Program Overview

Introduction to the Master's Track in Structural Engineering and Design

The Master's track in Structural Engineering and Design (SED) is a 2-year program that falls under the responsibility of the unit carrying the same name. The program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of structural engineering and design principles.

Study Structure

The SED master's track takes 120 EC, spread over two years. The program consists of:

• Core courses: 25 EC
• Specialization electives: 30 EC
• Free electives: 20 EC
• Thesis project: 45 EC

Core Courses

The core courses are dedicated to providing students with a solid foundation in structural engineering and design. The five core courses are:

1. Resource efficient structural engineering and design
2. Energy and finite element methods
3. Stability of structures
4. Advanced steel and aluminium structures
5. Advanced concrete structures

Specializing Electives

The specializing electives allow students to choose from three 10-credit project courses, each taking one semester, and five smaller courses. The 10-point project courses are:

1. Design project: Large Span Structures (10 EC)
2. Design project: High Rise (10 EC)
3. Research project: varying topics, following/supporting research of PhD students and staff (10 EC)

The other specializing electives are:

• Digital design & manufacturing (2.5 EC)
• Finite element method, non-linear (5 EC)
• Geotechnics, soil mechanics and seismic structural design (5 EC)
• Structural design with glass (2.5 EC)
• Advanced timber structures (2.5 EC)

Free Electives

Students can choose any course where they earn ECs at a master's level. This can be either within the department or outside.

Graduation Project

The graduation project is performed in the last three quarters of the second year. Graduation projects can be carried out within the chairs on innovative structural design, applied mechanics, or the several structural materials, or in combination.

Research Areas

The Department of the Built Environment has several research areas, including:

1. Applied Mechanics
2. Aluminium Structures
3. Concrete Structures
4. Sustainable Structural Design
5. Steel Structures
6. Structural Engineering and Design

Thesis Project

The thesis project is graded based on eight criteria, which are divided into three groups:

1. Process:
   • Academic attitude
   • Independence
   • Time management
2. Presentation:
   • Report structure and clarity
   • Oral presentation and defense
3. Product:
   • Depth and inventiveness
   • Method and implementation
   • Analysis and conclusions

The Structural Engineering & Design master's track has two types of thesis projects: design-oriented and research-oriented.

Admission Requirements

Students coming from universities of applied sciences (hbo) need to follow a mandatory pre-master's track before starting the Structural Engineering & Design master's track. The pre-master's track takes half an academic year and has a study load of 30 EC.