MSc in Process Analytical Technology (PAT)
The two-year MSc programme in Process Analytical Technology enables graduates to perform integrated process development, monitoring and control in the food, pharmaceutical, biotech and general production industries.
Graduates obtain practical and as well as theoretical competencies within experimental design, multivariate data analysis, on-line measurement systems and statistical process analysis. This provides an integrated process understanding which may be used in the collaboration with chemists, process engineers, quality management and regulatory authorities. Students are also thoroughly introduced to related disciplines in order to enable them to cooperate and communicate efficiently with all professional areas involved in a modern production environment.
Academic focus
Study programme
Career opportunities
Further information
Academic focus of the programme
Some of the areas you will work are
Methodologies needed to visualize and understand complex relations within production systems.
How to solve real-life problems related to process design and quality optimisation.
Process Analytical Technology and Process Analytical Chemistry (PAC) from pilot plant to real production.
Generation and chemometric analyses of extreme amounts of data.
The MSc programme is a two-year university degree programme equivalent to 120 ECTS credits. During the first year you will do a number of mandatory courses. You will also do a theme course involving a real-life industrial problem in cooperation with other students.
During your second year you will be able to attend courses at other institutions involved in the programme (the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Technical University of Denmark - DTU) and you will finish the year doing an MSc thesis in collaboration with a Danish or a foreign company. Upon completion of the programme you obtain the MSc degree in Process Analytical Technology.
Structure of the programme
Year 2 |
Block 1 |
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| Block 2 |
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| Block 3 |
Thesis (30 or 45 points) |
| Block 4 |
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The dark fields are compulsory courses |
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The medium fields are MSc thesis |
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The light fields are elective courses |
Compulsory courses
Compulsory courses include production and process engineering, experimental design and optimisation, chemometrics and spectroscopy. These courses provide you with a sound basis within the various fields and tools involved in production development and data analysis.
Thematic courses and elective courses
The thematic courses combine lectures, practicals and group work in an in-depth study of Process Analytical Technology.
Elective courses allow students to adjust their individual professional profile. Students may select courses at all three institutions involved in the programme.
Study abroad
You will have excellent opportunities to do part of your degree programme abroad. In Europe and the US in particular, many universities have departments which will be of interest to you. In addition, you may choose to do both your theme project and you MSc thesis in collaboration with a Danish or foreign company.
Industrial collaboration
The programme aims specifically at industrial production and there are several opportunities during the course of the programme to work with industrial partners. This gives the student an opportunity to see different types of industries and different types of work settings.
A great number of North European companies working with production development and process analytical technology are interested in supplying the programme with actual projects. Below are some typical examples of projects performed either in the thematic course or in the MSc project:
Career opportunities
Most graduates find employment within research, development and production in food and pharmaceutical companies in Denmark or abroad. You will be able to assume the role of the central person in the collaboration between the many different areas of expertise involved in production. Some graduates continue to carry out research at universities.
The programme is the first of its kind and the graduates will be highly attractive for industries worldwide because of the increasing demands for skills and knowledge within Process Analytical Technology.
Further information
For information about admission please see the admission pages.
Read more about application requirements, tuition fees and scholarships.
Need to know more?
You are always welcome to contact our Student Services if you have any questions about the programme, student life etc. You can contact the Student Services by e-mail at or by calling +45 3533 3533.
Michael Guldager, - last update:8 February 2010