Master (MSc) in Environmental Engineering

Specific Admission Requirements
Applicants for the Environmental Engineering Master’s Programme must hold an undergraduate title of studies in a relevant scientific or engineering topic, from the University of Cyprus or any other accredited University in Cyprus or worldwide. Applications must be sent to the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering before the deadline.

All applications received are evaluated by the department’s committee of post-graduate studies. The committee’s recommendations are then evaluated by the department’s Council, which reaches the final decision. The selection criteria are:

• Academic qualifications and performance.
• Awards and achievements in under- and/or post-graduate studies.
• Capacity for individual critical thinking and research activity.

The number of places available are announced by the Graduate School with the eligibility criteria for candidates, as well as other required documents that must be attached to the application such as:

• Bachelor’s degree from a recognised University.
• Previous University education in a suitable subject (academic background) and grades of relevant degrees.
• Letters of recommendation.
• Personal interview and/or written examination (if provided by the Department’s internal rules).

The Department may also set additional criteria and quality indicators such as: (a) number of students’ publications in scientific journals, (b) students’ participation in seminars, symposia, research programmes, (c) presentations by students at conferences, (d) knowledge of foreign languages, and (e) professional experience, etc

Profile of Programme
The Master’s Programme in Environmental Engineering of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is designed to equip its graduates with the expertise, the soft and hard skills necessary to address the ongoing and future environmental challenges threatening the security and resilience of the ecosystem, and the societal wellbeing. These challenges, aggravated by the changing climate, include, for example, atmospheric and air pollution, deterioration in water quality, urban waste treatment, environmental pollution, erosion of the coastline and decarbonisation of the energy nexus.

Environmental Engineering Master students are, therefore, introduced and trained to the scientific knowledge and state-of-the-art methodologies for, understanding atmospheric processes, recycling urban wastes, battling environmental pollution through biotechnology, improving water and air quality in cities, protecting the coastal zone and producing energy from renewable sources. Our students have also the opportunity to focus on aspects related to, sustainable development for the built environment, hydrology and hydrogeology.

This Master’s Programme is unique in Cyprus, in that it offers a multi-disciplinary focus on environmental protection and management in a changing world.

The Environmental Engineering Programme is intended for Environmental, Civil, and Chemical Engineers, Biologists, Chemists, Physicists and graduates with similar expertise. For graduating, MSc in Environmental Engineering students must attend and successfully complete 7 taught modules, and conduct a research thesis. MEng students must attend and successfully complete 10 taught modules and conduct a master’s level final study.

A summary of the taught modules offered can be found below. Please note that modules offered in the fall semester are not available in the spring semester and vice versa.

Key Learning Outcomes
The aim of the Environmental Engineering programme is to provide its graduates with an edge against competition by preparing them for the challenges involved in environmental management and engineering projects and impact assessment studies, and for creating innovative solutions to the problems faced by their future employs, such as local councils and authorities, the wider public and the private sector.

Nowadays and in the future, sustainable development is and will be strongly associated with the Environmental Engineering. In Europe and worldwide, climate change and the deterioration of the natural environment have been identified at the top of the list with the threats against financial growth and societal wellbeing. To this end, the EU has designed and deployed a new strategic development framework for increasing resource productivity and decoupling economic growth from resource use and its environmental impact. The recent European Green Deal provides an action roadmap to enhance sustainability and resilience in the production and usage of resources, and to promote the transition into a clean and cyclic economy. At the core of this roadmap lies the overall aim to restore biodiversity and reduce pollution.

With that in mind, the Environmental Engineering Master’s Programme combines a highly specialised and contemporary teaching component with practical applications of the taught scientific knowledge, and strives to promote innovative research suitable for our changing world.

Occupational Profiles of Graduates with Examples
Graduates of the Environmental Engineering Master’s Programme can be employed as engineers, consultants and researchers, working in design, construction, operations and management, and impact assessment and maintenance projects. Areas of employment include, the atmospheric and wider environmental pollution, waste treatment and management, water and coastal engineering, and the energy sectors. Examples of employers of past students and other potential employers include:

• The wider public and private sectors.
• Local councils and authorities.
• Small to medium size firms, e.g., conducting environmental impact assessment and management studies.
• Start-ups.
• Universities and other academic institutions in Cyprus and worldwide.
• National and international research centres.