MSc | Institute of Earth Sciences

תואר שני (מוסמך)
Structure and Scope of the Degree Finding a Supervisor Direct path PhD Registration Scholarships and Jobs

Stucture and Scope:

An MSc degree from the Institute of Earth Sciences opens doors to diverse employment opportunities in industries such as environmental consulting, natural resource management, geotechnical engineering, research institutions, government agencies, and more. Our graduates are sought after for their specialized knowledge and hands-on experience, positioning them for fulfilling careers that deal with global environmental issues. At our institute you can specialize in one of five disciplines: Geology, Oceanography, Hydrology and Water Resources, Atmospheric Sciences, and Environmental Sciences.

The studies span two years, during which students learn 32 academic course credits, and conduct independent research under the guidance of leading scientists.

Degree Program:

Advanced mandatory and elective courses taught by top experts, providing specialized scientific knowledge and skills;
Research proposal and interim examination at the end of the first year
Written thesis and examination at the end of 2 years

Courses are chosen after consultation with the academic supervisor.

For all study programs:

Master’s Degree in Geology (Department 590, track 6040)

Master’s Degree in Atmospheric Sciences (Department 545, track 6041)

Master’s Degree in Oceanography (Department 592, track 6042)

Master’s Degree in Environmental Sciences (Department 591, track 6090)

Master's program in Hydrology and Water Resources (Department 589, track 6044)

Specialization in Environmental Sciences for Oceanography/Geology/Atmosphere students (5904)

Master’s Degree in Atmospheric Sciences (Department 545, track 6041)

Master’s Degree in Oceanography (Department 592, track 6042)

Master’s Degree in Environmental Sciences (Department 591, track 6090)

Master's program in Hydrology and Water Resources (Department 589, track 6044)

Specialization in Environmental Sciences for Oceanography/Geology/Atmosphere students (5904)

Research Fields

Geological studies at the Hebrew University invites you to delve into a world of research and discovery, offering a fundamental understanding of Earth and its processes. Our Master's program combines theoretical knowledge with extensive practical experience, preparing graduates for a wide array of research and employment opportunities. Key research areas include seismology and earthquakes, carbon capture and storage, volcanism, landscape formation processes, paleoclimate, geochemistry, geophysics, and more.

For the research groups in the field of Geology

Advisor: Prof. Ron Shaar | ron.shaar@mail.huji.ac.il

Tackling the climate crisis requires basic research, necessitating the development and utilization of advanced tools and models in atmospheric sciences. Throughout the program, you will learn cutting edge methods for understanding and researching chemical and physical processes in the atmosphere, such as the impact of air pollution on rain formation processes, strategies for enhancing precipitation, prediction of extreme weather events, cloud dynamics, radiation transfer, aerosol effects on global warming, and more.

For the research groups in Atmospheric Sciences

Advisor: Prof. Chaim I. Garfinkel | chaim.garfinkel@mail.huji.ac.il

The growing awareness of environmental issues such as climate change, renewable energy, air pollution, and waste management highlights the need for experts with advanced knowledge and tools to develop innovative solutions and influence policy. Our program utilizes tools from chemistry, physics, and biology to investigate and understand urgent environmental challenges. Research in Environmental Sciences facilitates collaboration between leading researchers from the Institute of Earth Sciences and other research institutes. You can tailor your studies by selecting courses from various fields according to your background and research topic. Scholarships are available for Environmental Sciences Master's students, with details announced periodically.

For the research groups in Environmental Sciences

Advisor: Prof. Simon Emmanuel | simon.emmanuel@mail.huji.ac.il

Oceans cover over 70% of the Earth's surface. They play a crucial role in the climate system, and serve as a vital source of natural resources and food. Oceanography encompasses diverse fields such as changes in the chemical composition of the sea, the impact of climate change, carbon capture and storage, the preservation of coral reefs and habitats, the interaction between the sea and atmosphere and more. Research in the department combines theoretical methods with laboratory and field experiments. You will have the opportunity to collaborate and conduct research at the Inter-University Institute in Eilat.

For the research groups in the field of oceanography

Advisor: Prof. Adi Torfstein | adi.torf@mail.huji.ac.il

The program in Hydrology and Water Resources offers an interdisciplinary approach that aims to equip students with strong analytical skills and enable them to study the world’s hydrosphere. Research areas include flood dynamics, contaminant transport in groundwater, and water resource management. Research methodologies include laboratory experiments, fieldwork, and advanced modeling techniques, and students can select courses from various disciplines such as geology, meteorology, environmental sciences, and soil and water studies.

For the research groups in the field of Hydrology

Advisor: Prof. Efrat Morin | efrat.morin@mail.huji.ac.il

Requirements for Admission:

Identify a suitable supervisor (link to search for a supervisor)
Bachelor's Degree grade average of at least 85;
Candidates with an average grade between 80 and 85 will be accepted only with the approval of the Institute's Teaching Committee and will be required to take supplementary courses according to their undergraduate degree and the recommendations of the department head.
Candidates with an average grade between 75 and 80, will be able to be admitted to a master's degree preparation year.
A university level exemption in English is required.

Registration:

Registration for a Master’s Degree is carried out in two stages:

Through the online registration at the university website
Registration with the Science Faculty by creating an account in the registration system, followed by filling out personal and academic details. After completing the registration process, proceed to the "Submission Status" page and follow the instructions.

Candidates who studied for a Bachelor’s degree at the Hebrew University can attach an unofficial grade sheet (from the personal information);
Candidates who have not yet received confirmation of eligibility for a graduate degree, should only attach a grade sheet that includes the average for the degree only.

For further information, please contact us by phone at 02-6586722 or by email at shulic@savion.huji.ac.il

Scholarships and Positions

Students who devote most of their time to research are entitled to a monthly stipend, in addition to an exemption from tuition fees and the possibility of employment as teaching assistants.

Details of eligibility:

Full exemption from tuition fees;
Minimum monthly stipend of NIS 4500;
Travel funding: the institute supports the funding of travel to conferences and research trips in Israel and abroad;
Possibility of employment as a teaching assistant, subject to submission of an application to the teaching secretary and her approval. Please contact Magiuy Perkin magip@savion.huji.ac.il
Scholarship conditions are valid for 4 semesters (including holidays).

Changes in conditions may occur based on agreements between the supervisor and the student.

Direct path to a doctorate

Master's degree students who wish to continue their studies towards a doctorate may switch to a direct doctorate track. Transitioning to a doctoral program in this way means that research done during the master's degree can count towards your PhD thesis.

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