Masters Degrees (Fire Safety)

The International Master of Science in Fire Safety Engineering (IMFSE) is a two-year educational programme in the Erasmus+ framework.

This masters programme is jointly offered by the following three full partner universities:

• The University of Edinburgh, UK
• Ghent University, Belgium (coordinator)
• Lund University, Sweden

Additionally, there are three associated partners where students can perform thesis research:

• The University of Queensland, Australia
• ETH Zurich, Switzerland
• The University of Maryland, United States of America

Classes in Edinburgh focus on fire dynamics, fire safety engineering and structural design for fire. Classes in Ghent have a more general fire safety engineering focus. Classes in Lund emphasise enclosure fire dynamics, risk analysis and human behaviour.

Our Building Research Establishment (BRE) Centre for Fire Safety Engineering hosts bespoke equipment to support groundbreaking research and teaching, with combined thermal and mechanical loading and use of the latest image analysis techniques.

IMFSE is very pleased to involved seven industrial partners as official sponsors. With their annual financial contributions, it has been made possible to create the IMFSE Sponsorship Consortium, which awards IMFSE students with full or partial scholarships. The current sponsors are:

• Arup
• IFIC Forensics
• UL
• Promat
• FPC
• BRE
• Fire Engineered Solutions Ghent

Programme structure

The programme consists of four semesters each worth 30 ECTS credits. Changing study location after each semester lets you benefit from the expertise of each university.

Semester 1

Students choose to study at either Ghent or Edinburgh.

Ghent University:

• Fire Dynamics
• Basics of Structural Engineering
• Thermodynamics, Heat and Mass Transfer

And 9 ECTS credits from the following elective courses (subject to approval by the faculty):

• FSE Based Firefighting (3 credits)
• Modelling of Turbulence and Combustion (3 credits)
• Turbomachines (6 credits)
• Introduction to Entrepreneurship (3 credits)

The University of Edinburgh:

• Fire Science and Fire Dynamics
• Fire Safety Engineering
• Fire Safety, Engineering and Society (this course replaces Fire Investigation and Failure Analysis, which will move to Semester 3 from 2017/18 onward)
• Engineering Project Management

Semester 2

Lund University:

• Advanced Fire Dynamics
• Human Behaviour in Fire
• Risk Assessment
• Simulation of Fires in Enclosures

Semester 3

Students choose to study at either Ghent or Edinburgh.

Ghent University:

• Active Fire Protection I: Detection and Suppression
• Active Fire Protection II: Smoke and Heat Control
• Explosions and Industrial Fire Safety
• Fire Safety Regulation
• Passive Fire Protection
• Performance-Based Design

The University of Edinburgh:

• Fire Science Laboratory
• Structural Design for Fire
• Fire Safety, Engineering and Society (this course will be replaced by Fire Investigation and Failure Analysis from 2017/18 onwards)
• Finite Element Analysis for Solids

Semester 4

The masters thesis can be completed at one of the three full partners universities, or at one of the three associated partners. The thesis work is supervised by at least one of the full partner universities.

Career opportunities

We aim to train the next generation of leaders in this field; there is currently great demand for fire safety engineering graduates worldwide and graduates have gained relevant employment or enhanced career opportunities.

A fire safety engineer fulfils a broad range of duties, in various ways related to fire. This can range from designing fire protection for a space station, to protecting treasures such as the US Constitution, to safely securing the occupants of a high-rise building from fire hazards.

Fire safety engineers are in great demand by corporations, educational institutions, consulting firms, and government bodies around the world. You may find career opportunities in the following industries:

• consulting engineering firms
• fire departments
• fire equipment and systems manufacturers
• government
• hospitals and health care facilities
• insurance industry
• research and testing laboratories
• educational institutions
• entertainment industry
• forensic investigations

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This course aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the scientific and technological principles and techniques associated with fire science and engineering and the skills and expertise to enable them to develop and apply appropriate techniques in building design. Although the focus of the course is on fire safety engineering design, the course may be of interest to those involved in many aspects related to fire safety generally such as fire brigade personnel, architects, regulators, code officials, and managers of complex buildings and facilities.

Visit the website: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/course/msc-fire-safety-engineering-ft-jn

Course detail

- Description -

The programme is offered by the Fire Safety Engineering Research and Technology Centre (FireSERT), a centre which is internationally recognised for its leading edge research in the fields of fire dynamics, structural fire engineering, human behaviour in fire, and fire modelling. The programme draws on the expertise and resources of the Centre in terms of teaching staff (with core teaching staff all actively involved in research) and experimental facilities. Students on the MSc programme have the opportunity to use Fire SERT's state-of-the-art facilities both within the taught programme and to progress experimental research projects which are often designed to complement current research projects being undertaken by staff. Students also have the opportunity to work closely with practitioners in the design module to develop a fire safety strategy for a real complex building.

- Teaching and learning assessment -

Learning and teaching methods include lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory work, design project work and computer laboratory work.

Modules are assessed either entirely by coursework or by a combination of coursework and examination. Assessment may include group and individual presentations, laboratory reports, essays, design project work.

Career options

There is strong demand for well educated fire safety engineers, and the majority of students will embark on a career within a fire safety engineering consultancy. Graduates from the Ulster course are also employed in other interesting and diverse careers in fields related to fire safety both in the UK and worldwide e.g. as regulators, fire safety officers in both the public and private sector, researchers in research and testing facilities, and fire brigade officers both in the UK and Europe. Opportunities also exist within the Fire Safety Engineering Research and Technology centre (FireSERT) for PhD studies in a wide range of fire science and engineering related topics.

How to apply: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/how-to-apply#pg

Why Choose Ulster University ?

1. Over 92% of our graduates are in work or further study six months after graduation.
2. We are a top UK university for providing courses with a period of work placement.
3. Our teaching and the learning experience we deliver are rated at the highest level by the Quality Assurance Agency.
4. We recruit international students from more than 100 different countries.
5. More than 4,000 students from over 50 countries have successfully completed eLearning courses at Ulster University.

Flexible payment

To help spread the cost of your studies, tuition fees can be paid back in monthly instalments while you learn. If you study for a one-year, full-time master’s, you can pay your fees up-front, in one lump sum, or in either five* or ten* equal monthly payments. If you study for a master’s on a part-time basis (e.g. over three years), you can pay each year’s fees up-front or in five or ten equal monthly payments each year. This flexibility allows you to spread the payment of your fees over each academic year. Find out more by visiting https://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/fees-and-finance/postgraduate

Scholarships

A comprehensive range of financial scholarships, awards and prizes are available to undergraduate, postgraduate and research students. Scholarships recognise the many ways in which our students are outstanding in their subject. Individuals may be able to apply directly or may automatically be nominated for awards. Visit the website: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/apply/fees-and-finance/scholarships

English Language Tuition

CELT offers courses and consultations in English language and study skills to Ulster University students of all subjects, levels and nationalities. Students and researchers for whom English is an additional language can access free CELT support throughout the academic year: https://www.ulster.ac.uk/international/english-language-support

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Innovative design allows more interesting and functional architecture but challenges traditional concepts of fire safety. To respond to these demands takes specialist knowledge and advanced skills in engineering analysis.

This programme covers the fundamentals of fire science, including laboratory classes, fire safety engineering and relevant structural engineering topics, such as finite element methods.

You will gain knowledge of the critical issues in structural fire safety engineering, and an understanding of relevant fire and structural behaviours.

You will become familiar with performance-based approaches to design and have an awareness of the capabilities – and limitations – of relevant advanced modelling methods for structures and fire.

This programme is fully accredited by the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM)

• Joint Board of Moderators (JBM)

Facilities

Our Building Research Establishment (BRE) Centre for Fire Safety Engineering hosts bespoke equipment to support groundbreaking research and teaching, with combined thermal and mechanical loading and use of the latest image analysis techniques.

Programme structure

This programme is run over 12 months, with two semesters of taught courses followed by a research project leading to a masters thesis.

Semester 1 courses

• Fire Science and Fire Dynamics
• State-of-the-Art Review in Fire Safety Engineering
• Structural Design for Fire
• Finite Element Analysis for Solids
• Thin-Walled Members and Stability

Semester 2 courses

• Pre-Dissertation Project in Fire Safety Engineering
• Fire Science Laboratory
• Fire Safety Engineering Analysis and Design
• The Finite Element Method
• Structural Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering

Career opportunities

Internationally, there is great demand for graduates in this field, with expertise in structural fire safety engineering particularly sought after as performance-based design expands. All of our previous graduates are in relevant employment, with the majority working in fire teams at engineering consultancies.

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MSc Fire Safety Engineering is concerned with the study of fire development and prevention and the means by which its consequence may be reduced to a minimum in human, environmental and financial terms. This postgraduate degree emphasises Fire Safety Engineering in the context of buildings and infrastructure. This involves skills and knowledge crossing all areas of learning including fire chemistry, physics of heat transfer, biology and toxicity, structures, law and legislation, environmental impact, risk management and design. It is supported by an established research base and builds on the training and educational programmes offered by the Institution of Fire Engineers.

This course is designed for students who will eventually hold senior positions within the fire-related professions. Throughout the programme, emphasis will be placed on self-motivation, critical thinking and analytical depth. The application of Fire Safety Engineering is multi-disciplinary and, as in the professional world, you will carry out project work, which will facilitate dialogue between the Fire Engineer and other members of the design and management teams.

PROFESSIONAL ACCREDITATION

This MSc is accredited by both the Energy Institute (EI) and the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) as fulfilling the further learning requirement for Chartered Engineer status, whilst also being a recognised course by the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE).

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND ASSESSMENT

The course will be delivered through lectures, tutorials and practical exercises. Guided teaching and formal assessments will enhance the development of transferable skills such report-writing, maintenance of case notes, formal presentations, participation in discussions, ability to work to deadlines, computing skills, public speaking, scientific analysis, adherence and development of laboratory protocols and research methods.

There are different assessment methods employed across the modules. Some modules are assessed by both examination and coursework while others are assessed by coursework only, which may take the form of group projects, modelling exercises or time-controlled assignments or seminar presentations.

Benefiting from extensive research funding, we hold an enviable reputation for the quality of our teaching and research activities. All Fire courses are underpinned by the Research Centre in Fire and Hazards and benefit from the dedicated fire laboratories including equipment for small and intermediate scale facilities.

Our well-equipped modern fire engineering laboratory facilities comprise of state-of-the-art fire research equipment, used by experienced academics, are available for research and teaching. There are specialist facilities which include analytical and material characterisation equipment. A number of experiments, ranging from the investigation of fire retardants to the combustion properties of materials, and fire toxicity can be undertaken. We also have computational fluid dynamics facilities, that provide the use of CFD based fire modelling for research, teaching and consultancy.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Combined into a single-discipline, our Fire Safety Engineering Master’s degree meets a challenge of modern industrial needs. Graduates have become leaders in a range of backgrounds from fire services to civil engineering to safety management. The course is fully accredited by three professional institutions (CIBSE, EI and IFE) that play an active part in ensuring the course is developed to meet professional needs.

This course is supported by an established research base (Centre for Research in Fire and Hazards Science) which builds on the training and educational programmes offered by the Institution of Fire Engineers. Full-time students can underpin their studies with a range of balancing modules. The remainder of the MSc is a series of options which may involve external speakers as well as expertise from our staff. Students should check availability if they wish to undertake any option in particular.

MSc Fire Safety Engineering commences in Semester 1 with Fires in Buildings which examines: fundamental principles; mechanisms controlling spread of fires and fire development in enclosures; movement and smoke control; fire resistance and fire severity; human behaviour in fires and evacuation; the mechanism of fire suppression agents. Running in parallel, a Research Methods module supports the Dissertation, which is an in-depth study involving theoretical, computational, experimental or investigative analysis. The Dissertation is undertaken in Semester 3 together with the Engineering Design Project, which is an integration of themes of design, ICT and technology within a practical context requiring students to work in teams as well as individuals.

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This one-year postgraduate course is designed to enable engineers, architects, fire prevention officers and other suitably qualified professionals working in the construction industry acquire a sound knowledge and understanding of fire in buildings, the safety requirements in the design of buildings and the various options available for minimising the risk of fire in buildings. The course also includes the design of fire safety systems and guidance in the preparation of an application for a fire safety certificate. This course has been approved by Engineers Ireland as meeting its requirements for continuing professional development.

Course Organisation:

Lectures are normally held on Friday evening 7 - 10 p.m. and Saturday morning 9.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. each week throughout the two semesters (September to April). Coursework, which is an integral part of the course, consists of two assignments that are carried out in the students' own time.

Course Content:

Fundamentals of Fire Science and Fire Engineering
Fire Safety Engineering
Active Fire Protection Systems
Legal Principles; Fire, Safety and Health Legislation, Insurances
The Building Control Act, 1990 and Building Regulations
The Fire Services Acts, 1981 and 2003
Coursework Assignments

Assessment:

The award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Fire Safety Practice is based on a combination of the results of two examination papers and two coursework assignments. Each paper and the coursework constitute one third of the overall assessment. Students must pass each paper and the coursework. There is no system of compensation. The pass mark for the examinations and the coursework is 40%. A Distinction is awarded to those who obtain an overall average mark of 70% or more in both the coursework and two papers combined at the summer examination. The Diploma awarding ceremony takes place in November.

Recommended Texts:

Extensive notes are provided by individual lecturers, who may also recommend texts.

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What is the Master of Safety Engineering about? 

 The Master of Safety Engineering will prepare you to improve and realise safety in many different areas. The programme trains you in prevention policy and safety management systems, the safety of products, processes, and installations, qualitative risk analysis techniques, and fire and explosion safety. You’ll obtain detailed knowledge of technical and managerial process safety concepts with regard to the whole life cycle of a production plant, and risk evaluations based on qualitative and quantitative methods. 

Structure

The Master of Safety Engineering comprises a total of 60 credits. The programme consists of a group of common compulsory courses (23 credits) that are taken up by every student. This party contains courses with themes that are of interest to every safety professional, irrespective of the specialisation option. All courses in this part are taught in English. This relatively large core part ensures that every student is given the same broad basic education about the specialised field of safety.

After a general introduction to safety engineering, prevention policy and safety management systems are treated. Safety of products, processes and installations are discussed next and qualitative risk analysis techniques, fire and explosion safety complete this section.

Furthermore, students choose between one of two available options (22 credits each): Option Process Safety or Option Prevention. In turn, each option contains a number of compulsory courses (16 credits) and elective courses (6 credits). 

The Option Prevention focuses on occupational safety and health-related issues. The compulsory courses in this option also discuss non-technical aspects concerning safety. This option is mainly of interest to candidates who want to obtain the Certificaat Preventieadviseur Niveau 1.

The Option Process Safety provides students with a detailed knowledge of technical and managerial process safety concepts with regard to the whole life cycle of a production plant from concept to design, construction and operation to decommissioning. Safety concepts of representative operational units are presented in a series of case studies. Examples of required safety oriented competences in industrial operations are also discussed. It is shown how risk evaluations and estimates based on qualitative and quantitative methods are performed.

Each student also needs to choose elective courses either from a short indicative list, or from any Master’s programme within the Group of Science, Engineering and Technology. 

Finally, students have to complete a Master’s thesis of 15 credits, which represents an effort that is consistent with a programme of 60 credits in total.

The programme can be completed normally in one-year on a full-time basis. However, to facilitate the participation of working professionals, it can also be followed on a two year part-time basis.

Objectives

After finishing this advanced Master's programme, the student should:

• have a broadly based knowledge of the different scientific disciplines that are needed to study and analyse the diverse technical and non-technical issues related to safety technology, risk management and loss prevention.
• have acquired the capabilities and competences to perform or co-ordinate a scientifically sound analysis of safety related problems and their solutions within the governing boundary conditions (legal, organisational, technical, environmental, etc.).

To carry out the programme's objectives, teaching activities consist of a combination of classroom lectures, practically oriented seminars and site visits. The instructors themselves come from the academic world both inside and outside K.U.Leuven, or have been recruited from reputable industrial companies because of their long-standing expertise and willingness to contribute to teaching and training.

Career perspectives

In many countries, there is a permanent and growing need for scientists and engineers who are knowledgeable and trained at the academic level in the field of safety engineering and safety management. This is due to the increasing complexity of industrial production processes and the growing number of rules and regulations both in Europe and internationally.

Graduates of the Master of Science in Safety Engineering programme find employment in small national and large multinational industrial companies at home and abroad or are employed in private and/or governmental organisations. Such organisations need experts with the ability to conduct research, carry out analyses, and perform inspections, monitoring and certification in the broad field of safety.

Moreover, in some countries (including Belgium), companies beyond a certain size dealing with specific risks are required by law to hire or even employ a certified prevention advisor. This certification can be acquired through the Prevention option of the Master of Science in Safety Engineering (Certificaat Preventieadviseur Niveau 1).

It is also possible for graduates to begin a career as an independent consultant with expertise in safety and environmental areas.

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In just a brief duration of time - in a few minutes or even in a fraction of a second - a fire or an explosion can have catastrophic consequences in residential buildings or in industrial plant. In UK alone, hundreds get killed and tens of thousands are injured every year. Some single incidents cost millions of pounds, the total monetary cost of fire and explosions in the UK is estimated at £12 billion per year or approximately 1% of GDP.This course offers students from diverse academic backgrounds advanced training in the field of Fire and Explosion Engineering for those wishing to embark on a career, or further develop their career, in the industry. Particular emphasis is placed on fire and explosion protection systems within a legislative framework that is complex and fast-changing.Core modules will cover both foundation and advanced aspects of fire and explosion engineering, from the factors that influence flame spread to the latest research in explosion prediction. You’ll also gain a firm grounding in fire safety design and have the chance to design a fire protection system for a complex building.

Specialist facilities

• An Enclosed Fire Rig Test facility
• The Cone Calorimeter (standard and modified with controlled ventilation)
• A 1m³ indicative standard fire furnace (planned for 2017)
• Purser furnace
• The Limiting Oxygen Index apparatus
• The standard ISO vessel for dust explosions (in storage until at least 2017)
• TGA (trace gas analyzer) and GC (gas chromatography) analytical equipment (off-line).
• The on-line FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) toxic product analysis.
• Mass spectrometer (MS).
• Particulate emissions measurements (including particle size)
• Access to the world class Leeds Electron Microscopy and Spectroscopy Centre (LEMAS), within the School, and high speed photography for visualisation of fast processes and optical analysis of particles before and after reaction.

Some of the modules on this programme are offered as short courses by the Faculty of Engineering’s Continuing Professional Development unit.

Find out more about our Fire Engineering short courses

This programme is also available to study part-time over 36 months.

Course content

You’ll study core modules that allow you to understand issues such as flame spread and steady burning, as well as developing your knowledge of fire protection designs for complex buildings. You’ll also review research around explosions, how they can be predicted and mitigated.

A major part of the MSc are two projects that will give you valuable experience and skills.

The first project involves the design of a protection system, so you’ll learn about the application of techniques such as sprinklers, pressurisation, smoke venting, automatic fire detectors, means of escape and emergency lighting systems.

The other is a lab or computational based project taking into account your own preferences. You can choose from the list of topics we offer each year, but most part-time students choose to put forward their own topic which may be related to the interests of the employer or sponsor. If you take this course part-time with the support of your employer, you can undertake your projects in the workplace.

Both projects are assessed on the basis of a written dissertation and an oral presentation.

If you choose to study part-time, you’ll need to visit Leeds six or seven times over three years. You’ll attend two presentation days and either four or five teaching weeks, depending on whether you choose the e-learning module Fire Risk Assessment and Management.

Course features include:

• Extensive participation in course delivery by lecturers from industry brings strong industrial involvement to the course
• Most taught modules are delivered in intensive CPD one week format. Modules are spread evenly throughout the year
• Extensive participation in course delivery by lecturers from industry brings strong industrial involvement to the training package
• Projects can be undertaken in the workplace (part-time) or at the University (full time and part time)
• Block module format allows both full-time and part-time students a choice of modules.

The taught modules are assessed by coursework and 'open book' tests; typically within a period of 6-10 weeks from start to finish.

Want to find out more about your modules?

Take a look at the Fire and Explosion module descriptions for more detail on what you will study.

Course structure

Compulsory modules

• Research Project (MSc) 60 credits
• Fire Safety Design 45 credits
• Fire Risk Assessment and Management 15 credits
• Fire Dynamics and Modelling 15 credits
• Fire and Explosion Investigation 15 credits
• Explosion Prediction and Mitigation 30 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Fire and Explosion Engineering MSc Full Time in the course catalogue

For more information on typical modules, read Fire and Explosion Engineering MSc Part Time in the course catalogue

Learning and teaching

Each taught module is delivered in an intensive one-week block, allowing full and part-time students to study alongside each other. These teaching weeks will allow you to benefit from the expertise of our own academics – informed by their groundbreaking research – as well as a range of visiting lecturers from industry to gain an understanding of fire and explosion engineering in theory and practice.

Assessment

Taught modules are assessed by via coursework and ‘open book’ tests, typically within 6-10 weeks from start to finish.

Career opportunities

Challenging career opportunities for fire and explosion professionals are available in just about every type of business, industry and government operation.

They include fire and explosion consultancies, fire safety planning offices of local authorities, civil engineering and architectural companies, chemical/pharmaceutical companies, the oil and gas industries, fire and explosion protection equipment manufacturers, government bodies and departments, specialist research and testing labs and insurance companies.

Links with industry

Throughout the course you will have the opportunity to meet potential employers at the week-long taught courses.

The Fire programme at Leeds is actively supported and sponsored by, amongst others, the following companies/organisations:

• Arup
• WSP UK
• BRE
• Buro Happold
• DNV GL

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Research profile

The Institute for Infrastructure and Environment (IIE) is among the leading centres of civil and environmental engineering research in the UK. The Institute seeks new technologies to solve real-world problems in order to promote sustainability.

Key research areas include:

• behaviour and design of structures in fire and other extreme events
• fire science and fire safety engineering
• shells and containment structures
• nonlinear finite element modelling of complex structures and structural collapses
• mechanics and transport of granular materials and multiphase media
• computational mechanics and bio-mechanics
• fibre-reinforced polymer composites in structural strengthening and repair
• high-speed rail
• intelligent infrastructure and non-destructive evaluation
• sustainable water and wastewater treatment technologies
• water supply
• waste management and resource recovery

IIE has excellent laboratory and computing facilities, including the latest facilities and instrumentation for experimental and computational research in structures, granular solids, fire safety engineering, non-destructive testing and environmental engineering.

Masters by Research

An MSc by Research is based on a research project tailored to a candidate’s interests. It lasts one year full time or two years part time. The project can be a shorter alternative to an MPhil or PhD, or a precursor to either – including the option of an MSc project expanding into MPhil or doctorate work as it evolves. It can also be a mechanism for industry to collaborate with the School.

Training and support

Students are strongly encouraged and trained to present their research at conferences and in journal papers during the course of their PhD.

Students are also encouraged to attend transferable skills courses provided by the University and to participate in external courses provided by organisations such as the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).

PhD candidates pursue their research projects under continuous guidance, resulting in a thesis that makes an original contribution to knowledge. You will be linked to two academic supervisors, and one industrial supervisor if the project is industrially sponsored.

Facilities

The Institute has excellent laboratory and computing facilities, including the latest instruments for experimental and computational research in structures, granular solids, fire safety engineering, non-destructive testing and environmental engineering.

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Why this course?

This part-time postgraduate study programme in safety and risk management is designed to provide a means of developing highly effective occupational safety and health practitioners that are capable of operating across the full spectrum of working environments.

Written and supported by a dedicated team of part-time tutors/practitioners engaged in health and safety practice, this course offers a unique opportunity to acquire knowledge and expertise in a highly practical context.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Safety & Risk Management has been formally accepted by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) as satisfying the academic requirements for Graduate Membership (GradIOSH). Following successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate, there is an opportunity to progress to higher level study and Chartered Membership (CMIOSH).

This course is available by distance learning only. If you have full-time work commitments, part-time distance learning study enables you to participate in your own time from any location and achieve a valuable qualification of benefit to both you and your organisation.

Flexible entry and exit points allow you to start and finish at appropriate points along the progression route, according to your current qualifications, relevant work experience and requirements.

See the website https://www.strath.ac.uk/courses/postgraduatetaught/safetyriskmanagement/

You’ll study

- Postgraduate Certificate
You’ll complete three compulsory modules:
- Benchmarking Safety & Risk Management
- Assessing Hazards, Risks & Dangers
- Optimising Safety & Risk Management Activities

- Postgraduate Diploma
You’ll complete four compulsory modules:
- Methods of Professional Enquiry
- Psychology of Workplace Activities
- Ergonomic Factors in Work Activities
- Corporate Risk Management

- Masters
You’ll study one compulsory module. You’re required to plan, implement and evaluate a major piece of research and development work. It involves an investigative and developmental project of professional relevance which is assessed on a report of 12,000 words.

Student competitions

There's the annual IOSH Student Research Poster Competition for students on BSc or MSc degree courses (in occupational safety and health or a cognate subject). Students are entered into the competition by their course tutor.

Finalists have the opportunity to showcase their research at the IOSH Conference and Safety & Health Expo in London, and also receive a cash prize. A number of our MSc graduates have been winners and runners-up.

Entry requirements

This programme is designed for people who already have a suitable combination of academic ability, subject knowledge and work experience in the general area of occupational health and safety.

Admission to the programme is determined by both academic and work experience criteria to reflect the non-traditional routes into the health and safety profession.

Applicants holding a recognised University degree and a level 3 Health and Safety Qualification (NEBOSH Certificate or equivalent) will be eligible to join the Safety and Risk Management Programme at Postgraduate Certificate level.

Applicants who do not satisfy the above will be assessed for admission on the basis of their portfolio of courses undertaken and relevant work experience.

Those seeking admission with advanced standing may include prior learning in recognised courses or work-based experience as entry criteria. Further information is available on request.

Entry to the Postgraduate Diploma will normally follow successful completion of the Postgraduate Certificate. Students who have gained equivalent academic qualifications at Postgraduate Certificate level may be accepted onto the course.

Direct entry to the MSc is not available. Students must first complete the Postgraduate Diploma in Safety & Risk Management before being allowed to continue on to the MSc.

Learning & teaching

This course is by distance learning only, delivered online via the University's Virtual Learning Environment, Myplace. Each stage of the programme is available with tutor support, providing students with an appropriate level of guidance, assessment and feedback.

Assessment

Assessment is based on continuous assessment of written assignment - there are no examinations.

Careers

- Where are they now?
100% of our MSc graduates are in work or further study**

Job titles include:
- Assistant Director of HR (Health & Safety)
- Clinical Risk Coordinator
- District Commander
- Head of HSE
- Health and Safety Advisor
- HSEQ Manager

Employers include:
- Balfour Beatty
- Compass Group
- Malone Engineering
- NHS
- ENSCO Plc
- Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue

**Based on the results of the national Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey (2010/11 and 2011/12).

Find information on Scholarships here http://www.strath.ac.uk/search/scholarships/index.jsp

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Programme Background

Risk has become a key concept in modern society. Growing concern about the environment and a number of disasters have served to focus attention on the hazards and risks involved in a wide range of activities from offshore oil production to rail and air transport; from the design of football stadia to the operation of chemical plants and environmental protection. Today there is a wide range of techniques available to assess risk and reliability, both in relation to safety and in the wider sense. These techniques now underpin new legislation on safety and have relevance over a broad spectrum of activities, including environmental and other systems, where risk and reliability are key concerns.

The MSc/PG Diploma programme in Safety, Risk and Reliability Engineering is designed to give a thorough understanding of these techniques and experience of their application to a variety of real-world problems. It aims to provide students with an understanding of safety, risk and reliability engineering in both a qualitative and quantitative manner, and to develop the skills to apply this understanding. The programme will also introduce students to recent developments in analytical techniques, e.g. computer modelling of risk, reliability and safety problems.

Professional Recognition

This MSc degree is accredited as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired an Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng (Hons) undergraduate first degree. See http://www.jbm.org.ukfor further information.

The MSc and PgDip degrees have also been accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). Graduates are eligible to join IOSH as Graduate members and then undertake an initial professional development process that leads to Chartered membership. http://www.iosh.co.uk for further information.

Programme Content

The MSc/Postgraduate Diploma in Safety, Risk and Reliability Engineering is only available by attendance-free distance learning. The programme comprises eight courses. All courses have written examinations and some have compulsory coursework elements. MSc students are also required to complete an individual project (dissertation). This programme has a stronger engineering bias and you should only attempt this if you have done some University level mathematics or equivalent. Otherwise the Safety and Risk Management course might be more appropriate.

For the project component of the programme distance learners are likely to develop something based in their country of residence with advice and supervision from staff in the School. This may well include work with a local company or may involve independent study. Individual arrangements will be set up with each student.

For more detailed information on this programme please contact the Programme Leader before applying (see above).

Courses

• Risk Assessment and Safety Management
This course aims to give students an appreciation of risk from individual and societal perspectives as well as understanding the basic principles of risk assessment and modelling and how safety management works in practice.

• Systems Reliability
Gives an understanding of the qualitative and quantitative techniques that are used in the reliability, availability and maintainability analysis of all types of engineering systems.

• Learning from Disasters
Provides students with an in depth understanding of some of the classic disasters and their consequences by using a range of practical accident investigation techniques. Students will learn to analyse complex histories in order to find the underlying root cause.

• Safety, Risk and Reliability
Leads to an understanding of the principles of structural reliability theory and its application to risk and reliability engineering.

• Fire Safety, Explosions and Process Safety
Introduces students to the basic principles of fire safety science and engineering, and develops skills in associated modelling leading to an understanding of principal fire/explosion related issues in process safety.

• Data Analysis and Simulation
Develops knowledge of statistical data analysis and its application in engineering and science and introduces the concepts of using simulation techniques for analysis of complex systems. It also teaches linear optimisation techniques and the ability to apply them to solve simple problems.

• Human Factors Methods
This course will equip students from academic and/or industrial backgrounds with knowledge on, and the means to deploy, a wide range of specialist human factors techniques. The emphasis is on method selection, application, combination and integration within existing business practices. Students will develop a critical awareness of what methods exist, how to apply them in practice and their principle benefits and limitations.

•Environmental Impact Assessment
Provides the candidate with the knowledge and understanding of the principles and processes of the Environmental Impact Assessment. By the end of the course, the student should be familiar with the European EIA legislation and its translation into the Scottish planning system, and be able to demonstrate an understanding of the EIA process, the tools and the agents involved in an EIA and the possible problems with using EIA as a decision making tool. It is also intended that the student will be able to appreciate the purpose of the EIA process from a number of perspectives; that of a developer, an EIA practitioner and a policy maker.

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Programme Background

Public awareness of hazards and risks has enhanced the importance of safety assessment and management in today’s increasingly litigious society. Worldwide the burden of responsibility for health and safety is shifting towards those who own, manage and work in industrial and commercial organisations. Legal reform is tending to replace detailed industry specific legislation with a modern approach in which, where possible, goals and general principles are set and the onus is on organisations to show how they manage to achieve these goals.

The management of safety and risk needs to be integrated into the overall management of the organisation. It should be appropriate and cost-effective without dampening the innovative entrepreneurial spirit of employees with inflexible bureaucratic rules and procedures. An organisation’s exposure to potential hazards needs to be managed so as to reduce the chance of loss and mitigate any effects. Risk and safety issues need to be evaluated in a structured and calculated manner but in the light of an overall organisational strategy.

The MSc/PG Diploma programme in Safety and Risk Management aims to provide students with advanced knowledge of risk assessment techniques, the public and individual perception of risk, and how decisions are made in competitive business markets. The focus is on practical applications of safety methodologies, ergonomics and human factors, and safety and risk management techniques.

All of these skills will be drawn together to undertake complex qualitative and quantitative risk assessments. The core of the programme is the management of safety, but it is set within a broader remit where safety issues are part of a general risk management system with a balance of financial, quality and environmental concerns. The overall aim of the programme is to develop students’ skills and personal qualities to be able to undertake safety studies and manage safety and risk to the best national and international standards.

Professional Recognition

This MSc degree is accredited as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for a Chartered Engineer (CEng) for candidates who have already acquired an Accredited CEng (Partial) BEng (Hons) undergraduate first degree. See http://www.jbm.org.ukfor further information.

The MSc and PgDip degrees have also been accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH). Graduates are eligible to join IOSH as Graduate members and then undertake an initial professional development process that leads to Chartered membership. http://www.iosh.co.uk for further information.

Programme Content

The MSc/Postgraduate Diploma in Safety, Risk and Management is only available by attendance-free distance learning. The programme comprises eight courses. All courses have written examinations and some have compulsory coursework elements. MSc students are also required to complete an individual project (dissertation).

For the project component of the programme distance learners are likely to develop something based in their country of residence with advice and supervision from staff in the School. This may well include work with a local company or may involve independent study. Individual arrangements will be set up with each student.

For more detailed information on this programme please contact the Programme Leader before applying (see above).

Courses

• Risk Assessment and Safety Management
This courses aims to give students an appreciation of risk from individual and societal perspectives as well as understanding the basic principles of risk assessment and modelling and how safety management works in practice.

• Human Factors Methods
This course will equip students from academic and/or industrial backgrounds with knowledge on, and the means to deploy, a wide range of specialist human factors techniques. The emphasis is on method selection, application, combination and integration within existing business practices. Students will develop a critical awareness of what methods exist, how to apply them in practice and their principle benefits and limitations.

• Human Factors in the Design and Evaluation of Control Rooms
The course will equip students from academic and/or industrial backgrounds with in-depth knowledge on, insights into, and the means to deploy a wide range of specialist techniques relevant to the ergonomic design and evaluation of control rooms. The emphasis is on key areas of control room operations and on actionable ways to deploy theory on human capabilities and limitations in order to improve performance, safety, efficiency and overall operator well being.

• Fire Safety, Explosions and Process Safety
Introduces students to the basic principles of fire safety science and engineering, and develops skills in associated modelling leading to an understanding of principal fire/explosion related issues in process safety.

• Environmental Impact Assessment
Provides the candidate with the knowledge and understanding of the principles and processes of the Environmental Impact Assessment. By the end of the course, the student should be familiar with the European EIA legislation and its translation into the Scottish planning system, and be able to demonstrate an understanding of the EIA process, the tools and the agents involved in an EIA and the possible problems with using EIA as a decision making tool. . It is also intended that the student will be able to appreciate the purpose of the EIA process from a number of perspectives; that of a developer, an EIA practitioner and a policy maker.

• Project Management Theory and Practice
Provides students with an understanding of the concepts and practices of construction project management used to provide value added services to clients within the constraints of time, cost, quality sustainability and health and safety management.

• Learning from Disasters
Gives students an in depth understanding of some of the classic disasters and their consequences by using a range of practical accident investigation techniques. Students will learn to analyse complex histories in order to find the underlying root cause.

• Value and Risk Management.
Aims to introduce the concepts of value and risk management, apply them to strategic and tactical problems and illustrate their tools and techniques through case study.

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The Diploma is a one-year postgraduate course designed to provide civil engineers and other suitably qualified graduates with a sound knowledge of present day practice in environmental engineering. The course has special relevance for local authority engineers but it has also been designed for those in the private sector who have a particular interest in environmental management with a particular emphasis on measures of quantitative assessment. Topics covered in the course include air quality, noise, hydrological processes, water and wastewater treatment, solid and toxic waste management, fire safety engineering and environmental monitoring and control. Environmental Impact Studies and analysis of risk, as an inherent part of infrastructural development, are also considered. This course has been approved by Engineers Ireland as meeting its requirements for continuing professional development.

Course organisation:

Lectures are normally held on Friday evening 7 - 10 p.m. and Saturday morning 9.30 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. each week throughout the two semesters (September to April). In addition to attending lectures, participants are required to submit coursework as part of the students' assessment.

Course content:

Environmental legislation, EIA and EIS

Hydrology for environmental management

Water and wastewater engineering

Air quality and noise monitoring and management

Solid and hazardous wastes

Fire safety engineering

Renewable energy

Special topics including water borne diseases, radiation hazards

Assessment:

The award of a Postgraduate Diploma in Environmental Engineering is based on a combination of the results of two examination papers and coursework. Each paper constitutes one third of the overall assessment. The mark for the coursework also constitutes one third of the overall grade. Students must pass each paper and the coursework element independently; there is no system of compensation. The pass mark for the examination papers is 40%. A Distinction is awarded to those who obtain an overall average mark of 70% or over in both the coursework and two papers combined at the summer examination. The Diploma awarding ceremony takes place in November.

Recommended texts:

Extensive notes are provided by individual lecturers, who may also recommend texts.

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Computing & Mathematical Sciences has an outstanding research record, for example, our Fire Safety Engineering Group has won the Queen's Anniversary Prize and the top award at the British Computer Society IT Awards for its EXODUS software.

Each student normally first enrols on the MPhil degree. After completing the first year of the MPhil, the student's progress is reviewed, and, if considered satisfactory, the student is permitted to transfer to the PhD for a further two to three years of research. A student who does not wish to continue at this point may write up and submit the work to be considered for an MPhil degree.

MPhil/PhD students are usually provided with two supervisors, who guide them through the research. The supervisors are usually research staff from within the Department, although a supervisor may be appointed from another Department or from outside the university. The Department has a number of research groups focusing on practical and important real-life problems.

The Department also offers a one-year MSc by Research, please go online for more information.

Visit the website http://www2.gre.ac.uk/study/courses/pg/res/cms

What you'll study

If your research area does not fall exactly into one of the following categories, contact the Department to discuss your requirements.

- Thermal stress analysis
- Coupled structures and flow
- Electronic packaging
- Computer science
- Artificial intelligence
- Data mining
- Case-based reasoning
- Autonomic computing
- Operations research
- Internet technologies
- Multimedia
- E-learning
- Fire safety engineering and evacuation,
- Human behaviour, pedestrian dynamics, combustion and ventilation
- Parallel computing
- Continuum physics
- Algorithms and codes
- Computational fluid dynamics modelling

Fees and finance

Your time at university should be enjoyable and rewarding, and it is important that it is not spoilt by unnecessary financial worries. We recommend that you spend time planning your finances, both before coming to university and while you are here. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.

Find out more about our fees and the support available to you at our:
- Postgraduate finance pages (http://www.gre.ac.uk/finance/pg)
- International students' finance pages (http://www.gre.ac.uk/finance/international)

Assessment

Students are assessed through their research and a dissertation.

Career options

Graduates from this programme can pursue a wide range of career opportunities in industry, government and academia.

Find out how to apply here - http://www2.gre.ac.uk/study/apply

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Your programme of study

You can study this programme either full time on campus, part time, or online to fit flexibly around work commitments.

Whilst Safety and Reliability Engineering allows you to apply your skills and knowledge to a wider range of industries, this programme is specifically for the oil and gas industry. It provides you with the knowledge to review reliability of engineering facilities, materials and products and legislative framework at the same time. Safety has always been of paramount concern in the oil and gas industry with a lot of learning and knowledge acquired since the oil industry growth of the 1970s. This knowledge has been scrutinised by University of Aberdeen and the industry to provide professional expertise to manage safety and reliability. Future challenges are being met to some extent by the advent of affordable sensors which manage difficult to reach places, but nonetheless require the knowledge and capabilities of professionals working in this discipline to ensure they are fit for purpose.

The MSc Safety Engineering for Oil & Gas programme provides training in safety engineering, reliability engineering, and loss prevention in the offshore, nuclear, transport, aerospace and process industries and more. Fully accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE), the Institute of Highway Engineers (IHE) and the Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation (CIHT).

Courses listed for the programme

Semester 1

Fundamental Safety Engineering and Risk Management Concepts

Statistics and Probability for Safety, Reliability, and Quality

Fire and Explosion Engineering

Offshore Oil and Gas Production Systems

Semester 2

Advanced Methods for Risk and Reliability Assessment

Applied Risk Analysis and Management

Process Design, Layout and Materials

Human Factors Engineering

Semester 3

Project

Find out more detail by visiting the programme web page

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/degree-programmes/288/safety-and-reliability-engineering-for-oil-and-gas/

There is also on online delivery:

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/degree-programmes/1081/safety-and-reliability-engineering-for-oil-and-gas/

Why study at Aberdeen?

• The university is highly regarded within the oil and gas industry for continuous integration with industry needs and knowledge
• You can study flexibly either part time or online
• It is supported by the Lloyds Register and Advisory Board which in turn builds on the knowledge within the School of Engineering
• We are ideally placed to provide this programme of study and support it with strong links to industry

Where you study

• University of Aberdeen
• Full time and part time
• 12 Months or 24 Months
• September start

There is also an Online delivery of this programme

International Student Fees 2017/2018

Find out about fees:

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/international/tuition-fees-and-living-costs-287.php

Fees for Online delivery:

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/degree-programmes/1081/safety-and-reliability-engineering-for-oil-and-gas/

*Please be advised that some programmes have different tuition fees from those listed above and that some programmes also have additional costs.

Scholarships

View all funding options on our funding database via the programme page

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-taught/finance-funding-1599.php

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/funding/

Living in Aberdeen

Find out more about:

• Your Accommodation
• Campus Facilities
• Aberdeen City
• Student Support
• Clubs and Societies

Find out more about living in Aberdeen:

https://abdn.ac.uk/study/student-life

Living costs

https://www.abdn.ac.uk/study/international/finance.php

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Program overview

Management of environmental, health and safety issues has changed significantly in the past twenty years. The emergence of voluntary standards and codes of conduct, including international standards, coupled with the need to manage costs and limited resources has resulted in a trend to move beyond regulatory compliance. Now, companies work toward sustainability through the use of integrated environmental, health and safety management systems, which are woven into key business processes. Although they are distinct disciplines, environmental management, occupational health, and workplace safety share many technical, regulatory, and organizational characteristics. Today's professionals now need to be educated in all three areas.

Graduates are employed by Fortune 100 companies, environmental, health and safety consultancies, universities, and government agencies such as the EPA, OSHA, and NYSDEC.

Plan of study

The MS degree in environmental, health and safety management provides students with a solid foundation in the managerial aspects of developing and implementing environmental, health and safety management systems that can move organizations toward a more sustainable and socially responsible future. In addition, students gain a solid technical foundation in air emissions, wastewater, solid and hazardous waste, occupational safety and occupational health (industrial hygiene). Elements of sustainability are integrated into most of the core courses and some electives

The program consists of 33 credit hours and may be completed entirely through online learning, or via a combination of online and traditional on-campus courses. The curriculum consists of core courses, professional electives, and a choice of a graduate thesis, project, or exam.

Professional electives

Professional electives are subject to availability and include Fire Protection, Occupational Health, Solid and Hazardous Waste Management, Industrial Wastewater Management, Air Emissions Management, Occupational Safety, Mechanical and Electrical Controls and Standards, EHS Law, EHS Accounting and Finance, EHS Project Management, and Organizational Behavior and Leadership. Additional professional electives are available in topics such as business management, quality, sustainability, and other areas.

Curriculum

Course sequences differs according to thesis/project/exam option, see website for a particular option's module details: http://www.rit.edu/programs/environmental-health-and-safety-management-ms

Other admission requirements

-Have completed at least 9 semester hours of college-level course work in the sciences, with at least 3 semester credit hours in each of the following categories: chemistry, biology, and physics.
-Submit two professional recommendations.
-Submit two writing samples to demonstrate written communication skills.
-Submit official transcripts (in English) of all previously completed undergraduate and graduate course work.
-Submit a clearly written one-page statement of purpose.
-Submit a current resume or curriculum vitae.
-Complete a graduate application.
-International applicants whose native language is not English must submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). A minimum score of 570 (paper-based) or 88 (Internet-based) is required. Scores from the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) will be accepted in place of the TOEFL exam. Minimum acceptable scores will vary; however, the absolute minimum score for an unconditional acceptance is 6.5. It is recommended that international students begin the program in the fall semester.

Applicants with acceptable professional certification(s) and/or work experience may have pre-requisite science course work waived.

Applicants without formal academic training or documented experience in air emmisions, waste water, solid and hazardous waste, occupational health, or occupational safety may be required to take professional electives in these areas.

Students without related work experience may complete a graduate cooperative education placement during their program of study. Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not required; however, applicants may submit test scores to support their candidacy.

Additional information

Transfer credit:
With the permission of the department, relevant graduate course work may be transferred into the program, per the maximum number of credit hours allowed.

International students:
International students enrolled in courses at the RIT campus are required to take at least two traditional classroom courses and one or two online courses per semester. In addition, international students are solely responsible for meeting the requirements of their government and other sponsors, as applicable.

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