Analyses of environmental change - Focus: long-term environmental problems 15 credits

About the course

The aim of the course is to provide a basic understanding of how scientific methods can be applied to study long-term environmental problems. During the course, we will primarily focus on environmental changes linked to pollution problems and landscape development, how different types of data can be used to determine when and why these changes have occurred in the environment, as well as what consequences these changes have. We will explore important concepts such as background conditions, reference states and natural variability, and how these affect our assessment of the state of the environment. We will also discuss how environmental processes leave traces in our surrounding, and how these traces can be used to understand more about how our environment has changed and is still changing.

The course is divided into the following two modules, which run in parallel during the course. Parts of the course are integrated with the course "Analyses of environmental changes - Focus: Biogeochemistry"

Module 1. Analysis of Environmental Changes, theoretical part, 7.5 credits
During the theory module natural variability and environmental change from a long-time perspective (centuries to millennia), with the overarching aim to increase the student's ability to apply a scientific approach when dealing with a complex problem.

Module 2. Analysis of Environmental Changes, project module, 7.5 credits
The module include project work where the students connect the theoretical parts from module 1 with practical aspects of analysing environmental changes. The aim of the module is to train students to be able to use relevant information (e.g., literature and analytical data) in a scientific way. An important part is to understand how data collection and data management affect how data can be interpreted. In addition to the practical elements, this module can also include lectures, seminars, workshops and group discussions.

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Spring 2026
- Analyses of environmental change - Focus: long-term environmental problems
  
  Spring 2026 / Umeå / English / On site
  
  Application opens 15 September 2025
  
  Save education at universityadmissions.se
  
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  Starts
  19 January 2026
  
  Ends
  23 March 2026
  
  Number of credits
  15 credits
  
  Type of studies
  On site
  
  Study pace
  100%
  
  Teaching hours
  Daytime
  
  Study location
  Umeå
  
  Language
  English
  
  Application code
  UMU-59303
  
  Eligibility 120 ECTS-credits of which 60 ECTS-credits (including at least a 15 ECTS-credit independent project (e.g., the writing of a thesis)) in Physical Geography/Earth Science, Biology, Environmental health or Environmental Science; or its equivalence. English proficiency equivalent to English 6 from Swedish Upper secondary education.
  
  Selection
  Academic credits
  
  Application
  The online application opens 15 September 2025 at 09:00 CET. Application deadline is 15 October 2025.
  
  Application and tuition fees
  As a citizen of a country outside the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland, you are required to pay application and tuition fees for studies at Umeå University.
  
  Application fee: SEK 900
  
  Tuition fee, first instalment: SEK 38,075
  
  Total fee: SEK 38,075
  
  Details about tuition, fees and funding

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