Ecotoxicology, 120 hec

Modern society uses more than 100 000 different chemicals and chemical products, all of them being potentially released into the environment. Ecotoxicology is concerned with the environmental impact of these substances.

It aims at characterizing, understanding and finally predicting the effects of toxic chemicals on plant and animal populations, communities and whole ecosystems. As such, ecotoxicology is the scientific basis for environmental frameworks such as for example the new REACH regulation.

Interdisciplinary Science

As an interdisciplinary science ecotoxicology has strong connections to biology, ecology, toxicology, biochemistry, analytical and environmental chemistry, statistics and social sciences. Therefore the ecotoxicology program is run as a collaboration between the faculty of humanities, the zoological department, the department of plant and environmental science, the chemistry department and GU's mathematical sciences.

The program first provides an overview of ecotoxicology as a scientific discipline and then you will apply this knowledge in laboratory courses and finally in individual master works. We will put equal emphasis on theory and practice. The aim is to train skills that are necessary for identifying ecotoxicological problems, recognizing essential knowledge gaps and developing appropriate problem-solving strategies.

Teaching methods

Besides providing an education in ecotoxicology per se, the master program provides tools for self-study towards a set goal - in a team with supervisors and peers. It teaches on how you can communicate within a scientific and public context. Many of the courses use problem-based learning approaches in small groups and ample time will always be given for discussions, exchange of knowledge, and critical reviews.

Contents

The master program is structured in three main parts:

1. Introduction: Fundamentals of Ecotoxicology and Introduction to Statistics and Modelling in Ecotoxicology
2. Core courses: Physiological and Molecular Ecotoxicology, Ecotoxicology from an Ecological Perspective and Chemical Risk Assessment
3. Individual master work (1 year) as member in a research team

Career

The program is aimed at students with an interest in environmental sciences that have a basic competence in biology, chemistry or related fields. The program leads to a Master of Science degree. Successful participants will have the necessary skills to work either with regulatory authorities, environmental consultants or in chemical industry. It also opens up the possibility to further pursue an international university career in the field, for example as a PhD student.

Entrance requirements

Entrance Requirements: Bachelor of Science (or equivalent) from a university including at least 90 hec in biology and chemistry (with a minimum of 30 hec in biology and 30 hec in chemistry). These prerequisites can be waived if an applicant has verifiable equivalent knowledge/skills. English B level or English proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.5 no part under 5.5 or TOEFL 575 p, TWE score 4.5 is also required.

Selection: Selection is based upon the number of credit points from previous university studies, maximum 225 hec.

Start/term

Autumn 2012, full time (100 %)

Application and admission

There is one intake per year and the semester starts in September. Final application date for the academic year 2012/2013 is 16th of January 2012.

Application fee: 900 SEK (Does not apply for EU/EEA citizens or exchange students).
Tuition fee: Full programme cost 260 000 SEK. First payment 65 000 SEK. Tuition fee does not apply for EU/EEA citizens or exchange students.

Application international students: Closed for late application.
Application Swedish/EU/EEA citizens: Apply here

Further information on how to apply:
www.universityadmissions.se