International Students
Some 4,000 foreign students from more than 140 different countries are currently enrolled at the University of Bonn. The International Office provides a detailed range of information and support services for international students.
International degree programs and courses
The bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in Geography feature courses taught in both German and English. The international joint master’s degree program in Geography of "Environmental Risks and Human Security" is offered in conjunction with the United Nations University, Institute for Environment and Human Security (UNU-EHS) and is taught completely in English.
Additional services for international students:
- Seminar entitled “Germany: an introduction to geography, history and politics” in the winter semester
- Interdisciplinary module entitled "Germany in a global context" featuring courses from various departments
Courses taught in English as part of Geography degree programs
Winter and summer semesters:
- B2: Advanced Physical Geography (6 ECTS)
- B8: Advanced Methods (various courses) (6 ECTS)
- B11: Physical Geography project seminar (various courses) (12 ECTS)
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B15: Consolidation module (various courses) (6 ECTS)
Winter semester:
- M2: Research Methods (various courses) (6 ECTS)
- M6: Consolidation seminar (various courses) (12 ECTS)
- JM1: Theories and Concepts of Risks (6 ECTS)
- JM2: New Approaches to Development Geography (6 ECTS)
- JM2: Earth System Science (6 ECTS)
- JM3: Research Methods (various courses) (6 ECTS)
- JM4: Academic Writing Skills (4 ECTS, non-graded)
- JM8: Risk Management in the Context of Climate Change (6 ECTS)
- JM9: Disaster Management and Humanitarian Response (6 ECTS)
Summer semester:
- M2: Research Methods (various courses) (6 ECTS)
- M7: Research Topics (various courses) (6 ECTS)
- JM5: Advanced Debates on Risk and Human Security (Human Dimension) (6 ECTS)
- JM5: Advanced Debates on Risk and Human Security (Environmental Dimension) (6 ECTS)
- JM6: Research project (different topics, 18 ECTS)
- JM7: Academic Presenstation and Communication Skills (2 ECTS, non-graded)
Complete course lists from previous semesters
Research Focus
Climatology and Landscape Ecology: Alpine ecosystem research; Boundary layer climate research; Process-based biogeographic research
Geomorphology: Mountain geomorphology and mass movements; Natural hazards and risks; Sediment dynamics and permafrost environments; Fluvial geomorphology and Palaeohydrology; Geoarcheology
Hydrology and Water Resource Management: Hydrological processes and hydrological modelling; Ecohydrology; River basin and flood risk management; Hydrological extremes; Human-water-systems
Remote Sensing and GIS: Quantitative remote sensing and spatial analyses of land surface processes and natural hazards; Earth observation using physical models of radiation transfer and machine learning/artificial intelligence techniques; Development of space/airborne technology; Spatially informed socio-economic decision making and policy formation support
Development Geography: Critical development studies in the context of environmental crisis; Fairness in adaptation to climate change; Epistemic (in)justice and the politics of knowledge on human-environment
Cultural Geography: Cultural Politics and Space; Geographies of (In)Security; Identity, Diversity and Belonging
Economic and Social Geography: energy research; infrastructures and digitization; financial geography; social inequality and urban marginality; geographies of home and housin
Support services in the Department of Geography
The Department of Geography set up its own buddy scheme in the 2017/18 academic year to help international students integrate more successfully and put them in touch with their German peers. Every incoming Erasmus student is automatically assigned a geography buddy.
Activities on the Geography Buddy program:
- Welcome lunch for international students, their buddies and the International Coordinator (during the Erasmus Welcome Week)
- Joint activities and excursions for international and German students (e.g. international barbecue evening, international Christmas party, trips to local sights)
- One-to-one help and support, e.g. in the event of administrative questions, preparing for written examinations or term papers
If you are interested, you can register by emailing erasmus@geographie.uni-bonn.de.
First-hand reports by incoming Erasmus students in the Department of Geography
Study opportunities for refugees
Starty study gives advice to refugee students who would like to study at the University of Bonn. A consultation hour for refugee students is offered by the AstA.
Academic Integration for Refugees
The Academic Integration Program for Refugees (“Förderung der Integration in das Studium”) seeks to prepare refugees to enroll in a degree program at the University of Bonn and provide them with an introduction to the academic environment of a German university.
Contact
Dr. Simone Giertz
0.034 (110)
Meckenheimer Allee 166
53115 Bonn
Office hours
Tuesday: 09:00 am - 10:30 am
at the office or via Zoom
Meeting-ID: 996 0524 4248
Identification Code: 037806