Teaching

At our institute, geography education takes place on three levels. At the first two levels, our students can study BSc Geography and MSc geography at undergraduate level, while students who like to become teacher can follow the undivided geography teacher program. The third level of education is the doctoral program (PhD), in which our students have the opportunity to continue their studies and deepen their research work within the framework of the Doctoral Schools of Earth Sciences or Environmental Sciences.

A detail description of the educational programs can be found via the following links:

MSc Geography

Since 2018, the department, in cooperation with partner departments provides the MSc Geography program aimed a international students that want to understand the spatial patterns of environmental, and social processes, to develop research-based solutions, to demonstrate and communicate research results, to plan and manage the sustainable development of natural and human environment and to influence policy-making. More information can be found here

Stipendium PhD program

Our department is also taking part in the stipendium PhD program, where student from selected countries can apply for a PhD position at the doctoral schools at our institute. More information can be found here.

Erasmus

The Department of Physical Geography and Geoinformatics provides different courses in the ERASMUS program. The official language is Hungarian, but there is no need to speak Hungarian, as we offer numerous courses in English (Geoinformatics, Geography, Hydrography, Physical Geography of the Carpathian Basin, Historical Geography of Landscape). These courses will be held just in the autumn semester! Besides, many other courses (not necessarily in the field of geography) are also in English at the University. 

The Department is well equipped with PCs, survey equipment, soil and sediment laboratories, so students can choose from a wide-range of research activities. We even provide an “ERASMUS room”, where students can get a PC or just a place to relax. 

The Department is at the city center, 5-minute-walk from the greatest attractions of Szeged. The University Information Centre is located right next to the department building. The newly constructed Centre hosts the University Library and provides excellent computer facilities for the students. The ERASMUS life is very vibrant at the University. Meetings, parties and other social events are organized on a day to day basis. 

If you are interested, please read the papers of our former incoming students, and do not hesitate to ask the International Office at your University, or write us an e-mail.  

Research and projects

The research at the department is divided into five fields of expertise: Applied soil sciences, Fluvial geomorphology, Geoinformatics and remote sensing, Climate and landscape change, Age determination. Each field of expertise has its own laboratories and specialized equipment. 

Examples of past and current projects are:

OTKA 134306 Micro- and macroplastic debris transport and deposition in the fluvial system of the Tisza River: a geographical perspective (2020-2024)

OTKA 135793 Consortional assoc.: Mass Accumulation Rates and their change in the Carpathian Basin, based on high resolution investigation of loess deposits representing the last two glacial cycles - producing input data for paleoclimate models (2020-2024)

OTKA 131379 The role of small habitat patches and secondary habitats in conserving diversity (2018-2021)

OTKA 124648 Time series analysis of land-cover dynamics using medium and high-resolution satellite images (2017-2021)

OTKA 116981 Wind erosion sensitivity examination of different soil types using in situ wind tunnel experiments, on site and off site effects (2015-2020)

OTKA 100761 Relationship between morphometric parameters, discharge and rate of channel migration: case study on the rivers of the Great Hungarian Plain (2012-2015)

OTKA 83561 Consortional assoc.: Holocen aeolian landscape development, active wind erosion and the protection against it, case studies on Hungarian blown sand areas (2011-2015)

OTKA 78349 Assessment of geographical effects of climate change with remote sensing methods (2009-2012)

OTKA 73093 Modelling of soil nutrient loss by wind and water erosion in chernozem areas (2008-2013)

OTKA 48903 Application of hyperspectal RS methods for analyzing spatial processes (2005-2009)

OTKA 46558 Quantitative analysis of land mosaics (2004-2008)

Sentinels for Floodplain Hydrology – Sentinel SAR interferometry for improved lowland hydrological hazard monitoring (2017-2019)

Application of radar remote sensing to monitor ice coverage of the Danube river in 2017

Operative inland excess water mapping based on active and passive remote sensing data (2016-2017) (Publication)

Földmegfigyelési Információs Rendszer (FIR) földmegfigyelési adatinfrastruktúra és szolgáltatások kialakítása (2017-2021)

Reducing the flood risk through floodplain restoration along the Danube River and tributaries. The project's main objective is to improve transnational water management and flood risk prevention while maximizing benefits for aquatic ecosystem 

Improvement of drought and excess water monitoring for supporting water management and mitigation of risks related to extreme weather conditions 

Inland excess water is a serious hazard and represents a contemporary problem in Hungary, particularly in Csongrád County and in Serbia, especially in its northern part, the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina. The project aims to solve four interrelated questions. First, we are going to monitor the conditions of groundwater seepage with the help of a monitoring well system. We will analyse the formation of the different types of inland excess water in the cross-border research areas. Some of the key points of this research are to determine the influence of the geomorphological environment and agricultural activity on the upwelling type, and the influence of soil permeability and orography on the run off type of inland excess water. ‘Know how’ of creating high precision inundation maps based on remote sensing data of different sources will be developed. At the same time, also the conduction capacity of drainage systems, and the possible problems and their consequences for experts and farmers will be evaluated. 

Hungary, as a member of the EU is engaged to fulfil the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive. Serbia, being a state heading towards the EU has also a great interest to meet the requirements of the document. To achieve the goals of the directive, catchment management plans need to be implemented, which provide a framework for major water related issues. However, the management of future extremities and hydro-climatic hazards, along with their more and more severe consequences, require an even more integrated approach. Conflicts related to water shortage must be treated in a complex way by resolving the opposing interests of different stakeholders (environmental protection, irrigation, industrial use). The project therefore aims to find integrated water management solutions for the increasing problem of water shortage. Catchments and water related problems are not related to administrative boundaries, thus any measures in this field require a strong cross-border co-operation.

The project is generated and planned to be implemented by the most important research centres of the region (SZTE, UNSPMF, UNFTN) in co-operation of the professionals of the Hungarian Water Management Directorate (ATI-VIZIG). The joint efforts of the partners herald the implementation of successful research activities and the initiation of valuable strategies to increase the adaptivity, sustainability and competitiveness of the CB region. The ultimate objectives of the project are to conduct a complex research to determine the most important water shortage related conflicts, to measure and monitor drought events, to model the short-term and long term changes of water resources at most affected areas, to develop plans and strategies to mitigate problems and finally to activate society and stakeholders for a common action in order to preserve one of the most important resources of our future: water.

The envisioned EnviArch project is a complex and multidisciplinary attempt to increase and generate cross-border co-operation in the field of R&D, cultural heritage, environmental sustainability and education, affecting also economically the construction industry and tourism. The main objectives of the project were to set up and improve 3 laboratories supporting long term sustainable archaeological and environmental research in the long run. The planned laboratories were: Radiocarbon/C14 dating laboratory, Luminescence TL/OSL dating laboratory and Geophysical laboratory.

The infrastructural investment, however, was made along with the implementation of parallel research initiatives to serve the target area, the entire cross-border region and even the national and international levels. Beside the main objective of developing high, world standard and widely used laboratories, the experts were also conduct two main research activities in the field of archaeology and environmental sciences.

River Maros/Mureş is our common heritage and resource, a strong link between Hungary and Romania. We live on the land built up by the river, we face its floods and environmental problems related to its mismanagement. Recent human interventions have resulted some unfavourable processes, which need to be quantified in order to achieve a sustainable river management in the lower Maros/Mures valley. Besides, those people who live along the river should have an opportunity to discuss and formulate their ideas and perceptions on the future of this marvellous river.The scientific aim of the project is to assess environmental processes in the lower Maros/Mures valley in relation with natural river development and human river management, and to determine risks of accelrated change. To sketch the scenarios of the future, the past and present evolution of the river has to be understood as well. For this the most up-to-date geoinformatical, geophysical and hydrogeographical techniques will be applied. The project will also provide a base and a best practice for the authorities to monitor the river later.

TÁMOP 4.2.2.D-15/1/KONV-2015-0010 Preparation of targeted complex fundamental research in the fields of remote sensing and green energy, networking and preparation to participate in transnational programmes and initiative

TÁMOP-4.1.1.C-12/1/KONV-2012-0012 Green Energy cooperation in Higher Education (ZENFE)