You will get to go out in the field where you will try various methods for measuring how much and how fast the soil can absorb water and chemicals, and how deep the groundwater runs and how quickly it can desorb water. You will follow up on these measurements with testing in the laboratory where you have soil from the field trip and you will measure how fast water and chemicals are transported and spread in the various soil types.

You will also learn about groundwater modelling and how you use a computer programme to describe the groundwater flows with numerical equations, which you can then use to create a model that simulates the transportation processes and any breakdown of pollutants.

You will write a project about soil and groundwater on a broader scale.  

Description of courses
Read the description for the respective courses for the semester in the most recent version of the curriculum for Geography, see under the article Overview of the programme. 

The 2nd semester will present you to lakes and streams, and you will gain knowledge about fresh water ecology and fresh water eco systems.

For this purpose, you will also learn about the coastal marine aquatic environment and how natural and human made pollutants affect this environment.

You will understand food chains, nutrient circulation, eco systems and pollution, and will work with aquatic environments in relation to recreational purposes and swimming (how to ensure good water quality – faecal bacteria and pathogens.

Description of courses
Read the description for the respective courses for the semester in the most recent version of the curriculum for Geography, see under the article Overview of the programme. 

During your last year of the Master’s programme, you will have different options of how you want to construct your last two semesters.  

1st option:

• 3rd semester: take a semester at a foreign university, or choose internship abroad.
• 4th semester: write your Master’s thesis.

2nd option:

• 3rd semester: take an traineeship at a company or public institution. During the traineeship, you will gain practical experience with how geographers can work with other disciplines in relation to relevant challenges.
• 4th semester: write your Master’s thesis.

3rd option:

• 3rd semester: take courses and write a project.
• 4th semester: write Master’s thesis.

4th option:

• 3rd semester: take courses and start your Master’s thesis.
• 4th semester: continue with writing your Master’s thesis.

5th option:

• 3rd and 4th semester: writing your Master’s thesis, using both semesters.

Description of courses
Read the description for the respective courses for the semester in the most recent version of the curriculum for Geography, see under the article Overview of the programme. 

For more detailed description of the courses on each semester, please see the current curriculum for Geography (under the article Overview of the programme). 

During your third semester, you have the possibility to do an internship at a private or public company/organization abroad or in Denmark.

Many students use this possibility to improve their competencies by learning things in a new way, looking at different engineering aspects etc. An internship is usually taken within a consultative engineering company.

You can choose to study for a semester at another educational institution abroad or in Denmark.

During a study in another country, you will experience a different culture and way of life, which will develop your personal and professional skills and provide you with a network you can use in your future career.

Graduates from Physical Geography have many possible career opportunities and have well-developed skills in cross disciplinary project work.

Examples of working areas:

• Environmental assessment consultants
• Natural resource administration in public organisations
• Implementation of environmental standards and administration of protected nature and aquatic resources
• PhD studies in Physical Geography and Environmental studies

AAU Career helps you on your way from student life to job life in Denmark by giving you the tools to examine your options and find out what to do.

While studying at AAU, you can participate in career and job-related events, find help on our website, and book a personal career counselling session to talk about e.g.:

• Finding your way in your career
• Danish working culture
• Application and CV the Danish way
• What you can offer an employer
• How to go about job search in Denmark – both student job, internship and full-time job

Read more about AAU Career here.

If you need guidance on the content and workload of the study, admission, study environment or know more about what it is like to study at Aalborg University, you can contact your student counsellor. The student counsellor is a student themselves and under an obligation to maintain confidentiality. 

Student guidance
Department of the Built Environment
Thomas Manns Vej 23
9220 Aalborg Ø

Phone (Wednesdays 15-17): 2075 8277
E-mail: studievejledning@build.aau.dk 
Office hours: Wednesdays 15:00-17:00

See who is in the study guidance team

Do you have questions regarding the composition of your education, admission, study changes, examination rules, credit, exemptions, etc. you can contact the Study Board. 

Study Board of the Built Environment
Thomas Manns Vej 23
9220 Aalborg East
E-mail: inst.build.sdnvn@build.aau.dk 

Read more about the Study Board.

Are you a student at AAU? In AAU Study and Wellbeing Guidance, we can help you with, among other things, choices during your study programme, study doubts, study techniques, motivation, wellbeing, leave and study resignation or perhaps just a conversation about your thoughts regarding your study programme and wellbeing. We are happy to talk to you about anything big or small.

See opening hours and contact information

Aalborg University is famous for its problem based learning which means that you work in a group on a written assignment each semester - possibly in collaboration with an industrial partner. This study method is also called “The Aalborg Model for Problem Based Learning”. The method is highly recognised internationally; including by UNESCO.
The problem based project work at Aalborg University gives you the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and competencies at a high academic level in an independent way. You get to apply theory to practice when you work to solve real-life problems, which will ensure that you are well prepared for your future career.
Learn more about PBL.

When doing project work, you work closely in groups with other students who have roughly the same academic interests and ambitions as yourself. This gives you the opportunity to cooperate, share knowledge and to explore larger and more complex academic problems than you would have been able to do on your own. Furthermore, the groups serve a social purpose and make it easier for you to get to know your fellow students.
Learn more about group work at AAU.

Aalborg University works closely with the business community, which means that during your studies you work with real issues from companies and organisations. Thus, you will already have the opportunity while studying to obtain practical experience with the theory you learn at the university.

At Aalborg University, we offer research-based teaching, which in short means that your lecturers conduct research in the same area they teach. You thus have access to the latest knowledge and dedicated teachers who are passionate about what they teach. The teaching material thus not only includes books but may also consist of current articles from journals. 

The laboratories at Aalborg University are of the highest standard, and they play an important role in the teaching. You will work under the best laboratory conditions with access to state-of-the-art technology, which is vital for your benefiting from the teaching.

As a university city, Aalborg has many advantages. The city is Denmark's fourth largest, and a good 20 percent of the municipality's inhabitants are students. The city has much to offer when it comes to culture, sports and leisure, but at the same time, has a manageable size and safe environment. Compared to other university cities in Denmark, it is easy to find good student accommodation in Aalborg.
Learn more about student life in Aalborg and what it means to study in Aalborg.