The Master Program for Marine and Polar Sciences POMOR is a research-oriented interdisciplinary two-year master program with English as teaching language. During the first and second semesters the courses are held at St. Petersburg State University and the Otto Schmidt Laboratory for Polar and Marine Research in St. Petersburg. The students spend their third semester at one of the German partner universities (Bremen, Hamburg, Kiel or Potsdam). Between the second and third semesters they participate in international expeditions to the Arctic for their practical training. German and Russian teachers hold the courses and supervise the master theses. After the final exams the students are awarded a Master of Science of Hamburg University and St. Petersburg State University.

Funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), POMOR was established in 2001. Since 2007 POMOR has been funded mainly by the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research, the DAAD, the universities of St. Petersburg, Hamburg, Bremen, Kiel and Potsdam, the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel and the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research. The master program was internationally accredited at Hamburg University in 2012.

1st term: Winter semester

Ocean basins, sediments and climate change
High seas and coastal waters oceanography
Polar and marine ecosystem: structure, functioning and vulnerability
Intensive English course and soft skills

2nd term: Summer semester

Natural resources
Processes in the coastal zone and environmental management
Periglacial environment
Soft skills
Field practice(link is external)

3d term: Winter semester
Students with the best score get a scholarship and spend this semester at the University of Hamburg or at one of the partner universities (Bremen, Kiel, Potsdam)

M.Sc. Integrated Climate System Sciences (University of Hamburg)
M.Sc. Marine Biology (University of Bremen)
M.Sc. Marine Geosciences (Christian Albrechts University of Kiel)
M.Sc. Geosciences/Geology (University of Potsdam)

4th term: Summer semester
During the last study semester students are concentrated on the M.Sc. thesis supervised by a Russian and a German advisor. After successfully passing the state examination at the Saint Petersburg State University and after the master thesis defence students are awarded the Master degree of the Saint Petersburg State University and Master of Science of the University of Hamburg.

Structural components

Thesis/Dissertation

Practical/Field work

Application procedure

To apply for the M.Sc. POMOR you need to submit an extended application (PORTFOLIO and documents) to the Admission Committee of the Saint Petersburg State University.
Contact via email: secretariat@pomor.org(link sends e-mail) | nkakhro@pomor.org(link sends e-mail) or by phone: +7 812 323 99 76 | +49 431 6002852.

You can submit the documents personally, by post and electronically (via your personal profile at www.spbu.ru(link is external)). You will need the following documents:

a copy of your passport
a personal application
passport photos
an original or a copy of your diploma

The PORTFOLIO should include:

a letter of motivation (max. 1 page)
proof of English proficiency (level: upper intermediate)
a copy of a bachelor or equivalent degree
a list of scientific activities:

publications, if any
participation in conferences, workshops, schools etc., if any
participation in running scientific projects, if any
international and national awards, if any
personal grants, if any

Prerequisites

To obtain a place in the Master program you will need to meet the general entry requirements of the Saint Petersburg State University(link is external). In brief:

A bachelor degree or an equivalent degree, preferably in natural sciences (for Russian citizens: min. 240 ECTS, for Non-Russian citizens: min. 180 ECTS*).
An extended application (so called PORTFOLIO), including proof of English proficiency.

*Diplomas of the top universities. Diplomas issued by other universities have to be certified by the Russian Ministry of Education and Science.

English language requirements
Applicants should be fluent in English (level: upper intermediate). An international certificate in English (FCE, CAE, CPE, IELTS, and TOEFL) would be a plus.

Entry examinations