Poznań: Environmental Protection

Environmental Protection at AMU

MSc programme in Environmental Protection at Adam Mickiewicz University comprises all issues of global environment protection, so it’s a perfect follow-up for young biologists!

Alicja Mrugał: Could you describe the MSc programme in Environmental Protection? Adrian Surmacki, PhD, Department of Avian Biology and Ecology, Adam Mickiewicz University: The programme lasts four semesters and includes over 1,200 hours of lectures, laboratory classes, workshops, seminars and field trips. It has been designed to meet the expectations of candidates of various scientific interests and educational backgrounds. Beside obligatory courses, it offers a wide variety of elective courses. It gives students opportunity to tune the programme to individual’s needs and interests.

What are the major areas of the curriculum? It covers four main areas: atmospheric quality and global change, water resource management, land use and environmental interactions, professional and research skills in practice. It has been designed to cover all the contemporary issues of global environment protection. For this reason, our teaching staff comes from various faculties and universities, for example also from the University of Life Sciences.

If it is so global, do you have many international students? Yes, a majority of our students come from the European Union and other countries.

Do you also provide courses to improve English skills? Yes, there is a 30-hour course in “Scientific English” during the first semester. Moreover, students have an opportunity to improve their language skills during “Journal Club”, where they can discuss recent scientific discoveries described in scientific journals.

Well-prepared future alumni

What skills do your students acquire? Students acquire a thorough knowledge necessary to carry out monitoring, analytical and consulting activities in the field of resource assessment and prevention of the destruction of the natural environment. We offer a number of courses which teach the students how to find and define research problems, obtain and analyse data collected from different sources, consult with experts, use statistical methods, and interpret as well as present the results of their analyses. Moreover, the graduates are acquainted with the methods of effective team work, for example: how to choose the leader, share responsibilities, how to interpret the results of their analyses and draw conclusions in a team. Some of the skills acquired during the studies may be particularly significant in their further work, for example, in Geographical Information Systems, waste management, laboratory methods of environment biomonitoring.

Beside obligatory courses, the programme offers a wide variety of elective courses. It gives students opportunity to tune the programme to their individual’s needs and interest

Speaking of work, I would like to ask about job opportunities for future alumni. Our graduates meet all the requirements of the market and they are well prepared to work in different institutions, science laboratories and businesses associated with environment protection, or those focused on natural resources.

What else does make the programme attractive for students? One of the greatest advantages of our study programme is a comprehensive approach to all major aspects of environment protection. Our intention was to share our knowledge and practical skills which could be used by graduates irrespective of the conditions in countries where they will work. The graduates can evaluate and interpret various ecological processes, especially those that are important for making any decisions concerning natural environment.

Admission process in brief

Who can apply for the programme? Anyone who has obtained a BSc in environmental protection, biology, biotechnology or a related discipline, can apply for the programme.

What are the other admission requirements for candidates? Applicants have to pay a registration fee (50 Euro). All classes and lectures are held in English, so a good command of English is essential.

What is the admission process like? The admission process is two-staged. First, documents submitted by candidates are assessed formally. Then, applicants are invited to an interview.

BIOTECHNOLOGY: https://amu.edu.pl/kandydaci/kierunki-studiow/kierunki-na-litere-b/biotechnologia-studia-w-jezyku-angielskim https://rekrutacja.amu.edu.pl/en/studies-cataloge/biotechnology,40

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION: https://amu.edu.pl/kursy/ochrona-srodowiska-eng https://rekrutacja.amu.edu.pl/en/studies-cataloge/environmental-protection,301

OUR FACULTY: http://international.amu.edu.pl/about_amu/faculty-of-biology/ https://bioleng.home.amu.edu.pl