The Master of Science program in Structural Robustness for Extreme Loading Conditions will be the first postgraduate program specifically focusing on the special issue of “Extreme Loading Conditions on Structures” in Cyprus, in the whole Eastern Mediterranean Region, and most probably in whole Europe. This topic is usually not specifically addressed in usual courses of civil/structural engineering, which, in general, focus on “common” loading conditions. Unfortunately, the recent past shows that such “extreme” loading conditions, due to environmental and/or anthropic causes, may not be disregarded during the design process of a building and, in particular, in the design of strategic structures and infrastructures that should remain operative during emergencies.
The curriculum of the MSc in Structural Robustness for Extreme Loading Conditions is designed to provide the necessary knowledge to students regarding the structural robustness for such extreme loading, taking into account various scenarios, as well as different types of buildings (housing, office, commercial and infrastructures), teaching how these extreme loading conditions should be handled, and how they might interact during a catastrophic event (a fire after an explosion, a fire after an earthquake, an explosion after an earthquake, etc.). The curriculum provides up-to-date knowledge in a number of different areas and covers multiple and essential subjects such as Structural Robustness and Risk Engineering and Risk Management. This will be achieved by specific lectures given by professional engineers as well as technicians from Civil Protection and/or Fire Department, who will present the specific issues and case studies. The lecturers are the world-renowned experts in their specific fields.
The MSc in Structural Robustness for Extreme Loading Conditions brings together theory and practice and includes exposure to the latest methods, procedures and techniques used in the field, as well as various technological solutions necessary for the purpose of designing robust structures, which might safely resist to extreme loading conditions, avoiding disproportioned collapse in case of an accidental event.
The MSc in Structural Robustness for Extreme Loading Conditions at the NUP is designed to provide students with the necessary knowledge for becoming experts in design of robust structures that will allow them to play a significant role in this sector in Cyprus and abroad.
| Code | Course title | Course type | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRELC501 | Fire Safety of Structures | Compulsory | 7.5 |
| SRELC502 | Internal Market Law | Compulsory | 7.5 |
| SRELC503 | Earthquake Engineering (I) | Compulsory | 7.5 |
| SRELC504 | Design of structures for blast actions (I) | Compulsory | 7.5 |
| Code | Course title | Course type | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRELC505 | Design of structures under fire conditions | Compulsory | 7.5 |
| SRELC506 | Earthquake Engineering (II) | Compulsory | 7.5 |
| SRELC507 | Design of structures for blast actions (II) | Compulsory | 7.5 |
| SRELC508 | Risk Engineering & Risk Management | Compulsory | 7.5 |
| Code | Course title | Course type | ECTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRELC509 | Dissertation | Compulsory | 30 |
The duration of these studies is three semesters. Entries for the Postgraduate Program are held in September and February/March of each academic year. Each course lasts an academic semester. All students enrolled in the Postgraduate Program, either in the winter semester or the spring semester can choose the courses offered in the relevant semesters. For successfully completing their studies, students need to accumulate a total of 90 Credits (ECTS).
In accordance with the relevant announcements made by the Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education, students have the opportunity to complete their postgraduate studies in two academic semesters (12 months) as long as they start the conduction of their Master’s Dissertation during the first or second semester of their studies, including the summer period. In this case, the completion of the Master’s Dissertation may be prolonged during the summer period, for one or two months. In any case, the total ECTS remain 90.
In the first as well as in the second semester students are required to choose four compulsory courses. In the third semester, the students prepare their dissertation (see, section 5). Each of the courses corresponds to 7.5 Credits (ECTS). The credits for each course are distributed as follows: 2 for attendance and participation in the courses, 2 for the completion of midterm assessment during the semester, and 3.5 for the final examination.
In order to obtain their Master’s degree, students are also obliged to conduct a master’s dissertation. The research proposal is submitted by the student, who may request one of the tutors as a supervisor. The thesis can be submitted for up to one academic year after the successful completion of the second semester of study. The dissertation should be relevant to the content of the postgraduate student’s studies and should be original.
Students will write master dissertations and midterm assessments in English.
The MSc in Structural Robustness for Extreme Loading Conditions Programme’s teaching methodology involves a combination of lectures, tutorials, seminars, examinations, projects, presentations, assignments, case-study applications and independent research. In addition, it is designed to provide an academic experience going beyond that of the traditional classroom, in which the flow of information is primarily from the instructor to the student. The intention of the MSc in Structural Robustness for Extreme Loading Conditions is that each participant will contribute to the education of the entire class though active participation in the learning procedure. This will establish the understanding that an MSc in Structural Robustness for Extreme Loading Conditions requires a holistic and interdisciplinary approach.
Each course is evaluated through the completion of one midterm assessment which is explicitly mentioned in the study curriculum and the study guides (group projects, presentations on specific topics, research papers, etc.) during the semester, and final examinations at the end of the semester. Should a student not attend the examination, or has failed to take a winter or spring semester examination, he or she is entitled to re-sit the examination.
Midterm assessment can take various forms as described earlier like group projects, presentations on specific topics, research papers, etc., during the semester and corresponds to 40% of the final grade, while the final exam is 60%. For the student to succeed in a course, he / she must take both on the final grade and the midterm assessment a grade of at least 50%. The interactivity and formative assessment form part of the learning and teaching methodology.
In the third semester students complete their Dissertation which corresponds to 30 ECTS. The length of the thesis cannot be less than 12,000 words and more than 15,000 words. The bibliography, the annexes and the abstract are not included. After submission, the supervisor submits a written and reasoned report, with the student’s consent, to the members of the committee. Support for the thesis is done publicly or via an electronic videoconference before a three-member committee.
The necessary supporting documents to be submitted with the application include:
Candidates may apply at any time during the year, though admissions will be in September and February.
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Satisfactory knowledge of English is essential. The minimum language requirement is a B2 certificate in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages scale. In the absence of such a certificate/degree, candidates will be asked to sit English language exams in order to prove their satisfactory knowledge. After admission, candidates may be required to take additional instruction in English language.
Tuition Fees
(Full Programme): €12,000
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