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Contact: edu (at) geosciences.ens.psl.eu / +33 (0)1 44 32 22 93

PRESENTATIONADMISSIONSCALENDARSFINANCIAL SUPPORTSCOURSES

Made possible by a collaboration between the École normale supérieure, MINES ParisTech, the Observatoire de Paris, the EPHE and the ESPCI Paris, this Master Geosciences “Sciences of the Earth and planets, environment” of the University PSL offers state-of-the-art training in the fields of Earth science, Meteorology, Oceanography, Climate science and Biogeoscience, as well as their applications for Environmental science both on Earth and in Space.

It hosts about 20 students, including ENS students. Enrollment in Master for the year 2023-2024 will be open for the 1st year (M1) and 2nd year (M2) for university students who will be selected based on the provided application materials followed by an oral interview.

The course sets the foundation for the sciences of the planet and provides students with the disciplinary elements that will enable them to move towards top-level research in the specialization of their choice, or to areas of the future industry. It prepares students to tackle key themes such as climate change, the reduction of natural risks, sustainable natural resources and the energy transition.

The master is devoted to:

  • students holding a degree in Earth Sciences, Physics or Chemistry
  • students who have obtained 180 ECTS from a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent scientific course
  • students from PSL’s CPES, ENS Paris, MINES ParisTech, EPHE and ESPCI Paris or other engineering programs wishing to complete their training in the field of geosciences and environment.

The master of Geosciences is associated with the Graduate Program in Earth Sciences and Biodiversity of PSL and seeks to strengthen the links between Geosciences and Biodiversity.

Admission on file is a selective process during which we seek to identify students strongly motivated by geosciences research professions and able to benefit from training at the highest level. We are particularly interested in students who wish to develop original and innovative professional projects in the field of geosciences.

Application for the PSL Geosciences Master

The selection procedure is done in two steps for admission in M1 as well as M2.

1. First step based on the application materials provided

> To the admission webpage for the Master 1

> To the admission webpage for the Master 2

The application materials must include:

  • A curriculum vitae
  • An application letter explaining the candidate’s motivation for undertaking the research and, if possible, describing a research experiment conducted.
  • Two letters of reference from teachers or researchers who followed the candidate’s academic performance in higher education and/or during a research internship are required. You will have to provide the name and contact information/
  • A copy of the candidate’s academic transcript or quarterly academic performance reports subsequent to the bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent
  • A copy of diplomas since the bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent
  • In case of an application to a financial support, a letter explaining how obtaining a grant will allow the candidate’s project to be carried out. This letter must also explicit the grants already obtained by the candidate, including grants based on social criteria
2. Second stage of questions and discussion

At the end of the 1st stage evaluations, the selected candidates are contacted for an interview. The objective of the oral examination is to determine the motivation and scientific abilities of the candidates.

Candidates must convince of their desire to acquire training covering broad areas of geosciences, and show how this will help their professional project. They must show that they are curious and that they have sufficient methodological knowledge to follow high-level courses.

Candidates from the L3 geosciences are not subject to this second stage.

This oral will include 15 minutes of questions and discussion with the jury regarding the candidate’s background and any other topic deemed appropriate by the jury to assess the candidate’s motivation and scientific abilities.

This oral could  be made with videoconference.

The timetable of the procedure can be found in the tab Calendars

Calendar of the admission procedure for the start of the 2024-2025 school year
  • 26 February > 24 March 2024: submission of applications
  • April > May 2024: examination of applications and interviews with candidates
  • June 2024: publication of results
  • 25 > 30 June 2024: complementary admission phase
Calendar of research internships and fieldtrips

Master 1:

  • Fall term field internship: oceanography, geodesy, geology, atmospheric science.
  • Six-month research internship (February to July) conducted outside France.

Master 2:

  • Fall term field internship: astronomy, geology, cryosphere, hydrology.
  • Five-month laboratory internship (February to June).
PhD Track

PSL proposes grants that cover the funding of the 2-year master + a PhD.

More information and registration on the dedicated page of the PSL website.

Support to request when applying for a master’s degree

Thanks to the Earth Sciences and Biodiversity graduate program two types of financial support are offered.

These are 2 housing grants amounting to € 1,900 and a master’s grant that could reach € 10,000.
These scholarships are offered to M1  (housing grants only) and M2 (housing & master  grants) students, and will be allocated at the 1st application session. Obtaining a scholarship in M1 does not automatically obtain the scholarship in M2.

These scholarships will be awarded on merits. To apply, you must complete the master’s application file with a letter explaining how obtaining a scholarship will allow the candidate’s project to be carried out. This letter must also explain the grants already obtained by the candidate, including grants based on social criteria.

Support for carrying out the research internship abroad

For the compulsory research internship abroad in M1, financial aid may be obtained either with Erasmus or with the Department of Geosciences.

List and descriptions of courses are subject to update
Methods (Mandatory)    
Geostatistics M1  
Numerical methods M1  
Inverse problems M1  
Remote sensing M1  
Machine learning   M2
Applied geoscientific modeling   M2
Nonlinear dynamic systems   M2
Océan/Atmosphère    
Climate change M1 M2
Chemistry and composition of planetary atmospheres M1 M2
Geophysical fluid dynamics M1 M2
Dynamic Meteorology M1 M2
Ocean dynamics M1 M2
Ocean-atmosphere coupling and seasonal prediction M1 M2
Climate physics   M2
Clouds, Aerosols and Precipitations   M2
Atmospheric chemistry and air quality:
Processes and modelling at urban to global scales		   M2
Interfaces    
Organic contaminants : risks, fate, transformations M1 M2
Biogeochemical cycles and coupling M1 M2
Geomorphology M1 M2
Water resources M1 M2
Terrestrial ecosystems and global changes M1 M2
Cryosphere M1 M2
Numerical modelling of water resources   M2
Paleoclimatology M1 M2
Planetology : interior, surface, atmosphere M1 M2
Current challenges in terrestrial biogeochemistry – soil-plant interactions M1 M2
Processes of planetary environmental changes M1 M2
IMAGE M1 M2
     
Terre solide    
Mechanics of fracturing and seismic rupture M1 M2
Seismo-tectonics M1 M2
Rock, Fault and Earthquake Mechanics M1 M2
Non-carbon mineral resources M1 M2
Marine Geosciences M1 M2
Large geological complexes M1 M2
A world of earthquakes M1 M2
Geophysical imaging M1 M2
Stages (Obligatoires)    
Field internship: oceanography, geodesy, geology, atmosphere M1  
Internship of research initiation abroad M1  
Field internship: astronomy, geology, cryosphere, hydrology   M2
Internship of research initiation   M2
Société    
Changement climatique : sciences, sociétés, politique M1 M2
Écologie politique : grands débats de l’environnement   M2
Géopolitique de l’environnement   M2
Négociations climatiques, géopolitique du climat   M2
Savoirs et politiques de la Terre, XVIe-XXIe siècles M1 M2