Environmental Science University of Copenhagen

Overview

The Environmental Science MSc programme gives you knowledge and competences which society is increasingly demanding.

The specialisation Chemistry, Toxicology and Health (ChemTox) is composed of the subject areas atmospheric, terrestrial and aquatic environmental chemistry, ecotoxicology, human toxicology, epidemiology, and risk assessment. The subject areas provide you with the interdisciplinary knowledge required to link the presence of pollutants in the environment with their possible hazardous and environmentally harmful effects.

Soil and Water is centred around physical, chemical and biological processes and their interactions in the environment. You'll learn strategies and methods for solving environmental problems and ensure good quality of soils and freshwater systems.

Employment

Your expertise can lead you to many career opportunities, and you are generally highly sought-after in the labour market. For instance in an international perspective where new and ambitious EU legislation in the chemicals area is creating many jobs within the EU administration and in companies required to comply with the new legislation.

You can be employed in similar places with the two specialisations. With the ChemTox specialisation, however, your main focus will most likely be on challenges concerning chemical pollution identification, remediation, prevention, and legislation. The Soil and Water specialisation gives you a broader profile including more environmental issues where chemicals are not necessarily the main problem.

Recent graduates from the programme are working both in Denmark and abroad e.g.:

• In R&D departments in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry or in consulting firms, where they, for instance, develop products which are not harmful to the environment.
• Within ‘clean-tech’, with developing air filters, soil remediation, and preventing water contamination.
• In ministries and government agencies such as the Danish Environment Protection Agency or European Chemicals Agency with focus on assessing chemicals allowed in, for example, food and toys.
• Develop nature and freshwater ecosystems, for example, rivers and wetlands, diverse grassland and meadows, and restoration of habitats for endangered species.
• Handling natural hazards and disasters caused by chemical pollution e.g., oil spills and waste.
• Within legislation and regulation in, for example, ministries or in municipalities and regions in Denmark or in international authorities and expert organisations e.g., EU, UNFCCC, or FAO