Structure

The Master’s course lasts for two years with a total of 120 ECTS. There are three main components:

• A fully integrated taught course lasting the first year
  
• A nine month research project
• A three month internship
  

The joint degree is awarded after the submission and public defence of a master's dissertation.

The taught course consists of 4 main disciplines: Quality Management; Analytical Methods, Data Analysis and Professional Skills. These disciplines are essential for the training of a successful laboratory manager. Each discipline is made up of  modules worth 2 ECTS. All modules in Quality Management, Data Analysis and Professional Skills are mandatory. This means that every student will have 20 ECTS Quality Management, 12 ECTS Data Analysis and 10 ECTS Professional Skills. The remaining 18 ECTS are selected individually from the Analytical Methods modules, to arrive at a total of 60 ECTS. The analytical modules are selected so as to best meet the professional development needs of each student. There may also be extra modules presented by invited scholars and other externals. The content and number of such modules will vary from year to year. These modules may be taken as extra-curricular modules, or may replace up to 4 of the analytical modules for a student.

In the Quality Management discipline students are taught how a quality system works. They develop the skills necessary to implement laboratory quality systems. Students are familiarized with the existing standards for quality systems in analytical laboratories, that is ISO/IEC 17025 and all the items included in their management and technical requirements are covered by different modules. The bases of Good Laboratory and Manufacturing Practices are also covered.

Through the Analytical Methods discipline students acquire a deep understanding of a host of analytical techniques and sample pre-treatment strategies. Methods and strategies presented are the ones most commonly found in various fields of analysis, enabling the student to select modules that could be more adequate to their personal profile and professional development. Students will study the techniques in detail, covering their scientific basis, instrumentations and applications.

The Data Analysis discipline provides the students with the statistical tools and mathematical skills necessary for optimization of analytical methods, for quality control and for uncertainty estimation. While all students are expected to have at least basic knowledge of statistics from previous educations, these allow the students to strengthen their knowledge and skills in this essential field. Commercial software packages are used in these modules to ensure that the students gain not only theoretical knowledge, but also skills to be used in research projects and in a work environment later.

The Professional Skills discipline is a collection of five modules aiming at providing students with a set of skills preparing them for employment after graduation. These are focused on communication, both orally and in writing. Project management abilities and leadership skills are important in most careers, and these modules gives a good introduction to these topics. There is also a module on job search strategies, which will involve extensive contact with external laboratories and industries.

All parts of the programme (modules, internship, and research project) contribute to  8 learning outcomes:

Upon successful completion of the programme, graduates will be able to:

1. design, implement and manage a quality system in an analytical laboratory;
2. implement suitable internal and external quality control activities in an analytical laboratory
3. understand, select and apply a set of instrumental analytical techniques appropriate for a given problem;
4. develop and validate new methods of analysis;
5. plan a validation program for a given method of analysis;
6. critically analyse and evaluate data using statistical tools and software
7. prepare and compile a scientific report and communicate the findings orally
8. seek employment and be a valuable asset in a professional environment