncertainty, probability and risk.
Compulsory courses are: Information and Modelling Systems for Land and Water Resources; Land-Water Risk Assessment and Management Methods; Local to Global Water Vulnerability and Resilience.
This broad knowledge is important for professions related to international conflict management, environmental management by governmental agencies, environmental policy, civil and environmental engineering, and industrial and agricultural impact assessments.
Application documentation specific for this programme:
In addition to the documents required by universityadmissions.se (antagning.se), you need to send in application documentation specific for this programme: Personal letter (maximum one page)
and CV.
Please read the information at the education website
Subject: Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology
Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology is part of both Earth Science and Geography, and deals especially with the climate and its change in time and space; water in all its forms; glaciers and ice sheets; the soil cover and the earth’s surface landforms; vegetation distribution in time and space; and the function and change of natural and cultural landscapes over time. Environment and natural resources are in focus, with an overall objective to contribute to sustainable resource use and sustainable development.
The main themes of research and teaching in Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology at Stockholm University are:
- Biogeography and Geomatics. Biogeography includes the interactions between land use, biodiversity and ecosystem services, and the importance of the landscape for vegetation distribution in time and space. Geomatics involves the development and use of geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, cartography and visualization, with focus on landscape analysis and landscape information for issues within earth, life and environmental sciences.
- Climate and Quaternary Science. Within this theme we focus on the dynamic development of climate and environment and the interaction between ecosystems, climate and environmental changes during the Quaternary (from 2.6 million years ago to the present).
- Environment, resource dynamics and management. This theme encompasses the entire environmental field, with particular emphasis on the society's interactions with the natural environment. Within research and education we turn to professionals and students who need a broad knowledge in the field of environmental management.
- Geomorphology and glaciology. Through the study of the earth's surface landforms and the processes acting on the earth's surface, we contribute with knowledge that is useful in planning, such as the location of hazardous waste, roads and other infrastructure, and in the interpretation of the interactions between society and the natural landscape. We also study glaciers and polar environments, including glacial, alpine and periglacial systems and environments, which are central in the earth's climate system.
- Hydrology and water resources. Natural and anthropogenic variations in land, soil and water resources have a direct impact on human activity, and by studying this variability we contribute to the knowledge of environmental and societal development possibilities and risks associated with the use of land and water. We also study the effects of different strategies for handling risks, and relate research results to environmental monitoring and legislation, and to management of land, soil and water resources for sustainable development.
Area of interest: Science and Mathematics
Science and mathematics help us understand how the world around us is connected – from the origin and structure of the universe, to the development and function of humanity and all other organisms on earth.
Scientific knowledge makes it possible to critically examine the credibility of information in different areas of everyday life, society, and the media.
As a scientist or mathematician, you will be attractive on a large job market that covers all parts of society and includes everything from pure technology companies to environment and healthcare, as well as research.