PhD Programme in Engineering Science Programme description

The legal basis for this plan is laid down in Act of 1 April 2005 No. 15 relating to universities and university colleges and in the Regulations relating to the Degree of Philosophiae Doctor (PhD) at OsloMet - Oslo Metropolitan University (hereinafter referred to as "PhD Regulations").

The PhD Programme in Engineering Science is firmly rooted in the broad international tradition of PhD studies in engineering technology and engineering science. The programme builds on the scientific strengths of the engineering departments at the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design and on the research groups at Simula Metropolitan Center for Digital Engineering (SimulaMet).

The programme supports the needs for highly qualified expertise in engineering in industry, the public sector and in academia. The programme prepares students for positions in industry as well as in academia, and is designed to ensure that they are able to take on demanding and important roles in the private and public sectors, where in-depth expertise and knowledge of engineering science are required.

In this PhD programme, the term engineering science is defined as follows:

Engineering science is a discipline that concerns with the physical and mathematical basis of engineering and technology. In the modern world it implies chemical engineering, electrical engineering, computer science, bioengineering, civil engineering, mechanical engineering, aeronautical engineering and environmental engineering.

The three key elements of this definition are applied mathematics and physics in the broad sense, engineering and technology. The interrelationship between these terms is as follows: from the basis of applied mathematics and physics, engineers are able to understand physical phenomena, which in applied form leads to engineering solutions to problems in society. Technology can be seen both as the tool used in the engineering process and as the result of the process itself.

In the PhD programme, the students are exposed to applied mathematics and physics, engineering and technology in the context of developing products and solutions for the advancement and well-being of society. This will be done through a doctoral thesis (150 ECTS credits), compulsory coursework in research methods and ethics (10 ECTS credits), and elective coursework in various aspects of engineering science (20 ECTS credits).

The thesis will address a defined set of challenges in society, and will consist of research into the application and development of knowledge in applied mathematics, physics, engineering and/or technology to address these challenges. 

The Master's Degree Programme in Structural Engineering and Building Technology 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, under the structural engineering course option.

The master's degree programme is designed to meet the National Council for Technological Education's (UHR-NRT) conditions for use of the additional Norwegian designation sivilingeniør (siv.ing.) on diplomas for master's degree programmes in technology subjects.

The programme provides in-depth study and specialisation in the field of structural engineering and building technology. Structural engineering concerns the analysis, calculation and design of load-bearing structures and structural systems. Building technology concerns the analysis, calculation and design of the body of the building, including facades and building envelopes.

Climate change in the form of increased temperatures, more precipitation and extreme weather exposes buildings, bridges, 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 for the future, we need candidates with engineering expertise at master's degree level (engineers) in the fields of building technology and structural engineering, who are also knowledgeable about climate and environmental issues relating to the field.

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

Students who complete the master's degree programme will be awarded the degree of Master of Science (MSc) in Structural Engineering and Building Technology. Candidates who holds a bachelor's degree in civil engineering pursuant to the national curriculum, can use the additional Norwegian designation sivilingeniør. 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.

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 supplement to their education in the field of building technology and structural engineering.

The programme is also useful for candidates holding a degree in mechanical engineering, marine engineering or similar, who have good knowledge of mechanics and structural engineering.

On completion of the PhD Programme in Engineering Science, each student shall have achieved the following learning outcomes, in accordance with the Norwegian Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning:

Knowledge

On graduation, the student:

• is at the forefront of knowledge within the engineering science topic of his/her thesis and masters the field's scientific theories, principles and methods.
• is at the forefront of knowledge in his/her professional field of engineering
• has breadth of knowledge and an ability for cross-disciplinary work in engineering science.
• can evaluate the expediency and application of theories, methods and processes in research, scholarly projects and professional engineering projects specific to his/her field of engineering.
• can contribute to the development and documentation of new knowledge and methods within her/his field of engineering science.

Skills

On graduation, the student can:

• formulate research questions, plan and conduct independent research and scholarly work within engineering science.
• carry out independent research and scholarly work at a high international level.
• deal with complex professional issues with an academic approach and reflect critically on established knowledge and practice in the field.
• apply technologies, scientific methods, digital and simulation tools suitable for solving complex engineering problems.
• develop innovative, sustainable engineering solutions and transform the latest scientific discoveries into enabling new technologies.

General competence

On graduation, the student can:

• identify, discuss and reflect upon ethical and societal implications of his/her own research as well as of the applications it enables.
• produce scientific publications and communicate research and development work through recognised national and international channels.
• participate in debates and present his/her research at national and international fora.
• assess the need for, initiate and drive innovation.

The programme is divided into two main parts:

• Training component (30 ECTS credits).
• Research component (150 ECTS credits).

The programme structure is flexible in that students may choose when to take the courses in order to adapt the training component to their individual theses. All courses are concluded with an examination. The academic year lasts for 40 weeks, and students are expected to work 37.5 hours per week. This includes scheduled activities, individual activities, and the examination.

Students who wish to use external courses to fulfil an elective element in the training component will be given supervision in finding such courses at other units at OsloMet or at other national or international institutions. The doctoral committee at the Faculty of Technology, Art and Design shall consider the approval of such courses in individual applications. Students are advised to apply for approval in advance. The doctoral committee considers the approval of external courses only if the course is not provided at OsloMet. This has to be argued by the supervisor in the application for appoval.

The PhD Programme in Engineering Science is built on education and research related to the following engineering disciplines:

• Civil engineering - where OsloMet has activities in structural engineering, building technology, energy and indoor climate.
• Digital Engineering and Computational Science - where OsloMet and SimulaMet have activities in universal design, scientific computing, security and reliability, IT management, software engineering, learning systems, autonomous systems and networks, modelling and simulation.
• Electrical engineering - where OsloMet has activities in robotics, automation and health technology.

The programme will be structured as follows:

• 5 ECTS - Engineering Science and Ethics - compulsory course
• 5 ECTS - Scientific Research Methods and Data Analysis in Engineering Science - compulsory course
• 20 ECTS - Combination of specialisation courses each worth 5 or 10 ECTS, chosen from the list of elective courses offered by OsloMet, or external courses approved on an individual basis.
• 150 ECTS - Doctoral thesis

The study will build on a master's degree in an engineering discipline, applied mathematics or physics, or on a similar master's degree relevant to the PhD programme. Based on this requirement, students will be required to:

1. Complete 30 ECTS of coursework comprising two compulsory courses each worth 5 ECTS and 20 ECTS of either elective courses chosen from the list of courses offered in the programme or courses from other faculties/institutions, subject to approval by the doctoral committee.

2. Write a thesis at the forefront of research. The thesis will account for 150 ECTS, and may be submitted in either monograph or article-based format.

The PhD programme may be undertaken either as a full-time programme over three years or as a part-time programme over four years combined with 25% required duties.

Training component

The training component promotes the students' research and competence development. It comprises courses offering theoretical and methodological training in writing the thesis. The compulsory courses will provide students with a joint theoretical and methodological platform. The content and curricula of the compulsory courses are composed in order to cover the entire scope of Engineering Science.

The elective element of the PhD programme forms multidisciplinary arenas that will support interdisciplinary research. The courses integrate scientific theories and methods that are relevant to the areas of research in engineering science. The elective courses are thematically and methodically rooted in the research activities of the faculty and SimulaMet, and offer students the opportunity to specialise in approaches and ways of thinking that are particularly relevant to their thesis.

The PhD programme is closely linked to current research, and students will contribute to developing the respective fields of study through their own projects.

Compulsory courses, worth a total of 10 ECTS credits (each offered once a year):

• Engineering Science and Ethics (5 ECTS credits)
• Scientific Research Methods and Data Analysis in Engineering Science (5 ECTS credits)

Elective courses, worth a total of 20 ECTS credits. Students choose freely from the following courses:

• Advanced Project within Structural Engineering and Building Technology (10 ECTS credits)
• Finite Element Modelling and Simulation of Structures (10 ECTS credits)
• Advanced Topics in Building Services Engineering (10 ECTS credits)
• Universal Design in Multidiciplinary contexts (10 ECTS credits)
• Cloud Computing and Security (10 ECTS credits)
• Topics in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (10 credits)
• Applied Mathematical Modelling and Analysis (10 credits)
• Advanced Topics in Biomedical Engineering (10 ECTS credits)
• Advanced topics in Robotics and Control (10 ECTS credits)
• Estimation and Planning of Software Projects (5 ECTS credits)
• Future Energy Information Networks (5 ECTS credits)
• Internet Architecture and Measurements (10 ECTS credits)

The elective courses will be offered once a year provided 3 or more students sign up for the course. If less than 3 students sign up for the course, the course may be cancelled for that year but not necessarily.

The students are responsible for acquiring knowledge and skills in research methods relevant to their chosen field of expertise. Methodology courses can be chosen from OsloMet's portfolio or at other institutions. External courses must be approved by the programme committee, preferably prior to starting the course.

Research component

The research component amounts to the work on the doctoral thesis (150 ECTS credits). Work on the thesis is spread across all six semesters and includes planning and conducting the research project, processing the results, and structuring and writing the thesis. The thesis may be produced as a compilation of articles or as a monograph; see the PhD Regulations under 'Training component' above.

An article-based thesis must contain at least three articles and an introductory chapter displaying the relationship between the articles. The student must be the sole author of the introduction and the main author of at least two of the articles. If articles are included where the student is not the main author, he/she must confirm in writing that he/she meets the requirements for co-authorship by stating her/his material contribution to the article in terms of collecting data, interpreting results, and which parts of the article he/she has written. On submission of the thesis, at least one of the articles must already be accepted for publication.

The learning outcomes of the programme include knowledge at the forefront of research, complex skills, and a high level of general competence in the field of engineering science. This means that the working and teaching methods will be sufficiently varied and complex to support the student's learning process on the way to achieving the learning outcomes.

Training component

Lectures

The lectures will cover key topics in the courses and will disseminate current issues and new research findings.

Self-study

Achievement of the learning outcomes depends mainly on the degree to which the PhD student makes effective use of the instruction and supervision offered and accepts responsibility for working independently. Self-study entails student-initiated activities such as individual study and cooperation with fellow students. The starting point consists of theoretical and methodological issues and a knowledge base in engineering science.

Seminars

Organised group work requires students to discuss given research problems based on a topic covered in the course and on their respective academic backgrounds. This offers the students opportunities to reflect on multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research problems. The outcomes of the seminars are presented and discussed in plenary sessions, providing students with training in both academic dissemination and peer review.

Practical application of methodology

Different methodologies are applied in practical exercises, such as research interviews, qualitative and quantitative analyses, and different types of software. This provides students with practical experience in addressing, for example, complex analyses.

Research component

Research work

The working methods for the thesis consist mostly of self-study and research activities. Selfstudy entails student-initiated activities such as individual study and cooperation with fellow students and researchers. Research activities involve planning and conducting the student¿s own research, processing the results, and designing the thesis. This part constitutes the most important contribution to the PhD student's research competence.

Supervision

Supervisors are appointed by the doctoral committee. The main supervisor shall have overall academic responsibility for the PhD student and shall normally be an employee of OsloMet or SimulaMet. As a general rule, the student shall also have a co-supervisor from OsloMet or from another institution. If an external main supervisor is appointed, an employee of OsloMet or SimulaMet shall be appointed as co-supervisor. Each PhD student is entitled to 210 hours of supervision, including preliminary and follow-up work during the course of the nominal length of study. A time schedule for tutorials and a work schedule must be agreed upon at the first tutorial in each semester. Supervision includes time spent on preparatory work, discussions with the PhD student, and follow-up work. Requirements regarding supervisors and rights and obligations are regulated in the PhD Regulations, sections 3-1 to 3-3. The PhD student and the supervisor(s) must independently submit annual progress reports for assessment and approval by the faculty's doctoral committee. Supervision of the thesis shall ensure that the project is in accordance with ethical guidelines and shall contribute to the design of research problems and the quality of the methods to be used.

Participation in research communities

The student¿s projects are linked to OsloMet¿s established research communities via the student¿s supervisors and the student¿s own involvement in research groups and other research activity. Active participation will provide students with insights into research management and experience in multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research cooperation, and provide them with opportunities to discuss research problems and designs, challenge established knowledge and practice, and present their own projects. Students will have opportunities to establish and further develop cooperation with national and international research communities.

Research seminar and dissemination

Students must present their projects in seminars at the start of, midway, and near the end of the programme. This will take place at the faculty's regular research fellows forums. The midway presentation must ideally be conducted in English and be followed by a discussion on current progress between the PhD student, the supervisor(s), and the PhD Programme Director. Furthermore, students are encouraged to present their research at least once a year at an international academic conference. This gives students competence in participating in scientific discussions within their field of research in cooperation with national and international research communities. Students are also encouraged to disseminate their projects to broader audiences, such as giving lectures to users or through popular science channels.

Descriptions of the work and teaching methods for the individual courses are provided in the course plans.

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 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 written report based on research principles and methods.

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.

Building technology and structural engineering are well-established subjects that are taught at a number of universities abroad. OsloMet is part of the Erasmus programme for student exchange and has entered into several Erasmus+ agreements with relevant universities and university colleges. An Erasmus+ agreement with Edinburgh Napier University in Scotland and a collaboration agreement with the National Technical University of Athens in Greece have been prepared especially for this study programme.

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. Students who choose to go abroad in the third semester may take 15 credits in either structural engineering or building technology in place of the elective specialisation course.

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.