The programme is structured around a solid core comprised of the three main analytical techniques – Mass spectrometry, NMR spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Each of these techniques contains a number of key common themes (data collection, analysis and management). Supporting modules feature further analytical techniques and serve to embed themes of GLP, facility management and enterprise into the programme.
A group analytical project develops interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a team and will be the first opportunity for students to independently fully exercise some of the components of the course taught in the first semester. The integral research project provides an opportunity to explore any of the main themes directly or as part of a collaborative synthetic/analytical investigation.
The Master of Science (MSc) normally takes 12-18 months of full-time study to complete. The degree requires 180 points, which is made up of 90 points in taught papers and a 90-point thesis (research project). This balance of theses to taught papers may be changed subject to permission from the graduate co-ordinator in your chosen discipline.
Study a MSc at Waikato University and you will enjoy more lab and field work, more one-on-one time with top academics and access to world-class research equipment. Our great industry contacts will also mean exciting collaborations with local, national and international companies and organisations.
This is an ideal degree for students wanting to improve their career opportunities, and seeking a qualification that is potentially not so research-heavy.
This qualification is taught at a level significantly in advance of undergraduate study, providing you with the challenges and knowledge needed to prepare for a successful career.
The University of Waikato’s School of Science is home to a suite of well-equipped, world-class laboratories. You will have the opportunity to use complex research equipment and facilities such as NMR spectroscopy, DNA sequencing and the University of Waikato Herbarium (WAIK).
The computing facilities at the University of Waikato are among the best in New Zealand, ranging from phones and tablets for mobile application development to cluster computers for massively parallel processing. Students majoring in Computer Science, Mathematics or Statistics will have 24 hour access to computer labs equipped with all the latest computer software.
Students enrolling in an MSc via the Faculty of Science & Engineering can study Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Electronics, Materials and Processing, Physics, Psychology, and Science, Technology and Environmental Education.
Students taking Computer Science, Mathematics or Statistics will enrol through the Faculty of Computing & Mathematical Sciences.
An MSc is normally completed over 12-18 consecutive months, although it may be possible to study for the degree on a part-time basis. Each full-time student will normally enrol in the first year of the Masters programme in a minimum of 90 points’ worth of taught papers in addition to 30 points towards their thesis. These taught papers may be assessed exclusively on coursework, examination, or a mixture of both. In the second year each student will normally enrol in the remaining research and taught papers required to complete the degree. The degree may be awarded with First Class Honours, or Second Class Honours (first division), or Second Class Honours (second division), or without Honours.
You will spend more time putting theory into practice in the laboratories and out in the field. Smaller class sizes in taught papers mean more one-on-one time with renowned academics.
The University of Waikato also boasts excellent industry collaborations with organisations such as NIWA, AgResearch, Plant and Food Research and Landcare Research. These strong relationships generate numerous research projects for MSc students, who are able to work on real issues with a real client.
Depending on the major completed and your particular interests, graduates of this degree may find employment in a range of science-related industries.
Career opportunities
A core feature of the degree is the development of independent research skills, including the collection and analysis of data and critical review of the relevant literature.
The MSc(Research) normally takes two years of full-time study to complete, but you have the option to complete on a part-time basis. In the first year you will complete 120 points of taught papers with the second year spent doing a 120 point research thesis.
Study an MSc(Research) at Waikato University and you will enjoy more lab and field work, more one-on-one time with top academics and access to world-class research equipment. Our great industry contacts will also mean exciting collaborations with local, national and international companies and organisations.
The University of Waikato’s School of Science is home to a suite of well-equipped, world-class laboratories. You will have the opportunity to use complex research equipment and facilities such as NMR spectroscopy, DNA sequencing and the University of Waikato Herbarium.
The computing facilities at the University of Waikato are among the best in New Zealand, ranging from phones and tablets for mobile application development to cluster computers for massively parallel processing. Students majoring in Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics will have 24 hour access to computer labs equipped with all the latest computer software.
You will spend more time putting theory into practice in the laboratories and out in the field. Smaller class sizes in taught papers mean more one-on-one time with renowned academics.
The University of Waikato also boasts excellent industry collaborations with organisations such as NIWA, AgResearch, Plant and Food Research and Landcare Research. These strong relationships generate numerous research projects for MSc(Research) students, who are able to work on real issues with a real client.
Students enrolling in an (MSc(Research) via the Faculty of Science & Engineering can study Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Electronics, Environmental Sciences, Materials and Processing, Physics or Psychology.
Students taking Computer Science, Mathematics or Statistics will enrol through the Faculty of Computing & Mathematical Sciences.
The Master of Environmental Sciences (MEnvSci) is a 180 point interdisciplinary degree that draws on a wide range of papers across the Biological, Chemical, Earth and Engineering Sciences.
A key feature of this degree is the development of scientific and interdisciplinary (cross-faculty) research skills, including collection and analysis of data and critical review of the relevant literature.
The MEnvSci is normally a 12-18 month degree comprising a minimum of 90 points in taught papers at 500 level and a maximum 90 point thesis. The balance of thesis papers to taught papers may be altered subject to permission from the graduate co-ordinator in your discipline of choice.
Study an MEnvSci at Waikato University and you will enjoy more lab and field work, more one-on-one time with top academics and access to world-class research equipment. Our great industry contacts may also mean exciting collaborations with local, national and international companies and organisations.
While the bulk of your papers will be drawn from the Faculty of Science & Engineering, you may also include papers from the Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, Waikato Management School, the Faculty of Maori and Indigenous Studies and Te Piringa - Faculty of Law.
The University of Waikato's School of Science is home to a suite of well-equipped, world-class laboratories. You will have the opportunity to use complex research equipment and facilities such as NMR spectroscopy, DNA sequencing and the University of Waikato Herbarium.
The School of Engineering’s specialised laboratories includes the Large Scale Lab complex that features a suite of workshops and laboratories dedicated to engineering teaching and research. These include 3D printing, a mechanical workshop and computer labs with engineering design software.
Depending on the major completed and your particular interests, graduates of this degree may find employment in a range of science-related industries, including local and regional councils, Crown Research Institutes, energy companies, environmental agencies, government departments, environmental consulting companies, private research companies, universities, food and dairy industries and agriculture and fisheries industries.
The Master of Science (Technology) (MSc(Tech)) degree will provide you with advanced technical abilities relevant to your area of specialisation. It will give you a great depth and breadth of knowledge of science and technology, particularly relating to technological issues in the industrial sector of the New Zealand economy.
Study an MSc(Tech) at Waikato University and you will enjoy more lab and field work, more one-on-one time with top academics and access to world-class research equipment. Our great industry contacts will also mean exciting collaborations with local, national and international companies and organisations.
The University of Waikato’s School of Science is home to a suite of well-equipped, world-class laboratories. You will have the opportunity to use complex research equipment and facilities such as NMR spectroscopy, DNA sequencing and the University of Waikato Herbarium (WAIK).
Students enrolling in an MSc(Tech) can study Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Earth Sciences, Electronics, Materials and Processing or Physics.
You will spend more time putting theory into practice in the laboratories and out in the field. Smaller class sizes in taught papers mean more one-on-one time with renowned academics.
The University of Waikato also boasts excellent industry collaborations with organisations such as NIWA, AgResearch, Plant and Food Research and Landcare Research. These strong relationships generate numerous research projects for MSc(Tech) students, who are able to work on real issues with a real client.
Graduates of this degree are well-prepared for a job in industry due to the combination of science and management papers studied. You can find employment in a wide range of science-related industries.
Pursuing a research degree at the School of Chemistry could be one of the best experiences of your life.
In addition to gaining research skills, making friends, meeting eminent researchers and being part of the research community, a research degree will help you to develop invaluable transferable skills which you can apply to academic life or a variety of professions outside of academia.
The Chemistry/Biology Interface
This is a broad area, with particular strengths in the areas of protein structure and function, mechanistic enzymology, proteomics, peptide and protein synthesis, protein folding, recombinant and synthetic DNA methodology, biologically targeted synthesis and the application of high throughput and combinatorial approaches. We also focus on biophysical chemistry, the development and application of physicochemical techniques to biological systems. This includes mass spectrometry, advanced spectroscopy and microscopy, as applied to proteins, enzymes, DNA, membranes and biosensors.
Experimental & Theoretical Chemical Physics
This is the fundamental study of molecular properties and processes. Areas of expertise include probing molecular structure in the gas phase, clusters and nanoparticles, the development and application of physicochemical techniques such as mass spectoscropy to molecular systems and the EaStCHEM surface science group, who study complex molecules on surfaces, probing the structure property-relationships employed in heterogeneous catalysis. A major feature is in Silico Scotland, a world-class research computing facility.
Synthesis
This research area encompasses the synthesis and characterisation of organic and inorganic compounds, including those with application in homogeneous catalysis, nanotechnology, coordination chemistry, ligand design and supramolecular chemistry, asymmetric catalysis, heterocyclic chemistry and the development of synthetic methods and strategies leading to the synthesis of biologically important molecules (including drug discovery). The development of innovative synthetic and characterisation methodologies (particularly in structural chemistry) is a key feature, and we specialise in structural chemistry at extremely high pressures.
Materials Chemistry
The EaStCHEM Materials group is one of the largest in the UK. Areas of strength include the design, synthesis and characterisation of functional (for example magnetic, superconducting and electronic) materials; strongly correlated electronic materials, battery and fuel cell materials and devices, porous solids, fundamental and applied electrochemistry polymer microarray technologies and technique development for materials and nanomaterials analysis.
Students attend regular research talks, visiting speaker symposia, an annual residential meeting in the Scottish Highlands, and lecture courses on specialised techniques and safety. Students are encouraged to participate in transferable skills and computing courses, public awareness of science activities, undergraduate teaching and to represent the School at national and international conferences.
Our facilities are among the best in the world, offering an outstanding range of capabilities. You’ll be working in recently refurbished laboratories that meet the highest possible standards, packed with state-of-the-art equipment for both analysis and synthesis.
For NMR in the solution and solid state, we have 10 spectrometers at field strengths from 200-800 MHz; mass spectrometry utilises EI, ESI, APCI, MALDI and FAB instrumentation, including LC and GC interfaces. New combinatorial chemistry laboratories, equipped with a modern fermentation unit, are available. We have excellent facilities for the synthesis and characterisation of bio-molecules, including advanced mass spectrometry and NMR stopped-flow spectrometers, EPR, HPLC, FPLC, AA.
World-class facilities are available for small molecule and macromolecular X-ray diffraction, utilising both single crystal and powder methods. Application of diffraction methods at high pressures is a particular strength, and we enjoy strong links to central facilities for neutron, muon and synchrotron science in the UK and further afield. We are one of the world's leading centres for gas-phase electron diffraction.
Also available are instruments for magnetic and electronic characterisation of materials (SQUID), electron microscopy (SEM, TEM), force-probe microscopy, high-resolution FTRaman and FT-IR, XPS and thermal analysis. We have also recently installed a new 1,000- tonne pressure chamber, to be used for the synthesis of materials at high pressures and temperatures. Fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy instruments are available within the COSMIC Centre. Dedicated computational infrastructure is available, and we benefit from close links with the Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre.
