Master’s Programme in Mechanical Engineering – Structural Mechanics
120 credits
- Period : 2021-August-30 until 2023-June-04
- Location: Karlskrona
- Type of instruction: On campus, day, full-time
- Language of instruction: The teaching language is English.
- Programme syllabus: Download
It is no longer possible to apply to this option
Welcome letter (published 3 weeks before start)
Work with advanced product development in coordinated processes and predict and optimise performance using virtual and physical modelling.
The programme makes you qualified in several specific areas within product development. A degree leads to professional roles in advanced product development or research in mechanical engineering.
Advanced product development with several dimensions
The programme prepares you to work with advanced product development or to conduct research in mechanical engineering. After completing the degree, you will master a coordinated way of working where you combine elements and subprocesses in a systematic and developing process.
A diversity of tasks – a diverse competence
During the programme, you will work with a multitude of tasks – virtual and physical modelling, simulation, experimental investigation and optimisation. You acquire a solid basis for working with performance prediction and ensuring that new products achieve their intended function, using your specialised knowledge in mathematics, numerical calculation methods, measurement technology, analysis of vibrations, and acoustics and fracture mechanics.
The programme consists of 120 credits and leads to a two-year Master’s degree.
The tuition fee is SEK 60,000 per semester. One semester corresponds to 30 ECTS credits. EU/EEA citizens are not required to pay fees.
Programme content
Mechanical engineering
Degree project
Engineering and research methodology
This programme will give you the tools you need to use a coordinated approach to analysis for decision support in the product development process. The working method includes the sub-moments of virtual and physical modelling, simulation and experimental investigation and optimisation.
The method of working may, in brief, be described as follows:
Virtual models for descriptions of interesting product qualities and behaviours are developed, verified, and used for simulation of the functionality of the system. These virtual models are also used to construct and design good physical models and measurement strategies.
To validate the virtual models, the simulation results are compared with experimental results from investigations on the delimited physical models developed in parallel, and/or with experiences from previous development.
The process is repeated until sufficient correspondence is reached, and simulation with the virtual model can then be used for optimisation. If the optimisation indicates a need for changes that affect the relevance of the model in question, the whole process will be repeated.
If necessary, more detailed descriptions are gradually added to the model during the ongoing development of the analysed product. When developing a completely new product, several trials are usually required. When a new version of a product is developed, previous experience can largely be reused.
To get the most out of this study programme, you must study relevant research and increase your ability to use modern tools for visualisation and documentation to communicate your own contributions with scientific facts.
Note! The course list is tentative. See the programme syllabus for an established course list.
Courses autumn semester 2021
Differential Equations with Lie Group Analysis, 7,5 credits
Foundations for Strategic Sustainable Development, 7,5 credits
Dynamics of Mechanical Systems, 7,5 credits
Signal Processing, 7,5 credits
Courses autumn semester 2022
Experimental and numerical modal analysis, 7,5 credits
Computational Engineering 2:1, 7,5 credits
Research Methodology with emphasis on Engineering Science, 7,5 credits
Simulation-driven Design, 7,5 credits
Courses spring semester 2022
Structural Analysis, 7,5 credits
Fracture Mechanics, 7,5 credits
Computational Engineering 1, 7,5 credits
Sound and Vibration Analysis, 7,5 credits
Courses spring semester 2023
Master´s Thesis in Mechanical Engineering with emphasis on Structural Engineering, 30 credits
Admission
Admission Criteria
(This paragraph is a translation from Swedish of the approved method, “Antagnings¬ordning”[Admission regulations], Dnr; BTH-1.2.1-0223-2017)
In the case of more qualified applicants than available positions for the current programme start, a selection is made. This is done in the following way:
METHOD 4 Relevant degree and English
GENERAL This method intends to assess the applicant’s suitability to studies at a Master’s level in regard to the applicant’s direction of Degree of Bachelor and knowledge of English.
SELECTION CRITERIA Prior higher education studies and English.
SPECIFICATION OF SELECTION CRITERIA The first step of the process consists of an assessment of the relevance of the applicant’s prior field and direction from a higher education degree for the direction of the applied programme. The assessment is done in three categories: minimal relevance given the entry requirements = merit rating 0, average relevance = merit rating 0.5, high relevance = merit rating 1. The applicant’s TOEFL – respective IELTS levels of English are finally standardized to a value between 0 and 1, where 0 is the minimal level to be qualified and 1 is the maximum level of the test. Applicants who are exempt from demonstrating their level of English with TOEFL/IELTS levels are given the merit rating of 1. These two values are added to a collected merit rating that may vary between 0-2.
HIGHEST MERIT RATING Maximum 2 points are given according to the description above.
WORKING METHOD Applications that are accepted for examination based on the general entry requirements will be ranked according to the above. If all applicants with the lowest equal merit rating cannot be offered a place, lots will be drawn.
Read more about admission here
Qualification Awarded
On completion of the programme, students will be awarded the second cycle degree
Master of Science (120 credits).
Main field of study: Mechanical Engineering.
Specialisation: Structural Mechanics.
Learning Outcome
Upon a completed degree, the comprehensive goal for the student is to master a coordinated method of working at the analysis of decision support in the product development process, comprising the items of virtual and physical modelling, simulation respectively experimental examination and, also, optimization.
In addition to the national goals for the degree, the following goals will also apply to the programme.
Knowledge and understanding
Upon completion of the programme, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate broad knowledge of the area of analysis for decision-support in the product development process,
- demonstrate in-depth knowledge of structural mechanical analysis,
- demonstrate an advanced insight into current research- and development work, demonstrate in-depth methodology knowledge in the main field of mechanical engineering.
Competence and skills
Upon completion of the programme, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate the competence of formulating and validating numerical and analytical models of mechanical systems by means of both advanced software as by strongly simplified relations for important characteristics,
- demonstrate the competence of specifying, performing, and interpreting measurements and experimental analysis of vibrations of machines and other mechanical structures,
- demonstrate competence to perform simulation of mechanical systems with parameters obtained from numerical models and/or experiments, for example in regard to the impact from applied load and/or simple structural changes,
- demonstrate skills of performing optimization of mechanical systems based on results from numerical models, simulations and measurements to meet market needs and benefit from technological progress,
- demonstrate skills of coordinating activities and reporting obtained results in an understandable way in accordance with general regulations and practice for scientific writing.
Judgement and approach
Upon completion of the programme, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate skills of discussing and assessing the value of decision-guiding documents, produced through technical analysis, in consideration of relevant aspects of research- and product development work,
- demonstrate skills of relating to a method of working, from a critical examining basis, that involves a systematic coordinated collaborative use of virtual and physical models at the technical analysis for the design of decision support in the product development process.
The study programmes at BTH are continuously monitored and developed through yearly follow-up dialogues, course evaluations after each completed course, and programme evaluations. Results from follow-ups and evaluations can lead to changes in the programmes. These changes are always communicated to the students.
Each educational programme is tied to an advisory board that discusses issues such as the quality of the programme, its development, and relevance for the labour market. In the advisory board, or a committee to the advisory board, teachers, external members, students and alumni are represented.
Research
The research subject of mechanical engineering has a direction towards product development and focuses on how a digital and model-driven work method in technical product development can lead to innovations that fit into a sustainable society.
Former students
Yujie came from China to Blekinge Institute of Technology in 2018 as an exchange student and graduated in 2019 with a double degree in mechanical engineering. Yujie describes his semester abroad at BTH as one of the most precious experience in his life.
Read more about Yujie’s view of the Master’s Programme in Mechanical Engineering and student life at BTH.
Video interviews:
Sharlin studied the Master’s Programme in Mechanical Engineering. Since 2,5 years she is living in Karlskrona, which she experienced as very different to her hometown in Bangladesh.
Watch our Zoom-interview with Sharlin and learn more about the differences to her home country, the outcomes of the Master’s Programme and which advice Sharlin is giving you as a future student of BTH.
Pacifique came to Karlskrona from Rwanda to study mechanical engineering and already had a lot of professional experience in the industry.
Watch our zoom-interview and you will find out more about why this master’s programme is the right choice for him, what experience he was able to gain in projects with the industry and what advice he gives you as future students.
You will study here
On BTH’s main campus in Karlskrona, you will find our programmes and courses in engineering, IT, spatial planning, industrial economics and health sciences.
Campus Karlskrona is located right next to the water, and there is even a swimming jetty 50 meters from the lecture halls. From the modern library’s study areas, you have a nice view of the sea and outside there are exercise trails that take you through the woods and along the beach.
Good to know
Look below for information about how to apply, entry requirements and important dates.