Masters Degrees in Chemistry, Finland

Goal of the pro­gramme

A Master’s degree in chemistry qualifies you for expert positions in a wide range of fields, such as industry, research or education. The chemicals industry is a major employer and one of the largest export industries in Finland. Your work could also involve applications of environmental or biological sciences, the manufacture of pharmaceutical products, or the development of technological materials or new energy solutions. In the private sector, your duties might include research and development, quality management, training or commerce. Customs and forensic chemists, and chemists working in environmental control, analyse samples as part of their duties. Chemical research often requires interdisciplinary and international cooperation. As a chemist, you can be a part of developing new inventions and serve as an expert in your field and as a connoisseur of natural phenomena!

After completing the Master’s Programme in Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, you will:

• Be profoundly familiar with experimental research methods in one or more fields of chemistry, such as analytical and synthetic chemistry, radiochemistry, molecular research, and spectroscopy.
• Have an in-depth knowledge of the theoretical basis of your field and be able to apply this knowledge to broader topics.
• Know how to search for and manage chemical research data and use them to plan and perform demanding duties in chemical laboratories.
• Be able to act as a chemical expert in project planning and management, both independently and as a member of a team.
• Be able to present your results accurately in accordance with the practices of the field, both orally and in writing, and prepare extensive papers and reports.

Further information about the studies on the Master's programme website.

Pro­gramme con­tents

In the Master’s programme, you will deepen the knowledge and skills acquired during your Bachelor’s degree studies. Depending on your choices, you will familiarise yourself with one or more branches of chemistry and learn modern research methodology. The studies include lecture courses, examinations and contact teaching, laboratory courses, presentation series and seminars. Compared to the Bachelor’s degree, these studies require more independent work. The Master’s degree culminates in an extensive Master’s thesis that includes practical research.

You can find further information about the studies on the Master's programme website.

Students are automatically granted admission to the Master’s programme through the Bachelor’s Programme in Chemistry at the University of Helsinki. You can also apply for the programme after completing an applicable Bachelor’s degree in a different programme or university.

Goal of the pro­gramme

Global socio-ecological problems call for multidisciplinary solutions that transcend the usual boundaries of science and decision-making. The Environmental Change and Global Sustainability (ECGS) Master’s programme trains you in wide-ranging interdisciplinary thinking skills and provides you with the ability to:

• Study environmental and sustainability issues in your respective fields of expertise and
• Solve problems of socio-ecological sustainability in cooperation with various social actors.

Further information about the studies on the Master's programme website.

Pro­gramme con­tents

ECGS is a truly multidisciplinary Master’s programme. It covers an introductory Core Module common to all students, followed by two distinct study tracks.

The introductory Core Module focuses on the methodologies of environmental and sustainability science as well as the interactions between science and society. The Core Module also offers a pool of optional methodological studies, providing you with the necessary research tools to tackle socio-ecological challenges.

If your orientation is in natural sciences, the Environmental Change study line can provide you with an understanding of the functioning of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and can give guidance toward their sustainable use.

If your interests are more in the social sciences and humanities, on the other hand, the Global Sustainability study line provides an understanding of the socio-cultural underpinnings of global sustainability challenges so that you can help to develop solutions that take social and environmental justice into consideration.

Se­lec­tion of the study track

You can apply for one of the two studytracks in the ECGS Master’s programme: the Environmental Change study line or the Global Sustainability study line. You can refine your expertise in your chosen study line by choosing from study modules related to your specialised field of science or from interdisciplinary phenomenon-based modules.

Environmental Change modules are offered in, for example, the following research fields: aquatic sciences, soil and earth sciences, environmental ecology, environmental biotechnology and agroecology. Global Sustainability modules include themes such as environmental and natural resource economics, environmental policy, development studies, public and social policy, consumer research, forest policy and economics, and development geography. ECGS also offers a variety of modules integrating both natural and social scientific perspectives including phenomenon-based modules on the Baltic Sea and the Arctic as well as a variety of interdisciplinary fields such as climate change, food and consumption systems, urban studies and socio-ecological systems studies.

As an international applicant, you will be assessed and accepted for the Master’s program based on the scientific relevance of your bachelor’s degree and your success in previous studies.