MSC in Environmental Science

HavingCrack wrote: »

Hi, I've been looking into this course for a post grad and it seems really interesting and a good basis for doing further research. Anyway, the literature on the module descriptions seems a bit vague so if anyone has done it, what's it like?

I did it, best course I ever did. Without it I wouldn't have been doing the PhD that I'm doing now. 1000 times better than the undergrad, much better craic and you actually come out of it with skills.

Are the lecturers approachable/helpful etc?

Very approachable, but do send an email if you want a meeting. They tend to be extremely busy but they are willing to help if you put in the effort. Plus, on the first week you go drinking with them after the field trip to Wicklow, great craic so it is!

Is the workload particularly intense? (I presume it would be)

Pretty tough, but I was able to have the craic as well and some of the people played football and had no bother. It's really not as bad as the BA, bit more but that's to be expected, it's a masters after all. You work in 3 week blocks so the first week is easy enough, second it picks up and the third is the assignment deadline. However it's tremendous fun to be able to finish an assignment and move onto something completely different, there's goals there and nothing stagnates.

How hands-on is the course? The one I'm currently doing is far too theoretical for my liking with no lab and little field work.

Extremely, no essays all practicals and labwork. Buy a labcoat, a pair of hiking boots, waders, waterproofs and good Berghaus, expect to be out in the field at least a dozen times during the taught component, a lot more during the thesis work.

Also there seems to be a fair bit of chemistry in the course and I'm currently doing a BA in Geography, Planning and Environmental Planning in UCD so I'm wondering how difficult the chemistry component is for someone from a non-science background?

I did that BA as well, don't worry they take you gently into the science, by the end of the year you'll be flying it in the lab. It's not that difficult, it's getting your head around some things at the start but they are extremely good lecturers there, a lot better than the GPEP staff at explaining complicated things.

If anyone can answer even a few questions it would be great:D

There were a few old threads on this but thought a fresh update might help a bit!

It's easily the best course you could possibly do, no other Environmental Science course can hold a candle to it. I came in from the GPEP having done nothing but theory, doing this course I got out into the field and in the lab and learned actual skills (XRD, XRF, AAS, ICP-OES etc...). The best part was the thesis, everyone got seconded to various departments within the School of Natural Science, a friend of mine was in Zoology another in Botany, I was between Geology and Geography (literally was working with people from both sides). It was probably the best summer I had, tough going but it really was something to be proud of in the finish. I actually can't endorse this course anymore, feel free to pm for any details.