Decisions and guidelines

According to a decision taken by the Vice Chancellor 2006-09-26, Uppsala University will offer two-year Master's programmes in biology, computer science, physics, earth science, sustainable development, chemistry, mathematics, computational science and applied biotechnology, all from 2007-07-01.

Entry requirements

Analytical Chemistry

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university.

Also required is 90 credits in chemistry, including 10 credits in analytical chemistry.

Language requirements

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.

Biochemistry

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university.

Also required is 90 credits in chemistry and biology, of which at least 60 credits must be in chemistry including 10 credits in biochemistry.

Language requirements

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.

Bio and Nano Materials

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university.

Also required is 90 credits in chemistry, biology and physics, of which at least 60 credits must be in chemistry.

Language requirements

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.

Physical Chemistry

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university.

Also required is 90 credits in chemistry and physics, of which at least 60 credits must be in chemistry.

Language requirements

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.

Chemical Biology

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university.

Also required is 90 credits in chemistry and biology, of which at least 60 credits must be in chemistry.

Language requirements

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.

Chemistry for Renewable Energy

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university.

Also required is 90 credits in chemistry.

Language requirements

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.

Organic Chemistry

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university.

Also required is:

• 90 credits in chemistry, including 15 credits in organic chemistry;
• basic knowledge and skills in laboratory safety*.

*The basic knowledge and skills in laboratory safety will be tested via remote interview after the last day of application. Shortly after the last day of application, information will be sent out to the applicants concerned.

Language requirements

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.

Theoretical and Computational Chemistry

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university.

Also required is 90 credits in chemistry and physics, of which at least 60 credits must be in chemistry.

Language requirements

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.

Aims

After completion of the programme, the student can receive the degree of Master of Science (120 credits) within the main field of chemistry. The programme is structured such that the student, after one year of studies, can receive the degree of Master of Science (60 credits) in the same main field.

A Master's programme in chemistry is based on knowledge previously attained from basic level courses and involves a deepening of the student's understanding in the chosen subject area as well as a development of the student's skills and general knowledge. The courses at advanced level are related to research areas which are strongly represented at Uppsala University, especially in chemistry. The aim of the courses within the programme is to improve future employability by providing both practical and theoretical knowledge.

Education in chemistry at an advanced level shall provide a foundation for future qualified professional activities including specialized and advanced tasks within the industrial or the governmental sector, for self-employment or as a research graduate student. After completing the programme, the student should have acquired significantly deeper knowledge in chemistry compared to what has been learnt at basic level. Furthermore, the student should be able to fulfil research, development and/or managing duties within different areas relevant for the education in a responsible capacity.

Learning outcomes

According to the Higher Education Act, the following applies for second-cycle studies:

Second-cycle studies shall be based fundamentally on the knowledge acquired by students during first-cycle courses and study programmes, or its equivalent.

Second-cycle studies shall involve the acquisition of specialist knowledge, aptitudes and accomplishments in relation to first-cycle courses and study programmes, and in addition to the requirements for first-cycle courses and study programmes shall:

• further develop the ability of students to integrate and make autonomous use of their knowledge,
• develop the students' ability to deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, and
• develop the students' potential for professional activities that demand considerable autonomy, or for research and development work. Ordinance (2006:173).

Objectives for a Degree of Master (120 credits) according to the Higher Education Ordinance, System of Qualifications.

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) students must

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in their main field of study, including both broad knowledge in the field and substantially deeper knowledge of certain parts of the field, together with deeper insight into current research and development work; and
• demonstrate deeper methodological knowledge in their main field of study.

Skills and abilities

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) students must

• demonstrate an ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and to analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations, even when limited information is available;
• demonstrate an ability to critically, independently and creatively identify and formulate issues and to plan and, using appropriate methods, carry out advanced tasks within specified time limits, so as to contribute to the development of knowledge and to evaluate this work;
• demonstrate an ability to clearly present and discuss their conclusions and the knowledge and arguments behind them, in dialogue with different groups, orally and in writing, in national and international contexts; and - demonstrate the skill required to participate in research and development work or to work independently in other advanced contexts.

Within the framework of the goals stipulated in the Higher Education Ordinance, the student shall, within the main field of chemistry

• be able to independently pose and analyse questions of chemical relevance and, through experiments, computer calculations, and information retrieval, collect sufficient information to suggest an answer, even if full information is lacking.
• possess advanced skills in order to, either independently or in cooperation with others, plan and conduct experimental work and computer calculations on chemical systems and to critically analyse the results
• based on scientific knowledge be able to, both independently and in cooperation with others, initiate, plan, be responsible for, and conduct investigations and studies of complicated problems with chemical relevance, and additionally be able to apply knowledge within related areas such as mathematics, physics, and biology
• be well informed about current laws and regulations related to chemical work and have a good insight into the implications of chemistry for society
• be able to independently follow the scientific development and to evaluate new discoveries by studying literature and using databases within chemistry

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) students must

• demonstrate an ability to make assessments in their main field of study, taking into account relevant scientific, social and ethical aspects, and demonstrate an awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work;
• demonstrate insight into the potential and limitations of science, its role in society and people’s responsibility for how it is used; and
• demonstrate an ability to identify their need of further knowledge and to take responsibility for developing their knowledge.

For a Master's degree in chemistry the student should be able to

• independently and in cooperation with others, in writing and orally, be able to present results and conclusions in a relevant way for the subject area, and on an adequate level, being able to discuss chemical issues and the role of chemistry in society with different groups

Layout of the programme

The Master's programme in chemistry has several specialized study tracks and each is characterized by a recommended set of courses. Common to all specialisations is the first course, Current trends in chemistry, 5 cr. This is followed by two courses which may be included in several specialisations. At the end of the first semester, there is a 5 cr course which is specially designed for each study track. The courses after the first semester are chosen depending on specialisation, and during semester two and three, there is also a possibility to choose courses from other areas in the faculty of science and technology. The programme ends with a degree project. To be eligible for a degree project at the Master's level, specific requirements within each specialization must be fulfilled. For a Master's degree, there are two alternatives for the degree project, 30 credits or 45 credits.

The programme has the following specialisations:

• Analytical chemistry
• Bio- and nanomaterials
• Biochemistry
• Chemical biology
• Chemistry for renewable energy
• Organic chemistry
• Physical chemistry
• Theoretical and computational chemistry
• Computational Chemistry

Instruction

Education in the Master's programme builds upon upon the prior knowledge and experience of the students. Students are expected to participate actively in their education and take responsibility for personal learning outcomes as well as contributing to the learning of others. Academic staff in the programme have the primary responsibility for establishing foundations for active individual and collective learning. Continuos educational development builds on a respectful dialogue between students and staff, through which everyone is empowered to contribute to educational evolution and mutual learning.

To acquire both new knowledge and new skills at an advanced level, the majority of courses contain not only lectures and tutorials, but also seminars and projects, where the training of communication skills is an integral part. In most courses, the independent laboratory training is also a very important part. The Master's programme in chemistry is an international Master's programme and all teaching is in English.

Degree

Upon request, a student who has received a pass grade in a course is to receive a course certificate from the higher education institution. Upon request, a student who meets the requirements for a qualification is to receive a diploma from the higher education institution.

A Degree of Master is a so called general degree, which means that the student achieve the degree in its main subject according to the criteria below, regardless of the courses being part of the program or not, therefore there is a possibility also to include single subject courses in the degree.

Regulations according to Higher Education Ordinance

A Degree of Master (120 credits) is obtained after the student has completed course requirements of 120 higher education credits with a certain area of specialisation determined by each higher education institution itself, including at least 60 higher education credits with in-depth studies in the main field of study. In addition, the student must hold a Degree of Bachelor, a Degree of Bachelor of Arts in…, a professional degree worth at least 180 higher education credits or an equivalent foreign qualification.

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 30 higher education credits in their main field of study, within the framework of the course requirements. The independent project may comprise less than 30 higher education credits, but not less than 15 higher education credits, if the student has already completed an independent project at the second level worth at least 15 higher education credits in their main field of study, or an equivalent project in a foreign educational programme.

A Degree of Master (60 credits) is obtained after the student has completed course requirements of 60 higher education credits with a certain area of specialisation determined by each higher education institution itself, including at least 30 higher education credits with in-depth studies in the main field of study. In addition, the student must hold a Degree of Bachelor, a Degree of Bachelor of Arts in…, a professional degree worth at least 180 higher education credits or an equivalent foreign qualification.

For a Degree of Master (60 credits) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 15 higher education credits in their main field of study, within the framework of the course requirements.

Local regulations

A Degree of Master (60 credits) may, except for courses on advanced level, contain one or several courses on basic level comprising not more than 15 higher education credits. A degree of Master (120 credits) may, except for courses on advanced level, contain one or several courses on basic level comprising not more than 30 higher education credits. The course or the courses are meant to provide such additional competence as is needed for in-depth studies in the main field of study and cannot be included in the student’s basic degree.

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) students must have completed an independent project (degree project) worth at least 30 higher education credits.

Other directives

In order to be admitted to a later part of the programme the student must:

• fulfil the general and specific entry requirements for the programme.
• have 15 credits of courses relevant to the programme, at Master's (advanced) level, in addition to the Bachelor's degree.
• have sufficient prior knowledge to be able to follow the programme at the level at which the student is admitted, which means that the student is able to study at least 15 credits from the programme outline (for the semester to which the student is admitted). The other 15 credits are specified in the individual study plan.

All points above must be satisfied, and the courses completed (modules do not count), at the latest by the deadline for supporting documentation of qualifications (see below). Students can only be admitted to a later part of a programme or a specialisation within a programme if there are available places in the programme in the semester in question.

An individual study plan for the first semester should be established by the programme study counsellor.

For studies starting the autumn semester the application period is 15 March - 15 April. Supporting documentation of qualification for the application may be submitted no later than 1 June (for autumn semester). For studies starting the spring semester the application period is 15 September - 15 October. Supporting documentation of qualification for the application may be submitted not later than 1 December (for spring semester). If the specified dates for the application deadline or completion date fall on a public holiday, the deadline is postponed to the nearest weekday. After the last application day, it is possible to submit a late application until the 1 June (for autumn semester) and 1 December (for spring semester). Late applications will be handled in the order they are received.

If the number of applicants is larger than the number of available places according to the dimensioning applicable, the selection criterion of average grade on prerequisite courses from a higher education institution (courses relevant to the programme) is used.