The world is home to billions of people with a constant need for food, medicine and energy. Meeting these needs in a responsible and sustainable way is one of society’s greatest challenges, and chemistry is a key part of the solution.
If you want to be part of that effort, the MSc in Chemistry is a strong next step. This two-year MSc programme gives you the necessary skills to contribute to advanced research or to lead and manage complex work and projects within the field.
The programme is offered in English.
To apply for admission to the master's programme, you must be enrolled in or have completed either a qualifying bachelor's programme or another relevant Danish or foreign degree programme which the admission board asess fulfil the adacemic requirements.
You apply for admission through the application portal.
Below you can read more about the admission requirements for the programme including which documents you must upload along with your application.
You must meet a number of admission requirements, to apply for the master’s programme. We do not offer pre-assessment of your educational background.
You can read about the various admission requirements below:
You have legal right of admission, if you hold a bachelor’s degree in:
As an applicant with legal right of admission, you are guaranteed a place if you apply by the deadline. You can wait up to three years to exercise your legal right of admission from the time you complete your bachelor’s degree until you start your master’s degree.
If you have completed one of the following bachelor’s degrees and meet the language requirement – English B – you automatically fulfil all the academic admission requirements.
From the University of Copenhagen:
From the University of Southern Denmark:
From Aarhus University:
From Lund University
From Stockholm University:
From University of Uppsala:
From University of Oslo:
From University of Tromsø:
From Norwegian University of Science and Technology:
From University of Iceland or University of Helsinki:
If you hold a bachelor’s degree, a professional bachelor’s degree or an equivalent qualification from a Danish or international university not listed above, you are eligible for admission if the programme includes the following:
Each of them must include experimental laboratory exercises including laboratory safety.
The elements must account for a total of min. 85 ECTS.
You must also meet the language requirement for English B.
As part of your application, you must include a number of documents, which vary depending on your educational background.
Below, you can see what documentation you need to enclose your application.
If you have a legal right of admission to a master’s programme, you must upload the following documents with your application:
If your study programme automatically meets the admission requirements, you must upload the following documents with your application:
f you have another Danish or international education, you must upload the following documents with your application:
There are two application deadlines for Danish applicants and applicants from within the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
The application portal opens on 16 January. You will receive a reply by 15 May.
The application portal opens on 15 August. You will receive a reply by 10 December.
There are two application deadlines for applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
The application portal opens on 15 November. You will receive a reply by 13 March.
The application portal opens on 15 August. You will receive a reply by 10 December.
Find information about available places on the study programme, as well as the distribution of students admitted last year.
| Admission statistics Chemistry 2026 | |
|---|---|
| Available study places | 56 |
| Admission statistics Chemistry 2025 | |
|---|---|
| Admitted (of which have start in February) | 40 (4) |
| Admission distribution (legal right/other) | 65% / 35% |
| Applicants | 106 |
| Age average | 25 |
| Nationality (dk/international) | 73% / 27% |
Students with a legal right of admission are always admitted. In the table above, you can see the distribution between legal right of admission applicants and other applicants for the most recent admission.
What is a legal right of admission and how long does it apply?
If there are more qualified applicants than the available study places, after applicants with legal right of admission are allocated, applicants will be prioritised according to the following criteria:
Relevant courses include courses in general and inorganic chemistry, organic chemistry, analytical chemistry and spectroscopy, chemical synthesis and physical chemistry (including quantum chemistry).
The documentation requirements depend on your applicant category. Select the category below that applies to you and find out what documents you need and how to apply for admission.
Starting in 2028, you can apply for focused 1-year master’s degrees, 2-year master’s degrees, and several new types of degrees for working professionals, combining study and relevant work.
The new master’s opportunities are relevant for you if you wish to apply for a master’s degree from 2028.
Your bachelor’s degree is the basis for assessing if you meet the admission requirements for the master’s degree.
In the curriculum you can see how many ECTS credits from other courses can be included in addition to your bachelor’s degree. These courses must be completed before you complete the bachelor’s degree. Courses completed between your bachelor’s and master’s degree cannot be included in the assessment.
Regrettably, the University of Copenhagen does not offer pre-assessment of your educational background to determine whether you qualify for admission.
The assessment process only begins once we have received your application. You can prepare by comparing your courses with the admission requirements.
If you are a citizen of a country outside the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, you must pay the application deposit and tuition fee.
If you want to apply for admission to a master’s degree or to apply for re-admission, study change, transfer, or re-enrolment at the University of Copenhagen, you must apply through the application portal.
Once you have submitted your application, you can follow the application in the application portal.
See the guide to the application portal
Read more about applying for re-admission, study change, transfer, and re-enrolment
During the MSc programme in Chemistry you learn to formulate, structure, and execute a research project involving the development and use of chemical methods. You work independently, both individually and in teams.
The programmer offers you five different specialisations:
When you enroll in the programme, you are required to choose between five specialisations:
Graduates with a specialisation in analytical chemistry are in demand in research, at industrial production industries from energy over foods and pharmaceuticals to biotech and at environmental consultancies.
You learn to analyze chemical composition of samples, and to reveal how these were formed and how to improve their production. You'll get hands on experience in the lab using high end scientific instruments. Furthermore, you learn to select, develop, validate and assess chemical analyses.
During the specialisation, you will work with:
Upon graduation you'll have the competencies to plan and perform sampling, as well as to sample preparation of complex matrices. You will also be able to analyze simple and complex mixtures of chemicals and elements using modern chromatography, mass spectrometry and spectroscopy methods, and to perform data analysis for qualitative (identification) and quantitative (concentration measurements) analysis.
Denmark has one of the highest ratios of advanced scientific instruments to population, so jobs are plentiful in research, industry, biotech and consultancy. A
You can find work within production or research in areas such as:
The specialisation can be structured in two different ways, depending on whether you start in September or February:
Compulsory courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS
One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific Writing, Planning and Presentation | Experimental Analytical Chemistry: Method Development and Quality Assurance | Elective course | Elective course |
| Advanced Analytical Chemistry - Sampling and Sample Preparation | Advanced Analytical Chemistry - Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry | Elective course | Elective course |
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis | |||
Study start in February is only for students with legal right of admission to the programme. Read about legal right of admission here >>
Compulsory courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS
One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.
| Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 1 | Block 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elective course | Elective course | Scientific Writing, Planning and Presentation | Experimental Analytical Chemistry: Method Development and Quality Assurance |
| Elective course | Elective course | Advanced Analytical Chemistry – Sampling and Sample Preparation | Advanced Analytical Chemistry - Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry |
| Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 1 | Block 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis | |||
The specialisation in inorganic chemistry prepares you to take the lead in research and development. As a graduate you are able to develop new functional materials. For example, molecular electronics that allow computers to grow smaller using fewer elements harmful to nature, catalysts that allows industries to produce more and pollute less, or plastics that are lighter and stronger yet biodegradable.
A central aspect of developing new compounds and materials is to characterize the new molecules you have invented. This involves use of large scale research facilities such as the largest synchrotron facility in Europe, the European Spallation Source (ESS), which is currently being built just an hour’s drive away from Copenhagen. So studying for your M.Sc. in Copenhagen also gives you ample opportunity to develop your skills at planning and executing research programmes at large scale facilities.
Among other things, you will focus on inorganic and coordination chemistry, materials science and theoretical modelling of inorganic systems.
Upon graduation you have the competencies to:
The specialisation can be structured in two different ways, depending on whether you start in September or February:
Compulsory courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS
One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methods and Modelling in Inorganic Chemistry | Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry | ||
| Elective course | Elective course | Elective course | Elective course |
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis | |||
Study start in February is only for students with legal right of admission to the programme. Read about legal right of admission here >>
Compulsory courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS
One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.
| Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 1 | Block 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Descriptive Inorganic Chemistry | Methods and Modelling in Inorganic Chemistry | ||
| Elective course | Elective course | Elective course | Elective course |
| Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 1 | Block 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis | |||
New medicines, smart materials, better fuels, brighter pigments, perfumes and more. With a specialisation in organic synthesis you will be trained to invent and develop new organic compounds. You acquire a deep insight into what can and cannot be produced in an organic chemistry laboratory. You also get hands on experience with advanced techniques and equipment for producing small molecules.
Among other things, you learn to:
When you graduate, you'll have the competencies to analyze reactions on the basis of physical organic chemistry. You are also able to analyze complex synthetic problems and plan a feasible synthesis. These are competencies that are sought after by the private sector, not least the pharmaceutical industry.
The specialisation can be structured in two different ways, depending on whether you start in September or February:
Compulsory courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS
One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elective course | Elective course | Elective course | Elective course |
| Reactions and Synthesis in Medicinal Chemistry | Introduction to Physical Organic Chemistry | Physical Organic Chemistry | |
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis | |||
Study start in February is only for students with legal right of admission to the programme. Read about legal right of admission here >>
Compulsory courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS
One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.
| Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 1 | Block 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elective course | Elective course | Elective course | Elective course |
| Introduction to Physical Organic Chemistry | Physical Organic Chemistry | Reactions and Synthesis in Medicinal Chemistry | |
| Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 1 | Block 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis | |||
The physical and computational chemistry specialisation focus on fundamental forces in chemistry as well as questions such as how atmospheric phenomena relates to climate change, or how we store solar energy.
You can involve yourself in anything from full scale investigations of atmospheric phenomena to analysis and spectroscopic experimentation in the laboratory and predictive theoretical and computational chemistry. You can investigate the forces acting between single atoms in a molecule, and draw inferences to the macroscopic interactions that governs entire planetary atmospheric systems.
You will learn to:
With a specialisation in physical and computational chemistry you have an expertise in spectroscopy and physical chemistry, which is in demand in high tech industries, environmental agencies, consulting companies and the biomedical industry. Your insight into high level programming and data mining also makes you sought after by the IT-sector as well as in finance and banking.
The specialisation can be structured in two different ways, depending on whether you start in September or February:
Compulsory courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS
One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elective course | Elective course | Elective course | Elective course |
| Computational Chemistry | Advanced Vibrational Spectroscopy | Advanced Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Microscopy | |
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis | |||
Study start in February is only for students with legal right of admission to the programme. Read about legal right of admission here >>
Compulsory courses: 30 ECTS
Elective courses: 30 ECTS
Master's thesis: 60 ECTS
One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.
| Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 1 | Block 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elective course | Elective course | Elective course | Elective course |
| Advanced Vibrational Spectroscopy | Advanced Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Microscopy | Computational Chemistry | |
| Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 1 | Block 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis | |||
Please note: The MSc in Chemistry with a minor subject is only for applicants with a Danish Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry including the required courses from the minor subject. The minor subject consists of courses taught in Danish, where the first part is compulsory in the Bachelor’s degree, and the remaining is part of the MSc.
You can study chemistry with a minor subject if you want to develop the skills to teach or communicate both subjects. This combination qualifies you to teach at Danish upper secondary schools.
In addition, you are prepared for a wide range of career paths. You can work in:
The programme also provides the academic foundation for further studies, such as a PhD programme.
The programme can be structured in different ways depending on whether your minor subject is within or outside the field of science, and whether you start in September or February. Below, you will find examples of course tables showing the study structure if you start in September or February with a minor subject within the field of science.
Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
Minor subject: 45 ECTS
Master's thesis: 30 ECTS
One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor subject | Minor subject | Minor subject | Minor subject |
| Minor subject | Minor subject | Kemiske undervisningsforsøg | Restricted elective course |
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted elective course | Videregående fagdidaktik i naturvidenskabelige fag | Thesis | |
| Restricted elective course | Restricted elective course | ||
Study start in February is only for students with legal right of admission to the programme. Read about legal right of admission here >>
Compulsory courses: 15 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 30 ECTS
Minor subject: 45 ECTS
Master's thesis: 30 ECTS
One block each year equals nine weeks of study and 15 ECTS. The table is primarily for guidance and may be subject to revision.
| Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 1 | Block 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minor subject | Minor subject | Minor subject | Minor subject |
| Minor subject | Minor subject | Restricted elective course | Videregående fagdidaktik i naturvidenskabelige fag |
| Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 1 | Block 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kemiske undervisningsforsøg | Restricted elective course | Thesis | |
| Restricted elective course | Restricted elective course | ||
Choose your restricted elective courses from the list below. Click on each course for a detailed description.
You have nine months to write your master's thesis. This gives you a full study year to work in the lab and concentrate on your chosen subject.
This way you develop in-depth expertise within a specialised field at an internationally competitive level
Your thesis is experimental in nature.
It must include:
You complete your thesis in a research group at the Department of Chemistry.
A researcher from the department supervises your work.
Together with your supervisor, you prepare:
You may also write your thesis in a private company or a public institution in Denmark or abroad.
In this case, you will have:
You complete your degree with an oral defence of your thesis.
An external examiner takes part in the assessment.
Do you want to turn theory into experience or explore the world while you study?
As part of your programme, you can use some of your elective courses to gain hands-on or international experience by doing an project in practice or choosing to study abroad.
If you are more interested in the academic content, regulations, and examination requirements, you should consult the curriculum, which serves as the legal foundation for the programme.
There is both a curriculum specific to each degree programme and a general curriculum that applies across the faculty.
Please note that curricula are often revised annually. Any new versions will be published no later than during the spring semester.
Ida and Laia are both studying the MSc programme in Chemistry. In this video, they share what it is like to be a MSc-student in Chemistry and their favourite parts about the programme.
Upon completion of the master’s programme, you obtain the title Master of Science in Chemistry.
The Chemistry MSc programme combines teaching and scientific research under the supervision of an experienced researcher. This gives you a detailed understanding of the science behind chemical research and the methods used.
As a graduate, you’ll have the competencies to:
Chemists are in demand all over the world and your degree qualifies you for a wide range of roles in both the private and public sector. Many graduates work in research, development, and analytical laboratories.
You can also work as an advisor in private companies or public institutions, teach at university or upper secondary school level, or communicate scientific knowledge through media and outreach. Some graduates use their academic background in chemistry to start their own business or pursue entrepreneurial projects.
Student life on the MSc in Chemistry at the University of Copenhagen combines high-quality education in English with a flexible study structure and an international environment. Based primarily at North Campus, you’ll benefit from excellent facilities while spending your days on advanced laboratory work, lectures, and collaborative problem-solving with fellow students.
The close-knit community makes it easy to connect across year groups, and study groups are an important part of both academic and social life. Outside the classroom, attractive and green campus areas provide space to relax, while a wide range of student clubs, social events, and traditions - such as Friday bars and seasonal parties - create a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere.
Throughout the year, various social activities are arranged for all students at the Faculty of Science and for international students specifically. These activities include:
Meet Elizabeth and Alex who study at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. See what it is like to live and study in Denmark.
What is student life like across the rest of the University of Copenhagen?
Find out where you can live, get more information about student grants (SU), student jobs, student discounts, and all the many other things that are part of student life.
Teaching takes place at North Campus, located close to Fælledparken. The Niels Bohr Institute, Panum, and the Maersk Tower are all part of the campus.
North Campus is home to both natural sciences and health sciences degree programmes.
Find out what it costs to live here, where students stay, and why so many internationals choose Copenhagen.
Our student guidance are ready to assist you with answers to your questions about:
You can find answers to questions most often asked by potential students in the FAQ. Read the FAQ
Check out the guide to the application portalIn case of technical problems, contact IT-support:
Mail: it-service@adm.ku.dk
Tel: +45 35 32 32 32
