BSc Geosciences and Environment

The BSc in Geosciences and Environment offers a common first year followed by one of three study paths:

Environmental sciences: a multi- and interdisciplinary track covering physical, geological, chemical and biological processes of the environment and the human/social issues of sustainability.

Geography, environment and societies focuses on how societies organise themselves across spaces they create, drawing on geography and other social and human sciences.

Geology: built on maths, physics and chemistry, covering mineralogy, crystallography, petrology, structural geology, sedimentology, palaeontology, geophysics and geochemistry, from deep-Earth processes to their surface expression over Earth history.

Swiss Matura or recognised equivalent
Sufficient French proficiency for university-level study

Because of the programme’s breadth and specialisations, graduates enter varied roles across public, private and NGO sectors. Illustrative sectors include:

Sustainability: consultancy, environmental policy authorities, NGOs, corporate environmental management, journalism/communications, entrepreneurship.

Geography: urban planning services, planning offices, territorial development project coordination, sustainable urban development consulting, teaching, roles linked to mountain environments or development in the Global South.

Tourism studies: destination management, public administrations, R&D in large tourism groups, regional parks, international organisations/NGOs, academic careers, emerging sustainable-tourism roles.

Environmental sciences: research institutions, design/engineering offices, environmental administrations, NGOs, corporate environmental management, academic careers.

Biogeosciences: federal/cantonal administration, NGOs, design/engineering offices, nature/soil conservation and management, academic careers.

Earth sciences: natural hazards and risks, applied geology offices, environmental assessments, geo-energy research, mining/technical industries, cantonal/federal administration, NGOs, academic careers in Switzerland and abroad.

Build a broad foundation across geosciences at the interface of natural, social and human sciences, then specialise via one of three tracks.
Develop theoretical, empirical and methodological skills (e.g., GIS/geomatics, quantitative methods), plus strong fieldwork practice (excursions, field camps).
Understand and analyse environmental processes and sustainability challenges (climate change, pollution, resource use, urbanisation) using observation, analysis and modelling.

Students seeking an integrated view of environment–society relations or of solid Earth processes, keen on interdisciplinary study and real-world issues.
Learners comfortable with science fundamentals (maths/physics/chemistry) for Geology/Environmental sciences, or motivated by social & spatial analysis for Geography.
People who enjoy fieldwork, practicals and excursions, and working with tools like GIS, statistics and modelling.