MSc Applied Environmental Science
Dublin, Ireland
MSc
DURATION
1 year
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time, Part time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Fast-track counseling
By contacting the school, you'll get access to free priority counselling for any study and application questions.
Key Summary
The study of Applied Environmental Science is critical for establishing policies in environmental assessment, evaluating potential changes in environmental quality in response to various land use and other activities, and developing 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.
The UCD MSc Applied Environmental Science is the first on the island of Ireland to be approved as an Accredited Degree Programme of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM).
- In collaboration with the 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.
Who Should Apply?
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.
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 contact our Admissions team!
A full list of modules is available for the MSc Applied Environmental Science. Modules are subject to change and are not guaranteed by UCD.
Student Internships
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.
- 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.
- 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 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 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 workplace.
- 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.
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.