M.Sc. in Chemistry (Joint Degree UvA-VU): Molecular Sciences

Master

In Amsterdam (Netherlands)

£ 11,993.63 VAT inc.

*Indicative price

Original amount in EUR:

14,026 €

Description

  • Type

    Master

  • Location

    Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Expand your knowledge and skills in chemistry
Want to learn how to use inexpensive organic materials to capture CO2? Discover whether carbon can form a fifth bond? Or develop new analytical methods to detect low levels of bioactive proteins in complex biological samples?

The Chemistry Master’s is a challenging programme for students with a solid Chemistry background who are eager to expand their knowledge and skills.

Chemistry is not an isolated discipline. It is a bridge between the two ends of the science spectrum: it connects biology (biomolecular chemistry) with physics, mathematics and computer sciences (physical-theoretical chemistry).

Chemistry in Amsterdam is a joint degree from the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. UvA and VU jointly issue a degree certificate to graduates. As a student, you benefit from the expertise, networks and research projects at both universities and affiliated research institutes.

Whether you are theoretically inclined or practically oriented, the joint Chemistry Master’s programme is certain to suit your interests and expand your expertise and skills. You will choose a specific track, according to your future ambitions: Analytical Sciences, Science for Energy and Sustainability or Molecular Sciences.

Facilities

Location

Start date

Amsterdam (Netherlands)
See map

Start date

SeptemberEnrolment now open
FebruaryEnrolment now open

About this course



Graduates of the Master's programme Chemistry typically pursue careers:

as PhD students at chemistry institutes around the world, progressing from there to careers in academia or industry
in research, within industry (e.g. Akzo Nobel, Shell and DSM)
in research, within research institutes (e.g. TNO, KNMI and SRON)
as teachers, within high schools or universities
as (technical) policy officers, within (science-oriented) governmental and non-profit organisations
in business (e.g. ICT companies, energy companies, investment banks, consultancy firms)
as writers, for (science-oriented) media
as entrepreneurs

Pursue your PhD
Graduates with excellent grades can apply for one of our PhD student positions. The first year will be mainly spent complementing your theoretical knowledge and preparing the ground for your research. After that, you’ll develop and carry out your own chemistry research project and write your PhD thesis.

Many PhDs end up in research positions or in managerial posts at universities, large companies, government institutions or banks. Research positions are available with institutes like TNO or Solvay.



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This centre's achievements

2020

All courses are up to date

The average rating is higher than 3.7

More than 50 reviews in the last 12 months

This centre has featured on Emagister for 6 years

Subjects

  • Biology
  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Theoretical Chemistry
  • Materials
  • Global
  • University
  • Project
  • Joint
  • Communication Training
  • Computational
  • GCSE Physics
  • Science for Energy

Course programme

Curriculum

Choose the path to your future in chemistry

To complete your Master’s, you will choose a specific track, according to your future ambitions: Analytical Sciences, Science for Energy and Sustainability, or Molecular Sciences.

Each track includes compulsory courses and optional courses. All tracks conclude with a literature study and research project. You will conduct this project either in a VU or UvA research group, or at another university, research institute or company. The project culminates in a Master’s thesis and the presentation of your research results during a public colloquium.

1. Analytical Sciences focuses on finding and determining presence and compositions of chemical compounds in substrates. For example, for drug tests in hospital labs, blood-alcohol tests or blood-glucose sensors. But your skills also are also in demand for industry work, making safer and more durable car paints, advancements in the petrochemical industry, etc.

2. Science for Energy and Sustainability focuses on creating a more resilient and sustainable world through chemistry. You will explore ways to capture phosphorus in the ground or CO2 in the air. This requires a look at climate, but also at how to create durable, biodegradable plastics that require much less energy to produce.

3. Molecular Sciences is the fundamental chemistry track, and is very broad. Here, you will immerse yourself in the topics that interest you, like synthesis and catalysis, or in theoretical chemistry, computational chemistry, new material creation, photonics and more.

If you’re interested in the theory and research, but also want to apply it in other areas, the Chemistry Master’s offers three major programmes: Teaching, Science in Society and Science Communication. Declaring a major is optional, not obligatory.

If you complete your Teaching major, you will be well prepared for a role as a top-notch high school chemistry teacher. The Science in Society major provides you with experience translating chemical knowledge into governmental and regional policies. So you’ll be prepared for careers in policy-making, politics or as a patent attorney. The Science Communication major will give you the skills to communicate chemical knowledge to larger audiences. Many students who finish this major work as journalists, reviewers, spokespeople or consultants.

Regardless of your choice, this Master’s ensures a high level of chemistry knowledge and skills. These will be useful for either a career in science or elsewhere.

The start dates of this programme are September 1st and February 1st.

First and second year

To complete your Master’s, you will choose a specific specialisation, according to your future ambitions:

  • Analytical Sciences
  • Molecular Sciences
  • Science for Energy and Sustainability

In your second year, you will continue in your chosen track. All tracks conclude with a literature study and research project. You will conduct this project either in a VU or UvA research group, or at another university, research institute or company. The project culminates in a Master’s thesis and the presentation of your research results during a public colloquium.

Analytical Sciences

Summary

In the Analytical Sciences track of the Chemistry Master’s programme, you will focus purely on aspects of analytical chemistry, such as modern analytical techniques, general analysis concepts and strategies and various application fields.

Analytical chemistry plays a crucial role in many areas of science and society. Chemical compounds in a variety of materials and environments must be identified and quantified for the development of new pharmaceuticals, the unravelling of complex biological systems or the design of new sustainable materials and chemical processes.

Analytical chemistry provides the methods and techniques that make this possible. Its impact is not restricted to chemistry alone: progress in medicine, biology, and environmental and material sciences is also strongly dependent on the availability of new analytical tools.

Analytical Sciences at VU Amsterdam and UvA is unique in the Netherlands, in that it focuses purely on all aspects of analytical chemistry - a specialisation for which there is currently a great demand in the labour market. It covers a large range of modern analytical techniques, such as chromatography, mass spectrometry, spectroscopy and laser-based approaches. It covers general concepts and strategies for analysis, from sampling to data treatment. And it explores various application fields, such as biochemical, industrial, pharmaceutical and forensic analysis.

This track also offers the possibility to focus specifically on environmental chemistry and analysis. Courses are given by researchers at VU Amsterdam’s research department Environment & Health, where well-known research is being done on subjects like microplastics, endocrine disruptors and PFAS.

Molecular Sciences

Summary

Understanding how molecules function is one of the most important worldwide challenges in chemistry. Organic chemistry, biochemistry, organometallic chemistry and theoretical chemistry are the foundations for a fundamental understanding of the relationship between molecular structure and performance. This field offers society the molecules and materials we need for our health, transportation, energy, agriculture and communication.

The Molecular Sciences track of the Chemistry Master’s programme covers areas that traditionally are associated with organic and inorganic chemistry, catalysis, physical chemistry and theoretical chemistry.

You should choose this track if you are interested in using the molecule as the starting point for gaining fundamental insights about materials and chemical, biological and physical processes. In Molecular Sciences, you will move from understanding chemical and physical processes to predicting and controlling them. You will apply your knowledge and skills in areas of fundamental importance to society, such as energy, sustainability, health and materials sciences.

This track allows you to become an expert in designing new compounds with specific properties, often with the aid of computational methods, devising efficient methods for the synthesis of new compounds, developing clean and selective catalysts using the interaction of light and matter to observe and control chemical and physical processes, and developing and applying methods in computational and theoretical chemistry in research of structure, dynamics and function in atomic, (bio)molecular and multi-scale systems.

The programme is embedded in various leading national and international research institutes, such as the Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences at the VU, the Research Priority Area Sustainable Chemistry at the University of Amsterdam, the Amsterdam Center for Multiscale Modeling (ACMM, part of CECAM) and the LaserLab Amsterdam (part of LaserLab Europe). These collaborations provide you with direct access to a broad pool of experts in relevant fields of study.

Science for Energy and Sustainability

Summary

Science for Energy and Sustainability is an interdisciplinary track within the Master’s programmes Chemistry, and Physics and Astronomy, both joint degrees of VU and UvA. It combines fundamental scientific research with the analysis of societal issues, business models and government regulations.

The programme allows for a very flexible curriculum, consisting of mostly chemistry or additional physics or business courses. As such, it covers a broad area of hot topics, such as bio-based economy, green chemistry, photophysical and photochemical energy conversion, renewable energy technologies and biosolar cells and catalysis for sustainable synthesis and energy conversion.

You should choose this track if you are interested in sustainable chemistry and catalysis, or if you want to become (more) aware of the scientific, technological and societal challenges of the future. You will learn how to advance renewable energy resources, promote sustainable development, and use resources more efficiently. You will study the development of technological solutions to global energy and sustainability problems, as well as the societal context of global developments in this field. If you want to pursue a career that focuses on developing sustainable solutions to our current, pressing global challenges in energy, climate and sustainability, this track is for you.

Science for Energy and Sustainability is an outward-looking programme, geared towards the cutting edge research on the energy transition and sustainability. It gives you the skills and knowledge to move from understanding the state-of-the-art, to actually developing new sustainable technologies that can be implemented in society.


Additional information

Tuition fee EU: €1,084

M.Sc. in Chemistry (Joint Degree UvA-VU): Molecular Sciences

£ 11,993.63 VAT inc.

*Indicative price

Original amount in EUR:

14,026 €