Aquatic Science and Technology

With an MSc in Aquatic Science and Technology, you can contribute to sustainable harvest and production of fish and shell-fish, assessment and management of human impact and environmental change as well as cutting-edge research on aquatic ecosystems, traits of their inhabitants, and their impact on global climate.

Two-thirds of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, and the seas, lakes, and streams have a crucial role to play in regulating our planet’s biogeography and climate—and in maintaining biodiversity. Moreover, a large part of the global population is dependent on fisheries and aquaculture as a source of food or income, and ‘blue growth’ features high on the EU’s political agenda. 

We are facing major global challenges in relation to the environment and food supply. It is becoming increasingly important to utilize marine and freshwater ecosystems more sustainably, and to develop the necessary technology for sustainable production of fish and shellfish. It is also necessary to assess and reduce the environmental impact from other human activities, for instance maritime transport and off-shore energy production. Maintaining a healthy aquatic environment is a pre-requisite for all life on our planet, and society will need professionals who are able to combine research and technology, to safeguard the aquatic ecosystems and resources.

Study programme focus

The MSc programme in Aquatic Science and Technology focuses on aquaculture, fisheries, oceanography, and the management of aquatic resources. The study programme addresses the challenges associated with sustainable fisheries and aquaculture as well as maintenance of healthy ecosystems under changing environment. 

Our approach is to combine interdisciplinary knowledge on the functioning of aquatic ecosystems and living resources with quantitative mathematical and statistical skills and technological problem-solving tools. This will give you the competences to help solving the global challenges of aquatic environment and food production. 

The MSc programme in Aquatic Science and Technology focuses on: 

• biological, chemical, and physical processes affecting life in aquatic ecosystems at all levels—from plankton to fish stocks;
• assessment of human impact on aquatic ecosystems;
• sustainable exploitation and management of fish stocks and other aquatic resources;
• technological solutions for sustainable fish and shellfish farming;
• marine biological modelling; 
• modern methods for monitoring of aquatic environment and resources.

The teaching is interdisciplinary and provides possibilities for laboratory and field work.

Specializations

The MSc programme in Aquatic Science and Technology allows you to specialize in one of three study lines:

• Aquaculture
• Fisheries
• Oceanography

Career

The MSc programme in Aquatic Science and Technology will provide you with interdisciplinary competencies for working with living aquatic resources, sustainable production of fish and shell-fish and environmental challenges in both marine and freshwater environments. These qualifications are in high demand among companies and organizations involved in research, development, production, consultancy, and management of aquatic resources and the environment.

The MSc in Aquatic Science and Technology is a 2-year graduate program, consisting in total of 120 ECT credit points. The 120 ECTs are divided between mandatory courses giving general interdisciplinary competences common for all students, technological specialization and elective courses, that can be directed towards one of our three optional study lines, and a thesis project.

In Aquatic Science and Technology you can choose to follow a study line in:

• Aquaculture
• Fisheries 
• Oceanography

The MSc in Aquatic Science and Technology will give the graduates a common basis of interdisciplinary knowledge, skills and competences, as well as in-depth academic and technological competences in their selected field. Our ambition is to educate engineers who will be able to make a substantial contribution for solving the global challenges related to aquatic environments, and the structure of the education is designed to fill this ambition.

Only applicants holding either a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, a Bachelor in Engineering or a Bachelor of Natural Science degree can be admitted to a Master of Science in Engineering programme. From September 2017 the bachelor degree must be less than 10 years old.

The individual MSc Eng programme states in detail which bachelor programmes qualify and whether applicants have to complete supplementary educational activities.

Requirements for supplementary educational activities can equate to up to 30 ECTS credits and are specified in the form of a list of courses under the individual MSc Eng programmes.

The specific requirements must be met before graduating from the bachelor programme or in connection with conditional admission to a particular MSc Eng programme. The courses must be passed prior to the commencement of studies within one year from the conditional admission.

Supplementary educational activities in connection with conditional admission to an MSc Eng programme do not form part of the MSc Eng programme, and partial tuition fees are charged. If the supplementary courses have not been passed within the deadlines specified, the conditional admission to the programme is withdrawn.

The Master of Science in Engineering programmes are offered in English. Therefore applicants must demonstrate proficiency in English (B-level, IELTS, TOEFL- or Pearson test).

Academic requirements for this programme

The following bachelor programmes entitles students to the MSc Eng programme in Aquatic Science and Technology:

DTU bachelor and engineering programmes:

• Biotechnology
• Chemistry and Technology
• Civil Engineering
• Earth and Space Physics and Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• General Engineering
• Human Life Science Engineering
• Quantitative Biology and Disease Modelling

DTU bachelor of engineering programmes:

• Arctic Technology
• Chemistry and Biotechnology
• Civil engineering

Other Danish bachelor degrees:

• University of Copenhagen: Bsc in Biology, Biology-Biotechnology, Geography and Geoinformatics, Natural Resources, Geology-Geoscience, Geophysics, Meteorology
• University of Aarhus: Bsc in Biology, Geoscience; B Eng in Biotechnology
• University of Aalborg: Bsc in Biology, Biotechnology, Environmental Technology, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Sustainable Biotechnology; B Eng in Chemistry and Biotechnology
• University of Southern Denmark: Bsc in Biology, Environment and Resource Management; B Eng in Chemistry and Biotechnology
• University of Roskilde: Bsc in Natural Science
• University of the Faroe Islands: Bsc in Biology

Candidates with other bachelor degrees (both Danish and foreign) are welcome to apply provided their BSc study contains the necessary prerequisite knowledge for MSc study. The evaluation of applications emphasizes courses in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics and environmental engineering / sciences.It is recommended that the students use some of their electives to obtain knowledge related to some aspect of aquatic ecology, production or management, e.g., aquaculture, fisheries, aquatic ecosystem management or oceanography.