Programme Structure

The Master of Science programme in chemistry offers you four different specialisations: Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Synthesis, or Physical and Computational Chemistry. You can also study Chemistry with a minor subject. You can read about each specialisation at the bottom of the page.

The programme takes two years to complete. The first year consists of a series of compulsory and elective courses. In the second year, you will concentrate on your thesis.

Do a Project in Practice or Study Abroad

You can choose to use some of your elective courses on a Project in Practice in collaboration with a company or an organisation – or you can study abroad as part of your programme.

Master's Thesis

Your degree is capped off with the thesis. The thesis work is experimental in nature e.g., it must include experimental work or production of scientific work in terms of the generation of original data and/or original material.

You do your thesis work in a research group at the Department of Chemistry under the supervision of a researcher. You create a study plan and a description of your thesis work together with your supervisor.

You can also complete your thesis work in a private firm or public institution in Denmark or abroad. You will then be assigned an internal supervisor from the Department of Chemistry as well as an external supervisor from wherever you are performing your thesis work. Your graduate education is completed with an oral defence of your thesis conducted by an external examiner.

Specialisations

 

Graduates with a specialisation in analytical chemistry are in demand in research, at industrial production industries from energy over foods and pharmaceuticals to biotech and at environmental consultancies.

You learn to analyze chemical composition of samples, and to reveal how these were formed and how to improve their production. You'll get hands on experience in the lab using high end scientific instruments. Furthermore, you learn to select, develop, validate and assess chemical analyses.

During the specialisation, you will work with:

  • Sampling theory and sample preparation methods, chromatography, mass spectrometry, and spectroscopic methods.
  • Practical use of advanced analytical techniques for analysis of gas, liquid and solid samples.
  • Quantitative and qualitative chemical analyses.

Upon graduation you'll have the competencies to plan and perform sampling, as well as to sample preparation of complex matrices. You will also be able to analyze simple and complex mixtures of chemicals and elements using modern chromatography, mass spectrometry and spectroscopy methods, and to perform data analysis for qualitative (identification) and quantitative (concentration measurements) analysis.

Denmark has one of the highest ratios of advanced scientific instruments to population, so jobs are plentiful in research, industry, biotech and consultancy. Among other things, you can find work within production or research in fields as plant breeding, foods, biotechnology, catalysis, and environmental chemistry.

See the full description of the knowledge, competencies and skills you obtain with this specialization in the curriculum for Chemistry.

 

The specialisation can be structured in two different ways, depending on whether you start in September or February:

Programme Overview, Study Start in September

Compulsory courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in February

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

 

 

The specialisation in inorganic chemistry prepares you to take the lead in research and development. As a graduate you are able to develop new functional materials. For example, molecular electronics that allow computers to grow smaller using fewer elements harmful to nature, catalysts that allows industries to produce more and pollute less, or plastics that are lighter and stronger yet biodegradable.

A central aspect of developing new compounds and materials is to characterize the new molecules you have invented. This involves use of large scale research facilities such as the largest synchrotron facility in Europe, the European Spallation Source (ESS), which is currently being built just an hour’s drive away from Copenhagen. So studying for your M.Sc. in Copenhagen also gives you ample opportunity to develop your skills at planning and executing research programmes at large scale facilities.

Among other things, you will focus on inorganic and coordination chemistry, materials science and theoretical modelling of inorganic systems. Upon graduation you have the competencies to:

  • use modern experimental techniques in inorganic chemistry.
  • describe the most important experimental techniques applied in the characterization of inorganic compounds.
  • describe and rationalize the most important periodic variation in the chemical and physical properties of the elements and their compounds.
  • apply electronic structure models to inorganic systems.

See the full description of the knowledge, competencies and skills you obtain with this specialization in the curriculum for Chemistry.

 

The specialisation can be structured in two different ways, depending on whether you start in September or February:

Programme Overview, Study Start in September

Compulsory courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Year 1 Methods and Modelling in Inorganic Chemistry Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry
Elective course Elective course Elective course Elective course
Year 2 Thesis

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in February

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

Block 3
Block 4
Block 1
Block 2
Year 1 Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry Methods and Modelling in Inorganic Chemistry
Elective course Elective course Elective course Elective course
Year 2 Thesis

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

 

 

New medicines, smart materials, better fuels, brighter pigments, perfumes and more. With a specialisation in organic synthesis you will be trained to invent and develop new organic compounds. You acquire a deep insight into what can and cannot be produced in an organic chemistry laboratory. You also get hands on experience with advanced techniques and equipment for producing small molecules.

Among other things, you learn to:

  • elucidate the reaction mechanisms of desired and undesired organic reactions.
  • work independently with specialized equipment and advanced synthesis methods.
  • work with synthetic chemistry under inert atmosphere, anhydrous conditions and extreme conditions (temperature, pressure, etc.).
  • work with various types of chromatographic purification methods.
  • organize, describe, execute and optimize multistep syntheses on large and small scales.

When you graduate, you'll have the competencies to analyze reactions on the basis of physical organic chemistry. You are also able to analyze complex synthetic problems and plan a feasible synthesis. These are competencies that are sought after by the private sector, not least the pharmaceutical industry.

See the full description of the knowledge, competencies and skills you obtain with this specialization in the curriculum for Chemistry.

 

The specialisation can be structured in two different ways, depending on whether you start in September or February:

Programme Overview, Study Start in September

Compulsory courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Year 1 Elective course Elective course Elective course Elective course
Reaction and Synthesis in Medicinal Chemistry Organic Chemistry
Year 2 Thesis

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in February

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

Block 3
Block 4
Block 1
Block 2
Year 1 Elective course Elective course Elective course Elective course
Organic Chemistry Reaction and Synthesis in Medicinal Chemistry
Year 2 Thesis

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

 

 

The physical and computational chemistry specialisation focus on fundamental forces in chemistry as well as questions such as how atmospheric phenomena relates to climate change, or how we store solar energy.

You can involve yourself in anything from full scale investigations of atmospheric phenomena to analysis and spectroscopic experimentation in the laboratory and predictive theoretical and computational chemistry. You can investigate the forces acting between single atoms in a molecule, and draw inferences to the macroscopic interactions that governs entire planetary atmospheric systems.

You will learn to:

  • use methods and software within the field of computational chemistry e.g., high level programming and machine learning.
  • use experimental and theoretical advanced physical chemical methods.
  • use experimental techniques within gas, liquid, and solid phase spectroscopy.
  • use basic spectroscopic instruments and to describe different techniques and the theory behind them.

With a specialisation in physical and computational chemistry you have an expertise in spectroscopy and physical chemistry, which is in demand in high tech industries, environmental agencies, consulting companies and the biomedical industry. Your insight into high level programming and data mining also makes you sought after by the IT-sector as well as in finance and banking.

See the full description of the knowledge, competencies and skills you obtain with this specialization in the curriculum for Chemistry.

 

The specialisation can be structured in two different ways, depending on whether you start in September or February:

Programme Overview, Study Start in September

Compulsory courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Year 1 Elective course Elective course Elective course Elective course
Computational Chemistry Advanced Vibrational Spectroscopy Advanced Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Microscopy
Year 2 Thesis

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in February

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS

Block 3
Block 4
Block 1
Block 2
Year 1 Elective course Elective course Elective course Elective course
Advanced Vibrational Spectroscopy Advanced Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Microscopy Computational Chemistry
Year 2 Thesis

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

 

 

Please note: The MSc in Chemistry with a minor subject is only for applicants with a Danish Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry including the required courses from the minor subject. The minor subject consists of courses taught in Danish, where the first part is compulsory in the Bachelor’s degree, and the remaining is part of the MSc.

You can study chemistry with a minor subject if you want to acquire the competences to teach or disseminate both subjects. This enables you to teach in Danish upper secondary schools.

Furthermore, you will be qualified to work in e.g., chemical, phamaceutical, high-tech, or consulting companies, as well as within the public sector, universities, or sector research institutes. You will also have the prerequisites for further studies e.g., a PhD programme.

See the full description of the admission requirements, as well as the knowledge, competences, and skills you obtain in the curriculum for Chemistry with a Minor Subject.

The programme can be structured in different ways depending on whether your minor subject is within or outside the field of science, and whether you start in September or February. The tables below show the recommended academic progression in all cases:

Programme Overview, Study Start in September, Minor Subject Within the Field of Science

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
Minor subject: 45 ECTS
Master's thesis: 30 ECTS

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Year 1 Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject
Minor subject Minor subject Kemiske undervisningsforsøg Restricted elective course
Year 2 Restricted elective course Videregående fagdidaktik i naturvidenskabelige fag Thesis
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in September, Minor Subject Outside the Field of Science

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
Minor subject: 75 ECTS
Master's thesis: 30 ECTS

Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4
Year 1 Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject
Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject
Year 2 Restricted elective course Videregående fagdidaktik i naturvidenskabelige fag Minor subject Minor subject
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Kemiske undervisningsforsøg Restricted elective course
Year 3 Thesis

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in February, Minor Subject Within the Field of Science

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
Minor subject: 45 ECTS
Master's thesis: 30 ECTS

Block 3
Block 4
Block 1
Block 2
Year 1 Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject
Minor subject Minor subject Restricted elective course Videregående fagdidaktik i naturvidenskabelige fag
Year 2 Kemiske undervisningsforsøg Restricted elective course Thesis
Restricted elective course Restricted elective course

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.

Programme Overview, Study Start in February, Minor Subject Outside the Field of Science

Study start in February is only for students with a reserved access to the programme. Read about reserved access here >>

Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
Minor subject: 75 ECTS
Master's thesis: 30 ECTS

Block 3
Block 4
Block 1
Block 2
Year 1 Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject
Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject Minor subject
Year 2 Minor subject Minor subject Restricted elective course Videregående fagdidaktik i naturvidenskabelige fag
Kemiske undervisningsforsøg Restricted elective course Restricted elective course Restrivted elective course
Year 3 Thesis

One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS.


Restricted Elective Courses

Choose your restricted elective courses from the list below. Click on each course for a detailed description.