Program Overview

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- Degree Options
- Career Prospects
- Program Structure and Requirements
- Program Courses
- Academic Calendar

"The auspicious environment at the Cyprus Institute, its qualified faculty staff, and rich program with state-of-the-art research laboratories, allowed me to gain diverse theoretical and practical skills, as a master’s student in the Environmental Sciences program. The experience enabled me to continue my doctoral studies in the Energy, Environment and Atmospheric Sciences program offered by The Cyprus Institute."

Elie Bimenyimana
Alumnus

Our environment is being challenged in numerous ways due to pollution, global warming, overpopulation, natural resource and ozone depletion. The Environmental Sciences program involves two specialization tracks, each dealing with important aspects of the field and aiming to shed light on and address the aforementioned challenges. Students who enrol in the program will select one of the following two tracks.

The Atmospheric Sciences Track addresses the basic physical processes involved in maintaining the global circulation of the atmosphere and the surface climate; weather and climate models to understand the governing physical principles and their use for climate and weather prediction purposes; the principles of atmospheric chemistry and biology; the factors controlling air quality and the techniques used for air pollution control; the major air pollution sources and methods for measurement, data collection and analysis of atmospheric samples.

The Meteorology Track addresses subjects in Meteorology and Climatology with the aim to equip students with the weather and climate knowledge and skills necessary in weather forecasting, agrometeorology, hydrometeorology, biometeorology, aviation meteorology, renewable energy resources, marine meteorology, climate change and its impacts assessment etc. Moreover, students complete a Basic Instruction Package as required by the World Meteorological Organization, including Physical Meteorology, Dynamic Meteorology, Synoptic and Mesoscale Meteorology and Climatology.

EEWRC PHD 2019 11 21 145756

Degree Options

The program offers two degree options: an MSc and an MSc/MPhil. The MSc caters to students interested in pursuing a more professional focus, while the MSc/MPhil is intended for students that want to pursue a research career thus offering a more enhanced research component.

The program also offers two tracks (Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology) and students who enrol in the program must select one of the two tracks. See section above for more information.

The program is accredited by The Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education. The language of instruction and communication of The Cyprus Institute is English.

MSc in Environmental Sciences

The MSc is a 90 ECTS, 12-month program. During the first two terms, students take courses. Students are also required to complete a reserach project which is assessed through a report and viva at the end of the program.

MSc/MPhil in Environmental Sciences

The MSc/MPhil is a 120 ECTS, 18-month program. During the first two terms, students take courses. Students are also required to complete an extensive research project which is assessed through a Master's thesis and a viva at the end of the program.

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Career Prospects

Atmospheric Sciences Track graduates will be equipped to pursue careers in:

Environmental Consultant Agencies

Environmental Monitoring divisions of public and private institutions

Research Institutions and Universities

Meteorology Track graduates may pursue a professional career in:

National Meteorological Services*

Meteorological consulting, software or instrumentation companies

Media

Private Forecasting companies

Research Institutions and Universities

*The WMO (World Meteorological Organization) has recently upgraded the qualification requirements for professionals working in the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services of its member countries. Professional staff are encouraged to undergo an officially recognized level course of Meteorology that will include a Basic Instruction Package as is determined by the WMO. The Meteorology Track syllabus covers all topics required for professionals employed in National Meteorological and Hydrological Departments of Meteorology as prescribed by the WMO.

Qualified students may continue on to a PhD, which offers generous financial support options.

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Program Structure and Requirements

MSc Degree	MSc / MPhil Degree
Term 1 /Fall Semester 1 Mandatory Course, 1 Track Mandatory Course, 1 Elective Course: 30 ECTS	Term 1 / Fall Semester 1 Mandatory Course, 1 Track Mandatory Course, 1 Elective Course: 30 ECTS
Term 2 / Spring Semester 1 Mandatory Course, 1 Track Mandatory Course, 1 Elective Course: 30 ECTS	Term 2 / Spring Semester 1 Mandatory Course, 1 Track Mandatory Course, 1 Elective Course: 30 ECTS
Term 3 / Summer Period Research Project including submission of Research Project and Viva*	Term 3 / Summer Period Thesis Research
	Term 4 / Fall Semester Thesis Research
	Term 5 / Spring Semester Thesis Research including submission of Master's Thesis and Viva*
*The Research Project or Thesis can start earlier following a discussion and the approval of the Supervisor.

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Program Courses

Mandatory Courses		ECTS
ES 401	Fundamentals of Atmospheric Physics and Meteorology	10
ES 402	Climatology	10
Track Mandatory Courses
ES 406	Atmospheric Chemistry and Biology (AST)	10
ES 407	Atmospheric Measurement Techniques (AST)	10
ES 408	Dynamic Meteorology (MT)	10
ES 409	Synoptic Meteorology (MT)	10
Elective Courses
ES 416	Atmospheric Modelling	10
ES 417	Hydrology and the Atmospheric- Water Cycle	10
ES 418	Aerosol Physics and Chemistry	10
ES 419	Climate Change: Concepts and Perspectives	10
AST: Atmospheric Sciences Track, MT: Meteorology Track Track option selection is defined by the selection of track mandatory courses at the beginning of the program. Students who continue on to a PhD at The Cyprus Institute may have certain course requirements waived. The Cyprus Institute Graduate School reserves the right to make any changes to the program upon approval of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth.