Programme structure

Theoretical curriculum

The theoretical curriculum consists of either 60 or 90 ECTS credits, depending on the size of your master's thesis. You plan your curriculum together with your supervisor, and it must include at least 30 ECTS credits of chemistry courses at 4000/5000 level.

The programme option was called "Environmental Chemistry and Nuclear Chemistry" up until and including the study year 2024–25. See the programme structure for students with admission autumn 2024 or earlier.

Recommended courses for atmospheric chemistry


Recommended courses for nuclear chemistry

* We plan to coordinate KJM5922 with FYS4505 – Methods and Instrumentation for Nuclear and Particle Physics. We have yet to reach a final decision concerning which semester the course will be taught and the details of the course content. The subject of the course will in any case be nuclear measuring techniques.

If you have not completed KJM3900 – Radioactivity or an equivalent course as part of your bachelor's degree, you must take KJM4900 at the beginning of your master's degree. It can be useful to have taken FYS1040 – Introduction to Nuclear Technology as part of your bachelor's degree.


For both specializations, any remaining ECTS credits in the theoretical curriculum will primarily be chosen among courses at the Department of Chemistry.

Special syllabus

You may include up to 15 ECTS credits of special syllabus, planned in agreement with your supervisor. The special syllabus may include lecture series, literature, scientific articles and so on that are relevant to the theme of the master's thesis. It may not include literature that you should have read as background for your thesis.

For atmospheric chemistry, it is common to include a special syllabus on proton-transfer-reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS).

For nuclear chemistry, it is common to include a special syllabus on liquid-liquid extraction for projects related to industrial applications and problems. Video recordings of all lectures are available in both English and Norwegian.

Master's thesis

You may choose between a short master's thesis of 30 ECTS credits or a long thesis of 60 ECTS credits. In this programme option, you can find a supervisor and subject for the thesis in the research section Atmospheric and Nucelar Chemistry.

Please note that nuclear chemistry normally only offers master's theses of 60 ECTS credits, due to necessary training in radiation protection.

Published Aug. 14, 2024 8:28 AM - Last modified Nov. 15, 2024 1:02 PM