University of Basel

Department of
Environmental Sciences

PhD Program Environmental Sciences

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PhD students can tailor coursework to their needs within the flexible curriculum of the PhD program. The 18 ECTS required for program completion should be selected as follows:

Table detailling the different modules of the course curriculum.

Course catalogue

Module A: Core skills (compulsory)ECTSFormatSemester
1) Research Integrity 2.01,20onlinecontinuous
2) Starter Kit for a Successful PhD11on-sitespring
3) Challenges in Environmental Sciences2on-sitespring
4) Data Analysis Clinic31on-site & onlinefall
5) Advanced Scientific Writing in Natural Sciences3 1on-sitefall
6) Talk or poster at DUW-Symposium or PhD retreat1on-site 

1We strongly recommend to take these two courses during the first year of the PhD. 

2also counts towards the compulsory activities modules of the PSC PhD Programs in Plant Sciences and Science and Policy.

3also counts towards the core elective activities module of the PSC PhD Program in Plant Sciences.

 

Module B: Research skills (elective)ECTSFormatSemester
Cross-disciplinary method skills4   
1) First Steps with Python1on-sitespring
2) From Two to Many: Multivariate Statistics1on-sitespring
3) Data Visualization with R1on-sitespring
4) From Significance Testing to Estimation: Concepts and Practice of Modern Statistics1on-sitespring
5) Introduction to Machine Learning with Python for Biology and Environmental Sciences1on-sitefall
6) Spatial data: A GIS introduction1on-sitefall
7) Google Earth Engine1on-sitespring
Discipline-specific courses4,5   
1) Recent and Classic Research in Environmental Sciences2on-sitespring
2) Planetary Surface Exploration4on-sitespring
3) Advanced-level Evolutionary Biology2on-sitefall
4) Speciation - the Making of Biodiversity1on-sitefall
5) Evolutionary Genetics3on-sitefall
6) Guarda Evolutionary Biology (Summer School)3on-sitespring
7) Agroecological Farming: The Example of Organic Agriculture3on-sitespring
8) Introduction to Plant Image Analysis31on-sitefall
9) Applied Crop Modelling for Climate Risk Assessment31on-sitefall
10) Decision Making for Applied Ecology and Conservation (Winter School)2on-sitefall
Talk or poster contribution at a scientific event, e.g. conference, symposium or similar1-2  
Research seminars5varies  

4Can also be from other organisations, and in the form of a summer/winter school

5For a list of discipline-specific courses and research seminars offered by the research groups at the Department of Environmental Sciences, check the official Unibas course catalogue for the desired degree program (PhD subject): Botany | Environmental Sciences | Geography | Geosciences | Prehistory and Archaeological Science | Zoology (fall semester 2026)

 

Module C: Other activities (elective)ECTSFormatSemester
Transferable skills courses6   
1) Project Management - A Toolbox for Scientists1on-sitespring
2) Filmmaking for Scientists31on-sitespring (biennial)
3) Scientific Writing with AI1on-sitefall
(Co-)organization of a conference, workshop or similar scientific event≤ 3  
Teaching activities in the research field of the dissertation≤ 3  

6Offered by GRACE or other organisations

The PhD Program Curriculum is constantly adapting to the needs of our PhD students and the research groups.

Do you have wishes or ideas for new courses that you would like to see offered by the PhD program? 

Please reach out via email or come to our office.

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