Fire Safety Engineering PgDip/MSc

Program Overview

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Fire Safety Engineering - PgDip, MSc

Overview

Research-led, industrially relevant master's programme offered by an internationally leading research team with unrivalled experimental facilities.

Summary

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.

About this course

About

The programme is a linked programme of awards leading to either a post-graduate Diploma (comprising eight taught modules) or MSc (eight taught modules plus research dissertation) in Fire Safety Engineering. In the PG Diploma programme (Years 1 and 2) students will study compulsory modules in Heat Transfer and Thermofluids, Fire Dynamics, Structural Fire Engineering, Fire Engineering Laboratory, Active Fire Protection Systems, People and Fire and Fire Safety Engineering Design (2 modules). The research dissertation is completed in the 3rd year.

Attendance

The PGDip/MSc Fire Safety Engineering is a linked programme of awards. The PGDip is completed in part-time mode over two academic years with students then progressing to MSc and undertaking their Master's Dissertation in the 3rd year. Attendance at class is normally scheduled from 9.15 to 6.15 on Mondays in the first year and Tuesdays in the 2nd year. In the 3rd year (Dissertation) a series of classes will be organised early in the first semester, after which time formal attendance, other than that scheduled for meetings with supervisors, and eg laboratory time, is not required. From time to time lectures may be scheduled on days of the week, other than those given above. Throughout the course, you are expected to be in attendance at all scheduled classes and also to spend significant time in independent study (about 400 hours over the duration of each semester).

Start dates

• September 2025

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

The programme provides a rich learning and teaching environment that is informed by current research staff and others. Throughout the programme, staff try to create a research ethos, with much questioning, discussion, reflection and debate, i.e. a learning and teaching environment that is centred around enquiry based learning. There is also a strong input from industry, particularly in the fire safety design modules. Learning and teaching methods include lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory work, design project work and computer laboratory work.

Academic profile

The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 60% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.

Modules

Year one

Heat Transfer and Thermofluids

Year: 1

Status: C

The module provides the fundamental knowledge of core engineering sciences i.e. heat and mass transfer, fluid mechanics and thermodynamics, and aims to develop practical skills pertained to these disciplines in the context relevant to fire safety engineering. The module materials were designed to develop a deep understanding of the physical phenomena underlying fluid flow and heat transfer in fire, their interrelations and role played at different stages of fire development. Teaching methods on the module comprise lectures, tutorials and assignments.

Fire Dynamics

Year: 1

Status: C

Fire dynamics as a field of scientific knowledge embraces most fundamental principles related to fire initiation, development, suppression and release of toxic products of combustion. The module presents students with the unified consideration of the above problems and relates them practical fire safety design procedures, studied later in the course. Emphasis is on deep understanding of physical and chemical processes underlying fire behaviour. A large number of practical calculation examples is offered to students in order to prepare them for real fire design challenges.

Fire Engineering Laboratory

Year: 1

Status: C

This module enables the student to acquire skills in observing, measuring and analysing physical and chemical attributes of behaviour associated with fire processes. It will also equip students with the necessary knowledge and understanding of the techniques required to conduct and interpret results from experimental research.

Active Fire Protection Systems

Year: 1

Status: C

Active fire protection is an integral and important part of overall fire safety design. The module provides students with the essential knowledge of methods and technologies currently used for active fire protection. Relevant physical/chemical principles underlying fire suppression techniques are emphasized. Practical examples are introduced in order to familiarize students with the real design procedures for fire protection systems.

Year two

Fire Safety Engineering Design 1

Year: 2

Status: C

This module seeks to develop an understanding of the role and working environment of a fire engineer and experience of identifying, solving and communicating issues relating to a fire safety design of a building. The learning and experience in this module will equip students to tackle the development of a fire safety engineering design solution for a more complex building in FIR702.

Fire Safety Engineering Design 2

Year: 2

Status: C

This module seeks to develop in students the knowledge and experience in applying fire safety engineering approaches to the provision of fire safety in buildings. Students are exposed to an environment in which they experience the fire safety engineering design process within a comprehensive design exercise set at a high professional level.

Structural Fire Engineering

Year: 2

Status: C

This module considers durability, building code requirements, structural fire testing, material properties at elevated temperatures, thermally induced structural behaviour, in the context of structural design against fire.

People and Fire

Year: 2

Status: C

Fire safety engineering is inherently concerned with the provision of equitable life safety options for all occupants of buildings. This module provides an understanding of human behaviour with respect to fire, the impact of fire on people and the complex interactions which exist. Students can then apply this knowledge in the development of reasonable and safe solutions to complex problems related to fire safety design and management of buildings.

Year three

Research and Dissertation

Year: 3

Status: C

This module enables the student to undertake an independent in-depth study of a particular aspect of fire safety science and engineering. It facilitates development of skills in problem solving and decision making whilst also refining other skills including investigative and evaluative skills. Students are required to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject researched, skills in critical analysis and use of contemporary investigative methods. Students are required to display these skills in written and oral format that will clearly display analysis of the principal arguments and conclusions of their work.

Standard entry conditions

Entry Requirements

Applicants should:

• have gained:
  • an Honours or non-Honours degree in a related science or engineering discipline from a University of the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland, from the Council for National Academic Awards, the National Council for Educational Awards, the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, or from an institution of another country which is recognised as being of an equivalent standard; or
  • have gained an equivalent standard in a Postgraduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Graduate Certificate or an approved alternative qualification;
• hold an A level pass in GCE Mathematics at Grade C or 4 or alternatively the applicant's primary degree must have a significant mathematics base to at least A level standard.

English Language Requirements

• The minimum requirement for this course is Academic IELTS 6.0 with no band score less than 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement for Tier 4 visa purposes.

Careers & opportunities

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.

Professional Recognition

• MSc - Accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
• MSc - Accredited by the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.
• MSc - Accredited by the Energy Institute on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.

Fees and funding

Tuition Fee Loans Available

Students domiciled in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and UK students can apply to Student Finance NI for a Tuition Fee loan of up to £6,500 (subject to eligibility).

Fees

Fees Credit Points| NI/ROI/GB Cost| International Cost* ---|---|--- 5 | £201.10| £494.70 10 | £402.20| £989.40 15 | £603.30| £1,484.10 20 | £804.40| £1,978.80 30 | £1,206.60| £2,968.20 60 | £2,413.20| £5,936.40 120 | £4,826.40| £11,872.80 180 | £7,239.60| £17,809.20 240| £9,652.80| £23,745.60

Scholarships, awards and prizes

There are two prizes associated with the course - Best Student (full-time) MSc Fire Safety Engineering and Best Dissertation MSc Fire Safety Engineering (open to both Full-time and Part-time). Both are sponsored by Jensen Hughes.