Materials Science Engineering

Gain useful international experience and get to know more about intercultural communication. You will learn about materials technology, logistics and finance, and different electives within material science and product design.

Type

Exchange

Duration

1 semester (30 ECTS)

Campus city

Herning

Study start

February

About the Materials Science Engineering exchange programme

  • Language:

    The programme is taught in English

    Curriculum:

    See the latest curriculum (pdf). Please note that exchange is only possible during the fourth semester and sixth semester.

    As an exchange student, you will be joining the fourth semester and sixth semester of our full degree programme Materials Science Engineering.

    The programme will be taught in English and consist of both international and Danish students.

    The basic subjects and projects are:

    Logistics, Purchasing and Out/Insourcing (LOG1) – 5 ECTS

    The main purpose with this course is that the student must understand basic Logistics, Purchasing and Make/Buy analysis. 
    The purpose is that the student understand logistics concepts and its basic elements including the companies logistics task. The student must understand the relationship between logistics and supply chain management, sourcing consideration

    Materials Science Module 4 (MET4) - 5 ECTS

    This course focuses on Material Science mainly within the field of textile and plastics to give the student the basic foundation on these matters on a high level combined with relevant chemistry.
    The main purpose is therefore to raise the bar on the key engineering area between textile area plastics and chemistry related to the area.
    The main purpose of the course is to supply the students with an extended overview of this fundamental class of textile and plastics materials including properties, applications and key areas in the field.
    Materials and technological processes will be covered with a particular emphasis on understanding the impact for textiles processing as well as plastic processes.
    The student will learn:

    • polymer fundamentals for textile and plastics behaviour
    • a confident approach to selecting polymers for certain area within the textile and plastics industry.
    • differences in the characteristics and properties of the various advanced textile and plastics materials types
    • exploitation of the acquired technical background in assessing the material properties and performance according to the final application
    • materials selection on basis of material properties and processing technologies to fulfil design requirements

    Innovation (INO1) -  5 ECTS

    Innovation is integral to business success in the 21st century and in this course, students will explore the innovator’s mind-set and apply innovation processes to solve real-world problems. Students will be introduced to creativity, creative thinking, innovation theory and methods, and the primary learning experience will be hands-on going through the different phases of the innovation process. Innovation is not only getting a good idea, but also actually turning that idea into products or services that can be sold and make a profit in a highly competitive global market.

    Project management (PRO1) – 5 ECTS

    The purpose of the course is for students to acquire skills that make them able to manage and participate in projects. Students should acquire knowledge of the rules that apply to being part of such projects in order to become skilled project participants as well as project managers. In addition, students should acquire knowledge of documentation, planning, management and control tools used for project management purposes.
    The purpose of the course is therefore to give students the theoretical background required to work as a project managers and participants.

    Main content:

    • Project description, project stages, processes and structures in connection with the implementation, development and completion of projects
    • Project organisation, project structuring, project assessment and division of projects into different stages
    • The role of the project manager and working in project

    Groups

    • Project management, follow-up on results, economics, resource allocation and documentation
    • Overall basis of understanding of project perspectives forming a joint basis of the multifaceted area of project work.
    • Project reality and institutional linkages resulting from e.g.
      • Stakeholder impact
      • The element of uncertainty – and the extent to which this is present in the project
      • Company strategy and organisation and its significance to project management
      • Influence of culture – corporate culture as well as the culture of the country in which the company is located
    • How the type of project impacts the choice of e.g. methods and techniques
    • Project content, methods and techniques
    • Definitions as a basis for creating a common language
    • Project models and how to substantiate the choice of such

    Models:
    Planning, control and management processes. This will include tools such as Gantt and network planning

    Tools:

    • Project organisation including focus on cooperation, link to base organisation, the significance of the different roles to the success of the project as well as to the development of competences of the individual and the group
    • Communication and knowledge-sharing
    • Project conflict areas
    • Evaluation and learning during the entire project period

    Business Development and Strategic Management (STR1)– 5 ECTS

    The purpose of this course is for the students to gain and apply knowledge on business development, management and strategy theory, tools and planning processes in an organisational context.

    Innovation and Business Development – semester project (SEP4) – 5 ECTS

    The purpose of the project is for students

    • To gain knowledge and understanding of innovative idea development and business processes and methods and to improve their understanding of the concept of innovation.
    • To use the theory acquired through the other courses of the educational programme and the skills gained during the previous projects, students should be able to apply their knowledge of materials, technologies, academic writing, graphical documentation, innovation development processes and methods to a business model assignment on a specific innovative idea that forms the basis of the Innovation and Business Development Project.
    • To develop participants' ability to work problem- and project-oriented.
    • To work interdisciplinary in a project, which must contain elements of all 4th semester subjects.
    • To further develop participants' ability to systematic solve problems in collaboration with a project group, as well as documenting the project process and results in a report.
    • To strengths the participants’ ability to systematic reflect over the collaboration in the team and own contribution.
    • The purpose is further more for the student to do extensive research based on a specific problem proposed to them.

    Technology Module 5 (MET5) – 5 ECTS

     

    This course focuses on technology in relation to high performance textile materials relevant in a specialist engineering industry.
    High performance textiles represent one of the most dynamic sectors of the international textile industry as well in technical/industrial textiles as in everyday textile products including apparel and interior textiles.
    The main purpose of the course is to supply the students with an extended overview of the technology and the technology change for giving high performance materials their properties for the given application.

    The technological and technical processes will be covered with a particular emphasis on textiles for specific purposes such as protective textiles, medical textiles, interior textiles, sport textiles, textiles in cars etc.

    The student will learn:

    • Fundamentals of technology and technics in the textile industry
    • A confident approach to the technology for high performance textile materials and their properties
    • Differences in technologies and technics for the various advanced textile materials types
    • Exploitation of the acquired technical and technological background in assessing the material properties and performance according to the final application
    • Selection of technology for the change of material properties and processing technics to fulfil design and application requirements

    Future Materials Module 6 (MET6) – 5 ECTS

    This course focuses on high performance textile materials relevant in a specialist engineering industry.
    High performance textiles represent one of the most dynamic sectors of the international textile and clothing industry.
    The main purpose of the course is to supply the students with an extended overview of this fundamental class of textile materials including properties, applications and key developments in the field.
    Materials and technological processes will be covered with a particular emphasis on textiles for specific purposes such as protective textiles.

    The student will learn:

    • Fundamentals of high-performance textile materials behaviour
    • A confident approach to high performance textile materials and their properties
    • Differences in the characteristics and properties of the various advanced textile materials types
    • Exploitation of the acquired technical background in assessing the material properties and performance according to the final application
    • Materials selection on basis of material properties and processing technologies to fulfil de-sign and application requirements

    Theory of Science – 5 ECTS

    Students should acquire basic knowledge of * Different scientific theoretical approaches to academic cognition and knowledge forms of relevance to the course programme specialities * Different methodical approaches for collecting and analysing information to be used for academic, problem-solving purposes * Subjects and practice in a larger perspective. This will include subject practice as well as the development and application of subjects in research, society, culture and nature.

    Elective course – 5 ECTS

    Open Project – semester project (SEP6) – 10 ECTS

    The purpose of the project is for students

    • To gain knowledge and understanding of a subject within field of interest for an Material Science and Product Design Engineer. The area must further be within the student specialization.  
    • To use the theory acquired through the other courses of the education programme and the skills gained during the previous projects, students should be able to apply their knowledge of materials, technologies, innovation development processes and methods, sustainability and environmental matters, academic writing, graphical documentation to a specific assignment which forms the basis for the Open Project. 
    • To develop participants' ability to work problem- and project-oriented in small teams or on their own. 
    • To work interdisciplinary on a project within the students area of interest. The project can be a pre-project for the final dissertation project. 
    • To further develop participants' ability to systematic solve problems in collaboration with a project group or on their own, as well as documenting the project process and results in a report.
    • To strengths the participants’ ability to systematic reflect over the collaboration in the team and/or own contribution.

    Evaluation and exams

    See more information in the curriculum (pdf) 

  • VIA University College expects international students who wish to take part of their degree course at VIA University College to have completed the first year of their degree course at their home university.

    We work in close cooperation with the students' home universities. This co-operation is to ensure that each course the student completes successfully at VIA University College is credited at the home university.

    Language requirements

    If you wish to become an exchange student in Materials Science Engineering at VIA University College, you must be able to speak and write English well.

    You must be able to understand spoken English when following courses and also be able to write your homework and other assignments and reports in English.  

  • Your home institution must have an inter-institutional agreement with VIA University College in order for you to be able to apply for an exchange programme at VIA.

    If an agreement exists, you will be able to fill in the application form. Please be aware that VIA must receive a nomination from your home institution as well.

    Go to the application portal to apply now

  • Exchange students do not pay tuition fees.

    Per definition, exchange stays are an exchange of one or more students between partner universities and therefore, exchange students do not pay tuition fees.

    If you do not know, if your institution is a partner of VIA, please contact the international office at your home institution. If your institution is not a partner of VIA and you would like us to discuss the possibility of establishing an exchange agreement with your home institution, please contact us at partnerships@via.dk.

  • If you have any questions regarding the exchange please contact:

    International Coordinator
    Louise Bruun Risvang
    E: lbri@via.dk

    You are always welcome to contact us.

    VIA University College
    Birk Centerpark 5
    DK- 7400 Herning

    T: +45 87 55 05 00
    E: herning@via.dk

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