(1) Name of degree programme
Master's degree in Chemistry.
(2) Degree
A completed Master's degree programme provides graduates with the title Master of Science in Chemistry (MSc in Chemistry), specifying optional subjects, if applicable.
(3) Academic line and main subject areas of the degree programme
The Master's degree programme in Chemistry is an individual research-based study programme that – based on a qualifying examination – consists of advanced studies within Chemistry.
In addition, the Master's degree programme provides students with academic skills in mathematics and statistics, as appropriate for the application of the disciplines in Chemistry.
The Master's degree programme also includes study components from other subject areas, profiling the programme according to the student's individual interests and wishes.
(4) Academic skills and qualifications
The aim of the Master's degree programme is to develop the academic and personal skills the student acquired during the previous Bachelor's degree programme, so that the Master:
obtains qualifications for employment in private and public sector companies and organisations – both in Denmark and abroad – where a high level of expertise in Chemistry is required.
acquires the necessary prerequisites for further studies, including a PhD degree programme.
Compared with Bachelors, Masters have expanded on their academic knowledge, analytical skills and independence to the extent that the Master is able to independently apply scientific theory and methodology within the field of Chemistry. By completing the degree programme, the Master obtains skills in the following overall competence goals:
The Master has general knowledge of Chemistry and detailed knowledge of key disciplines, methodologies, theories and concepts within Chemistry.
The Master can independently plan, manage and implement projects and apply the results in scientifically relevant decision processes.
The Master can assess the applicability and appropriateness of theoretical, experimental and practical methodologies for the analysis and solution of scientific questions and issues.
The Master can structure his/her own competence development independently and critically.
The Master is able to systematically and critically familiarise himself/herself with new subject areas.
The Master can relay and communicate academic questions and issues to both a scientific and a general audience.
The Master can collaborate constructively on a scientific basis to solve subject-related issues.
The Master has an understanding of and insight into the connection between Chemistry and the other scientific subject areas, and has qualified knowledge regarding the interaction between Chemistry and society at large.
(5) Standard ECTS credits
The Master's degree in Chemistry has a prescribed duration of two years of full-time study, corresponding to 120 ECTS credits.
(6) Authority
The academic regulations for the Master's degree in Chemistry are determined in accordance with:
Executive Order no. 338 of 6 May 2004 regarding the Bachelor's and Master's degree programmes at universities (the Education Executive Order) with subsequent amendments in accordance with Executive Order no. 805 of 19 August 2005.
The Danish Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation guidelines no. 5 of 18 January 2006 regarding university degree programmes aimed at teaching at upper secondary schools.
Additional rules relating to degree programmes can be found in the University of Aarhus electronic rules and regulations at www.au.dk/en/rules.
(7) Prepared by
Board of Studies A for the Faculty of Science, University of Aarhus.
(8) Approved by
The Dean of the Faculty of Science on 1 August 2007.
(9) Effective date
The academic regulations take effect on 1 August 2007.
(10) Number of places available and admission procedures
Admission and registration regarding the Master's degree programme in Chemistry take place on a continuous basis. Applications received by 1 June and 1 December ensure admission by mid-August and mid-January, respectively, provided all admission requirements are met.
(11) Admission requirements and prerequisites
Admission to the Master's degree programme in Chemistry requires:
A Bachelor´s degree in Chemistry from the University of Aarhus, the University of Southern Denmark or the University of Copenhagen.
A Bachelor´s degree in Medical Chemistry from University of Aarhus.
A Bachelor´s degree in Molecular Biology with the special study area Biochemistry from University of Aarhus
A Bachelor´s degree in Nanoscience from University of Aarhus.
A Bachelor´s degree in science from University of Aarhus with at least 60 ECTS credits coming from the qualification packages Organic Chemistry and Physical Chemistry.
A Bachelor´s degree with at least 60 ECTS credits within Chemistry can provide admission for the Master´s degree programme provided the combined academic demands in the Master´s degree programme can be met.
Other qualifications can provide admission to the Master's degree programme, provided the university assesses that their level, extent and content correspond to the degrees mentioned above.
In connection with possible admission, further requirements can be stipulated regarding the composition of the degree programme.
It is a condition that each student's language skills are sufficient to be able to follow teaching in English and prepare written material in English.
(12) The Master's degree in Chemistry enables admission to
The Master's degree in Chemistry enables admission to further studies at PhD level.
(13) Transitional rules
(14) General content and academic progression provisions of the degree programme
The Master's degree programme consists of graduate courses within the Chemistry field of study, as well as a Master's thesis amounting to 30 or 60 ECTS credits, which concludes the studies. The study programme is composed individually under supervision. When composing the degree programme, the individual student's interests and desired competence profile are taken into account, and this ensures that the academic progression and integrity in the degree programme comply with the requirements of a Master's degree.
(15) Description of the aim of the individual courses
A description of the aim of the individual courses is available in the Course Catalogue and the Catalogue of Additional Qualification Packages at www.science.au.dk/en/students.
(16) Description of the general content of the degree programme
The Master's degree programme in Chemistry amounts to 120 ECTS credits. The study programme for the degree must consist of a combined entity and comply with the following:
The programme consists of advanced study components in Chemistry that amount to at least 90 ECTS credits, including the thesis.
The total amount of study components in Chemistry in the programme, combined with the study components in Chemistry in the qualifying Bachelor's degree programme, must equal at least 180 ECTS credits.
The programme must include one of the approved qualification packages,
equalling a total of 30 ECTS credits. This requirement can be waived if the
scope of the qualifying Bachelor's degree programme is sufficient.
The programme must include the course Laboratory Safety, offered by the Department of Chemistry.
Combined with the qualifying Bachelor's degree programme, the Master's degree programme must include components corresponding to the compulsory Chemistry courses (50 ECTS credits) and auxiliary subjects in the Bachelor's degree programme (30 ECTS credits).
The programme must include a thesis amounting to 30 ECTS credits for theoretical theses and 60 ECTS credits for experimental theses.
The programme can include projects equalling a maximum of 30 ECTS credits and a Student Colloquium (5 ECTS credits).
If Chemistry is combined with a subsidiary subject to achieve academic competence in two subjects that target teaching jobs at upper secondary school, the Master's degree programme must include:
Course activities within the Chemistry field of study equalling at least 30 ECTS credits. A thesis equalling 30 ECTS credits. The thesis must combine the main subject with the subsidiary subject to the extent possible.
The total amount of study components in Chemistry in the programme, combined with the study components in Chemistry in the qualifying Bachelor's degree programme, must equal at least 160 ECTS credits, including the thesis.
As regards the part of the subsidiary subject not included in the qualifying Bachelor's degree programme:o If Chemistry is combined with a subsidiary subject in the scientific subject area, the total framework for the subsidiary subject equals 90 ECTS credits, of which a maximum of 60 ECTS credits can be placed in the Master's degree programme.
o If Chemistry is combined with a subsidiary subject outside the scientific subject area, including physical education and sport, the framework for the Master's degree programme is extended from 120 to 150 ECTS credits and the total framework for the subsidiary subject equals 120 ECTS credits, of which a maximum of 90 ECTS credits can be placed in the Master's degree programme.
The subsidiary subject must be taught at upper secondary school.
The study programme must be approved by the Director of the Board of Studies A prior to completing the first course in the degree programme.
(17) Description of each course based on the framework requirements in the teaching administration (UVA) system, including a description of the rules for methods of examination and the approval procedures of the Board of Studies
Twice a year, the Faculty of Science publishes a Course Catalogue and a Catalogue of Additional Qualification Packages with descriptions of all approved courses and additional qualification packages within the degree programmes offered by the faculty. Twice a year, prior to course enrolments, these catalogues are reviewed and approved. The catalogues are available at www.science.au.dk/en/students.
(19) Credits and flexibility
Subject to individual assessment, the Board of Studies can approve courses from other degree programmes as part of the Master's degree programme in Chemistry. The maximum number of credits a student can obtain for the degree programme, however, is 60 ECTS credits.
(20) Examinations
The method of assessment and examination for the individual courses appears in the course description in the Course Catalogue. The catalogue also indicates the time for the ordinary course examination as well as any re-examination.
Participation in a re-examination in a given course is subject to participation in the ordinary course examination.
Courses must be passed individually unless the academic regulations stipulate that they form part of a combined examination with other courses. One mark is given for each combined examination.
All courses must be completed with one of the following methods of examination:
1. Written examination
2. Oral examination
3. Home assignment(s) (written examination)
4. Multiple choice (written examination)
5. Approval of compulsory assignments and/or reports followed by a discussion, if applicable
6. Active participation in the course followed by a discussion, if applicable, e.g. attendance at a minimum of 80% of compulsory lessons, seminar contributions, submission (and approval) of compulsory assignments, etc.
7. Skills test (practical test)
Combinations of 1–7
The examination can be with or without the aid of materials. For methods of examination that include a discussion (methods 5 and 6) in which the final discussion was unsatisfactory, a second examination attempt can consist of an internal oral examination.
Information about the materials permitted, including the use of a computer, preparation, etc., is available in the individual course descriptions.
If the university considers it necessary, it can offer special examination conditions for students with a physical or mental disability, a first language other than Danish, and similar difficulties, in order to provide such students with the same examination opportunities as other students. It is a requirement that the level of the examination remain unaffected by this offer.
Applications for special examination conditions must be submitted to the Board of Studies no later than four weeks before the start of the examination.
(20.1) Enrolment and cancellation
Course enrolment takes place via the self-service for students at www.science.au.dk/en/students. The registration periods are as follows:
First and second quarter (autumn): 1-15 May
Third and fourth quarter (spring): 1-15 November
If enrolment must take place outside this period, it is stated in the course description.
Study plans and a personal timetable for each student are published on the faculty's web site at www.science.au.dk/en/students no later than one week prior to commencement of the instruction period.
Students are personally responsible for course enrolments.
Enrolment in examinations
Students are automatically enrolled in the examination when registering for a course.
The examination schedules are published approximately one month prior to commencement of the examination period at www.science.au.dk/eksamen and are also available on the notice boards of the Board of Studies and the departments. Students are responsible for checking the information about the examination via the self-service facility at www.au.dk/en/students.htm.
Enrolment in re-examinations
The time of re-examination in a course is indicated in the course description. Students enrol for re-examination via the self-service facility (www.science.au.dk/en/students) during the following periods:
Period of enrolment Re-examination period as per course description
1–15 November After the second quarter
1–15 February After the third quarter
1–15 May After the fourth quarter
1–15 July Re-examination in August
Cancellation of examination
Cancellation of an examination takes place via the self-service facility for students (www.au.dk/en/students.htm). The deadline for cancellation of a given examination is one week prior to the first day of examination in the course. If students are late in cancelling, the cancellation is not accepted and an examination attempt is recorded in their study programme. Based on the rule that participation in a re-examination in a given course is subject to participation in the ordinary examination in that course, cancellation should not be undertaken without prior contact to a counsellor and/or submission of an application for exemption to the Board of Studies.
The examination results are published in the self-service facility for students (www.au.dk/en/students.htm), as soon as they have been recorded.
Illness and other circumstances in connection with an examination
See www.au.dk/da/eksamen (available in Danish only) for university rules and examination guidelines.
(20.2) Skills in spelling and written expression
In all major written examinations, regardless of the language used in the examination, the student's skills in spelling and expression form part of the assessment. The academic content carries the most weight, but skills in spelling and written expression affect the assessment of whether the student meets the overall aims.
(20.3) Regulations for major written submissions
The following applies particularly to the Master's thesis.
Master's thesis
The Master's degree programme is concluded with a thesis amounting to 30 ECTS credits for theoretical theses and 60 ECTS credits for experimental theses. For the Master's thesis, the student works independently on an academic issue, on completion of which the graduate can:
identify, define and formulate an academic issue on a scientific basis.
define and present testable hypotheses within a subject-related topic.
independently plan and complete a major academic project using the subject's scientific methodology.
analyse, critically discuss and put into perspective an academic issue.
assess, critically analyse and summarise the scientific literature within a defined topic area.
relay academic results objectively and concisely to a scientific audience.
There are two ways of concluding the Master's thesis:
The student prepares a thesis report that covers the work carried out in connection with the thesis. This report is submitted for assessment and is included in the thesis examination.
A thesis assignment is specified covering the topic of the thesis, and this must be answered in writing 4–6 weeks prior to the deadline for submission of the thesis. This thesis assignment is specified by the main supervisor and must be approved by an external examiner prior to being sent to the student. The answer to the thesis assignment must be submitted for assessment and is included in the thesis examination.
As a general rule, the thesis report must be prepared in Danish or English. In all cases, an English summary must be included. The title of the thesis must appear in Danish and English in preparation for the Master's degree diploma, which is issued in Danish and English. During the period in which they write their thesis, students are affiliated with a main supervisor appointed by the Department of Chemistry. All academic staff with permanent appointments at the Faculty of Science can act as main supervisors. Students can be affiliated with a project supervisor in addition to the main supervisor. The project supervisor can be a member of the academic staff at the University of Aarhus, another public sector research institution or a private sector research institution/company. In such circumstances, an agreement is drawn up in which the distribution of work between the two supervisors is specified in such a way that the main supervisor ensures that the thesis complies with the applicable norms for theses carried out at the Department of Chemistry. The main supervisor has the formal responsibility for providing academic guidance for the student during the course of writing the thesis, and must take part in the final examination. The thesis can be completed in groups, provided the main supervisor approves. As regards a group thesis, the thesis report must state which consecutive sections the individual student is responsible for.
Thesis contract
A contract is drawn up between the student and the main supervisor on commencement of the thesis.
This contract is prepared on a special form and must include:
Name of the student
For group thesis, name(s) of the other students in the group
Main supervisor
Project supervisor, if applicable
Statement of the task involved in the thesis
Credits (ECTS)
Starting date for the thesis
Submission date for the thesis
Supervision plan
Need for resources
Publication rights
The main supervisor is responsible for making sure that the approved thesis can be completed within the agreed time. The contract is signed by the student and the main supervisor and submitted to the director of studies or deputy, who must approve the statement of the task, the supervision plan and the deadline for submission. This deadline can only be changed if unusual circumstances arise that affect the student. If the deadline for submitting the thesis is exceeded, the student is registered as having attempted an examination.
An application for an examination takes place when the thesis contract is entered into. It is not possible to cancel an examination.
If the student does not submit the thesis by the appointed time and thus fails, an altered statement of the task is approved within the same subject, and a new submission deadline of three months is determined. If the student does not submit the thesis within the new deadline and thus fails, a third examination attempt is possible in accordance with the same regulations that apply for the second attempt. The statement of the task and the deadline for the second and third examination attempts must be approved by the director of studies.
To ensure compliance with the deadline for submission, the director of studies or deputy can decide in certain circumstances that the thesis must be completed with a thesis assignment.
Thesis examination
The thesis is concluded with an individual examination after submission of the thesis report or thesis assignment. The thesis examination consists of a lecture within a selected topic associated with the subject area of the thesis, followed by an oral examination within the topic area of the thesis. The subject of the lecture is agreed between the main supervisor, the project supervisor, if applicable, and the external examiner, and is submitted to the student 7 days prior to the examination. The oral examination must be based on the prepared thesis report or the answer to the thesis assignment, as well as the lecture. 75 minutes are set aside for the thesis examination, divided into 45 minutes for the lecture and 30 minutes for the oral examination.
The topic area of the thesis is restricted to the literature used, as stated in the reference list for the thesis report or the answer to the thesis assignment.
One single combined mark is awarded in accordance with the Danish 7-point grading scale for the thesis report/answer to the thesis assignment, lecture and subsequent oral examination. The student's written expression skills must be included in the assessment. An external examiner participates in the examination.
The title of the thesis appears in Danish and English on the Master's degree diploma.
The thesis examination must take place at the University of Aarhus.
The thesis examination must be held no later than two months after submission of the thesis report or answer to the thesis assignment.
(20.4) Use of computers at examinations
A computer can be used for text processing purposes at written examinations if stated in the course description (the method of examination will be described as a computer examination). For further information (in Danish only), see www.au.dk/da/eksamen/pc.
A computer can also be indicated as permitted material at written examinations, e.g. as a pocket calculator or as a note reference tool. It should be noted that, in such cases, a computer can only be used for the mentioned purposes – i.e. not for text processing, printing or submission. The assignment is written by hand. The conditions for use of a computer in this manner are available at www.science.au.dk/eksamen (in Danish only).
(20.5) Project-oriented training
Project-oriented training in private sector companies and institutions can form part of the Master's degree programme. The project agreement and formulation are subject to prior approval by the Board of Studies, which also decides on the method of examination for the project-oriented training.
(21) Exemptions
In exceptional circumstances, the Board of Studies can grant exemptions from the rules set out in the academic regulations. An application for exemption must be submitted to the Board of Studies. If another authority has the power to grant an exemption, the Board of Studies forwards the application to the appropriate authority (e.g. the dean, rector or ministry). An application for exemption must be made in writing, stating reasons, and submitted as soon as possible. For the application to be processed immediately, it must include a precise account of the regulation from which exemption is sought, and what such exemption is intended to achieve (e.g. permission to use special aids, extension of examination time, postponement of time limits). Documentation for the unusual conditions that justify exemption must be enclosed with the application. Normally, no importance is attached to such conditions, unless they are documented.
(22) Appeals and complaints
Complaints regarding matters governed by the academic regulations must be submitted to the Board of Studies. It is a prerequisite for immediate processing that the complaint is made in writing, stating reasons.
Complaints regarding examinations, including examination results, must be submitted to the dean. Students are recommended to contact a counsellor before submitting a complaint. A complaint must be specific and submitted in writing, stating reasons.
The complaint must be addressed to:
The Dean of the Faculty of Science
Ny Munkegade, Building 1521
DK–8000 Aarhus C
The complaint must reach the Faculty of Science no later than 14 days after publication of the examination results.
See also www.au.dk/da/eksamen for university rules and examination guidelines (in Danish only).
Limited information is available in English at www.au.dk/en/is/studies/grading.
(23) Guidelines for degree programme rules
Acts and executive orders relating to education are available in the electronic rules and regulations of the University of Aarhus at www.au.dk/en/rules.
(24) Study plan and student guidance
The study programme for the Master's degree is individually planned under the supervision of the Department of Chemistry. The study programme must be approved by the relevant director of studies prior to the student completing the first course in the degree programme.
Follow-up of the approved study programme takes place at half-yearly status discussions between the student and the Department of Chemistry.