Cold Climate Engineering (Nordic Master), Master of Science (Technology)

Description

The main focus of the Nordic Master in Cold Climate Engineering is to give the students a profound understanding of how the obtained specializations can be applied in jobs as researchers, consulting or practising engineers in the Arctic.

All graduates will have the ability to work within a team of experts having different international backgrounds such as education, values, language, culture, etc.. and have a profound understanding of the challenging Arctic environment.

The teaching methods will include lectures, assignments, field work, laboratory work and project work. Theory is supported by experimental work and modelling, which are used intensively, and also depending on the track.

Specialization

The programme consists of three specialised study tracks:

• Land Track: Focus on Arctic geoengineering (DTU and NTNU)
• Sea Track: Focus on Arctic ships and offshore structures  (NTNU and Aalto)
• Space Track: Focus on mapping and observing the Arctic (DTU and Aalto)

You´ll find more information on study tracks and curricula on the programmes own website.

Language of instruction

The language of instruction of the programme is English.

Tuition fees and scholarships

DTU charges tuition fees to non-EU/EEA citizens.

The following non-EU/EEA citizens are exempted from tuition fees at DTU:

• Students with a “permanent residence permit” or a “time-limited residence permit issued with a possibility of permanent residence in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden”.
• Students who have dual citizenship in both an EU country and a non-EU country.

Aalto charges tuition fees to non-EU/EEA citizens

The fees will not concern those non-EU/EEA students who:

• are equivalent to an EU citizen (i.e. citizens of Switzerland)
• have a continuous or permanent residence permit card in Finland (type A or P permit)
• have an EU residence permit for third-country citizens with long-term residence permit card in Finland (type P-EU permit)
• have an EU family member's residence card in Finland
• have an EU blue card in Finland

NTNU charges no tuition fees from Nordic Master students!

At NTNU and Aalto a student union fee or semester fee is charged.

Scholarships

There are no particular scholarships attached to the Nordic Master in Maritime Engineering programme.

For sholarships or tuition fee waivers at the partner universities read more at the individual universities' webpages: Aalto DTU,

Structure of studies

Semester 1

Before your arrival the international departments of University 1 will have sent you various relevant material. They have also helped you with housing and signing up for courses for your first semester. Moreover, they will make welcome arrangements for you as well as for all other international students, so you can get easily and quickly comfortable in your new surroundings.

Please also check the website of the university where you start and be aware that the first day of the semester is different at Aalto, DTU and NTNU!

There will be a social weekend for all first and second year students. The aim of the weekend is for all students and academic coordinators to meet and network, get more information about the Nordic Master in Cold Climate Engineering and related research and career possibilities, visit the universities and have a good time!

The Land track students have to register for the Arctic Semester before October 1. 

Sea track students spending semester 2 at UNIS need to apply by October 15. Remember to state in your UNIS application that you are a Nordic Master in Cold Climate Engineering student.

Semester 2

In semester 2, all Land track students will be in Greenland. Some Sea track students will be at UNIS.

Land track and Sea students spending semester 3 at UNIS (https://www.unis.no/studies/regulations-and-routines/how-to-apply/) needs to apply by April 15. Remember to state in your UNIS application that you are a Nordic Master in Cold Climate Engineering student and you have to apply as an NTNU student.

Land track students going to NTNU for semester 3 will receive information about the Specialization Projects available mid-semester and how to proceed with these.

Transfer from University 1 to University 2

During the second semester, typically in March/April, you will receive registration information from University 2. It contains information on how apply for a residencepermit in country 2, how to register for courses, how to apply for Erasmus exchange funding, information on accommodation etc. Procedures vary from university to university, so please read the information carefully.

Semester 3

The third semester gives you the challenges of a new university and a new Nordic country. If you are not from a Nordic country you have probably always had an impression of very similar countries, but now you will have the opportunity of studying all the differences, both between universities and countries. During this semester you should also think about your thesis.

In Semester 3 there will be another social weekend.

Preparing the MSc thesis (link til MSc thesis)

During your third semester you should take contact to a professor at University 2 to discuss the possibilities of a thesis topic. Be aware that the MSc thesis topic is determined by University 2.

Please note that while you do your thesis according to the rules that apply to thesis work at University 2, you must have a supervisor from University 1, and your thesis will be evaluated by both universities. This is a condition for the double degree and the double diploma.

If you cannot find a supervisor from University 1, contact your academic contact person at University 1 .

To make sure that all formalities are fulfilled before you start your thesis, you have to fill out the thesis agreement form and send to the programme coordinator.

Semester 4

You will write your thesis this semester and it is your responsibility to utilize the thesis supervisors both from University 2 where you are present, but also the supervisor from University 1. We suggest that you make a weekly informal progress report that you send to all your supervisors by email.

The thesis has to be defended/evaluated according to the rules at the two universities involved. When you have finished your thesis you must give a presentation of it, according to each partner university rules:

• Aalto: presentation of the thesis must be done either at Aalto or at the partner university
• DTU: a thesis defence is required and counts towards the final grade.
• NTNU: no presentation required

Specialisations

Sea Track

The Sea Track focuses on Arctic ships and offshore structures and the courses are offered by NTNU and Aalto.

The track gives the graduates a comprehensive overview of the different aspects related to the design and analysis of Arctic ships and offshore structures as well as operations on ice-covered waters.

All students will participate in Arctic field work.

The Sea Track covers both the basic knowledge as well as application of Arctic marine technology. During the studies, the students have the possibility to participate on Arctic field work (Svalbard/UNIS), laboratory work at Aalto Ice Tank and numerical modelling of ice related problems.

Special Knowledge on Arctic Ships and Offshore Structures and Operations

Graduates from the Sea Track will have acquired special knowledge related to Arctic ships and offshore structures and Arctic operations and will be able to:

• Understand the complicated and specific natures of Arctic design and operation environment.
• Describe the challenging environment and use this knowledge for modelling purposes.
• Design and carry out Arctic field work measurement campaigns.
• Understand the basic characteristics of ice model scale testing.
• Use analytical and numerical models to predict ice-structure interaction and other ice related problems.

Which Degree Will I Get?

The Cold Climate Engineering programme is a so-called double degree programme. When you finish the Nordic Master in Cold Climate Engineering you will receive a degree from both universities you have attended during your master’s programme.

You will receive a degree diploma with the progamme name: Nordic Master in Cold Climate Engineering with the following double degree title:

Aalto: Master of Science (Technology)
NTNU: Master of Science in Cold Climate Engineering

Space Track

The Space Track focuses on Earth observation techniques, mapping and navigation in the Arctic and the courses are offered by Aalto and DTU.

The track gives the graduates a profound understanding of how to use space as an environment for developing instruments to benefit people and society.

During the studies, the students have the possibility to participate in a course in Greenland and write Master thesis in collaboration with industry.

Special Knowledge on Exploration Techniques Used in the Polar Regions

Graduates from the Space Track will have acquired a thorough overview of technologies used for climate monitoring, mapping and navigation and will be able to:

• Design, build and operate functional space and Earth observation systems.
• Set up Earth observation research projects.
• Conduct science and applied Earth monitoring with the research results.

Which Degree Will I Get?

The Cold Climate Engineering programme is a so-called double degree programme. When you finish the Nordic Master in Cold Climate Engineering you will receive a degree from both universities you have attended during your master’s programme.

You will receive a degree diploma with the progamme name: Nordic Master in Cold Climate Engineering with the following double degree title:

Aalto: Master of Science (Technology)
DTU: Master of Science in Earth and Space Physics and Engineering

Internationalisation

The programme is jointly organised by Aalto University, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Your choice in specialisation dictates which universities you attend over the course of the programme.

Further study opportunities

Cold Climate Engineering programme is considered a great foundation for doctoral studies and post-doc positions.

Career opportunities

Sea Track:

Career Prospects

Graduates from the Sea Track are expected to find work in oil companies, shipyards, classification societies, governmental bodies, consulting and design companies, research institutes and universities with activities on ice-covered waters. See list of possible jobs

Space Track

Career Prospects

Graduates from the Space Track will have worked intensively with different kinds of technology used to explore the Earth and specially the Polar Region: the Arctic and Antarctica. This includes instrumentation, observation techniques, models, methods and surveillance systems.

Graduates from the Space Track are expected to find work in consulting companies working with surveying, remote sensing and mapping companies, high-tech companies and governmental bodies. Also large Earth observation and space research related organizations such as the European Space Agency (ESA), European Southern Observatory (ESO) or the American National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will need graduates from the Space Track. See list of jobs.

Research focus

Marine and Arctic Technology

We focus on the behaviour of ships and structures in normal and extreme environments. We do our research by considering the safety of maritime transportation, as well as the experiences the marine environment can offer to cruise vessel passengers.

Co-operation with other parties

Studying in the Arctic

Read about Lorenzo who travelled all the way from Italy to Greenland to be part of the Arctic Semester.

The Arctic is a place unlike anywhere else. The ecosystem is fragile, the weather can be challenging and the infrastructure is scarce. These conditions demand specialised skills from engineers working there.

The Nordic Master in Cold Climate Engineering is the first comprehensive master’s programme in cold climate engineering in Europe and gives the students a unique possibility to do field work and projects in Greenland or Svalbard

Contact information

Börje Helenius

Planning officer

[email protected]

+35850 590 6388

Joint Master Team

Team

[email protected]