Master’s Programme in Civil Engineering Programme description

The Master's Degree Programme in Civil Engineering is a full-time course of study over two years (120 credits). The programme represents a continuation and specialisation in relation to the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Civil Engineering

The master's degree programme is designed to meet the national conditions for use of the Norwegian term “sivilingeniør” added to the master´s title.

The programme provides in-depth study and specialisations in the fields of structural engineering, building technology, transport infrastructure engineering, geotechnical engineering and smart water process and infrastructure engineering.

Structural engineering concerns the analysis, calculation and design of load-bearing structures and structural systems.

Building technology concerns the analysis, performance and sustainable design of buildings, including facades and building envelopes.

Transport infrastructure engineering concerns the analysis, calculation and design of modern and future-oriented infrastructure systems as well as smart monitoring and management of existing infrastructure systems.

Geotechnical engineering concerns the properties of soil (sand, silt and clay) in terms of construction technology, and the analysis, calculation, design and monitoring of foundations, excavations and fill, retaining structures, and the assessment of slope stability and the risk of land slides.

Smart water engineering concerns the design, monitoring, analysis, control and risk management in urban water processes and hydraulic infrastructure.

As for challenges to sustainable development, climate change in the form of increased average temperatures, more precipitation and extreme weather exposes buildings, infrastructures, offshore structures and other installations to greater and more unpredictable stresses. At the same time, society and the authorities place increasing demands on environmentally friendly and sustainable design in the built environment. For the purpose of dimensioning and designing new buildings and infrastructures for the future, we need candidates with engineering expertise at master's degree level (engineers) in the fields of civil engineering, who are also knowledgeable about climate and environmental issues relating to the field.

Candidates holding a master's degree in Civil Engineering have expertise that is in high demand in both the private and public sector. The most relevant employers are consulting engineering firms, contractors, construction clients, municipalities and research institutes. The Master's Degree in Civil Engineering can also qualify students for further studies at the doctoral degree level.

Students who complete the programme will be awarded the degree “Master´s Degree in Civil Engineering”, with one of the following programme options:

-Structural Engineering

-Building Technology

-Transport Infrastructure Engineering

-Geotechnical Engineering

-Smart Water Engineering

The master's degree is awarded in accordance with Section 3 of the Regulations concerning Requirements for the Master's Degrees, issued by the Ministry of Education and Research. Graduates from the programme can use the additional Norwegian designation sivilingeniør.

The master's degree programme is aimed at candidates with at least a three-year bachelor's degree in civil engineering, who want a solid professional and academic extension to their education in the fields of structural engineering, building technology, transport infrastructure engineering, geotechnical engineering or smart water process and infrastructure engineering.

The programme is also suitable for candidates holding a degree in mechanical engineering, marine engineering, chemical engineering or other engineering fields.

Reference is made to the Regulations relating to Admission to Studies at OsloMet. https://lovdata.no/dokument/SF/forskrift/2015-12-15-1681

1) Admission to all study directions in the master's degree programme requires:

Bachelor's degree in engineering

25 ECTS in mathematics

7.5 ECTS in physics, solid mechanics, building physics and/or thermodynamics

5 ECTS in statistics

An average grade of at least C (according to the ECTS grading scale) on your bachelor´s degree

Proof of your English proficiency: one of the following:

• English from a Norwegian or Nordic upper secondary school and a bachelor's degree from Norway or the Nordic countries
• at least 4 in English from Norwegian upper secondary school

2) Special requirements for the study directions:

Structural Engineering

Bachelor´s degree in civil engineering, mechanical engineering or marine engineering

20 credits in mechanics, statics or other courses in the field of structural engineering

Building Technology

Bachelor´s degree in civil engineering, mechanical engineering or energy & environment in buildings

Transport Infrastructure Engineering

Bachelor´s degree in civil engineering, mechanical engineering or marine engineering

Geotechnical Engineering

Bachelor´s degree in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, marine engineering or equivalent engineering discipline.

Smart Water Engineering

Bachelor´s degree in civil engineering, environmental engineering, electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, chemical engineering or marine engineering

On completion of the Master's Degree Programme in Civil Engineering, candidates are expected to have the following learning outcome defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge:

The candidate

has advanced knowledge in engineering and design of the built environment and deep insight in a specific area, depending on the choice of study direction (structural engineering, building technology, transport infrastructure engineering, geotechnical engineering or smart water engineering).

has in-depth knowledge of scientific theory and methods as well as knowledge of relevant policy and regulations used in the analysis and design of the built environment.

is able to evaluate climate and environmental effects on the built environment, and apply this knowledge in solving contemporary engineering problems.

is able to analyze questions/issues related to civil engineering based on the historical development of the discipline/subject area, new technology and societal needs for more sustainable design in the built environment.

Skills:

The candidate is able to

analyze and make use of scientific publications and technical literature in discussions and to justify engineering solutions.

work independently and in teams and make use of state of the art theories and methods, as well as policy and regulations, to solve practical and theoretical problems related to the built environment.

use suitable methods for research and development within the built environment in an independent manner or as part of a team.

use relevant software and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools in the analysis, design and visualisation of buildings, structures and processes.

carry out an independent, delimited research or development project under supervision and in accordance with applicable research ethical standards.

General competence:

The candidate is able to

analyze academic and professional ethical issues and make sound recommendations for the built environment, including their impact on sustainable development.

apply knowledge and skills to analyze and design infrastructure within structural engineering, building technology, transport infrastructure engineering, geotechnical engineering or smart water process and infrastructure engineering.

convey the results of independent work, both in writing and orally.

communicate on issues, analyses and solutions within the built environment, both with specialists and the general public.

contribute to the development of new structural and sustainable solutions.

The work and teaching methods in the programme includes lectures, exercise sessions, computer exercise sessions, seminars, project work, group work, presentations, inspections and excursions, laboratory work and discussions. The scheduled study activities shall be motivating and inspiring for the students and induce non-organised academic work. The work methods are intended to stimulate cooperation, own activity, reflection and fresh thinking.

To work as a consultant engineer or researcher requires a high level of expertise in the use of advanced computer programs and simulation tools (ICT tools) for problem-solving. Computer exercises and tasks that require the use of advanced ICT tools are therefore one of the main work methods used in the study programme.

Seminars in cooperation with the construction industry will shed light on the complexity of building projects and provide a more comprehensive understanding of key topics in the study programme. Contact with business and industry through external lecturers, seminars, inspections and excursions, in addition to ordinary tuition, will give the students a relevant and motivational approach throughout the study programme.

Research and teaching are well integrated throughout the study programme. The teaching is constantly updated to encompass new knowledge, and research articles are part of the syllabus in many of the courses. Furthermore, the students will participate in research-related discussions and be included in ongoing research and development through projects that are part of the study programme.

Project-based learning relating to engineering tasks is used to give the students practice in work on complex issues. The study programme will prepare the students for work methods used in the construction industry, through group work and project assignments in cooperation with the construction industry. The projects are intended to develop the students ability to formulate and analyse research questions using scientific methods. Projects are normally carried out in groups, and the students will also thereby develop their ability to listen to others, exchange knowledge and discuss solutions in cooperation with others. Project work shall culminate in reports written on the basis of a template for scholarly articles/reports. The specialisation course (elective course) in the third semester includes a project where the students are to work on a given issue relating to challenges in the construction industry.

The master's thesis is a piece of independent research or development work conducted by the student in one of the key topics of the study programme. Each student will be assigned an internal supervisor, who will ensure that the project complies with research ethics principles and help students to formulate the research question and ensure quality in the collection and analysis of data. Seminars with supervisors and fellow students will develop each student's ability to critically assess and discuss their own and other students work. The thesis shall be a dissertation of a scientific nature (e.g. monography, research paper, etc.) based on research principles and methods or a project work (e.g startup, software, degital or physical objects, etc.).

Both the language of instruction and the course literature are in English, which means that the study programme is well suited for international students and student mobility. The study programme is structured so that it is possible for the students to take one semester abroad, in the third or fourth semester.

Students can gain approval and recognition of up to 30 credits on application. Students who go on an exchange in the fourth semester will write their master's thesis with a supervisor from the host institution.

OsloMet is part of the Erasmus programme for student exchange and has entered into several Erasmus+ agreements with relevant universities and university colleges. OsloMet has a dedicated web page with supplementary information about student exchanges: https://student.oslomet.no/utveksling-tkd

Required coursework means compulsory assignments or activities that must be approved within a given deadline in order for students to be able to take the exam. The coursework requirements in this study programme are linked to written assignments and compulsory attendance. The coursework requirements are described in more detail in the individual course descriptions.

Coursework requirements are set in order to promote the student's progress and development and to ensure his/her participation in necessary elements of the programme. Required coursework can also be set to ensure that students achieve a learning outcome that cannot be tested in an exam.

Required coursework is assessed as approved or not approved. In the event of delays in study progress, previously approved coursework remains valid for two years, provided that the course has not changed.

Valid absence documented by e.g. a medical certificate does not exempt students from meeting the coursework requirements. Students who fail to meet the coursework requirements within the deadline due to illness or for other documented valid reasons should as far as possible be given a new chance before the registration deadline for the exam. This must be agreed with the person responsible for the course on a case-by-case basis. If another attempt at meeting a coursework requirement is not possible because of the nature of the subject/course, the student must be prepared to meet the coursework requirements on the next possible occasion. This may result in delayed progress in the programme.

Assessment and grading shall take place in accordance with the provisions on assessment relating to Universities and University Colleges and the Regulations relating to Studies and Examinations at OsloMet.

The forms of assessment used shall promote learning and document that the students' competence is adequate in relation to the applicable learning outcome. The forms of assessment used in this study programme include supervised written exams, oral exams, individual and group project assignments and portfolio assessments. Assessment of the master's thesis and the oral presentation of the thesis come in addition to this.

The forms of assessment and grade scale are described in more detail in the individual course descriptions. In connection with the final assessment in the course, a grade scale with grades from A to E for pass (A being the highest) and F for fail is used, or the assessment pass/fail.

The master's degree programme is profession-oriented, which means that students are to a significant extent assessed on the basis of their ability to solve problems, and on whether their presentations of solutions meet technical, academic and ethical requirements. Project assignments with reports and presentations are therefore one of the dominant assessment forms used in the study programme.

The tuition takes place in English, and assignments/exams will also be in English. Students may, by agreement with the person responsible for the course, submit assignments in Norwegian (Scandinavian). The assignment given in the elective course (specialisation course) in the third semester and the master's thesis should be in English.

For courses where the assessment is based on both a project assignment and a written/oral exam, students must pass both the project assignment and the exam to be awarded a pass grade in the course.

Oral exams shall be assessed by two examiners, as this form of assessment cannot be appealed.

The master's thesis will be assessed by an external and an internal examiners. In addition to submitting a written report, students must also give an oral presentation of the thesis to the examiners and supervisor(s). The examiners will set the grade for the master's thesis after the oral presentation and questioning. Exams and portfolios that are only assessed by internal examiners shall regularly be selected for external assessment. Guildeline for master's theses at the Faculty can be found here: Retningslinjer for masteroppgaver ved Fakultet for teknologi, kunst og design - Student - minside (oslomet.no)

Students have the right to demand an explanation for and to appeal against a grade awarded and/or formal errors in connection with exams in accordance with Section 5-3 of the Act relating to Universities and University Colleges.

In connection with portfolio assessments, students can normally only appeal against the final grade awarded for the portfolio, and only if it contains verifiable components. If the portfolio assessment cannot be appealed, two examiners are used.

Students must register for resit/rescheduled exams themselves. Resit/rescheduled exams are normally organised jointly, early in the following semester. Oral exams can also be used in the event of resit/rescheduled exams.

After completing the programme, students will be awarded a diploma showing all their final grades (final assessments) in the courses that form the basis for the degree. The title of the master's thesis will also be included on the diploma.

Quality assurance

The purpose of OsloMet's quality assurance system is to strengthen students learning outcomes and development by raising the quality at all levels. Cooperation with the students, and their participation in the quality assurance work, is decisive to the overall learning outcome. Among the overall goals for the quality assurance system is to ensure:

• that the educational activities, including practical training and the learning and study environment, maintain a high level of quality
• that the study programmes are relevant for the professional fields
• that the quality development continues to improve

For the students, this entails, among other things, student evaluations in the form of:

• course evaluations
• annual student surveys for all of OsloMet

More information about the quality assurance system is available here: https://student.oslomet.no/regelverk#etablering-studium-evaluering-kvalitetssystem

The programme supervisor scheme is part of the quality assurance of each individual study programme. A programme supervisor is not an examiner, but someone who supervises the quality of the study programmes. All study programmes at OsloMet shall be subject to supervision by a programme supervisor, but there are different ways of practising the scheme. Reference is made to the Guidelines for Appointment and Use of Examiners at OsloMet: https://student.oslomet.no/regelverk