Highlights
Tuition fee
23490 EUR / year
22000 EUR / year
Unknown
Tuition fee
23490 EUR / year
22000 EUR / year
Unknown
Duration
24 months
Duration
24 months
Apply date
Unknown
Apply date
Unknown
Start date
Unknown
Start date
Unknown
Campus location
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Campus location
Amsterdam, Netherlands

About

Understanding how planet Earth works is important for everyone. That is what the Earth Sciences MSc programme offered at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is all about. 

Overview

VU Amsterdam offers you a wide range of specialisations that will help you become a geoscientist who is aware of the complexity of the Earth’s inner and outer environment.

The international diversity of faculty members and students involved in Earth Sciences at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam make it a truly international Master’s programme. The Earth Sciences MSc programme offered at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is a programme in which the past present and future of our planet is the subject of our study. 

VU Amsterdam is renowned for combining Earth Sciences specialisations with other subject areas. Earth Sciences is part of  the Faculty of Science, together with Mathematics and Informatics, Physics, Chemistry,  Biology, and Environmental Sciences. When studying Earth Sciences you can choose to become a broadly trained Earth scientist or focus on one of the streams offered within the three specialisations. 

The Earth Sciences Master’s programme is divided in three main specialisations: 

  • Earth Surface Processes, Climate and Records
  • Geology and Geochemistry
  • Global Environmental Change and Policy

All these specialisations start with a series of compulsory courses that provide you with a solid basis. This basis is used to further specialise, but selecting one specialisation does not mean that you are restricted to just that one subject. You have the option of exploring every aspect of one specific area in great detail if you want to, but you are also free to choose your own subjects for up to a quarter of the required credits.  

Career prospects

After the doctoral or master degree programmes, there are opportunities to continue your educational career in a number of PhD programmes at the Vrije Universiteit, organised within a number of research schools:

  • Inter University Centre for Geo-ecological Research (ICG);
  • Netherlands Research School for the Socio-Economic and Natural Sciences of the Environment (SENSE);
  • Research School Sedimentary Geology (NSG);
  • Integrated Solid Earth Sciences (ISES). 

Promotion alumni sessions Master’s day

During the Master’s day, you can also meet our (international) alumni during several workshops. In these sessions they will tell you more about career opportunities after finishing your Master’s degree.

Programme Structure

Courses include: 
  • Sedimentary Basins
  • Tectonic Geomorphology 
  • Field excursion
  • Time series analysis

Key information

Duration

  • Full-time
    • 24 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Credits

120 ECTS

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

  • Amsterdam, Netherlands

What students do after studying

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

Other requirements

General requirements

  • A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited research university including at least three full years of academic study amounting to a minimum of 180 ECTS or equivalent. 
  • at least 6 ECTS in Earth Sciences at the end of the 3rd year
  • at least 6 ECTS in Environmental Sciences or Sustainability Sciences at the end of the 1st year
  • Create an enrollment application in Studielink
  • Complete your application in Vuweb
  • Pay the application fee (€100)
  • Copy of your valid passport or ID
  • Curriculum Vitae
  • 1 or 2 Letters of recommendation
  • Statement of Intent (Letter of Motivation)
  • Diploma(s): A copy of the original Bachelor's degree or certificate.
  • Transcript of records
  • Thesis (or alternative piece of academic writing)
  • A description of the relevant courses followed and literature used during your previous higher education

Student insurance

Make sure to cover your health, travel, and stay while studying abroad. Even global coverages can miss important items, so make sure your student insurance ticks all the following:

  • Additional medical costs (i.e. dental)
  • Repatriation, if something happens to you or your family
  • Liability
  • Home contents and baggage
  • Accidents
  • Legal aid

We partnered with Aon to provide you with the best affordable student insurance, for a carefree experience away from home.

Get your student insurance now

Starting from €0.53/day, free cancellation any time.

Remember, countries and universities may have specific insurance requirements. To learn more about how student insurance work at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and/or in Netherlands, please visit Student Insurance Portal.

Tuition Fee

To always see correct tuition fees
  • International

    23490 EUR/year
    Tuition Fee
    Based on the tuition of 23490 EUR per year during 24 months.
  • EU/EEA

    22000 EUR/year
    Tuition Fee
    Based on the tuition of 22000 EUR per year during 24 months.

Living costs for Amsterdam

1000 - 1500 EUR /month
Living costs

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Earth Sciences.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

Independent provider
Grant
4000 USD
Deadline
20 Dec 2025
OAS ISS Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

The General Secretariat of the Organization of American States
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
30 Nov 2025
ServiceScape Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based

Read more about eligibility

ServiceScape
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
33600 EUR
Deadline
01 Jul 2025
Mundus MAPP EMJM Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Mundus MAPP
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
30 Jun 2025
Moving Mates Scholarship
Need-based

Read more about eligibility

Moving Mates
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1500 USD
Deadline
15 Sep 2025
Headway’s Book Lovers Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Headway
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Erasmus+ - Grants for study mobility
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

OeAD, Austria's Agency for Education and Internationalisation
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
25000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest
Merit-based Need-based

Read more about eligibility

Ayn Rand Institute
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
5000 CAD
Deadline
31 Dec 2025
Pinsky Law New Venture Development Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Pinsky Law
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
5000 USD
Deadline
25 Aug 2025
Women Scholarship for International Students
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

educations.com
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
30 Jun 2025
Essay Writing Contest from EduLegit
Merit-based Need-based

Read more about eligibility

Edulegit
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
31 Oct 2025
$1,500 Annual Video Contest Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

IvyPanda
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
09 Jul 2025
Dream Chaser Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Salvado Law
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
02 Jul 2025
Jewish Heritage Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Diamant Gerstein
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
90000 AUD
Deadline
Not specified
World Universities Ramsay Postgraduate Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based

Read more about eligibility

The Ramsay Centre
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
31 Dec 2025
Scholarship for students with disabilities
Need-based

Read more about eligibility

Anonymous Hope Fund
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
2000 USD
Deadline
01 Sep 2025
The Rick Blight Leadership in Action Scholarship for Athletes
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Canadian Men’s Health Foundation
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
12000 USD
Deadline
30 Nov 2025
Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme
Merit-based Need-based

Read more about eligibility

The Tobacco Harm Reduction Scholarship Programme
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
3000 USD
Deadline
Not specified
AAPG Foundation Grants-in-Aid
Merit-based Need-based

Read more about eligibility

American Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
2000 USD
Deadline
31 Jul 2025
The MyUS Community Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based

Read more about eligibility

MyUS
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1500 USD
Deadline
Not specified
The Annual IELTS from 6 to 9 Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based

Read more about eligibility

IELTS from 6 to 9
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
01 Mar 2026
Voice Talent Online Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based

Read more about eligibility

Voice Talent Online
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
31 Aug 2025
Florida Rentals Annual Dream Vacation Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based

Read more about eligibility

Florida Rentals
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
1000 USD
Deadline
30 Jun 2025
$1,500 Annual Essay Writing Contest Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based

Read more about eligibility

IvyPanda
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
965 USD
Deadline
Anytime
Dr. Martin Blank – SYB Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

Shield Your Body
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
500 USD
Deadline
31 Oct 2025
CryptoRunner Scholarship
Merit-based Need-based

Read more about eligibility

CryptoRunner
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
55 GBP
Deadline
19 Jun 2025
IELTS Morgan Terry Memorial IATEFL Scholarship
Merit-based

Read more about eligibility

IELTS from 6 to 9
Location not available
Independent provider
Grant
Various benefits
Deadline
Not specified
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships
Merit-based Need-based

Read more about eligibility

European Commission
Location not available

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