The course provides the opportunity to work on the sustainability challenges of our time. You will learn to work towards finding solutions for societal problems related to natural resource exploitation and environmental change. The postgraduate programme consists of core, methods, specialisation and a dissertation.

The coursework aims to provide a comprehensive knowledge base reflecting current thinking in Earth Systems, a solid methodological foundation, and an opportunity for in-depth focus in a thematic area relevant to environment and resource management in which the candidate has specific interest.

During the application process, you will be asked to rank the elective thematic areas in order of preference, and are encouraged to contact the Course Coordinator, Dr Charles Galdies here, in order to discuss your selection of a specialisation area and potential research topic BEFORE applying online.

To be registered as regular students in the Course, applicants shall be in possession of:

(a) a first cycle degree in Science with Earth Systems as a main area of study obtained with Second Class Honours or better or

(b) a first cycle degree in Science obtained with Second Class Honours or better in an area that is deemed relevant by the Board.

Applicants with a first cycle degree in Science with Earth Systems as a main area of study obtained with Third Class Honours may be admitted if they show evidence of significant experience in work relevant to the area of study of the Course, obtained after their first cycle degree. The admission of applicants under this paragraph may be made conditional on the results of an interview.

Within one week of submitting the online application, the following documents, in completed and signed hard copy, must be submitted directly to the Institute of Earth Systems:

- Expression of Interest form indicating the preferences with respect to the elective thematic areas (form available here).
- Bench fees form signed by the proposed dissertation supervisor (form available here). Please consult the bench fees guidelines available here.

These documents should be handed in at the administrative office of the Institute of Earth Systems (IES), Room 312, on the 3rd floor of the Chemistry Building located on the University’s Msida campus.

The maximum number of students that can be admitted into the course is 15 students.

When the number of places is so limited and the number of eligible applicants exceeds the number of places available, applicants shall be selected according to the following criteria, the weighting of which shall be published at the time of the call for applications:

(a) degree type and class
(b) experience in the area of the proposed study and
(c) performance during the interview.

The selection criteria can be found here.

Interviews, when necessary, shall be conducted by an interviewing board appointed by the Board, and shall be composed of at least three members.

Applications for the Course shall be submitted by the deadline announced by the University of Malta. For the purpose of selection, applicants who fully satisfy the entry requirements by 31st August preceding the commencement of the Course shall be considered first.

The admission requirements are applicable for courses commencing in October 2021.

For more detailed information pertaining to admission and progression requirements please refer to the bye-laws for the course available here.