Master's degree (2 years)
Full time
Nuclear and Environmental Sciences

Are you interested in tackling challenges associated with radioactive contamination, radiation protection, nuclear preparedness or the analysis of radioactive substances in the environment? Do you want to assess the risks and consequences of environmental radioactivity? If so, this study programme is for you. There is a high demand for this expertise in Norway, the Nordics, and Europe.

Apply here

Application deadline:

Norwegian, Nordic, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens: 15th of April.

Students outside EU/EEA/EFTA: 1st of December.

Start of Studies:

Fall semester

Number of students:

Required points:

Alle kvalifiserte

Requirements:

Relevant Bachelor's degree required. Admission grade point average of C.

Requirements in detail
A relevant bachelors degree, where you need to have achieved an average of admission level C.
General information about admission to NMBU can be found here:
https://www.nmbu.no/en/studies/application-procedures-study-programmes-taught-english
Admission to the study programme requires a Bachelors degree from a university or university college, or equivalent, where you have gained a minimum of 180 that includes:
- Basic knowledge in natural sciences such as mathematics and/or statistics, biology, chemistry, physics where at least 60 ECTS credits have been gained.
- Specialisation of at least 80 ECTS credits in one or more of these subjects: geology/groundwater, chemistry/environmental chemistry/radiochemistry, biology/ecology, nature management/resource science, ecotoxicology/radioecotoxicology and risk and mitigation assessment.
Applicants must demonstrate English language ability in accordance with NMBU's regulations for programmes taught in English. To read more about the english language requirements see: www.nmbu.no/en/studies/language-requirements-programmes-taught-english-nmbu

This study programme falls under the regulations of export control. NMBU evaluates each applicant individually, and in some cases, applicants must be able to pass a security clearance by the Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) during the admission process.

Profilbilder fra Cerad , NMBU Lisa Magdelena Rossbach and Erica Maremonti performing toxicity tests with C. elegans (a roundworm)

Norway is in need of candidates with knowledge in nuclear subjects. The Master's program in Nuclear and Environmental Sciences will provide you with fundamental skills required for a further career both nationally and internationally in research, administration, and business where nuclear expertise is required.

You will learn about the effects and consequences of radioactivity in the environment, radioactive pollution in conjunction with various types of pollution in nature, and the sources of this. You will also gain an understanding of important radiation protection principles and how Norway's nuclear preparedness works, as well as risk and consequence analysis.

There is an increasing focus on nuclear power as an energy source while Norway is decommissioning old research reactors. This requires knowledge of the cleanup of radioactive sources, but also potential extraction of radionuclides for various purposes. The nuclear accidents at Chernobyl and Fukushima have shown the need for national preparedness in Norway, and today the knowledge within nuclear preparedness is also directed towards issues around war in areas with nuclear facilities and the threat from the use of nuclear weapons. In addition, there is natural radioactivity in the Norwegian bedrock, which is a challenge for road and tunnel construction in our country and which gives rise to some of Europe's highest radon levels.

The acquired knowledge will be applicable in many areas of applied science from the protection of health and the environment to nuclear preparedness and the decommissioning of nuclear installations. The Master's program in Nuclear and Environmental Science aims to secure current and future needs for nuclear expertise within the Norwegian public sector and business.

You can find the study plan for the programme here.

Career opportunities

The job market within nuclear subjects in industry, administration, and research is vast and is expected to grow even larger in the near future. Our former students are now working in everything from research institutes, industry, and public administration. Students are qualified for a variety of positions where radioactivity and environmental issues are handled.

You will become professionally competent to independently carry out tasks such as:

Risk assessment of issues within nuclear and environmental science, radiation protection, and nuclear preparedness
Planning and implementation of field sampling
Analysis of a range of radionuclides and inorganic substances in field samples (environmental samples, food, etc.)
Recommendation, planning, and implementation of preventive and emergency measures

There are many potential employers, both public and private. In the public sector, you can work at all levels, including municipal, regional, and state. At the state level, typical employers are the Environment Agency, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), the Directorate for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (DSA), Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning (NND), and the Public Roads Administration.

In the private sector, a number of business and interest organizations are relevant, such as Multiconsult, Veidekke, Lindum, NGI - Norwegian Geotechnical Institute, IFE, and more.

Further research education is also an option that is highly recommended. Read more about our PhD student Aleksander, who is researching radioactivity in water. He previously wrote his master's thesis on the toxicity of uranium at the MINA faculty.

Learning outcomes
A candidate who has completed this study programme is expected to have achieved the following learning outcomes, defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:
Knowledge:
- Knowledge of basic properties of atomic nuclei and knowledge of the main types of ionising (radioactive) radiation.
- Knowledge of applications of radioactivity in research and technology.
- In-depth knowledge of the interaction in nature with special emphasis on radioactive pollution, human impact, sustainability and climate change.
- Good insight into how to make risk and vulnerability assessments of environmental influences from different nuclear and non-nuclear sources, and can assess corrective measures.
- Good insight into how radioactive substances behave in the environment and how they can affect different ecosystems and hence the environment's vulnerability to human activity and the spread of radioactive and other substances in the environment from different sources.
- Comprehensive understanding of biogeochemical processes in terrestrial and aquatic environments and the influence of mobility and toxicity of radioactive substances and other substances.
- Can analyse complex and interdisciplinary issues in nuclear sciences and environmental science.
Skills:
- You will have gained experience working in a laboratory, and you can apply radiation protection procedures in practice,
and you will be able to:
- Plan, carry out and evaluate sampling and analyses according to professionally relevant methods for identifying radioactive substances in soil, rocks, water or biota,
- Use relevant analytical, numerical, and experimental methods to investigate issues within source identification, radioactivity in the environment, risk assessment, &c.,
- Transfer knowledge from basic research to applications in emergency preparedness, management, and industry,
- Apply already acquired methods to new problems,
- Structure and analyse scientific data,
- Assess the risk and vulnerability effects of ionising radiation on humans and in the environment and formulate corrective action,
- Critically analyse, structure and inter-relate to various sources of information and scientific literature in the field.
- Carry out a limited project in an independent manner in accordance with ethical norms.
General competence:
- You will have gained the independent ability to familiarise yourself with problems and carry out practical and theoretical problem solving,
and you will be able to:
- Apply your own knowledge and skills in new areas to carry out independent research projects.
- Master communication, teamwork, and cooperation in an international academic environment.
- Disseminate your work to larger independent works.
- Use appropriate Norwegian and English terminology in the subject area.
Consider health, safety, and environmental aspects for your own work.
Exchange possibilities
Within the study programme it is envisaged that elective nuclear courses can be taken at the University of Oslo, or at other educational institutions internationally. Students may also have the opportunity to participate in the ERASMUS+ MINDER collaboration course portfolio. Here you have the opportunity to take the first semester at NMBU, and in the entire second semester you can study at an establishment where you can specialise in decommissioning and environmental remediation.
Program structure
The MSc programme in Nuclear and Environmental Sciences is integrated into an international and interdisciplinary academic environment where you will solve complex problems in radiochemistry, environmental chemistry, radioactivity in the environment, decommissioning, radiation protection, impact and risk analysis and emergency preparedness.
The study programme covers a number of different topics within nuclear sciences and environmental sciences, particularly focussing on these topics:
- Radiochemistry covers everything from radioactivity, radiation protection, traditional measurement methods such as alpha, beta and gamma spectrometry and the use of radioactivity in research, diagnosis, therapy, etc.
- Radioecology links radionuclides in the environment with impact and risk assessments based on radiochemistry and radiation protection.
- Environmental pollutants, including radioactive substances, and ecotoxicology link knowledge about condition, transport and availability of contaminants to biological effects.
- Radioecotoxicology links radioactivity in the environment with biological effects seen in conjunction with other toxic substances.
The program has a holistic attitude, where students will learn about the sources of radioactivity, transport in different ecosystems, exposure of humans and the environment, biological effects and risk assessment, and nuclear preparedness and radiation protection.
Depending on whether one has a BSc in nuclear sciences or not, the master's programme adds up to 15-45 compulsory credits in nuclear subjects depending on compulsory subjects taken in BSc, 15-30 credits nuclear specialisation subjects and 0-45 freely chosen credits. Flexibility in compulsory courses and specialisation subjects makes it quite possible to take all nuclear subjects in the two-year master's degree if one does not have nuclear courses in one's BSc degree, but then elective credits are reduced. The programme concludes with a master's thesis worth 45 or 60 credits.
Compulsory nuclear subjects are:
- RAD300 Decommissioning and Environmental Remediation
- RAD210 Radioactivity and Radiation Protection
- RAD320 Radionuclide Transport and Fate in the Environment
- RAD325 Experimental radioecology
- RAD310 Radiochemistry and Analysis of Radionuclides
RAD200, RAD205 og RAD210 are taken during the BSc programme in nuclear sciences at NMBU but taken as part of the MSc if coming from another BSc programme.
Other courses are:
- MILJØ360 Assessment of health and environmental risk
- Relevant courses at UiO.
It is also possible to take a semester at the partner university in ERAMSUS+ MINDER if you want to specialise in nuclear decommissioning and environmental remediation. If desired, the first semester of the master's degree will be taken at NMBU and the second semester will be taken at another MINDER educational institution. To take this specialisation in the second semester at another educational institution, one must have taken the compulsory subjects at NMBU by the end of the first semester of the MSc.
You will find an overview of the programme structure here.
More about the program
- Societal relevance
  For many years there has been a decline in the number of people with nuclear skills and qualifications, not only in Norway, but throughout Europe. Norway is surrounded by nuclear-powered countries that plan to develop new nuclear power to ensure stability in their energy supplies. Recently, the possibilities for investing in nuclear power in Norway have also been hotly debated. In addition, natural radioactivity in Norwegian bedrock is a problem for Norwegian road and tunnel construction.
  The closure of the experimental reactors at Kjeller and in Halden also highlights the need for knowledge about treatment, storage and final disposal of radioactive waste and safe dismantling of nuclear facilities. Norway also has significant activity in radiopharmaceuticals (research, innovation, development and production).
  We must therefore have professional communities that have knowledge of, and can assess and handle the possibility of, nuclear power as an energy supply, incidents involving the spread of radioactive substances that may affect Norway, emergency preparedness and radiation protection and safety, as well as knowledge in the disposal of nuclear instillations and safe handling of waste.
- Learning activities
  In addition to lectures (theory), field and laboratory teaching (practice) are central to the programme. Sampling, processing and analysis are followed by interpretation of data. Processed data can be used to assess various measures and illustrate the relationship between state form and transport, biological uptake, exposure and effect.
  Furthermore, data processing can provide a basis for quantifying the significance of different processes (modelling) and directly be included in risk assessments. Efforts are made to achieve a good balance between independent work and work in groups, with presentation of results both in writing and orally. The master's thesis will constitute an independent work of 45 or 60 ECTS credits.
- Examination
  Courses with a large proportion of practical field and laboratory exercises will largely have portfolio assessment both in groups and individually. Semester assignments can constitute either all or parts of several courses included in the master's programme. Many of the courses at 300 level have a final test (oral or written) in addition to independent work and submission of laboratory reports or term papers.
  The master's thesis is presented and discussed with internal and external examiners. The grade for the master's thesis is determined jointly by the examiners.
- Information for students from partner universities
  All courses in the Master's programme will be offered in English to make student exchanges easier. All Master's courses will be available to students from other institutions who want to specialise in our subjects.