EPN

Master’s Programme in Civil Engineering Programplan

Engelsk programnavn
Master’s Programme in Civil Engineering
Gjelder fra
2023 HØST
Studiepoeng
120 studiepoeng
Varighet
4 semestre
Programhistorikk

Innledning

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 process and infrastructure 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 Process and Infrastructure 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.

Målgruppe

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 in other engineering fields.

Opptakskrav

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

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 or marine engineering

Smart Water Process and Infrastructure Engineering

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

Up to 40% of study places are reserved for applicants from the international admission.

Læringsutbytte

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 process and infrastructure 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.

Innhold og oppbygging

The programme is a full-time programme over two years that consists of a lecture-based component with a scope of 90 credits and an independent project - the master's thesis - with a scope of 30 credits.

Content

The master's degree programme is profession-oriented and adapted to meet the building construction and infrastructure industry and society's need for up-to-date, forward-looking expertise in 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. Bridges, quays, offshore installations and other large building structures are exposed to great loads combined with environmental and climate impacts. The Finite Element Method (FEM) is used to determine load effects (stress and strain) in the different parts of such complex structures. The study programme focuses on providing the students with solid, theoretical knowledge and applied skills in linear and non-linear FEM analysis, design of structures and structural systems, and service life dimensioning and service life extension of structures. Theory and applied skills are taught in the courses MABY4100 Finite Element Method in Structural Analysis, MABY4400 Structural Analysis and Design, MABY4800 Advanced Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Structures and MABY4500 Durability and Service Life of Structures. Behaviour of structures under dynamic loads is covered in the course MABY5200 Structural Dynamics.

Building technology concerns the analysis, calculation and design of the body of the building, including facades and building envelopes. Climate change and increased focus on resource use and environmental impacts thereby also entail a greater focus on the choice of materials and climate adaptation in connection with the design of buildings. The study programme focuses on providing the students with more detailed knowledge of building physics processes, principles and methods, and an understanding of the importance of the choice of building materials and components in the design of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly, climate-resilient buildings. Here, life-cycle analyses (LCA) and sustainability assessments are important tools for decisions on the choice of materials and building solutions. Theory and applied skills are taught in the courses MABY4200 Building Physics and Climate Adaptation of Buildings, MABY4700 Sustainability Assessment for Built Enviroment, MABY4600 Sustainable Building Design and MABY4900 Timber Building Engineering. Computational fluid dynamics in and around buildings as well as structures are covered in the course MAEN4300 Fluid Dynamics and Computational Methods.

Transport infrastructure engineering concerns the analysis, calculation, design and management of transport infrastructure systems. Roadways and railways are typical transport infrastructure systems and they must be well designed and managed to provide safe and resilient support to traffic that is ever-changing with the advancement in the transport technology and increase in societal demand for multi-modal future-oriented transportation forms. Besides, existing transport infrastructure systems also need to be taken care of to ensure safe functionality. This specialization is built upon the important knowledge and skills of structural analysis and sustainability assessment offered in the common courses MABY4100 Finite Element Method in Structural Analysis and MABY4700 Life-Cycle Assessment for Built Environment. In addition, theory and applied skills in the field of transport infrastructure engineering are taught in the courses SMUA4200 Traffic Engineering and Intelligent Transport Systems, SMUA4600 Geophysical Information Systems, MABY5030 Advanced Pavement Design and Rehabilitation, MABY5040 Advanced Railway Engineering, MABY5050 Smart infrastructure and Asset Management and MABY5060 Managing Infrastructure Projects.

Geotechnical engineering concerns Engineering behaviours of earth materials such as soils and rocks to find solutions for various engineering problems. It is typically linked with hydrological, geological, and geophysical engineering. Geotechnical engineering is not only applicable to civil engineering but also to mining engineering, petroleum engineering, and offshore structures and foundations. Compared with other civil engineering directions, the tasks of a geotechnical engineer comprise more site-based field investigation and laboratory testing to classify relevant properties of geo materials with large variations to engineering design. This specification is fundamentally built upon the deep understanding of soil mechanics which will be taught in the course, MABY5410 Advanced Soil Mechanics. This course will provide a conceptual model for soil classification, cover soil mechanics for simple but widely applied models to the advanced framework and also highlight their engineering applications and typical state of art technics applied in this field. After this course, MABY5420 Geotechnical Site Investigation and Ground Modelling, MABY5440 Geotechnical Models and Simulations, MABY5460 Environmental Geotechnics, MABY5450 Urban Geotechnics, and MABY5430 Foundation Solutions will follow. This study specialisation provides students with abilities to handle tasks through all phases of geotechnical designs; from site investigation and soil testing, to proposed engineering solutions, to design validation at the end, based on solid theoretical knowledge.

Smart water process and infrastructure engineering concerns the analysis, design and management of urban water resource processes and infrastructure. Water is an essential resource with strong links to energy and food production and urban water systems represent one of the largest water pollutant sources globally. Implementing state-of-the-art and innovative technology rather than conventional resource intensive ones is key to adapt in the future. As we move towards a hyper-connected urban infrastructure, data collection, decision support and process control form the need for future practitioners within smart water process and infrastructure. This specialization extends on the existing programme in civil engineering, offering the common courses of MABY4700 Life Cycle Assessment for Built Environment, MAEN4300 Fluid Dynamics and Computational Methods, SMUA4600 Geophysical Information Systems, MABY5050 Smart Infrastructure and Asset management and MABY5060 Managing Infrastructure Projects. The study specialisation focuses on providing the students with solid, theoretical knowledge and applied skills in the field of smart water process and infrastructure taught in the courses MABY5310 Urban pipe Systems, MABY5320 Bioprocess Technology, MABY5330 Water Resource Recovery Technology, MABY5340 Water Infrastructure, Trenches and No-Dig, MABY5350 Sensor Networks and Model Based Decisions Support and MABY5360 Design and Optimisation Projects.

Students are enrolled to one of the study directions from semester one. The MABY5000 Civil Engineering Seminars and Projects as well as the master's thesis will give the students practice in applying their knowledge and skills to relevant issues through more comprehensive project work.

Projects in the built environment are increasingly complex and interdisciplinary. The study programme focuses on teaching students how to use advanced computer programs and simulation tools to solve complex problems relating to their study directions.

The study programme also aims to qualify candidates with the competence to participate in research work in the field. All the courses taught in the second semester therefore include an element of research at different levels. The course MAEN5300 Research Methods and Ethics underpins the master's thesis and provides an introduction to research methods, ethics, and academic writing and dissemination of results.

MABY5900, the master's thesis, is an independent, supervised research or development project in the core areas of the field, and represents further specialisation in either structural engineering, building technology, transport infrastructure engineering, geotechnical engineering or smart water process and infrastructure engineering.

The structure of the programme

The master's degree programme consists of compulsory courses, elective courses and a master's thesis. The course portfolio is composed so that the compulsory courses ensure academic and professional breadth, at the same time as the students are given an opportunity for in-depth study and specialisation through elective courses and the master's thesis.

Specialisation in the field of ‘structural engineering’ - SEB requires the students to choose, in addition to the mandatory courses:

In the second semester, the following two courses:

MABY4400 Structural Analysis and Design (10 credits)

MABY4800 Advanced Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Structures (10 credits)

In the third semester, at least one course between the following two:

MABY4500 Sustainable Concrete Structures (10 credits)

MABY5200 Structural Dynamics (10 credits)

Specialisation in the field of ‘building technology’ - BIT requires the students to choose, in addition to the mandatory courses:

In the second semester, the following two courses:

MABY4600 Sustainable Building Design (10 credits)

MABY4900 Timber Building Engineering (10 credits)

In the third semester, at least one course between the following two:

MABY4500 Sustainable Concrete Structures (10 credits)

MAEN4300 Fluid Dynamics and Computational Methods (10 credits)

In this way, students in both specialisations, i.e. STE and BIT, get the opportunity to also choose some from the ‘transport infrastructure engineering’ elective courses (max. 1 per semester, i.e. in second and third semesters)

Specialisation in the field of ‘transport infrastructure engineering’ - TIE requires the students to choose, in addition to the mandatory courses:

In the second semester, three courses from the following four courses:

MABY4400 Structural Analysis and Design (10 credits)

MABY5030 Advanced Pavement Design and Rehabilitation (10 credits)

MABY5040 Advanced Railway Engineering (10 credits)

SMUA4600 Geographical Information Systems (10 credits)

In the third semester, two courses from the following four:

MABY4500 Sustainable Concrete Structures (10 credits)

MABY5200 Structural Dynamics (10 credits)

MABY5050 Smart Infrastructure and Asset Management (10 credits)

MABY5060 Managing Infrastructure Projects (10 credits)

Specialisation in the field of `geotechnical engineering´ - GEO requires the students to choose, in addition to the mandatory courses

In the second semester, one course from the following four courses:

MABY4400 Structural Analysis and Design (10 credits)

MABY4800 Advanced Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Structures (10 credits)

MABY5030 Advanced Pavement Design and Rehabilitation (10 credits)

MABY5040 Advanced Railway Engineering (10 credits)

In the third semester, one course from the following five courses:

MABY4100 Finite Element Method in Structural Analysis (10 credits)

MABY5000 Civil Engineering Seminars and Projects (10 credits)

MABY5050 Smart Infrastructure and Asset Management (10 credits)

MABY5060 Managing Infrastructure Projects (10 credits)

MABY5200 Structural Dynamics (10 credits)

Specialisation in the field of `smart water process and infrastructure engineering´ - SWAPIE requires the students to choose, in addition to the mandatory courses:

In the first semester, the following two courses:

MABY5310 Urban Pipe Systems (5 credits)

MABY5320 Bioprocess Technology (5 credits)

In the second semester, the following three courses:

MABY5330 Water Resource Recovery Technology (10 credits)

MABY5340 Water Infrastructure, Trenches and No-Dig (5 credits)

MABY5350 Sensor Networks and Model Based Decisions Support (5 credits)

In the third semester, the following course:

MABY5360 Design and Optimisation Projects (10 credits)

In order for students to be formally assigned a supervisor for the master's thesis, all exams from first year of the study programme must be passed.

Students are encouraged to contact private and public enterprises in the region for the purpose of gaining practical training and experience in the fields through a summer job or similar, and to establish cooperation on project assignments.

Valgfritt emne Løper over flere semestre

1. studieår

Transport Infrastructure Engineering

Structural Engineering

Building Technology

2. semester

Geotechnical Engineering

2. semester

Structural Engineering Electives

Transport Infrastructure Engineering Electives

Building Technology Electives

Geotechnical Engineering Electives

Smart Water Process and Infrastructure Engineering

2. studieår

Transport Infrastructure Engineering

3. semester
4. semester

Structural Engineering

3. semester
4. semester

Building Technology

3. semester
4. semester

Geotechnical Engineering

3. semester
4. semester

Structural Engineering Electives

Transport Infrastructure Engineering Electives

Building Technology Electives

Geotechnical Engineering Electives

Smart Water Process and Infrastructure Engineering

4. semester

Arbeids- og undervisningsformer

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.

Internasjonalisering

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

 

 

Arbeidskrav og obligatoriske aktiviteter

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.

Vurdering og sensur

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 preferably 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 examiner. In addition to submitting a written report, students must also give an oral presentation of the thesis to the external examiner 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.

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.

Øvrig informasjon

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