Society is increasingly affected by environmental issues such as climate change, pollution and reduced global biodiversity. As a student of Environmental Science, you will be given tools to tackle these issues by identifying, analysing, and solving complex environmental challenges on a regional, national, and global scale.
Environmental Science at Roskilde University is the only interdisciplinary programme of its kind in Denmark: We have a strong foundation in the natural sciences, but we also look to the social sciences in examining, how environmental issues are mediated through societal factors. As a student, you will gain an in-depth knowledge of biological systems from individual to ecosystem level, and you will learn to design and conduct experiments within environmental science.
In addition, you will learn to apply and present your knowledge in an interdisciplinary context. We train you to conduct survey and impact studies using various statistical techniques, simple dynamic models, GIS-tools, and other methods – and to analyse and present the data you obtain, to contribute to solving environmental challenges. You will learn to measure societal effects on the environment and use your knowledge to suggest new ways forward. In short, you will be equipped to work with environmental issues in a complex world.
You will join a faculty of dedicated researchers, many of whom are leading in their field in Denmark. We conduct research into areas like minimising the environmental impacts of micro plastic pollution, methods of making fishing and fish farming more sustainable, and assessing the ecological impact from existing chemical contamination to prevent future contamination. You will be able to shape your education from a wide variety of elective courses, giving you an academic profile to match your interests.
We have an open-door tradition and consider you scientist from day one, giving you the opportunity to work very closely with our research and teaching staff. You will be thoroughly introduced to both staff and fellow students, and you will join a lively study environment. We are passionate about our field, and so a trip to the kitchen for a cup of coffee might easily land you in a chat about the latest news or discovery in our field!
The programme is very hands-on, with much time spent in the laboratory and with field work. We like to get our hands dirty – often quite literally – working with real problem and with external partners, from both the public and private sector. As all student programmes at Roskilde University, we work extensively through problem-oriented projects, usually in groups.
Our graduates go on to a wide variety of jobs in the environmental sector – from jobs focusing on field surveys, data gathering and analyses, to jobs on a more administrative level working with the impact of environmental legislation. Examples of employments include:
You can find employment with public environmental authorities at local, regional, national, and international levels, as well as with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), working within this field. You will also be attractive to private companies offering advisory, analysis and consulting services in the environmental field, and to industries working with the use of natural resources. The programme qualifies you to enter a PhD-programme.
| 1. year | 2. year | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. semester | 2. semester | 3. semester | 4. semester |
| Course Introduction to Environmental Science 5 ECTS |
Course
Environmental Monitoring and Applications 5 ECTS |
Master Thesis
Thesis in Environmental Science 60 ECTS Continued on 4. semester or Internship Project-Oriented Internship 15 ECTS and Master Thesis Thesis in Environmental Science 45 ECTS Continued on 4. semester |
Master Thesis
Thesis in Environmental Science 60 ECTS Continued from 3. semester or Internship Project-Oriented Internship 15 ECTS and Master Thesis Thesis in Environmental Science 45 ECTS Continued from 3. semester |
| Course Environmental Management 5 ECTS |
Courses Biodiversity and Conservation 5 ECTS |
||
Course Environmental Chemistry and Element Cycling 10 ECTS |
Courses Ecotoxicology - Theory and Practice 10 ECTS |
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| Course Data Analysis and Modelling in Environmental Science 5 ECTS |
Courses Elective courses in total 10 ECTS |
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| Course Elective course 5 ECTS |
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Study regulations: Study regulation for previous version of Environmental Science (pdf)
Julie Zwicky
Consultant, Ecolabelling Denmark
You can choose to spend a semester travelling with your education. Either as an internship at one of our partner companies or at a company that you find yourself. You test your academic and procedural skills in a job, make valuable contacts, and find out whether it is a future career path for you. You can also choose to take a semester of exchange at a partner university abroad, where you can gain international outlook, experience and network.
You will be part of a strong academic environment where you will be in close contact with researchers, in dialogue about everything from academic issues, possible methods and theories, ways to create new insights and your wishes for the academic direction of your master’s degree study. You will become part of a social environment typically centred in one building on campus, where researchers and students work next door to each other. You will study within the university's project format, where identification of a problem, in-depth analyses, choice and implementation of a methodological approach, as well as setting up a strong theoretical framework are your responsibilities under academic guidance from a researcher. You will participate in a number of courses which expand your methodological and theoretical knowledge. During a semester, you will identify a significant problem within your subject field and develop the knowledge to produce scientific arguments for possible solution(s). You will gain concrete experience with the entire scientific process.
The university is situated on one single physical campus. There are multi-purpose sports courts, a football field, a disc golf course, nature trails along the lake, stream and the fields, a training centre, innovation workshops, a canteen, and a cinema. Our joint meeting place is called Student House RUC, where there is a student-run café and lounge. Both outdoors and indoors, we work to make the campus as sustainable as possible. Among other things, we have reduced energy consumption by 38 percent over the last 5 years and are converting our outdoor areas to wild nature.
Roskilde University welcomes both exchange and guest students and you will find suggestions for semester packages taught in English.
Contact us if you need advice on choosing a course of study, more information about the content of a degree, or about applying and admission to Roskilde University.
Contact the Study Guidance office
See if there are current events that might be something for you. For example, participate in Open House, see the campus, and meet teachers and students.
Read all about requirements and admission to Roskilde University's master's programmes.