MSc in Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering
Aarhus University
Key Information
Campus location
Aarhus, Denmark
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 semesters
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
Request info
Application deadline
15 Oct 2024*
Earliest start date
Jan 2025
* for non-EU citizens; EU citizens: 15 September 2024
Introduction
Developing and optimizing chemical and biotechnological processes plays a key role in modern society. It is predicted that the industry of the future will be characterized by production that is environmentally correct and energy-efficient.
During the first year of the degree program, learning is mainly based on lectures and theoretical exercises. The second year mainly involves project work, whereby students work closely with companies. A student hungry for more has the possibility of continuing as a PhD student. Here, the student adds three extra years to their studies, working more independently on solving concrete problems. This can also take the form of an industrial PhD.
Choosing your specialization
The theme of the degree program is the development and optimization of processes in the chemical and biotechnological industries and in the environmental sector. If you have an engineering background in chemistry and choose to pursue this specialization at the MSc level, you will be able to work with areas as diverse as food, polymer chemistry, membrane and separation technology.
If on the other hand, your background is in biotechnology, you can pursue this specialization to gain opportunities to work in areas such as developing enzymes and proteins for use in ‘green’ production, lipid technology, and medical biotechnology.
Putting research into practice
Teaching at Aarhus University is greatly influenced by the research conducted here, as the lecturers are active researchers. As an engineering student, you have excellent opportunities to work with researchers in the laboratory, or you can complete a project in collaboration with a private company.
Research at the department
At the Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering at Aarhus University, we create sustainable, technological solutions to some of the biggest challenges faced by businesses and society through research and development.
Admission requirements
The following Bachelor's degrees qualify students for admission to the Master of Science in an Engineering degree program in Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering if mathematical competences on a Bachelor level in extent and content equal to at least 20 ECTS in Calculus, Linear Algebra, Probability Theory, and Statistics, equally distributed, can be documented.
- A Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering or Biotechnology from a Danish university.
- A Bachelor of Engineering degree in Chemical Engineering or Biotechnology from a Danish University or University School of Engineering if either 1) 15 ECTS in Chemistry, 30 ECTS in Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, or similar, and 15 ECTS in technology-related courses can be documented, or 2) 40 ECTS in Chemistry, as well as 20 ECTS in technology-related courses, can be documented.
- A Bachelor of Science degree can provide admission to the graduate engineering degree program if either 1) 15 ECTS in Chemistry, 30 ECTS in Biotechnology, Molecular Biology, or similar, and 15 ECTS in technology-related courses can be documented or 2) 40 ECTS in Chemistry, as well as 20 ECTS in technology-related courses, can be documented, and the over-all academic requirements for the graduate engineer degree program can be met.
- Other qualifications can provide admission to the graduate engineer degree program, 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 program.
Language requirements
To qualify for admission to English language programs you must document English language qualifications comparable to an "English B level" in the Danish upper secondary school (Danish upper secondary school level).
Limited intake from Summer Admission 2025
From the summer admission 2025, the following will take effect. The Master’s degree program only admits a limited number of students each year, meeting the admission requirements does not in itself guarantee admission to the program.
Allocation of student places is based on an overall assessment and availability of seats in the track of Biotechnology and the track of Chemical Engineering. In evaluating qualified applicants, the admissions committee assesses applicants on the basis of the following criteria:
Academic background
- Overall grade level – Bachelor’s degree
- Grades achieved on relevant courses*
- Relevant courses* (measured in credit units) included in your Bachelor’s degree
* Relevant courses include core courses within the subject areas of Mathematics, Chemistry, Technology-related courses, and (only for the track of Biotechnology) Biotechnology and Molecular Biology.
Please note that grades obtained after the time of application cannot be included in the assessment of grade level.
The admissions committee assesses each applicant on the basis of the information provided in diplomas, transcripts, and course descriptions.
Program structure
The Master’s degree in chemistry and biotechnology counts as 120 ECTS credits and mainly consists of subjects within the chemical and technical fields of study. You specialize by participating in course activities and projects and by writing a thesis. You structure your own individual study program with the help of a researcher by choosing courses from the course catalog. Your program is based on your academic qualifications and interests and the subjects you studied for your Bachelor’s degree. The plan must be approved by the Board of Studies before you can enroll for examinations. The teaching is divided into two semesters per year.
Compulsory Courses Chemical Engineering
Autumn:
- Sensors and Process Control - 10 ECTS
- Transport Phenomena - 5 ECTS
Spring:
- Applied Innovation in Engineering 5 ECTS
- Modern Chemical Process Technologies - 10 ECTS
Compulsory Courses Biotechnology
Autumn:
- Lipid Biotechnology - 5 ECTS
- Protein and Carbohydrate Biotechnology - 10 ECTS
Spring:
- Applied Innovation in Engineering 5 ECTS
- Microbial Biotechnology - 5 ECTS
- Industrial Bioseparation Technology - 5 ECTS
1 Semester
- Lipid Biotechnology (5 ECTS)
- Protein and Carbohydrate Biotechnology (10 ECTS)
- Specialization (15 ECTS)
2 Semester
- Applied Innovation in Engineering (5 ECTS)
- Microbial Biotechnology (5 ECTS)
- Industrial Bioseparation Technologies (5 ECTS)
- Specialization (15 ECTS)
3 Semester
Elective Courses (30 ECTS)
4 Semester
Thesis in Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering (30 ECTS)
Competence profile
With a Master’s degree in Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering, you have the following competencies:
- You master the tasks of a graduate engineer and have a degree with strong chemistry content.
- You can independently plan, manage, and implement projects and apply the results in scientifically relevant decision processes.
- You can assess the applicability and appropriateness of theoretical, experimental, and practical methodologies for the analysis and solution of scientific questions and issues.
- You can structure your own competence development independently and critically.
- You are able to systematically and critically familiarise yourself with new subject areas.
- You can communicate academic questions and issues to both a scientific and a general audience.
- You can collaborate constructively on a scientific basis to solve subject-related issues.
Job opportunities
As a graduate engineer in Chemistry and Biotechnology, you will be developing the processes of the future – processes that will ensure that chemical, biotechnological, and environmental knowledge finds sustainable applications to benefit society as a whole.
The Aarhus University educates graduate engineers for the regional, national, and international job markets. Graduates work in a wide range of fields and institutions.
The degree program is monitored by a group consisting of members from chemical companies such as Aarhus Karlshamn, Cheminova, Dupont, and Arla, all of whom are interested in employing newly qualified graduate engineers in chemistry and biotechnology.
Admissions
Curriculum
The degree Program focuses on the development and optimization of processes in the biotechnological and chemical industries and the environmental sector. If you have an engineering background in biotechnology and choose to pursue this specialization at the MSc level, you will be able to work within diverse areas, such as developing enzymes and proteins for use in medical (red), environmental (green) and industrial (white) production, lipid technology, biomaterial engineering, bioprocess engineering, computational systems biology, and medical biotechnology. On the other hand, if your background is in chemistry, you can pursue this specialization in order to work in areas such as food, polymer chemistry, catalysis and materials engineering, process technology, and membrane and separation technology. Whether your background is in biotechnology or chemistry, you will also be able to specialize in environmental or energy technology, leading to employment opportunities in areas such as wastewater treatment, biorefinery, air cleaning, and biogas production.
Scholarships and Funding
Several scholarship options are available. Please visit the university website for more information.
Career Opportunities
As a graduate engineer in chemistry and biotechnology, you will be developing the processes of the future processes that will ensure that chemical, biotechnological, and environmental knowledge finds sustainable applications that can benefit society as a whole.
The MSc Program is also monitored by representatives of biotechnological and chemical companies such as IFF, Arla, Aarhus Karlshamn (AAK), Aarhus Vand, BioMar, Eurofins, Lego, Palsgaard, Novo Nordisk, Novozymes, Lundbeck and FMC, all of which are interested in employing newly qualified graduates in biotechnology and chemical engineering.