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Applied Environmental Science

MSc (NFQ Level 9)
Internships Available

This course is available through the following application route(s)

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The study of Applied Environmental Science is critical for establishing policies in environmental assessment, evaluating potential change in environmental quality in response to various land use and other activities, and in development of management and conservation strategies, as well as contributing to policy formulation. This course has a heavy emphasis on practical training in fieldwork, laboratory analyses, information sourcing, data analysis, planning, reporting and communication.
You will work with an interdisciplinary team of experts covering the key aspects of Environmental Science, encompassing marine, freshwater and terrestrial systems. This is the only Applied Environmental Science course in Ireland to include a major input from civil engineering, relating particularly to water quality, hydrology and waste treatment processes.

Download the UCD Science Graduate Taught Courses brochure (pdf)

  • In collaboration with UCD School of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering relating particularly to water quality, hydrology and waste treatment processes.
  • This multi-disciplinary Master’s course provides fundamental training in key areas of Environmental Science encompassing marine, freshwater and terrestrial systems.  

Contact Us:

  • EU Enquiries: tancredi.caruso@ucd.ie
  • Non-EU Enquiries: internationalenquiries@ucd.ie

About This Course

  • Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the theoretical background that underpins environmental issues.
  • Demonstrate awareness and working understanding of the legislation related to the environmental sector.
  • Demonstrate effective and clear oral and written communication skills and show an ability to use appropriate software typically applied to communicate within the environmental sector.
  • Have a good working knowledge of field surveying methods to obtain relevant environmental information and demonstrate a practical ability to conduct common faunal and flora surveying techniques.
  • Have the ability to source, evaluate and synthesise current scientific information related to environmental issues and produce industry ready reports with justifiable recommendations made and conclusions drawn.
  • Have the ability to work with environmental data, understand the methods used to collect different types of data, conduct descriptive and analytical statistics.
  • Through work experience develop an understanding of how the knowledge gained can be applied to the work environment and develop skills necessary to work effectively in the work place.

Our graduates are building successful varied careers in environmental resources assessment, management and protection. A considerable number have been employed in environmental consultancy and national and International government agencies, such as Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Some graduates have also continued their studies at PhD level in the areas of fisheries, biomass fuels, soil, water engineering and invertebrate ecology. The course gives due consideration to key legislative requirements and policy developments.

Internship opportunities are available for at least a 6-week period in the environmental sector (including consultancies, government agencies and industry) over the Summer Trimester. Examples of previous placements are RPS Group, Dublin City Council, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Golder Associates and Dublin Urban Rivers Life Project.

***Placements are secured through a competitive process and are not guaranteed.


Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
 CVEN40220 Introduction to Water Resources Engineering 1 Autumn  10
Stage 1 Core Modules
 ENVB40130 Global Change Ecology Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 ENVB40720 Vegetation Ecology Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 GEOG40770 GIS for Environmental Assessment Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 ENVB40120 Freshwater Resources Assessment Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 ENVB40510 Analyses for Environmental Investigations Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 ENVB40680 Soil Ecology Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 GEOL40300 Environmental Geology Spring  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 BIOL40390 Quantitative Tools for the Life Sciences Summer  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
 ENVB40670 Thesis (MSc Env. Science) Summer  20
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must take 70 credits of core modules and 20 credits of option modules. Of these options student must pick a 5 credit module in the Autumn trimester, 10 credits of module/s in Spring and a 5 credit module in the Summer.
 AESC40150 Wildlife Conservation Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must take 70 credits of core modules and 20 credits of option modules. Of these options student must pick a 5 credit module in the Autumn trimester, 10 credits of module/s in Spring and a 5 credit module in the Summer.
 BSEN30240 Waste Management Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must take 70 credits of core modules and 20 credits of option modules. Of these options student must pick a 5 credit module in the Autumn trimester, 10 credits of module/s in Spring and a 5 credit module in the Summer.
 ENVB40040 Environmental Impact Assessment Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must take 70 credits of core modules and 20 credits of option modules. Of these options student must pick a 5 credit module in the Autumn trimester, 10 credits of module/s in Spring and a 5 credit module in the Summer.
 ENVB40690 Essay (MSc Applied Science) Autumn  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must take 70 credits of core modules and 20 credits of option modules. Of these options student must pick a 5 credit module in the Autumn trimester, 10 credits of module/s in Spring and a 5 credit module in the Summer.
 BSEN40720 Carbon & Sustainability Autumn and Spring (separate)  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must take 70 credits of core modules and 20 credits of option modules. Of these options student must pick a 5 credit module in the Autumn trimester, 10 credits of module/s in Spring and a 5 credit module in the Summer.
 CVEN40570 Water Waste and Environmental Modelling Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must take 70 credits of core modules and 20 credits of option modules. Of these options student must pick a 5 credit module in the Autumn trimester, 10 credits of module/s in Spring and a 5 credit module in the Summer.
 CVEN40840 Sustainable and Nature Based Water Infrastructure Spring  10
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must take 70 credits of core modules and 20 credits of option modules. Of these options student must pick a 5 credit module in the Autumn trimester, 10 credits of module/s in Spring and a 5 credit module in the Summer.
 ENVB40020 Marine Community Ecology Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must take 70 credits of core modules and 20 credits of option modules. Of these options student must pick a 5 credit module in the Autumn trimester, 10 credits of module/s in Spring and a 5 credit module in the Summer.
 ENVB40320 Wildlife Management/Conservation (On-line) Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must take 70 credits of core modules and 20 credits of option modules. Of these options student must pick a 5 credit module in the Autumn trimester, 10 credits of module/s in Spring and a 5 credit module in the Summer.
 ENVB40350 Appl. Ecotoxicology (On-line) Spring  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must take 70 credits of core modules and 20 credits of option modules. Of these options student must pick a 5 credit module in the Autumn trimester, 10 credits of module/s in Spring and a 5 credit module in the Summer.
 ENVB40650 Environmental-based internship Summer  5
Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:
Students must take 70 credits of core modules and 20 credits of option modules. Of these options student must pick a 5 credit module in the Autumn trimester, 10 credits of module/s in Spring and a 5 credit module in the Summer.
 ENVB40660 Research-based internship Summer  5

Graduate Profiles
Hannah Fearon
RPS Environmental, Ireland

Overall, the course was an eye-opening experience with a great mixture of lab sessions, field work and lectures. The highlight of this course for me was definitely the opportunity to gain professional work experience and I would encourage anyone interested in following a career in the Environmental sector to seriously consider this course.

Betsy Townsend
Physical Scientist, US EPA
The MSc coursework paired with my 6-week placement at Dublin City Council prepared me for a career in the environmental sector, and gave me proficiency in the collection, processing, analyses, and interpretation of environmental data.

Applied Environmental Science (X062) Full Time
EU          fee per year - € 9300
nonEU    fee per year - € 22600

Applied Environmental Science (X204) Part Time
EU          fee per year - € 4630
nonEU    fee per year - € 11260

***Fees are subject to change

Tuition fee information is available on the UCD Fees website. Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please visit International Scholarships.

This programme is intended for applicants with a primary degree in Science, Engineering, Geography, Architecture or a related subject. An upper second class honours, or international equivalent is required.

  • Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.
  • Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the  English language requirements, may enter the programme upon  successful completion of UCD’s Pre-Sessional or International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information http://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/ 
  • These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes 

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. Yes

Part Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants currently residing outside of the EEA Region. No


The UCD MSc Applied Science (Environmental Science) is designed for recent graduates in Science, Engineering or Architecture or graduates employed by Local Authorities, State or Semi-state agencies, Industry and Environmental consultants.
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General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Applied Environmental Science:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt X062
Applied Environmental Science
Master of Science		 Full-Time
Commencing 2024/2025 September		 Graduate Taught Apply
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt X204
Applied Environmental Science
Master of Science		 Part-Time
Commencing 2024/2025 September		 Graduate Taught Apply
* you can change options at the top of the page
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