Postgraduate Studies in Atmospheric Sciences and the Environment

General Description – Purpose – Diploma

The Master’s Program in Atmospheric Sciences and the Environment was established in 1994 and since then it has been operating continuously with modifications and reforms. According to decision 14221 of the Senate of the University of Ioannina (joint no. 1046/5/26-4-2018, Topic 2) 1884/Β/24-5-2018, the Program was re-established in 2018 and modified in 2023 (ΦΕΚ 1702/Β/2023). The Master’s Program provides specialized knowledge in Atmospheric Sciences and the Environment to graduates of related disciplines. It prepares and trains scientists at postgraduate level in accordance with international standards, with the aim of acquiring the ability of independent scientific research. The purpose of the MSc Program is to train the graduates so that they are aware of the latest developments in the subjects of Atmospheric Sciences and the Environment and possess the necessary knowledge to pursue a career in the subjects related to the wider fields of Meteorology, Climatology, Atmospheric Physics and Envoronmental Studies. Graduates of this program are well-qualified according to international standards and are able to successfully meet the demands of their future employment in related fields.

The MSc program awards a Postgraduate Diploma in Atmospheric Sciences and the Environment equivalent to the MSc. A total of 90 ECTS credits are required to obtain the degree. Of these, 60 are acquired from the courses of the first 2 semesters (with the load being 30 ECTS units per semester) with 40 acquired from the core courses and 20 from the elective courses. The remaining 30 are acquired from the Dissertation Thesis that is undertaken in the 3rd semester. The duration of the MSc degree is 3 semesters with a maximum permitted duration of 6 semesters. Students can suspend their studies for one or two semesters (continuous or non-continuous) after their application, approval by the Steering Committee of the Program and decision of the Physic Department’s General Assembly. The calculation of the MSc degree is done by considering ECTS as a weighting factor. In addition, a Diploma Supplement

in Greek and English is provided to graduates free of charge.

Academic profile and orientation of Program

The goal of the MSc Program is to provide specialized knowledge in Atmospheric Sciences and the Environment to graduates of related fields and to train and educate scientists at postgraduate level in accordance with international standards, with the aim of acquiring the ability to conduct independent scientific research.

Its establishment is consistent with the strategic plan of the University of Ioannina, as the environment and the energy sectors are two directions in which the University has invested and continues to invest, with fruitful results in terms of the production of new knowledge and the connection with the needs of society.

But more importantly, the scientific subject of the Program is consistent with the needs of today’s society, as the issues of the Environment are crucial and concern every one of us. From environmental pollution and the prediction of extreme weather events, to the extremely critical issue of climate change, there is a need to produce new knowledge in the field of Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences and to train new specialized scientists who can address these pressing issues.

Admission process and conditions

Graduates of the Schools of Sciences (Physics, Mathematics), Environmental Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Agroforestry and Military Schools of Greek and of recognized institutions abroad are admitted to the Program. Graduates of other Departments may be admitted after a decision of the Steering Committee of the Program. The selection of postgraduate students is made after a call posted on the website of the Department of Physics, the submission by the prospective students of the application and the supporting documents listed in the call and exams that that take place after the application deadline. The exams include written exams in General Physics, written exams in English on the terminology related to the Atmospheric Sciences and oral interview of the candidates by the members of the Steering Committee of the Program.

After the exams, the candidates are ranked based on an admission grade, which takes into account: the grade in the General Physics exam (40%), the grade of the BSc degree (25%), the number of courses related to the Program that the candidates have attended during their undergraduate studies (20%) and the candidates’ oral interview (15%). Graduates of Physics Departments with excellent grades (as specified in the call) as well as candidates with an MSc in Physics or in a related field are admitted following a decision of the Steering Committee of the Program on a priority basis without examinations in General Physics and on the condition of passing the English exam and attending the oral interview. The ranking list is forwarded to the Department’s General Assembly, which decides on the admission of students.

Call for applications for the academic year 2023-2024

Qualifying Exams

Graduate employment

A large number of our graduates are absorbed either in academia and research, or in the public/private sector in organizations, agencies or companies related to Atmospheric Sciences (aviation industry, environmental agencies, weather forecasting companies). Examples of organizations or companies in which our graduates are employed are the Fire Service, the National Meteorological Service, the Civil Aviation Service, weather forecasting companies, etc. The rest of the graduates are mainly absorbed in the field of education, since many of them are qualified teachers in physics or mathematics and secondarily in other jobs in the public and private sector. A sufficient number of our graduates also continue to carry their research in top-tier universities and research institutions. In addition, a large number of our graduates continue their studies towards a PhD degree in Greece or abroad in subjects related to atmospheric sciences. A pie chart showing the statistics of the employment of our graduates (2022 data) is provided in the figure.

Curiculum

The Study Program includes five (5) core and five (5) elective courses, which aim to build basic knowledge of Meteorology, Climatology, Atmospheric Physics, Environmental Physics and Atmospheric Dynamics, which is the core of the program. In these 2 semesters, the graduate students attend 5 core courses (3 in the 1st semester and 2 in the 2nd semester) and 5 elective courses (2 in the 1st semester and 3 in the 2nd semester), from a pool of nine elective courses aimed at providing specialized knowledge. Finally, the third semester of studies is dedicated to the MSc Dissertation Thesis. The sum of the credit units of each semester is 30 ECTS, which is the required total that each student must collect in order to obtain the Master’s Degree in Atmospheric Sciences and the Environment. The learning outcomes for each course were designed to meet the purpose of the Program and are detailed in the course outlines. Also, the outlines indicate the ways to evaluate the learning outcomes, which include written and oral exams, weekly exercises, tasks/activities and finally a public presentation for the thesis.

The workload per course is in accordance with the European rules (ECTS). The workload is 30 ECTS/semester, with a total of 60 ECTS for the courses (five courses/semester) and 30 ECTS for the Dissertation Thesis. ECTS are given in detail for each course below, while the load for each learning activity is given in the course outlines.

Lecturers

• Hatzianastasiou Nikolaos, Professor
• Nindos Alexandros, Professor
• Bartzokas Aristides, Retired Professor
• Kassomenos Pavlos, Retired Professor
• Patsourakos Spyridon, Associate Professor
• Lolis Christos, Associate Professor
• Bakas Nikolaos, Assistant Professor
• Markou Marina, EDIP
• Michalopoulos Nikolaos, Research Director (National Observatory of Athens)
• Kavadias Kosmas, Associate Professor (University of West Attica)
• Kolios Stavros, Assistant Professor (University of Athens)

Courses and Lecturers:

1^st Semester

2^nd Semester

3^rd Semester

Courses, assignments and exams are held in Greek and/or English. The Dissertation Thesis can be written in English in addition to Greek.

Course outlines

Mobility – Internships

The Program encourages the mobility of the students, as their placement outside the academic unit and especially abroad, enriches and completes their scientific profile. The mobility of the students is fulfilled through internships, which are done on a voluntary basis, but are strongly encouraged.

Details regarding the requirements, the application process, the evaluation process and criteria, as well as the selection of the students for the internships can be found in the study regulations (see the Study Regulations). In summary, the Internship takes place from the 3rd semester onwards. It is done either in Greece or abroad. In Greece it is usually for a few days and is carried out in public bodies such as the National Meteorological Service or in companies related to atmospheric sciences. Abroad it takes place within the framework of the Erasmus+ placement program. Following their evaluation by a specific algorithm (see the Study Regulations) that takes into account the number of courses in which they have succeeded, their grade in them, etc., the students are selected based on the number of spots allocated to the Department. Erasmus+ students receive a financial grant, the amount of which depends on the host country. The grant ranges (2022-2023 academic year amounts) from €520 (for countries with a low cost of living) to €620 (for countries with a high cost of living), with 80% of the amount paid to the students before their departure, while the remaining 20% is paid after their return to Greece and the approval of their internship by the Department. All information about the Erasmus+ Program, as well as the conditions for the selection process are posted on the official website of the Department (Erasmus+ and work placement), while it is described in the Regulations for Studies and Internships (see the Regulations).

Steering Comittee

• Hatzianastasiou Nikolaos, Professor
• Nindos Alexandros, Professor
• Patsourakos Spyridon, Associate Professor
• Lolis Christos, Associate Professor
• Bakas Nikolaos, Assistant Professor

Regulations

• Regulation of operation
• Regulation for the academic advisor
• Regulation for the management of student complaints
• Regulation of studies and internships
• Research Ethics regulation

Useful information for the MSc Program in Atmospheric Sciences

• Quality Policy of the MSc Program
• Quality Goals
• Research and teaching activities of the lecturers
• Student assesments of the courses
• Report on graduate employment
• Reseach conducted by our graduates

Contact

Address:

MSc in Atmospheric Physics and the Environment
Physics Department
University of Ioannina
45110 Ιoannina
Greece

Secretariat:

Mrs Evgenia Nakou, enakou@uoi.gr, tel. 2651007491

Map: