About this programme
Master in Geotechnics and Geohazards is a Master's Degree programme at Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, taught in English. It runs for 2 years and carries 120 ECTS credits. The register gives Trondheim as the campus town. It lists the degree as Master. Norwegian University of Science and Technology is a state university in Trøndelag.
How it compares
Master in Geotechnics and Geohazards is one of 11 English-taught Science programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 5 institutions. 4 of them list an annual fee for students from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland, from NOK 260,000 to NOK 295,000. 11 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.
What you will study
Geotechnics is the study of how soil behaves under load. At NTNU you learn to measure the strength and deformation properties of clay, silt and sand through field and laboratory investigations, then use those numbers to design roads, foundations and slopes on land and at sea. Soil properties vary a lot from site to site, and the programme treats that variation as the core challenge of the work.
What you study
The Master's in Geotechnics and Geohazards gives you knowledge and practical experience in four areas named on the programme page:
- Field and lab investigations
- Numerical analysis via computer programs
- Risk and safety assessments
- Design of slopes, foundations and vertical structures
You will learn how to test soil properties and turn the results into designs for real projects. The teaching covers soil-structure interaction, support for offshore wind farms, detection of polluted soil, and ways to reduce the impact of geohazards such as landslides and earthquakes.
How the programme is organised
The degree runs over two academic years, four semesters, and carries a course load of 120 ECTS credits. It is taught in English and is a full-time programme based in Trondheim. You can take one semester abroad during your studies.
Who it suits
This suits someone with a civil engineering background who wants to work with ground conditions, foundations and natural hazards. The programme page notes a shortage of new geotechnical engineers in the industry, so graduates enter a field that is hiring. Trondheim itself is known for its student environment and has been named Norway's best student city.
Admission, language and next steps
To qualify you need a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering or the equivalent. You must have a good working knowledge of English, both oral and written, and a certificate of proficiency is required. Your bachelor's degree must include at least 30 ECTS credits in mathematics and statistics, with at least one course in statistics.
The application portal opens 1 November. Check the programme page for the application deadline, the number of places and the full admission requirements, since these sit with NTNU and are not fixed here.
On fees: students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland pay no tuition at NTNU. Non-European students are charged tuition according to category C, and the institution sets the amount. Details are on NTNU's tuition fees page.
Job opportunities after graduating
- Geotechnical engineer
- Foundation and slope design
- Offshore wind farm support engineering
- Soil investigation and laboratory work
- Geohazard and risk assessment
- Contaminated soil detection and remediation
- Infrastructure and road engineering
Before you apply
Master’s applications go straight to Norwegian University of Science and Technology, not through the national admission service (NUCAS). Study in Norway states that you need a bachelor’s degree comparable to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS), including courses equal to at least one and a half years of full-time study relevant to the programme. Deadlines are set by each institution for each programme, so confirm yours. Entry requirements and language tests are also set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, study permits and housing.
Facts on this page come from the Study in Norway register, the official English-programme list run by HK-dir, the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills. Fees are in NOK as the institution lists them. "Not listed" means the register has no figure, not that the programme is free. Always confirm requirements, fees and deadlines with the institution.
Quick answers
Is Master in Geotechnics and Geohazards taught in English?
Yes. The Study in Norway register, run by HK-dir, lists it as an English-taught programme at Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Only English-taught degree programmes are included here.
How long does it take?
The register records 2 years of study and 120 ECTS credits. Sixty ECTS credits are one academic year of full-time study.
Where is it taught?
The register lists Trondheim as the campus town for this programme at Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
How do I apply?
Master’s applications go straight to the institution, not through the national admission service (NUCAS). Study in Norway states that you need a bachelor’s degree comparable to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS), including courses equal to at least one and a half years of full-time study relevant to the programme, and some programmes require a minimum grade average. Norwegian University of Science and Technology publishes its requirements on the programme page.
When is the application deadline?
Each institution sets and publishes its own deadline for each programme, and the dates can differ between applicants from outside the EU/EEA, EU/EEA applicants and Nordic applicants. Confirm the date for your own situation on the programme page at Norwegian University of Science and Technology.
What does it cost?
Norwegian University of Science and Technology gives this wording for the tuition: Visit our webpage (www.ntnu.edu/studies/tuition-fee) to get detailed information. Degree students from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland normally pay tuition at Norwegian institutions, and the fees vary by institution and programme. For students from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland the record shows no tuition fee. Fees are in NOK as the institution lists them. Every student also pays a semester fee of about NOK 1,000 to the student welfare organisation linked to the institution.
Do I need a permit to study there?
Students from outside the EU, the EEA and Switzerland need a study permit from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI). UDI asks for proof of admission, housing and funds of NOK 15,488 a month or NOK 170,368 a year (2026/27), on top of any tuition fee. A study permit allows work of up to 20 hours a week during term and full time in the holidays. Students from the EU, the EEA and Switzerland register with the police within three months of arrival instead.
Is this programme officially listed?
It comes from the Study in Norway register at studyinnorway.no, the English-programme list run by HK-dir, the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills. The programme page at Norwegian University of Science and Technology is linked from this page so you can compare.
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