Master in Life Sciences - Environmental Technologies

School of Life Sciences

Do you want to help shape the future of environmental technology and develop practical solutions? Our Master’s in Environmental Technologies prepares you for responsible and innovative work in industry, research and consulting.

Factsheet

Degree: Master of Science in Life Sciences
Study mode: Full-time and Part-time
Learning environment: Online and Onsite
ECTS points: 90 / 120 (Double Degree)
Next start: 14.9.2026
Duration: 3 semesters (full-time) / 6 semesters (part-time)
Language: Englisch
Place: FHNW Campus Muttenz, Hofackerstrasse 30, 4132 Muttenz
Staying abroad: Possible
Application fee: CHF 200
Semester fee: CHF 750 / CHF 1 000 / CHF 5 000

At a glance

In‑depth environmental risk assessment: Build expertise in risk analysis, environmental assessment and risk management. Understand how pollutants move and act across environments.
Practice‑oriented master’s thesis: Undertake an eight‑month thesis with an industry partner, at a university or research institute - the ideal way to apply your knowledge and strengthen your professional network.
Tailored specialisations: Combine focus areas such as sustainable industrial processes with a choice of electives to fit your goals.
International opportunities: Pursue a double degree with a partner university or complete your thesis abroad.

Why study this?

What career opportunities are open to you?

The specialisation in Environmental Technologies provides the depth needed for challenging roles in industry, research and consulting. The growing issues of climate change, resource scarcity and new pollutants are driving the demand for qualified environmental technology experts in a range of sectors around the world. You will be ideally positioned for a future-oriented career in a highly relevant field.

Typical areas of employment for graduates include:

Environmental technology: Development and implementation of technical solutions for environmental protection and sustainability.
Industry: Integration of environmentally friendly processes in production and logistics.
Environmental consulting: Analysis, strategy development and implementation of sustainable concepts.
Research: Development of innovative methods to reduce emissions and use resources.
Public institutions and authorities: Environmental monitoring, regulation and planning.
The circular economy: Optimisation of material cycles and recycling processes.

Structure and programme contents

The programme combines rigorous scientific training with practical application to address environmental and resource challenges in industrial contexts.

You gain in‑depth knowledge in the following areas:

Environmental risk assessment: Fate and effects of pollutants across air, water, soil and biota.

Protection of water resources: Advanced water and wastewater treatment; sustainable water management for industry, agriculture and households.

Economy and ecology: Evaluation of sustainable production methods with a focus on the circular economy.

Resource efficiency: Analysis of material flows and recovery of valuable resources.

Environmental process technology: Development of technical processes to reduce industrial environmental pollution.

Waste management and technologies: Solid waste management, recovery and recycling.

Environmental remediation: Application of physicochemical and biological processes to remediate contaminated sites.

In addition to these focus areas, you will benefit from practical training in state-of-the-art research laboratories and pilot plants in our university’s Process Technology Center (PTC).

Elective modules from other specialisations such as Chemical Engineering, Analytical Chemistry or Biotechnology can be chosen and allow you to design your curriculum based on your interests and career goals.

Details of the degree programme

Programme structure

The master’s degree programme consists of three key components: core skills, specialised training and the thesis. In the first part of your degree programme, you will complete modules totalling 50 ECTS. These include your chosen core skills modules (at least 12 ECTS) and specialised training, allowing for individual specialisation. This is followed in the final semester by the thesis, completed over eight months and worth 40 ECTS.

The following is an example of a programme structure for a full-time course (three semesters); part-time students generally take the modules in four semesters.

Full-time course

The master’s degree can be started in the spring or autumn semester and is designed as a full-time programme over three semesters. In the first two semesters, the focus is on lectures and expanding specialist skills.

From the third semester onwards, you will devote yourself to your eight-month MSc thesis, which concludes your studies.

The following is an example of the full-time course starting in the autumn semester:

Part-time study

The master’s degree programme can also be done part-time starting in the spring or autumn semester on a work-study basis. This generally takes six semesters.

Experience has shown that a workload of 50 to 60% is easily compatible with part-time studies.

As a part-time student, you attend tuition over several semesters and usually start your thesis after the fourth semester.

The following is an example of the part-time course starting in the autumn semester:

A total of 50 ECTS credits (i.e. 17 modules each worth 3 ECTS credits) must be earned. Other modules can be selected: Module overview (English)

You can also plan your studies in advance with our MSc Life Sciences planning tool.

Module groups for the Environmental Technologies specialisation

Environmental Technologies

choose 6 of 7

Process Technology for Industrial Pollution Control
Environmental Risk Assessment
Remediation
Water and Wastewater Treatment
Resource Recovery from Wastewater
Costs and Benefits of Sustainable Production
Circular Economy and Solid Waste Management

Electives

choose 3 of 5

Life Cycle Assessment
Green Chemistry
Sustainable Natural Resource Management
Water Management in Households, Industry and Agriculture
Chemistry and Energy

Core skills

choose 4 of 8

Handling and Visualizing Data
Business Administration for Life Sciences
Design and Analysis of Experiments
Management and Leadership for Life Sciences
Modelling and Exploration of Multivariate Data
Innovation and Project Management
Data and Ethics
Politics and Society

Thesis

The eight-month thesis is the core module of the MSc programme and comprises 40 ECTS. You will work on a challenging, application-oriented project with a direct link to current issues in research or practice. You may work in a company, university, a research institute in Switzerland or abroad, or at an institute of the FHNW School of Life Sciences.

International

Our master's programme opens up global horizons: whether aiming for a double degree, planning your master's thesis overseas or coming to us from abroad, we will support you every step of the way!

Outgoing Students: Doing your Master's thesis abroad: Information

Incoming Students: Studying with us as an international student: Information

Requirements and admission

Direct admission requires:

a Bachelor’s degree in a related field from a university of applied sciences or university with a good grade (Switzerland: A, B or ≥ 5; Germany/Austria: at least “good”),

sufficient English proficiency.

If you do not fully meet the requirements, you may be invited to a personal interview.

Proof of sufficient English skills must be provided with one of the following certificates:

Type of certificate	Required level
CE (Cambridge English)	B2/FCE
IELTS (English Language Testing System)	5.5
TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language)	IBT 72
Spoken or Written Academic English (module in the bachelor’s degree programme at the School of Life Sciences)	4.5

If you are unable to provide evidence of the required command of English, you are obliged to improve it during the course of your master’s degree programme. You can either attend the advanced English course offered by the FHNW School of Life Sciences or other suitable language courses. At the end of the programme, proof must be provided that the required level of English has been achieved (see table above).

Organisational matters

Der internationale Master of Science in Life Sciences wird in Zusammenarbeit mit anderen Schweizer Fachhochschulen durchgeführt: Berner Fachhochschule BFH, Haute Ecole Spécialisée de la Suisse Occidentale HES-SO und Zürcher Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften ZHAW.

Course start

The Master's programme starts in the autumn semester (calendar week 38). It is also possible to start the programme in the spring semester (calendar week 8).

Tuition fees

The following semester and registration fees are charged in accordance with FHNW regulations. Further details can be found in the FHNW fee schedule, valid from academic year 2025/26.

Tuition fees per semester:

CHF 750

Swiss nationals
Students legally resident in Switzerland at the start of their studies
Students who provide proof that their parents are domiciled in Switzerland at the start of their studies
Refugees of legal age and stateless persons, legally resident in Switzerland

CHF 1 000