1 - Demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the theoretical background that underpins environmental issues.
2 - Demonstrate awareness and working understanding of the legislation related to the environmental sector.
3 - 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.
4 - 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.
5 - Have the ability to work with environmental data, understand the methods used to collect different types of data, conduct descriptive and analytical statistics.
6 - 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 workplace.
7 - 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.
Applied Environmental Science
This course is available through the following application route(s)
- Duration:
- 1 Year
- Attendance:
- Full Time
- Delivery:
- On Campus
- NFQ Level:
- 9 (90 credits)
- Level:
- Graduate Taught
- Award:
- Master of Science
- Next Intake:
- September
- Country Specific Entry Requirements:
- Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.
- Other School Leaving Requirements:
- See www.ucd.ie/admissions
- Duration:
- 2 Years
- Attendance:
- Part-Time
- Delivery:
- NFQ Level:
- 9 (90 credits)
- Level:
- Graduate Taught
- Award:
- Master of Science
- Next Intake:
- September
- Country Specific Entry Requirements:
- Visit the UCD Global Undergraduate Entry Requirements webpage.
- Other School Leaving Requirements:
- See www.ucd.ie/admissions
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.
- 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.
About This Course
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.
| 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 |
Hannah Fearon
RPS Environmental, Ireland
The course was an eye-opening experience with a great mixture of lab sessions, field work and lectures. The highlight was 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.
EU fee per year - € 9530
nonEU fee per year - € 22600
Applied Environmental Science (X204) Part Time
EU fee per year - € 4750
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 EU) applicants: Yes
Part Time option suitable for:
Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EEA) applicants: No
The UCD MSc Applied 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.
How to Apply
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 September 2024 |
Graduate Taught | Closed |
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | X204 Applied Environmental Science Master of Science |
Part-Time Commencing September 2024 |
Graduate Taught | Not available to International applicantsClosed |
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | X062 Applied Environmental Science Master of Science |
Full-Time Commencing September 2025 |
Graduate Taught | Apply |
| showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt | X204 Applied Environmental Science Master of Science |
Part-Time Commencing September 2025 |
Graduate Taught | Not available to International applicantsApply |