Overview
Through a blend of advanced coursework and research, students will develop the skills needed to analyze Earth system dynamics, investigate environmental change, and contribute to sustainable solutions. Possible focus areas in the program include:
- Environmental Science
- Quaternary Earth Systems
- Environmental Analytics
- Bioinformatics
- Environmental Space Science
- Climate Change
Application open and start dates
| Application opens | Start date |
| July 1, 2025 | Fall |
Routes and options
There are 2 options for the career track component:
Completion times
Finish this program in as little as 2.5 to 3.5 years of full-time study, depending on your academic and employment background. You can take up to 8 years to complete all requirements.
Tuition and fees
Understanding how higher education fees and tuition are calculated is important to ensure you stay within your budget and make informed decisions.
Financial aid and awards
We're dedicated to supporting your academic goals and committed to helping you overcome financial barriers by providing many funding and award options.
Explore financial aid and awards Fees
A non-refundable convenience charge will be charged when using Visa or Mastercard to pay student fees. American Express is no longer an accepted method of payment. For more information on the convenience charge, please visit the Financial Services website.
The following fees are effective for courses starting September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026. All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and are subject to change. Academic-related fees are exempt from the Federal Goods and Services Tax (G.S.T.). G.S.T. is added to all other goods and services, for example, workshops, some publications, self-help seminars, and Athabasca University promotional sales items.
program application and admission fees | Program application fee (non-refundable) required each time a person applies: | $197 |
| Program admission fee (payable upon acceptance into the program and non-refundable) | $260 |
| Non-program application fee (non-refundable) required only once and waived if previously an AU student: | $124 |
Course tuition fees (includes all required materials)
fees for student living in Canada and without | Students living in Canada: | $2,0261 |
| Students living outside Canada: | $2,2171 |
1Master of Science – Earth System Science (MSc ESS) Course Tuition fees now include a Course Administration and Technology fee of $170 and Course Materials fee of $37 per course, plus the Athabasca University Graduate Students Association (AUGSA) fees of $14 per credit.
Estimated program tuition cost (2025 - 2026):
The total tuition cost for a student living in Canada who takes all courses from Athabasca University, would be $20,260 ($2,026 x 10 three-credit course equivalents). AUGSA fees, the Course Administration and Technology Fee, and the Course Materials Fee are included in the above calculations. Application and admission fees are not included.
Other fees
other fees | Transfer Credit Evaluation fee: | $348 per course |
| Letter of Permission fee: | $100 |
| Program Extension fee: | |
- Students living in Canada
| $1,984 |
- Students living outside Canada
| $2,229 |
| Course Extension fee: | $334 |
| Western Deans' Agreement administration fee (non-AU visiting students) | $250 per course |
| Course Withdrawal Processing fee2: | $453 |
| AU Graduate Student Association Fee | $14/credit |
2 The course withdrawal processing fee is a mandatory administrative fee charged when a student withdraws from a course. For early withdrawal only, the student will be refunded the full course tuition fees less the course withdrawal processing fee. Refer to Course Withdrawal.
Fee information effective Sep. 1, 2025 to Aug. 31, 2026.
Focus areas
Focus areas will not be mandatory. However, depending on courses selected for the electives, students will have the freedom to specialize in a chosen field of study including the following six areas representing strengths in the faculty component. In each instance, the program will be designed such that students acquire a breadth of knowledge relating to Earth's systems and how they interact.
- Environmental Science
- Quaternary Earth Systems
- Environmental Analytics
- Bioinformatics
- Environmental Space Science
- Climate Change
The area of focus will be selected in collaboration with a supervisor but, overall, the facility allows students to customize their program to their needs, experiences and strengths.
Courses
To complete the program you will need to fulfill all the general requirements of the Master of Science - Earth System Science, plus those specific to your focus area.
Our program regulations plans can give you an idea of what courses you need to finish this program. If you’re feeling stuck, our academic advisors can help.
Program regulations
Focus area courses
Courses to explore
Below are some of the courses that our students take in this program. Please consult an advisor to confirm any course planning, as some of these courses may not apply to you.
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Career options
Graduates of the Master of Science - Earth System Science (MSc ESS) program can look forward to challenging careers in academe, industry, and government.
Careers you could pursue may include:
- biologist
- geoscientist
- climatologist
- researcher
- data scientist
- instructor
- biostatistician
- biotechnologist
- ecologist
- hydrologist