Tenable
at Ghent University & Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Programme
content
A country’s physical
land resources are fundamental for human life and welfare. Worldwide population
pressure and severe degradation, pollution and desertification problems are
threatening these natural resources leading to competition between agricultural
and industrial purposes, urban planning and nature conservation. To guarantee
proper use and management of what is a basic commodity for a nation,
well-trained specialists are given thorough knowledge of the properties and
characteristics of this natural resource and solid insight into factors and
measures that may alter their actual state and value.
The purpose of the main
subject in Soil Science is to train researchers, academics and government staff
in the inventory and detailed characterisation of land capacity, particularly
soils. Graduates understand the development and evolution of soils under
natural conditions or following human interference, using field, map,
laboratory and remote-sensing data. They have the knowledge to use and manage
soil and water in a sustainable way and optimize land use. The main subject in
Land Resources Engineering offers training in non-agricultural use and
application of soil, and includes geotechnical aspects (use of soil as building
material or for foundations, slope stability and stability of excavations), the
role of soil water and groundwater for water management and supply, and soil
management in relation to environment and land use (erosion, sediment
transport, coastal development and protection).
The first year provides
a general and comprehensive foundation in physical land resources and as such
is accessible to students with a good scientific background who have a limited
knowledge of physical land resources. The first year courses are mainly general
courses and (25%) main subject courses in the field of either Soil Science or
Land Resources Engineering. All 1st year courses are lectured at Ghent
University. In the second year the student continue the same main subject as in
the first year: students of the option Soil Science continue their studies at
Ghent University and those of the option Land Resources Engineering will be
lectured at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. The first semester of the 2Nd year
consists of 6 elective courses and the 2nd semester is fully reserved for the
master dissertation. (30 credits out of 60).
All courses have a
theoretical and a practical part. Some courses include fieldwork and may be
supplemented with excursions. The first year programme provides for informative
and interdisciplinary seminars that allow students to participate actively and
work independently. The thesis (second year) must be defended orally, in public
before a jury.
Admission
requirements
Each
application will be evaluated by a board of admission of the specific programme
and has to be approved by the Faculty Council and by the Rector’s office
i) Entry conditions
Applicants must have a Bachelor's degree of minimum 3 years with good overall
scores (at least a second class or equivalent, preferably higher) from a
university or recognized equivalent.
ii) Language knowledge
The applicant must be proficient in the language of the course or training
programme, i.e. English. Command of the English language is a very important
criterion for admission. With the exception of those who have a diploma
(Secondary Education, Academic Bachelor Degree, Master Degree) issued by an
institution officially recognized by the Flemish Government, applicants must be
able to prove their proficiency in English. There are 4 possibilities to supply
this proof:
1. TOEFL certificate (the
UGent TOEFL code is 2643) with:
• a minimum total score of
550 on the paper based test, or
• a minimum total score of
79 on an internet based test.
• The test validity
is max. 2 years.
2. IELTS with a minimum
overall band score of 6. The test validity is max. 2 years.
3. Proof of at least 1 year
of comprehensive English-based instruction at a university or recognized
equivalent.
Remark:
TOEFL/IELTS predictive tests are not acceptable.
iii) Specific academic admission criteria
Applicants are expected to have a basic science training in (1) mathematics or
statistics and (2) chemistry or biochemistry, and an overall academic education
background in a relevant discipline like (either) agriculture, biology,
forestry, environment, land and water management, physical geography, geology
or civil engineering. Relevant research or working experience of about 2 years
is recommended but not a prerequisite, unless the former field of study (degree
obtained) was not directly relevant for or pertaining to soil science or land
resources engineering.
Type
of diploma
Master
degree
Application
