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Utsikt över Göta älv, Göteborg
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Geography Master's: Programme Structure and Content

The first semester consists of four mandatory courses. During the next two semesters, you can choose elective courses from a wide selection or opt to do an internship or study abroad for one semester. During the last semester, you write your master thesis.

Year 1

Autumn semester 2025

Autumn's courses are mandatory and build the foundation of the programme.

  • Urban Sustainable Development (GE5000) 7.5 credits, quartile 1
  • Urban Climate and Urban Climate Planning (GE6000) 7.5 credits, quartile 2
  • History of Ideas and Theory in Geography (KGA181) 7.5 credits, quartile 3
  • Urban GIS (NGN230) 7.5 credits, quartile 4

Spring semester 2026

Spring's courses are electives; listed below are our recommended programme courses.

  • Climate change history (GVN360) 7.5 credits, quartile 1
  • Sustainable Mobility -Drivers, Challenges, Responses (KGA141) 7.5 credits, course syllabi in Swedish, quartile 2
  • Internship within Geography (GE020A)15 credits, quartile 3-4
  • Alternative for physical geographers (GVN470) Earth Systems, Field Course, quartile 3-4

Please contact study counselling if you are interested in doing an internship: svl@gvc.gu.se

Year 2

Autumn semester 2025

Autumn courses are electives listed below are our recommended programme courses. The exception is year 2 students (program start fall 2024) must take Urban GIS in octile 4.

  • Globalization and Uneven Development (KGA122) 7.5 credits
  • Climate Change in an Earth System Perspective (GVN460) 7.5 credits, quartile 2
  • Sustainable Landscapes - Interactions between environment and human activities (KGA161) 7.5 credits, quartile 2
  • Open Source - GIS (NGN220) 7.5 credits, quartile 3
  • Qualitative and Quantitative Geographical Method (KGA131) 7.5 credits, quartile 3
  • Urban GIS (NGN230) 7.5 credits, quartile 4
  • Alternative Master thesis in Geography (GEO245 or KGA245) 45 credits, quartiles 1-4

Please contact your head of program if you are interested in doing a 45-credit thesis spring 2025.

Spring semester 2026

A 45-credit thesis begins in the autumn of year 2, whereas the 30 credit thesis runs for only the spring term of year 2.

  • Master’s thesis in physical geography (GEO230) 30 credits
  • Master’s thesis in human geography (KGA230) 30 credits
  • Master thesis in Geography (GEO245) 45 credits
  • Master thesis in Geography (KGA245) 45 credits

One course at a time - how to avoid time-table clashes

The academic system in Sweden is more or less built out of taking one course at a time. It is important to avoid time-table clashes.  If you are new and unfamiliar to the Swedish university system, please read the information  Avoid time-table clashes (www.gu.se) so that you understand how the courses are scheduled .

Exchange opportunities

You have the possibility to study abroad in the spring of your first year or the fall of your second year. Contact our international coordinator for questions and advice: studyabroad@gvc.gu.se

Find out more about exchange possibilities (www.gu.se) 

Go back to the Master's Programme in Geography (www.gu.se)