Submit your application
Opens 15 November for applicants from outside the EU/EEA/Switzerland, and 16 January for applicants from within the EU/EEA/Switzerland.
About the programme
At the programme in Nanoscience, you will learn to apply your knowledge within the fields of physics, chemistry and biology to understand the properties of nanoscopic systems. You will learn a range of techniques, both experimental and theoretical, with which you can explore the structure and function of matter at the nanometer scale. You will be able to work independently and professionally in the field of nanoscience.
Admission and application
To apply for admission to this master's degree programme, you must have completed, or expect to complete, a qualifying bachelor’s degree or a similar Danish or international degree programme which is assessed to be relevant. Apply for admission via the application portal.
Below, you can read more about admission requirements and which documents to upload in the application portal.
Academic admission requirements
Here you'll find the different academic requirements depending on which qualifying degree you hold.
With a Bachelor's degree in
- Nanoscience from University of Copenhagen
you are granted legal right of admission and guaranteed a place on the Master’s programme in Nanoscience if you apply in time to begin within 3 years of the completion of your Bachelor’s degree.
You meet all academic requirements if you hold one of the degrees listed below. Learn about when and how to apply. Note, however, that you still need to document that you meet the programme's language requirements.
From University of Copenhagen
- Nanoscience (note, that if you apply in time to begin within 3 years of the completion of your Bachelor’s degree, you have legal right of admission to the Master's programme)
From Aarhus University
- Nanoscience
If you have a Bachelor’s degree other than those listed above, you must submit additional documentation along with your application so we can evaluate whether or not you meet the admission requirements. Learn about when and how to apply.
If you have a Bachelor’s degree, Professional Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from Danish or international universities you are qualified for admission if your programme includes the following:
- A minimum of 30 ECTS credits within introductory physics (electromagnetism and quantum theory).
- A minimum of 30 ECTS credits within introductory chemistry (organic, inorganic and physical).
The elements must account for a total of minimum 90 ECTS credits.
We may also admit applicants who, after an individual academic assessment, are deemed to possess educational qualifications equivalent to those required above.
Qualifying degree and other courses/projects
When we assess whether you meet the admission requirements for the Master's degree program, Danish legislation only allows us to assess your Bachelor's degree. Consequently, you cannot study supplementary courses between Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in order to meet the admission requirements.
If you have passed courses/projects before you complete the qualifying Bachelor's degree, these can be included in the assessment, even though they are not part of the Bachelor's degree program.
- It applies to courses/projects you have taken as single subjects and courses/projects you have taken as part of another study program.
- A maximum of 30 ECTS credits of these courses/projects may be included.
International Bachelor’s degree
You can only get an answer to whether or not your degree meets the admission requirement by applying for admission to the MSc Programme. Only the admission committee can evaluate whether you are qualified or not and they only do this once they have received your application.
Bachelor’s degree from Denmark
You are entitled to 1 pre-assessment for 1 study programme, where, based on an assessment of the documentation you have submitted, we will inform you whether you meet the admission requirements.
This is a service offered by SCIENCE, but it is not a service you have to make use of in order for you to apply for admission.
Language requirements
Unless you have a legal right of admission to the programme you are applying for, you are required to document proficiency in English.
Application deadlines
Study start in September
1 March at 23:59
Application deadline for Danish applicants and applicants from within the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
Open for applications from 16 January. You will receive a reply by 10 June.
15 January at 23:59
Application deadline for applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
Open for applications from 15 November. You will receive a reply by 1 May.
Study start in February (legal right of admission only)
15 October at 23:59
Application deadline for Danish applicants and applicants from within the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
Open for applications from 15 August. You will receive a reply by 10 December.
1 September at 23:59
Application deadline for applicants from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
Open for applications from 1 July. You will receive a reply by 1 December.
How to apply
Choose the category below that fits you and read more about how to apply for admission. You will also find information about application deadlines and documentation on the websites.
Citizen in Denmark, EU EEA og Switzerland
Bachelor with legal right of admission
Bachelor’s degree from Denmark
International bachelor’s degree
Citizen in a country outside EU, EEA or Switzerland
Bachelor’s degree from Denmark
International bachelor’s degree
Prioritisation of applicants
If the number of qualified applicants to the programme exceeds the number of places available, applicants will be prioritised according to the following criteria:
- Total number of ECTS credits in relevant courses
- Grades in relevant courses
Relevant courses include courses in introductory physics (electromagnetism and quantum theory) and introductory chemistry (organic, inorganic and physical).
Limitation on second degrees
If you have already completed a Master's degree, please check out the rules concerning a second degree.
| Admission statistics Nanoscience 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Admitted | 12 |
| Admission distribution (legal right/other) | 81% / 19% |
| Applicants | 38 |
| Age average | 25 |
| Legal gender distribution (cpr. - m/f) | 50% / 50% |
| Nationality (dk/international) | 75% / 25% |
| Available spots | No |
Programme structure
You begin your programme with the course "Structural Tools in Nanoscience" in which you are introduced to the most important techniques for structure determination including X-ray diffraction, scanning probe techniques (STM and AFM), and electron microscopy (TEM and SEM).
The remaining courses are restricted elective or elective. Restricted elective course are chosen from our list of core nanoscience courses, which are offered primarily by the departments of physics, chemistry and biology.
The elective courses can be chosen freely from all courses at The Faculty of Science. You can also follow elective courses at other faculties at the university (e.g. Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences) or at other institutions such as the Technical University of Denmark or Lund University in Sweden.
Do a Project in Practice or Study Abroad
You can use some of your elective courses to do a Project in Practice in collaboration with a company or an organisation. You can also choose to study abroad as part of your programme. Read more here:
Master's Thesis
The Master's thesis project is an independent research project which you do under supervision of a professor at the Faculty of Science. You can write a thesis worth 60 or 45 ECTS.
In practice, the work takes place in the research group of your supervisor, often one of the groups in the Nano-Science Center. Your supervisor is responsible for ensuring the feasibility of the project and for supervision throughout. On a day-to-day basis, you may work in close collaboration with other graduate students – sometimes with BSc students or with older, more experienced PhD students and postdocs.
You can also do your thesis work as part of a research and development team in the private sector. The working methods here are often the same as at the university. In either case, your supervisor will ensure that the academic content is of a high standard of quality.
Programme Overview
The Nanoscience programme can be structured in different ways, depending on the size of your thesis, and whether you start in September or February.
Below, you will find course tables showing the study structure if you start in September or February with a thesis worth 60 ECTS. See the full programme overview in the curriculum for MSc in Nanoscience >>
Example 1: Study Start September, Thesis 60 ECTS
Compulsory courses: 7,5 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 22,5 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.
Year 1
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structural Tools in Nanoscience | Restricted elective course | Restricted elective course | Restricted elective course |
| Elective course | Elective course | Elective course | Elective course |
Year 2
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis | |||
Example 2: Study Start February, Thesis 60 ECTS
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: 7,5 ECTS
Restricted elective courses: 22,5 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.
Year 1
| Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 1 | Block 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted elective course | Restricted elective course | Structural Tools in Nanoscience | Restricted elective course |
| Elective course | Elective course | Elective course | Elective course |
Year 2
| Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 1 | Block 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thesis | |||
Restricted Elective Courses
Choose your restricted elective courses from the list below. Click on each course for a detailed description.
- Advanced Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Microscopy
- Applied Machine Learning
- Applied Statistics: From Data to Results
- Biophysics of Cells and Single Molecules
- Complex Physics
- Computational Chemistry
- Condensed Matter Physics 2
- Crystallography – MSc
- Dynamical Models in Molecular Biology
- Experimental X-Ray Physics
- Integrative Structural Biology
- Neutron Scattering
- Physical Implementations of Quantum Information Processing
- Physics of Molecular Diseases
- Plant-based Materials: Structure and Performance from Nano to Macro Scale
- Quantum Nanoelectronics
- Scientific Computing
- Scientific Writing, Planning and Presentation
Curriculum
Learn more about the programme in the: Curriculum for MSc in NanoscienceShared section of the curriculum
Please note: The programme curriculum is for the current academic year. A revised curriculum for the coming academic year will follow.
Video: Josef and Line talk about the study programme in Nanoscience
Career opportunities
During the MSc Programme in Nanoscience, you can focus on the aspects of nanoscience that interest you.
You may use X-rays to investigate how enzymes catalyze in chemical reactions. You can study how quantum transport works in molecules or quantum devices, or you can focus on nanosensors in the development of new medicine.
You create your own academic profile by choosing from a wide range of restricted elective and elective courses, and by choosing the topic of your master's thesis.
During the programme you will learn to conduct independent research and you acquire a range of transferable skills such as research project management and data analysis.
Employment
The majority of graduates with an MSc in Nanoscience work in the private sector, often in high-tech companies within pharmaceuticals, IT, biotech, or green energy.
Some work as consultants or with patents. Around 40% of our graduates pursue a PhD and later work with research and development in the industry or at a university.
The programme organises match-making events between students and companies. These can lead to thesis projects or employment with a company upon graduation.
Student life
High quality education in English, a flexible study structure, excellent facilities, an international study environment, attractive and green campus areas, and the opportunity to experience life in Copenhagen, the cool capital of Denmark. These are some of the qualities about studying at Faculty of Science (SCIENCE) at University of Copenhagen that you can expect.
Throughout the year, various social activities are arranged for all SCIENCE students and for international students specifically. These activities include:
- Introduction Days for new students
- A welcome programme for international students
- International dinners, courses, and lectures
- Sports activities such as fun runs or bicycle races
- Career workshops
Students live in residence halls outside campus or share a flat in the Copenhagen area. You will find that the relatively small size of Copenhagen makes it easy to get around, even by bike.
Where Will I be Studying?
The Nanoscience programme is primarily based at North Campus.
The University’s North Campus is centrally located. It is home to scientific, pharmaceutical and health science research, and neighbour to the Copenhagen University Hospital (Rigshospitalet), Metropolitan University College, and Fælledparken.
Many exciting building activities are going on at the campus areas at the moment, including the construction of a new Natural History Museum and the Niels Bohr Building. Furthermore, North Campus is part of a coherent district of science, health and interdisciplinarity – Innovation District Copenhagen – which is being developed these years.
You can read more about campus life at the university here:
Here you will find some useful links and videos about student life and housing in Copenhagen, and the welcome programme for international students at Faculty of Science.
- Information about living in Copenhagen – plus practical information on housing, civil registration number, residence permit and more
- General information on student life and studying at University of Copenhagen
- Housing Foundation Copenhagen is an independent entity which assists international students and researchers at University of Copenhagen in finding accommodation. Visit Housing Foundation Copenhagen here
Video: Study Science at University of Copenhagen
Meet Elizabeth and Alex who study at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark. See what it is like to live and study in Denmark.
Video: SCIENCE Welcome Programme
The SCIENCE Welcome Programme is a great way for international students to be introduced to the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen.
Testimonials
Read interviews with students and graduates from the Master of Science programme (MSc) in Nanoscience.
Interview with Monica-Elisabeta Lăcătușu from Romania.
I enjoy living in a big city. In Copenhagen there are so many things to do – a lot of cultural events, many places to go out, and a lot of different people, and the university is right in the heart of the city.
When I got my bachelor degree in physics from Al. I. Cuza in Iasi in Romania, I wanted to travel and study in another country. I spend one year in Norway working for an NGO, and I really liked Northern Europe so I looked at the universities in the area. University of Copenhagen is one of the best so I applied to get in nanoscience, and now I am here.
I choose to study Nanoscience because it gives me the opportunity to work both with physics and chemistry. I like that the master program has a great degree of freedom. There is only one mandatory course you need to follow, after that you can choose the courses that you want to create your own scientific profile. I am into physics so many of the courses I have chosen are within nanophysics.
The hierarchy in the groups is flat that is a big difference to the university that I come from in Romania. Even though I have only been here for seven months, I am already a part of a research group. We talk about the scientific problems and discuss the solutions with each other at group meeting where everybody can say what they think. I have started to look into what my Master’s theses will be about, and I spend much of my time at the Nano-Science Center.
When I am not at the university I spend much time doing voluntary work for different NGOs and The International House. It is not cheap to stay in Copenhagen so I also work some hours a week for a research group at the university.
When I finish my master’s I would like to travel again and maybe do a PhD.
After graduating, Monica-Elisabeta went on to do a PhD at the Technical University of Denmark. She now works as a data analyst in EIVEE, a software company.
Sepideh Hakim, from Iran, is studying Nanoscience.
It is not cheap to study in Copenhagen. But it is worth the money, though I got the chance to go to Gothenburg and study there for free. I chose Copenhagen instead, and I haven't regretted it for one moment.
My uncle spent 25 years in Denmark and he had told me lots of nice things about Copenhagen and the country as such. And when I checked the University of Copenhagen out in the global rankings and it turned out to be the 45th best in the world, my mind was made up.
I did physics in Iran but decided to switch to nanoscience for my Master degree. I believe Nanoscience is investigating unexplored aspects of the world, and it makes me feel I am part of an exciting research and study environment. There are lots of opportunities if you want to do experiments and write papers. From the beginning I was very interested in environmental projects and I can say that I have found it here in Copenhagen University: ''nanoscience in the context of an environmental project''.
I feel completely happy in Copenhagen. In Denmark everyone speaks very good English, which sets it apart from many other countries. There are lots of international higher education programmes in English. Even an old lady will help you in English, if you're standing there looking lost with a map in your hand. Unlike the prejudices you hear about Danes being cold and inhospitable to strangers, according to my experience the Danes are really amenable and welcome foreigners. They are interested in other cultures, and they're really helpful.
One of the things I really like about Denmark is the biking life - here I do bicycling a lot and I enjoy it very much. It gives you a feeling of safety with all those bike paths and facilities for biking in Copenhagen, and in the city it is easy to get around on bike.
Another good thing about studying in Copenhagen is that it is a good way to learn to live independently, by being far from my home - although I've missed my family a lot. I share a flat with some other students. That's also a completely new way of life for me. I am so happy to be studying here, and I am very hopeful for a good future in my education and in my life as well.
Sepideh later did a PhD in Nanoscience at University of Copenhagen and now works as a materials engineer at Grundfos.
Contact student guidance
Contact SCIENCE Student Service
Do you have questions about the programme structure, study or career opportunities, admission requirements or application procedure, please feel free to contact SCIENCE Student Services.
Contact SCIENCE Student ServicesLocation
- Faculty of Science, Frederiksberg Campus, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871 Frederiksberg.
