New MSc programmes on the way

The faculty management team has spent the last few months laying out a good plan for how the degree programme landscape at Natural Sciences will look once the Master's degree reform comes into force. The overall framework and working titles for a number of new degree programmes are now ready.

"Our main principle in this work has been that we would rather develop new, targeted degree programmes than abbreviate versions of the existing Master's degree programmes. I think this has resulted in some very exciting 75 ECTS Master's degree programmes, and they will now be developed together with the departments," says Birgit Schiøtt, dean at Natural Sciences.

Kristine Kilså, vice-dean of education at the faculty, completely agrees:

"When you want to do something new, it has to be good and make sense. We have therefore developed the framework for three new degree programmes that can play a role in society. I strongly believe that there is great potential in educating graduates with both a natural science background and strong IT skills," she says.

The working titles and framework for the new 75-ECTS degree programmes are:

• Conversion of Science Studies to Science Communication (for everyone with a NAT Bachelor's degree): The degree programme teaches students to understand and communicate science so that graduates can act as a link between research and society and the business community. Centre for Science Studies is the driving force behind the development of the degree programme
• Nature management (especially for geology and biology graduates): Municipalities must climate-proof and promote biodiversity, nature crises such as in Ølst must be prevented and handled, the green tripartite must be implemented and nature must be given more space in the Danish municipalities. The graduates of the new Master's degree programme in nature management must bridge the gap between nature and management
• Applied Data Analytics (for everyone with a NAT bachelor's degree): With a strong scientific background, the new Applied Data Analytics makes it possible to build a sharp profile that has insight into soil conditions, chemical composition or energy consumption, etc. – and who can prepare advanced data analysis and visualisation, enabling companies and authorities to act strategically on a qualified basis

The process of developing the new degree programmes and their final titles will begin in earnest over the coming weeks. The Forum for Education will be involved on an ongoing basis.

Degree programmes with both 120 and 75 ECTS Master's degree programmes 

We are also looking into the possibility that from 2028 some of the faculty's degree programmes will be offered in both the classic two-year version and as a new 75 ECTS version. Naturally, we need to work on the content of the new degree programmes to make them as attractive as possible. 

Master's degree programmes for working professionals 

From 2028, it will be possible to enrol in all of the faculty's 120-ECTS Master's degree programmes as part-time master's degree programmes. Here, alongside your studies, you will also work in a company or public authority. 

General principles for MSc programmes at NAT 

In developing the graduate landscape of the future, the faculty management team has worked according to three basic principles as a supplement to the principles already adopted in connection with the sector dimensioning: https://nat.medarbejdere.au.dk/en/news-and-events/news/show/artikel/how-sector-resizing-will-be-finalised-at-nat

1. Development of new, focused 75 ECTS Master's degree programmes rather than shortening of existing ones
2. All two-year Master's degree programmes are offered as Master's degree programmes for working professionals
3. There must be a study start for all Master’s degree student, so that a strong study environment can be established across the different types of Master's degree programmes.

You can read about how the faculty's degree programmes are to be dimensioned: https://nat.medarbejdere.au.dk/en/news-and-events/news/show/artikel/how-sector-resizing-will-be-finalised-at-nat 

The text has been translated by the AI tool AU Translate