Marine and Offshore Technology - Master of Science Degree Programme

The Marine and Offshore Technology master's programme is a two-year master's degree programme. Our graduates acquire skills and competence in marine and offshore technology through rigorous academic training and practical project work. They will have a solid background in mathematical science and general engineering subjects and be able to apply the relevant knowledge within their areas of specialisation.

Our students learn about the design, operation and management of marine structures and subsea equipment. They take up modules that cover design and analysis methods and tools applied during the design, production and maintenance phases. Students are also exposed to various design software tools commonly utilised in the industry.

There is a high level of involvement from the industry in the form of joint-thesis work, adjunct professors from the industry, company visits and internship opportunities. This allows the industry to impart the latest technological developments, best practices and regulatory requirements to the students.

Our graduates have specialised knowledge in marine and offshore technology systems, subsea production, offshore aquaculture, offshore renewable energy and fjord crossings. Our graduates are well-equipped to participate in the development of new technology, methods and best practices for the marine, offshore and subsea industries. They will also be in demand for many attractive job opportunities in other high technology industries.

The master's programme is an international study programme, and hence all courses are taught in English.

Programme content, structure, and composition

Consisting of 120 ECTS, the master's programme is composed of:

• basic methods courses which consolidate and continue the mathematical and scientific foundation of the bachelor's programme, mandatory courses
• technical specialisation courses giving the students a broad and common platform in marine and offshore technology and complementing and expanding subjects from the bachelor programme
• elective courses
• non-science/technological course, e.g. economics, language, ethics, project management, green transition
• master thesis

Recommended semester abroad is 3rd semester. This semester has 25 ECTS specialisation courses and 5 ECTS elective courses. When studying abroad, these 30 ECTS can be replaced by other courses, which must be approved before leaving.

The Faculty will offer a list of recommended elective courses. The students themselves must check that they have the necessary basic knowledge to handle these courses. Other courses must be approved by the Department, but the students will have considerable freedom in putting together their own study plans depending on personal interests and qualities.

The master's thesis may be performed either with faculty staff or in cooperation with the industry. The Department has good contacts with offshore companies in the region. In order to be assigned a topic for a master's thesis, satisfactory progression must be demonstrated as cited in Regulations for Bachelor - and Master's thesis.

Marine and Offshore Technology focuses on systems and operations in offshore field developments. The programme combines general mechanical and structural engineering subjects within marine and offshore technology. Knowledge of systems and operations related to installation, operation and maintenance is covered.

UiS aims to offer all courses as planned, subject to the availability of teaching resources and sufficient student enrolments. In addition, the contents and scopes of all study courses are continuously improved to include new technological development and industry trends.

The course consists of lectures, project assignments, exercises and laboratory work. The course descriptions provide further information on:

• Course outline
• Course material and exercises
• Continuous assessment
• Exams

UN SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

You will learn to:

• Develop technologies for offshore renewables such as offshore wind, wave and tidal energy system
• Develop technologies for offshore carbon capture systems
• Develop technologies for greener and more sustainable offshore and subsea energy resource exploitation

UN SDG 14: Life below water - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

You will learn to:

• Develop technologies for sustainable fishing and aquacultures
• Develop technologies for ocean waste management

Learning outcomes

After having completed the master's programme in Marine and Offshore Technology, the student shall have acquired the following learning outcomes in terms of knowledge, skills and general competencies:

Knowledge

K1: The candidate has advanced knowledge of marine and offshore technology. The candidate can combine mechanical engineering, structural engineering and marine technology to give specialised insight into systems and operations.

K2: The candidate has thorough knowledge about the safety and environmental aspects of his/her academic field and knows how to implement this knowledge in his/her professional work by developing technical solutions suited to the best of society and individuals.

K3: The candidate can apply knowledge to new areas within the academic field.

K4: The candidate can analyse academic problems based on the history, traditions, distinctive character and place in the society of the academic field.

K5: The candidate has knowledge about general ethical aspects in the engineering discipline.

Skills

S1: The candidate can analyse and use existing theories, methods and interpretations in the field and work independently on practical and theoretical problems.

S2: The candidate can use relevant methods for research and scholarly work in an independent manner.

S3: The candidate can analyse and deal critically with various sources of information and use them to structure and formulate scholarly arguments. The candidate can identify state of the art for technology and relevant national and international standards within relevant disciplines.

S4: The candidate can carry out an independent, limited research or development project under supervision and according to applicable research ethics norms.

General Competence

G1: The candidate can analyse relevant academic problems and be qualified to participate in developing and implementing new technology, methods and principles for the marine, offshore and subsea industries.

G2: The candidate can apply knowledge and skills in new areas to carry out advanced assignments and projects and has the relevant knowledge, in general, of marine, offshore and subsea projects.

G3: The candidate can communicate extensive independent work and master the language and terminology of the academic field.

G4: The candidate can communicate about academic issues, analyses, and conclusions in the field, both with specialists and the general public.

G5: The candidate can contribute to new thinking and innovation processes.

Career prospects

The Marine and Offshore Technology master's programme at the University of Stavanger prepares its graduates holistically for challenging and rewarding careers in all activities in the marine, offshore and subsea industries. The supply of marine, offshore and subsea equipment and services is currently Norway's second largest industry after oil and gas export. More than 1 250 companies supply goods and services for all stages of the value chain in Norway. This includes floating offshore structures, drilling rig equipment, equipment for the shipyard industry, advanced offshore supply and service vessels, and subsea technology. Norwegian companies are key industrial players in all international markets for subsea and deep-water technologies. The offshore activities off the Norwegian coast and in the arctic regions are also expected to grow significantly.

Our graduates are highly sought after in a broad spectrum of companies covering:

• Oil and gas exploration and production companies
• Ocean renewables energy (incl. offshore wind) companies
• Ship and offshore structures construction companies
• Subsea production equipment manufacturers
• Subsea installation service providers
• Specialized design houses
• Classification societies

Candidates can also work at research institutes.

A completed master's degree may qualify for admission to relevant engineering PhD programmes, e.g. Mechanical Engineering, Offshore Structures, Marine Technology and Civil Engineering.

Course assessment

The schemes for quality assurance and evaluation of studies are stipulated in the Quality System for Education.