To apply for admission to this master's degree programme, you must have completed, or expect to complete, a qualifying bachelor鈥檚 degree or a similar Danish or international degree programme which is assessed to be relevant. Apply for admission via the application portal.
Below, you can read more about admission requirements and which documents to upload in the application portal.
Here you'll find the different academic requirements depending on which qualifying degree you hold.
With a Bachelor's degree in
you are granted legal right of admission and guaranteed a place on the Master鈥檚 programme in Environmental Science if you apply in time to begin within 3 years of the completion of your Bachelor鈥檚 degree.
You meet all academic requirements if you hold one of the degrees listed below. Learn about when and how to apply. Note, however, that you still need to document that you meet the programme's language requirements.
If you have a Bachelor鈥檚 degree other than those listed above, you must submit additional documentation along with your application, so we can evaluate whether or not you meet the admission requirements. Learn about when and how to apply.
If you have a Bachelor鈥檚 degree, Professional Bachelor's degree or equivalent from Danish or international universities you are qualified for admission if your programme includes 3 of the following 5 areas:
We may also admit applicants who, after an individual academic assessment, are deemed to possess educational qualifications equivalent to those required above.
When we assess whether you meet the admission requirements for the Master's degree program, Danish legislation only allows us to assess your Bachelor's degree. Consequently, you cannot study supplementary courses between Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in order to meet the admission requirements.
If you have passed courses/projects before you complete the qualifying Bachelor's degree, these can be included in the assessment, even though they are not part of the Bachelor's degree program.
You can only get an answer to whether or not your degree meets the admission requirement by applying for admission to the MSc Programme. Only the admission committee can evaluate whether you are qualified or not and they only do this once they have received your application.
You are entitled to 1 pre-assessment for 1 study programme, where, based on an assessment of the documentation you have submitted, we will inform you whether you meet the admission requirements.
This is a service offered by SCIENCE, but it is not a service you have to make use of in order for you to apply for admission.
Unless you have a legal right of admission to the programme you are applying for, you are required to document proficiency in English.
There are two application deadlines for Danish applicants and applicants from within the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
The application portal opens on 16 January. You will receive a reply by 10 June.
The application portal opens on 15 August. You will receive a reply by 10 December.
There are two application deadlines for applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
The application portal opens on 15 November. You will receive a reply by 1 May.
The application portal opens on 1 July. You will receive a reply by 1 December.
Second application round is open from 1 - 15 May for applicants who automatically fulfil the admission requirements (UCPH students only) or has legal right of admission. Study start in September 2025
Choose the category below that fits you and read more about how to apply for admission. You will also find information about application deadlines and documentation on the websites.
Second application round is open from 1 - 15 May for applicants who automatically fulfil the admission requirements (UCPH students only) or has legal right of admission.
Bachelor with legal right of admission
Bachelor鈥檚 degree from Denmark
Bachelor鈥檚 degree from Denmark
If the number of qualified applicants to the programme exceeds the number of places available, applicants will be prioritised according to the following criteria:
If you have already completed a Master's degree, please check out the rules concerning a second degree.
| Admission statistics Environmental Science 2024 | |
|---|---|
| Admitted | 38 |
| Admission distribution (legal right/other) | 21% / 79% |
| Applicants | 139 |
| Age average | 27 |
| Legal gender distribution (cpr. - m/f) | 21% / 79% |
| Nationality (dk/international) | 32% / 68% |
| Available spots | No |
When you enroll in the MSc programme in Environmental Science you can choose between two different specialisations: Chemistry, Toxicology and Health or Soil and Water. You can read more about the specialisations below. Teaching at the programme is in the form of lectures, seminars, practical and theoretical exercises, and there will be a good deal of project work. You will be working both independently and in project groups.
You can use some of your elective courses to do a Project in Practice in collaboration with a company or an organisation. You can also choose to study abroad as part of your programme. Read more here:
The compulsory courses provide you with a broad foundation on which to base the elective courses. The elective study activities along with the knowledge obtained from the compulsory courses equip you for writing the final thesis.
You can, for example, work with thesis subjects such as:
This specialisation gives you insight in how environmentally harmful chemicals move and are degraded in the environment. You will learn what is toxic to humans and to the environment, and most importantly you will become an expert in what we can do to find solutions to the challenges of toxic chemicals.
The ChemTox-specialisation is composed of the following subject areas:
Together, the subject areas provide the knowledge required to link the presence of substances in the environment with the possible hazardous and environmentally harmful effects.
The ChemTox-specialisation can be structured in four different ways, depending on whether you write a thesis worth 30 or 45 ECTS and whether you start in September or February.
Below, you will find course tables showing the study structure if you start in September or February with a thesis worth 45 ECTS. See the full programme overview in the
Example 1: Thesis 45 ECTS, Study Start September
Compulsory courses: 45 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 15 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 45 ECTS
One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted elective course | Restricted elective course |
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elective course | Thesis | ||
| Elective course | |||
Example 2: Thesis 45 ECTS, Study Start February
Study start in February is only for students with legal right of admission to the programme. Read about legal right of admission here >>
Compulsory courses: 45 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 15 ECTS
Elective courses: 15 ECTS
Master's thesis: 45 ECTS
One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.
| Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 1 | Block 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted elective course | Restricted elective course |
| Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 1 | Block 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elective course | Thesis | ||
| Elective course | |||
Choose your restricted elective courses from the list below. Click on each course for a detailed description.
The Soil and Water specialisation prepares you to work with sustainable solutions for the protection of ecosystems, soil and water from environmental impacts caused by human activity.
You'll get a deep understanding of the geochemical and biological processes in soils that affect surface and groundwater resources. Through the restricted elective and elective courses you can focus on biogeochemistry processes, analytical methods to study soil and water, as well as ecology and landscape elements.
Upon graduation you'll have the competences to:
The specialisation can be structured in two ways depending on whether you start your studies in September or February:
Course table, Study Start in September
Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 45 ECTS
One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted elective course | Restricted elective course | ||
| Elective course | Restricted elective course | Restricted elective course | Elective course |
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elective course | Thesis | ||
| Elective course | |||
Course table, Study Start in February
Study start in February is only for students with legal right of admission to the programme. Read about legal right of admission here >>
Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 45 ECTS
One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.
| Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 1 | Block 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elective course | Elective course | ||
| Restricted elective course | Restricted elective course | Restricted elective course | Restricted elective course |
| Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 1 | Block 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elective course | Thesis | ||
| Elective course | |||
Choose your restricted elective courses from the list below. Click on each course for a detailed description.
Learn more about the programme in the:
Upon completion of the master鈥檚 programme, you will obtain the title Master of Science in Environmental Science.
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.
As a graduate in Environmental Science, you can work professionally with problem identification and characterisation and with solutions related to the use of natural resources.
With the ChemTox specialisation you will be able to analyse what happens in nature and people when exposed to potentially harmful chemicals. Also you will know how to avoid the potentially toxic effects of chemicals, as for example endocrine disrupting effects.
The Soil and Water-specialisation enables you to work scientifically with soils and freshwater systems and to propose solutions to a more sustainable use of land in agricultural, horticultural and forest systems.
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.:
High quality education in English, a flexible study structure, excellent facilities, an international study environment, attractive and green campus areas, and the opportunity to experience life in Copenhagen, the cool capital of Denmark. These are some of the qualities about studying at Faculty of Science (SCIENCE) at 视频露点 that you can expect.
Throughout the year, various social activities are arranged for all SCIENCE students and for international students specifically. These activities include:
Students live in residence halls outside campus or share a flat in the Copenhagen area. You will find that the relatively small size of Copenhagen makes it easy to get around, even by bike.
The Environmental and Environmental Science is primarily based at Frederiksberg Campus.
The Frederiksberg Campus hosts part of the Faculty of Science and the veterinary area of Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. It is located a few kilometres west of the city centre in beautiful green surroundings, and Frederiksberg is a popular residential area. The Gardens, which are part of the Frederiksberg Campus, are popular with both students and locals. In the summer months, you can drop by Caf茅 V忙ksthuset, which is located in an old greenhouse, for a cup of freshly brewed coffee and a delicious sandwich.
At campus, you can join student clubs and societies of a more or less academic nature. Regardless of whether you are interested in choral singing, sports, the theatre or a special academic subject, there is a club for you.
Here you will find some useful links and videos about student life and housing in Copenhagen, and the welcome programme for international students at Faculty of Science.
Meet Elizabeth and Alex who study at the 视频露点 in Denmark. See what it is like to live and study in Denmark.
The SCIENCE Welcome Programme is a great way for international students to be introduced to the Faculty of Science at the 视频露点.
Read interviews with students and graduates from the Master of Science programme (MSc) in Environmental Science:
Maiken Guldborg Rasmussen landed her dream job at the Danish Environmental Protection Agency just six months after completing her MSc in Environmental Science. In her daily work, she constantly uses the programme鈥檚 broad academic foundation, as well as her own focus on toxicology.
My main interests are human biology and human toxicology. Early along in my bachelor鈥檚 programme in biology, I knew that I would work in this area. So, I steered my optional coursework towards those interests.
When the time came to select a graduate programme, I was convinced that the Environmental Science programme was the best in Denmark for becoming a trained toxicologist 鈥� due to its coursework in toxicology, epidemiology and risk assessment.
Yes, each course had an element related to human health, one that we connected to environmental chemistry.
For example, in the Air Pollution and Health course. In it, we first learned about the chemistry of air pollution, and then, for example, connected that knowledge with how nanoparticles and aerosols enter respiratory passageways and inflict harm. So, there was always a human toxicology angle, even in the more hard-core environmental chemistry subject matter.
I work in a subsection of the , called the Consumer Group. Among other things, our job is to map: the presence of specific chemical substances in various consumer goods, how much we are exposed to them, and if there is a health or environmental risk associated with exposure.
For example, we have focused on biocides (fungal and insect killing substances) found in textiles. When clothing is imported, from Asia for example, some manufacturers add biocides to clothes so as to protect them against fungi during their shipment in containers.
Biocides must be approved before they are used on textiles in the EU, but it is uncertain if non-EU countries follow EU regulations in this area. This can be a problem because some biocides are carcinogenic or hazardous to the environment. So, we investigate if biocide residues are present in textiles and if they can be washed out 鈥� and if not, how much are we being exposed to? Thereafter, we conduct a risk assessment.
The areas that I am responsible for include perflouride compounds, phtalates and CMR substances (carcinogenic, mutagenic and reproductively toxic substances) in toys. Because we are a government ministry, our work priorities are generally guided by political decisions and agendas.
Another aspect of my work is to develop informational campaigns. Among these, we had a campaign to inform pregnant women about the dangers of certain chemicals to foetal health and development. Another one, 鈥漈hink before you ink鈥�, focused on tattoo inks. Because this is an unregulated area, consumers need to consider what substances are being used for their tattoos. For example, some can be allergens.
If I am involved in manufacturing safety, I also have to participate in EU-level groups. Here, we meet 4-5 times a year in Brussels to discuss what we can do to protect consumers as much as possible, together with our international colleagues. This may lead to the regulation of a chemical, for example.
Yeah, a lot. I had only been here for one month when the first trip came up. So they place confidence in the abilities that we arrive with, and that we are able to represent Danish positions.
Yes. In fact, I think I come from a really good educational background in relation to the area of toxicology that my group deals with. I can really sense that being from the Environmental Science programme is a strength.
I am also trained in epidemiology, which is really important for understanding how researchers conduct the types of studies we use in our work.
For example, heading into the lab and testing a chemical on a test animal isn鈥檛 always possible. And, you can鈥檛 just expose humans to a chemical and see whether or not they suffer harm. In these instances, one needs to know how to use cohort studies (studies that track a specific group of people for an extended period of time), for example. And that鈥檚 something we learned how to do in the course .
I wrote about reproductive toxicology. Specifically, it was about bisphenol A, and its effect on semen quality and brain development.
I wrote the thesis together with some researchers at DTU Food. The thesis was a research project: I first constructed a hypothesis and outlined goals for what we wanted out of the research, and then concluded with a definitive risk assessment based on the study.
I began by looking at how studies in this area had been conducted. Thereafter, we conducted a laboratory study, during which we exposed rats to bisphenol A before, during and after pregnancy, and examined their brains, behaviour and the semen quality of their offspring. The thesis work has been extremely helpful in my current job, because I understand the entire research process.
If one has a general interest for the effect that chemicals can have on humans or the environment, then the programme is pretty much a direct hit. And, of course, it is chemistry. So, that should also be of interest.
Some of the people I studied with were really interested in agriculture and foodstuffs, and the types of chemistry involved there 鈥� like pesticides and how they break down in soil. So, in a way, the programme is quite broad.
I think that the programme鈥檚 breadth is a clear advantage 鈥� one gains knowledge of humans, and about air, water and land pollution.
In my current job at the Danish Ministry of the Environment, it is an advantage to not have a pure biology or chemistry background, because we work with a blend of chemistry and biology. One typically doesn鈥檛 end up as a researcher in a narrow field of research, or addressing the effect of one chemical in a particular aquatic environment. Instead, one usually works with things as a whole, which makes it really advantageous to have an interdisciplinary background like the one offered by Environmental Science.
Yes, very! It鈥檚 a bit of a dream scenario. I didn鈥檛 expect to get the job that I had hoped for most, just a half-year beyond graduation. But now I am doing precisely what captivates me, doing what I find super interesting.
Australian Olivier Clarke is one of the international students doing a Master鈥檚 programme in Environmental Science at the 视频露点. "The Danes have a lot of knowledge of environmental pollution", says Olivier, who wants to "take this knowledge back to Australia and try to implement it there".
I chose this programme because I have a very strong interest in the environment and because I have a background in biology from my education in Australia. So I thought it was a very nice way to combine those two aspects to come out with some more specialized knowledge.
There is a lot of knowledge up here in Denmark and Scandinavia. I have taken the education so I can take some of this knowledge, and try and bring some of that back to Australia to improve the way things are done there.
I think it is important to study Environmental Science because we are releasing a lot of chemicals into the environment. It鈥檚 very important to understand where the chemicals go and the effects they have so that we can deal with these and develop better chemicals, so we don鈥檛 keep magnifying the problems we are making.
The Danes have a lot of knowledge of environmental pollution and the effect of chemicals in the environment. We learn about the problems with polluted soil and how to clean that soil up and be able to use it again.
I definitely consider this an international programme because we have a lot of different groups who study things all over the world. Like for example for my Master鈥檚 programme I went to eastern Greenland and got samples from animals that have been killed by Inuit hunters. Now I鈥檓 analysing those for hormones and pesticides and organic pollutions.
I think the excursions are a very important part of the education, because they really show how the things we learn in the classroom are actually applied and how it works in the real world.
Studying here has been a really great experience because I have been able to learn a lot about protecting the environment and also to put in into practise a little bit with the society and culture here.
The 视频露点 is a good place to study because there鈥檚 a lot of resources available to students. The teaching style here is very intimate and relaxed which I think is really nice.
As a student it is very easy to approach your teachers. It鈥檚 quite an informal relationship - it makes it easier to ask questions and get feedback. In general there is a mutual respect between students and teachers.
Copenhagen is a really nice city. I think it has a really good size. It鈥檚 relatively quiet, compact and I really like the cycling culture here. To me that is a really big plus and you can ride almost anywhere within 15-20 minutes. That is a big advantage.
I like rock climbing. There is quite a lot of possibilities for indoor climbing in Copenhagen and I鈥檓 making trips to Sweden when I want to climb some real rock. I have also been doing some sea kiting here in the summertime and have been hanging out in the parks, biking, and socializing and things. Everybody here is biking, so if you are coming to Copenhagen my advice is to get a bike as soon as you can! It鈥檚 a great city and I really recommend it.
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