Title of the programme: Geography MSc
Degree: MSc
Duration of the course: 4 semesters
Language of tuition: English

Description of the programme:

The aim of the Geography MSc programme is to train professional Geographers with expertise in the fields of landscape and environmental management as well as regional and urban planning. Graduates of the programme are able to understand the spatial aspects of environmental, and social processes, to develop research-based solutions, to demonstrate and communicate research results, to plan and manage the sustainable development of natural and human environment and to influence policy-making.

The skills and competencies gained during the programme meet the expectations of various types of employers from local and regional administration, to management and planning authorities (e.g. environmental protection, urban development). Through IT knowledge, and analytical skills graduates are able to participate in planning processes, to prepare studies and policy documents and to work independently.

The basic courses serve the acquisition of the necessary theoretical background, while the compulsory core courses are aimed to improve the skills and attitudes related to analytical, practical and independent thinking in the field of landscape and environment management and urban development.

The necessary professional expertise is achieved by the compulsory external professional training (5 credits). Good problem recognition and problem solving, moreover information processing skills are important general competencies that are aimed to improve on the practice courses. The several group project works on the courses demonstrate the importance of responsible team-work.

The basic courses include geographical research methods, modelling and simulation, project management, regional policy and spatial development, political and social geography, landscape planning and environmental risk assessment. The core fields of studies are spatial data collection and analysis, visualisation, environmental planning, urban planning, rural development, place marketing, vegetation analysis and hydrological planning.

From the 2nd semester students start to work on a research project leading to an MSC thesis by the end of the 4th semester. The MSc programme is finished by a final examination.

Exemption from English language exam certificate:

During the application to the programmes of the Faculty of Science and Informatics those applicants are not required to provide the English language exam certificates who are natives of one of the following countries and can officially demonstrate that their academic studies have been conducted in English.

Countries concerned:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Anguilla
• Australia (also Christmas Island, Norfolk Island, Keeling Islands, Cocos Islands)
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Belize
• Bermuda
• Botswana
• British Antarctic Territory (also British Antarctica, Antarctica British)
• British Indian Ocean Territory (also Chagos Archipelago, Indian Ocean Territory (British))
• British Virgin Islands
• Canada
• Cayman Islands
• Channel Islands
• Dominica
• Falkland Islands
• Ghana
• Gibraltar
• Grenada
• Guyana
• Irish Republic
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Lesotho
• Libya
• Malta
• Montserrat
• Namibia
• New Zealand (also Niue, Tokelau, Cokelau, Cook Islands)
• Nigeria
• Rwanda
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• South Africa
• St Kitts and St Nevis
• St Lucia
• St Vincent and the Grenadines
• Tanzania
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turks and Caicos Islands
• Uganda
• UK
• USA
• Zimbabwe

Application procedure:

Degree approved: Geography BSc, Geography BA

Degrees approved with special conditions: Agricultural Engineering, Cartography, Computer Science Engineering/Geoinformatics, Earth sciences/Geology, Ecology, Economic and Rural Development, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Management, Environmental Science, Forest Management, Geo-Engineering, Geography Information Science, Geomatics, Geophysics, Hydrological engineering, Landscape and Garden Architecture, Nature Conservation Management, Nature Disaster Management, Nature Science, Surveying Engineering, Regional Development Studies, Tourism / Hospitality Management, Urbanization / Urban Planning.

Fulfilment of the absent prerequisites in case of degrees approved with special conditions:

In case of degrees approved with special conditions the entry requirement for the Master program is to possessing 60 credits in the following fields:

• natural sciences (10 credits): mathematics, geo-mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology (ecology), geodesy
• economic and human studies (10 credits): economics, education studies, legal studies, sociology, management, geopolitics, European Union studies, religious studies
• professional studies (40 credits): climatology, geomorphology, hydrogeography, biogeography, pedogeography, historical geography, population and urban geography, economic geography, regional geography, geoinformatics

The Entry requirement is to possess minimum 40 credits in the listed fields based on the earlier studies. The missing credits have to be completed according to the Academic and Examination Regulations of Szeged University.

Language requirements:

To be admitted to Master's level programme, students must demonstrate proficiency in English. The requested level of language knowledge is at least B2-intermediate according to the Common European Framework Reference. The certificate must be international language exam (TELC B2, ECL B2, TOEFL iBT test score of at least 72, or RPDT score 72; Cambridge First Certificate at least "B"; IELTS score of at least 5.5, LanguageCert B2 level).

Application period for the fall semester of the academic year 2025-2026: 1 January -15 June 2025 in Dream Apply

Application fee: 35 EUR (non-refundable; free for Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship owners/applicants)

Entrance examination fee: 100 EUR (only applicable if entrance examination is required; free for Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship owners/applicants)
Tuition fee: 2700 EUR per semester (free for Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship owners/applicants)

List of required documents:

The application is in the SZTE Dream Apply

1. Completed application form in the SZTE Dream Apply

2. Curriculum Vitae in English

3. Letter of interest in English

4. The requested level of English proficiency is B2 (intermediate) according to the Common European Framework Reference (CEFR); the certificate must be an international language exam (TELC B2, ECL B2, TOEFL iBT test score of 72, or PBT score 550; Cambridge First Certificate "B"; IELTS score of 5.5 at least, LanguageCert B2 level)

5. School certificates:

(a) Copy of the BSc degree (for applicants for MSc programmes – notarized English translation)

(b) Official full transcripts of your higher education studies (notarized English translation)

6. Copy of the passport (relevant page(s) where passport number, name, photo and date of expiry are visible)

7. Recent medical certificate of satisfactory general health status (not older than 1 month). (General Medical Certificate)

8. An evidence of payment of 35 EUR non-refundable application fee

For further information please contact:
Dr. Ferenc Kovács

Tuition fee refund policy:

Those who are admitted to the Faculty must arrive within maximum 30 days after the official beginning of the study period and complete their enrolment to the university.

The beginning of the study period can be found in the Academic Calendar uploaded to the Faculty website. If they fail to arrive until this deadline, they cannot enrol and cannot start their studies in that particular academic year.

In this case, applicants are entitled for the 50% refund of their tuition fees after submitting a request for the refund until 15 October (in case of fall semester) or until 15 March (in case of spring semester). To this request, the applicants must attach official documentation that proves the reason why they cannot start their studies at the Faculty is visa denial. The proof may be an official letter concerning the rejection.

Other reasons of no-show are not accepted. No refund is possible if requests are submitted after the deadlines above or the appropriate official document is missing.

In case the tuition fee is not refunded, the applicants can start their studies in the semester when the programme is next launched. The entrance exam result is valid for one year after that the applicants have to take a new entrance exam for the admission.

By submitting the application to the Faculty, the above mentioned rules are automatically accepted by the applicant, and are no subject to further negotiations.