Soil and water - field methods 15 credits

About the course

This course deals with sampling methods and analytical techniques used within the fields of Earth Science and Physical Geography, with a focus on abiotic conditions both the terrestrial and aquatic systems. There will be a strong emphasis on study design and providing students with practical experience in collecting field data from various environments and media. An important aspect is how the natural variability of the landscape, along with the specific research question, affects where, when, and how we sample, as well as how we interpret the data. In addition to field sampling and field studies, the course includes significant laboratory components. The course will also address data quality assurance, statistical processing of both time series data and spatial data, various ways of visualizing data, and the importance of documentation and data traceability-especially for long-term studies (e.g., national monitoring programs).

The course contains five modules:

Module 1. Soil sampling, 3 ECTS
Deals with sampling and analysis of the chemical and physical properties of soil.

Module 2, Sediment sampling, 3 ECTS
Deals with sampling and analysis of the chemical and physical properties of lake sediments.

Module 3. Methods in groundwater hydrology, 3 ECTS
Delas with methods used to investigate, e.g., groundwater levels and groundwater flow.

Module 4. Sampling of water for chemical analyses, 3 ECTS
Deals with sampling and chemical analysis of different types of water samples.

Module 5. Methods in surface water hydrology, 3 ECTS
Deals with methods used in surface-water hydrology to determine, e.g., surface-water flow and discharge.

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Autumn 2025
- Soil and water - field methods
  
  Autumn 2025 / Umeå / English / On site
  
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  Starts
  1 September 2025
  
  Ends
  2 November 2025
  
  Number of credits
  15 credits
  
  Type of studies
  On site
  
  Study pace
  100%
  
  Teaching hours
  Daytime
  
  Study location
  Umeå
  
  Language
  English
  
  Application code
  UMU-50705
  
  Eligibility 30 ECTS credits in Earth Science/Physical Geography or Chemistry for Chemical principles in human and environment 1, 7,5 ECTS and Chemical principles in human and environment II, 7,5 ECTS, and Ecology and Earth Sciences, 15 ECTS, or equivalent knowledge.
  
  Selection
  Academic credits
  
  Application
  Application deadline was 15 April 2025. The application period is closed.
  
  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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