Nanoscience

As a graduate student in Nanoscience, you will learn to exploit your knowledge within the fields of physics, chemistry and biology to understand nanoscopic systems in detail. Nanoscience is an interdisciplinary field, and this MSc programme gives you the competences to work with many different scientific methodologies and techniques in new and unconventional ways.

The programme is offered in English.

As a graduate student in Nanoscience, you can work with, among other things, the measuring techniques of physics, such as X-rays and electronics, or you can study the ability of proteins to catalyse chemical processes.

You can also choose to specialise within another topical field of study. The overall objective is for you to obtain knowledge and insight into the many areas and methodologies of nanotechnology so that you can work independently and professionally in the field.

Profile and Career

The MSc Programme in Nanoscience gives you the opportunity to specialise in various aspects of the core areas of nanotechnology.

All graduate students must follow a large course (15 ECTS credit points) in which you work with the basic concepts and techniques of nanotechnology at an advanced level. The course focuses on the special properties of nanosized systems and on developing the physical and chemical basis for these systems.

You have more influence on the other elements of the study programme. You can choose between a range of restricted elective courses within the field of nanoscience - the main objective here is to work in depth with a select few of the sub-disciplines of nanotechnology (physics, chemistry, biology).

Finally, it is important that you maintain your academic breadth by taking elective courses. For this purpose you have 30 ECTS credit points at your disposal, and they might very well be taken at other institutions, such as the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (under the University of Copenhagen) or at Lund University in Sweden.

Competence Description

Graduates in Nanoscience are able to:

• Formulate, structure and manage a research project involving the development and application of the subject's methodology
• Manage complex work and development situations in collaboration with other groups of experts
• Identify and summarise the available knowledge in a given field of
  nanoscience
• Evaluate the methodology use in nanoscience, it applications and its limitations
• Discuss the subject's methods, theory and results, both in general and on a scientific level
• Discuss the application of the subject's results in an industrial, social and ethical context in an academic manner
• Take independent responsibility for their own academic development and specialisation.

Skills

Graduates in Nanoscience are capable of:

• Processing and analysing data
• Setting up and analysing theoretical models
• Reading and understanding original academic literature
• Using the subject's main databases
• Explaining nanoscience projects, both orally and in writing.

Knowledge

Graduates in Nanoscience have:

• Acquired knowledge and learned appropriate methods within selected areas of active research by attending courses and working on projects
• Acquired in-depth knowledge of an area of specialisation at an international level by conducting independent research under supervision.

Career Opportunities

The MSc in Nanoscience is a commercially oriented programme. This means that the primary labour market for graduates is the growing number of Danish and international high-tech companies. The programme organises match-making events between students and companies. These can often lead to thesis projects, summer jobs and employment with a company upon graduation.

Programme Structure

The courses, like all teaching at the Faculty of Science, are organised in blocks. Each block equals nine weeks and counts as 15 ECTS credit points.

Programme structure:

The placement of electives and restricted electives depends on the courses chosen.

Master's thesis

"The Master's thesis project is an independent experiment-based and/or theoretical course of study of one or more problems relating to nanotechnology." This is how the Master's thesis project is defined in the formal curriculum. In practice, the work takes place in one of the research groups at Nano-Science Center where everyone works on different aspects of a relatively specific topic. There is a thesis supervisor who is responsible for ensuring the feasibility of the project and for assistance if needed.

On a day-to-day basis, the work takes place in close collaboration with other graduate students, sometimes with BSc students and with older, more experienced PhD students and postdocs. As a graduate student, you will be responsible for and gain experience in specific sub-projects dealing with and conducting an experimental measurement programme or a theoretical calculation. In Nanoscience, you are also able to do your thesis as part of an R&D team in the private sector. The working methods here are often the same as at the University, and in any case, your supervisor will ensure that the academic content is of a high standard of quality.

Study Abroad

It is also possible to study abroad during your degree. You can choose to study abroad one or two semesters or for a shorter period of time; e.g. take a summer school course.

(1) Applicants with a Bachelor's degree in nanoscience, biochemistry, physics, chemistry or science and IT with a specialisation in chemistry, physics or molecular biology and biotechnology from the University of Copenhagen may be admitted to the MSc Programme in Nanoscience.(2) Applicants with a Bachelor's degree in nanoscience from other universities in Denmark or the Nordic Region may be admitted to the MSC Programme in Nanoscience.(3) Applicants with a Bachelor's degree in another subject from the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen may be admitted if they have passed subject elements on the BSc in Nonoscience corresponding to 60 ECTS credits.(4) In addition, the Faculty may admit applicants who, after a thorough assessment, are deemed to possess educational qualifications equivalent to those required in subsections (1)–(3).Prioritisation criteriaApplicants with Bachelor degrees in nanoscience from the University of Copenhagen are guaranteed admission on the first MSc intake after graduation.Second priority will be accorded to applicants with other Bachelor degrees in nanoscience.After that, priority will be accorded to other applicants with a BSc in physics, chemistry or science and IT with a specialisation in either physics or molecular biology and biotechnology from the University of Copenhagen. These applicants will be prioritised on the basis of their total number of ECTS credits in nanoscience. Prioritisation will then be made on the basis of the applicants' total ECTS credits innanoscience.Language RequirementsTo gain admission to an MSc in the English language, non-Danish applicants must document qualifications on par with the Danish secondary school ‘English level B'. The Faculty of Science accepts the following 3 ways of documenting this:English is your native language. The Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen, accepts The University of Purdue view that citizens of the following countries are exempted from taking an English Language Proficiency exam: Anguilla, Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Canada (except Quebec), Dominica, Grand Cayman Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Irish Republic, Jamaica, Montserrat, New Zealand, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Trinidad & Tobago, Turks & Caicos Islands, United Kingdom: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, & Wales and United States of AmericaIf you are citizen of one of the above countries, you are not required to submit any proof of English proficiency. Your copy of your passport will suffice as sufficient proof.Prior studies completed in the English language/in an English speaking country. For example, if you have studied your Bachelor degree in England you are not required to complete an English language proficiency exam. We ask such students to provide a signed statement from the Educational institution (with the institution's stamp on it) stating that English is the main language of instruction. Furthermore, applicants from Nordic countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland and Iceland) do not need to provide proof of English language proficiency.Applicants with English as their second language (except Scandinavians) must pass an IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge Advanced English test before being admitted. The Faculty of Science, University of Copenhagen, accepts the following tests and scores:IELTS-test (British Council) with a minimum score of 6.5Computer-based TOEFL-test with a minimum score of 213 pointsPaper-based TOEFL-test with a minimum score of 560 pointsInternet-based TOEFL-test with a min score of 83 pointsLanguage tests older than 2 years are not accepted (from the application deadline) English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6.5 TOEFL paper-based test score : 560 TOEFL iBT® test: 83

The Faculty of Science will not be awarding any scholarships for the academic year 2014/2015.

Please note that many scholarships are offered by companies or organisations, it can be worthwhile to research your particular options from your home country.