Master of Science in Fire Safety Engineering

There is a strong European tendency to move from prescriptive towards performance-based fire safety designs. This goes hand in hand with a strong need for advanced knowledge in the multidisciplinary field of Fire Safety Engineering (FSE). Students who take on our Master’s programme will be well-prepared for professional activities within this evolving field of FSE.

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Master's Programme

2 year 120 credits

Faculty of Engineering and Architecture

English

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About the programme

Programme summary

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Off to a good start

After graduation

First year

(version 5 )

1 General Courses

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Explosions and Industrial Fire Safety	1	sem 1	en	Filip Verplaetsen	6

Fire Dynamics	1	sem 1	en	Tarek Beji	6

Fire Research Seminar	1	sem 1	en	Bart Merci	3

Thermodynamics, Heat and Mass Transfer	1	sem 1	en	Georgios Maragkos	6

Material Behaviour at Ambient and Elevated Temperatures	1	sem 1	en	Bart Merci	3

Interaction between People and Fire	1	sem 2	en	Edwin Galea	6

Risk Management	1	sem 2	en	Robby Caspeele	6

Compartmentation Strategies	1	sem 2	en	David Maeso Asua	3

Structural Fire Engineering	1	sem 2	en	Ruben Van Coile	6

Fluid Mechanics Applications in Fire	1	sem 2	en	Tom De Mulder	6

2 Elective Courses

Subscribe to no less than 6 and no more than 9 credit units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Each student takes the course Design for Structural Fire Resistance (E051512), either in year 1 or in year 2.

Students without the prerequisite structural/civil engineering background should first take Analysis of Structures (E051511) in year 1 and will subscribe to Design for Structural Fire Resistance (E051512) in year 2. They can also choose Applications of Advanced Structural Fire Engineering (E051620) as an extra elective in year 2.

Students with the necessary initial competences choose Design for Structural Fire Resistance (E051512) in year 1 and subscribe to Applications of Advanced Structural Fire Engineering (E051620) in year 2.

2.1 Elective Course Design

Subscribe to 3 credit units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Design for Structural Fire Resistance			sem 1	en	Emmanuel Annerel	3

2.2 Elective Course Structures

Subscribe to no less than 3 and no more than 6 credit units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Analysis of Structures		1	sem 1	en	Ruben Van Coile	3

3 Elective Courses

Subscribe to no less than 6 and no more than 9 credit units from no less than 1 and no more than 3 modules from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

3.1 Elective Courses Fire Safety Engineering

Subscribe to no more than 9 credit units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Introduction to Entrepreneurship	sem 1	en	Petra Andries	3

Turbomachines	sem 1	en	Joris Degroote	6

Modelling of Turbulence and Combustion	sem 1	en	Bart Merci	3

FSE Based Firefighting	sem 2	en	Karel Lambert	3

Data-Driven Management of Fire Incidents	sem 1	en	Steven Verstockt	3

3.2 Elective Social Courses

Subscribe to no more than 6 credit units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Students may apply for another elective social course, given a clear motivation and after approval by the faculty (exceptionally, as a rule a course from the list below is followed).

Course	Ref	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Internship 1		sem 1 sem 2	nl,en nl,en	Patrick Segers	3

Internship 2		sem 1 sem 2	nl,en nl,en	Patrick Segers	3

Internship 3		sem 1 sem 2	nl,en nl,en	Patrick Segers	6

International Internship 1		sem 1 sem 2	en en	Patrick Segers	3

International Internship 2		sem 1 sem 2	en en	Patrick Segers	3

International Internship 3		sem 1 sem 2	en en	Patrick Segers	6

Safety of Electrical and Mechanical Installations		sem 2	nl	Jos Knockaert	3

Sustainable Energy and Rational Use of Energy		sem 2	en	Jeroen Beeckman	4

Rational Use of Materials		sem 1	en	Tom Depover	5

Technology and Environment		sem 1	en	Luc Martens	3

Water and Air Quality Engineering		sem 2	en	Joris Thybaut	4

Ethics, Engineering and Society		sem 2	nl	Guido Pennings	3

Philosophy and Science		sem 1	nl	Maarten Van Dyck	3

The Information Society and ICT		sem 1	en	Erik Mannens	3

Introduction to Psychology		sem 1	nl	Wim Notebaert	3

Introduction to Human Resource Management					3

Coaching and Diversity	UKV	year	nl	Elisabeth De Schauwer	3

Introduction to Entrepreneurship		sem 1	en	Petra Andries	3

Dare to Venture		sem 2	en	Johan Verrue	4

Dare to Start		sem 2	en	Frank Gielen	3

Principles of Law and Construction Law		sem 1	nl	Jelle Laverge	3

Commercial Law		sem 1	nl	Diederik Bruloot	3

Financial and Cost Price Reporting in Companies		sem 1	nl	Sophie Maussen	6

Powerful Learning Environments		sem 1	nl	Bram De Wever	6

Classroom Management and Reflection		sem 2	nl	Melissa Tuytens	4

The Teacher within School and Society		sem 1	nl	Melissa Tuytens	4

Psychology of Adolescence		sem 1	nl	Wim Beyers	4

Macroeconomics		sem 1	nl	Freddy Heylen	6

Introduction Industrial Psychology		sem 2	nl	Bart Wille	5

Business Skills		sem 2	en	Mieke Audenaert	4

Sustainability Thinking	UKV	year	nl	Thomas Block	5

3.3 Elective Courses Ghent University

Subscribe to no more than 6 credit units from the programmes of Ghent University, including the Ghent University Elective Courses. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Second year

(version 5 )

1 General Courses

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Active Fire Protection I: Detection and Suppression	2	sem 1	en	Christian Gryspeert	6

Active Fire Protection II: Smoke and Heat Control	2	sem 1	en	Bart Merci	6

CFD for Fire Safety Engineering	2	sem 1	en	Tarek Beji	3

Fire Safety and Legislation	2	sem 1	en	Jan De Saedeleer	3

Passive Fire Protection	2	sem 1	en	Emmanuel Annerel	3

Performance-Based Design	2	sem 1	en	Patrick van Hees	6

Fire Safety Strategy Project	2	sem 2	en	David Maeso Asua	3

2 Elective Courses

Subscribe to no less than 6 and no more than 9 credit units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Each student takes the course Design for Structural Fire Resistance (E051512), either in year 1 or in year 2.

2.1 Elective Course Design

Subscribe to 3 credit units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Design for Structural Fire Resistance			sem 1	en	Emmanuel Annerel	3

2.2 Elective Course Structures

Subscribe to no less than 3 and no more than 6 credit units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Applications of Advanced Structural Fire Engineering		2	sem 1	en	Ruben Van Coile	3

3 Elective Courses

Subscribe to no less than 6 and no more than 9 credit units from no less than 1 and no more than 3 modules from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

3.1 Elective Courses Fire Safety Engineering

Subscribe to no more than 9 credit units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Introduction to Entrepreneurship	sem 1	en	Petra Andries	3

Turbomachines	sem 1	en	Joris Degroote	6

Modelling of Turbulence and Combustion	sem 1	en	Bart Merci	3

FSE Based Firefighting	sem 2	en	Karel Lambert	3

Data-Driven Management of Fire Incidents	sem 1	en	Steven Verstockt	3

3.2 Elective Social Courses

Subscribe to no more than 6 credit units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Students may apply for another elective social course, given a clear motivation and after approval by the faculty (exceptionally, as a rule a course from the list below is followed).

Course	Ref	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Internship 1		sem 1 sem 2	nl,en nl,en	Patrick Segers	3

Internship 2		sem 1 sem 2	nl,en nl,en	Patrick Segers	3

Internship 3		sem 1 sem 2	nl,en nl,en	Patrick Segers	6

International Internship 1		sem 1 sem 2	en en	Patrick Segers	3

International Internship 2		sem 1 sem 2	en en	Patrick Segers	3

International Internship 3		sem 1 sem 2	en en	Patrick Segers	6

Safety of Electrical and Mechanical Installations		sem 2	nl	Jos Knockaert	3

Sustainable Energy and Rational Use of Energy		sem 2	en	Jeroen Beeckman	4

Rational Use of Materials		sem 1	en	Tom Depover	5

Technology and Environment		sem 1	en	Luc Martens	3

Water and Air Quality Engineering		sem 2	en	Joris Thybaut	4

Ethics, Engineering and Society		sem 2	nl	Guido Pennings	3

Philosophy and Science		sem 1	nl	Maarten Van Dyck	3

The Information Society and ICT		sem 1	en	Erik Mannens	3

Introduction to Psychology		sem 1	nl	Wim Notebaert	3

Introduction to Human Resource Management					3

Coaching and Diversity	UKV	year	nl	Elisabeth De Schauwer	3

Introduction to Entrepreneurship		sem 1	en	Petra Andries	3

Dare to Venture		sem 2	en	Johan Verrue	4

Dare to Start		sem 2	en	Frank Gielen	3

Principles of Law and Construction Law		sem 1	nl	Jelle Laverge	3

Commercial Law		sem 1	nl	Diederik Bruloot	3

Financial and Cost Price Reporting in Companies		sem 1	nl	Sophie Maussen	6

Powerful Learning Environments		sem 1	nl	Bram De Wever	6

Classroom Management and Reflection		sem 2	nl	Melissa Tuytens	4

The Teacher within School and Society		sem 1	nl	Melissa Tuytens	4

Psychology of Adolescence		sem 1	nl	Wim Beyers	4

Macroeconomics		sem 1	nl	Freddy Heylen	6

Introduction Industrial Psychology		sem 2	nl	Bart Wille	5

Business Skills		sem 2	en	Mieke Audenaert	4

Sustainability Thinking	UKV	year	nl	Thomas Block	5

3.3 Elective Courses Ghent University

Subscribe to no more than 6 credit units from the programmes of Ghent University, including the Ghent University Elective Courses. Subject to approval by the faculty.

4 Master's Dissertation

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Master's Dissertation		2	year	en		24

Full programme

(version 5 )

Print

1 General Courses 81

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Explosions and Industrial Fire Safety	1	sem 1	en	Filip Verplaetsen	6

Fire Dynamics	1	sem 1	en	Tarek Beji	6

Fire Research Seminar	1	sem 1	en	Bart Merci	3

Thermodynamics, Heat and Mass Transfer	1	sem 1	en	Georgios Maragkos	6

Material Behaviour at Ambient and Elevated Temperatures	1	sem 1	en	Bart Merci	3

Interaction between People and Fire	1	sem 2	en	Edwin Galea	6

Risk Management	1	sem 2	en	Robby Caspeele	6

Compartmentation Strategies	1	sem 2	en	David Maeso Asua	3

Structural Fire Engineering	1	sem 2	en	Ruben Van Coile	6

Fluid Mechanics Applications in Fire	1	sem 2	en	Tom De Mulder	6

Active Fire Protection I: Detection and Suppression	2	sem 1	en	Christian Gryspeert	6

Active Fire Protection II: Smoke and Heat Control	2	sem 1	en	Bart Merci	6

CFD for Fire Safety Engineering	2	sem 1	en	Tarek Beji	3

Fire Safety and Legislation	2	sem 1	en	Jan De Saedeleer	3

Passive Fire Protection	2	sem 1	en	Emmanuel Annerel	3

Performance-Based Design	2	sem 1	en	Patrick van Hees	6

Fire Safety Strategy Project	2	sem 2	en	David Maeso Asua	3

2 Elective Courses

Subscribe to no less than 6 and no more than 9 credit units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Each student takes the course Design for Structural Fire Resistance (E051512), either in year 1 or in year 2.

2.1 Elective Course Design

Subscribe to 3 credit units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Design for Structural Fire Resistance			sem 1	en	Emmanuel Annerel	3

2.2 Elective Course Structures

Subscribe to no less than 3 and no more than 6 credit units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Course	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Analysis of Structures	1	sem 1	en	Ruben Van Coile	3

Applications of Advanced Structural Fire Engineering	2	sem 1	en	Ruben Van Coile	3

3 Elective Courses

Subscribe to no less than 6 and no more than 9 credit units from no less than 1 and no more than 3 modules from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

3.1 Elective Courses Fire Safety Engineering

Subscribe to no more than 9 credit units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Course	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Introduction to Entrepreneurship	sem 1	en	Petra Andries	3

Turbomachines	sem 1	en	Joris Degroote	6

Modelling of Turbulence and Combustion	sem 1	en	Bart Merci	3

FSE Based Firefighting	sem 2	en	Karel Lambert	3

Data-Driven Management of Fire Incidents	sem 1	en	Steven Verstockt	3

3.2 Elective Social Courses

Subscribe to no more than 6 credit units from the following list. Subject to approval by the faculty.

Students may apply for another elective social course, given a clear motivation and after approval by the faculty (exceptionally, as a rule a course from the list below is followed).

Course	Ref	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Internship 1		sem 1 sem 2	nl,en nl,en	Patrick Segers	3

Internship 2		sem 1 sem 2	nl,en nl,en	Patrick Segers	3

Internship 3		sem 1 sem 2	nl,en nl,en	Patrick Segers	6

International Internship 1		sem 1 sem 2	en en	Patrick Segers	3

International Internship 2		sem 1 sem 2	en en	Patrick Segers	3

International Internship 3		sem 1 sem 2	en en	Patrick Segers	6

Safety of Electrical and Mechanical Installations		sem 2	nl	Jos Knockaert	3

Sustainable Energy and Rational Use of Energy		sem 2	en	Jeroen Beeckman	4

Rational Use of Materials		sem 1	en	Tom Depover	5

Technology and Environment		sem 1	en	Luc Martens	3

Water and Air Quality Engineering		sem 2	en	Joris Thybaut	4

Ethics, Engineering and Society		sem 2	nl	Guido Pennings	3

Philosophy and Science		sem 1	nl	Maarten Van Dyck	3

The Information Society and ICT		sem 1	en	Erik Mannens	3

Introduction to Psychology		sem 1	nl	Wim Notebaert	3

Introduction to Human Resource Management					3

Coaching and Diversity	UKV	year	nl	Elisabeth De Schauwer	3

Introduction to Entrepreneurship		sem 1	en	Petra Andries	3

Dare to Venture		sem 2	en	Johan Verrue	4

Dare to Start		sem 2	en	Frank Gielen	3

Principles of Law and Construction Law		sem 1	nl	Jelle Laverge	3

Commercial Law		sem 1	nl	Diederik Bruloot	3

Financial and Cost Price Reporting in Companies		sem 1	nl	Sophie Maussen	6

Powerful Learning Environments		sem 1	nl	Bram De Wever	6

Classroom Management and Reflection		sem 2	nl	Melissa Tuytens	4

The Teacher within School and Society		sem 1	nl	Melissa Tuytens	4

Psychology of Adolescence		sem 1	nl	Wim Beyers	4

Macroeconomics		sem 1	nl	Freddy Heylen	6

Introduction Industrial Psychology		sem 2	nl	Bart Wille	5

Business Skills		sem 2	en	Mieke Audenaert	4

Sustainability Thinking	UKV	year	nl	Thomas Block	5

3.3 Elective Courses Ghent University

Subscribe to no more than 6 credit units from the programmes of Ghent University, including the Ghent University Elective Courses. Subject to approval by the faculty.

4 Master's Dissertation 24

Course	Ref	MT1	Semester	Language	Instructor	Crdt
Master's Dissertation		2	year	en		24

Learning outcomes

Competence field 1: Competences in one/more scientific discipline(s)

Master and apply advanced knowledge in the own engineering discipline in solving complex problems.
Apply Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) tools and advanced communication instruments in a creative and purposeful way.
Master and apply knowledge of physics, chemistry, thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, fluid mechanics and computational fluid dynamics to critically analyse and evaluate the development of fires in enclosures.
Master and apply knowledge of structural fire engineering to critically analyse, design and evaluate the performance of structures in case of fire.
Master and apply knowledge of explosions to critically analyse and evaluate the associated risk.
Master and apply the advanced knowledge of fire dynamics, risk assessment, human behaviour, passive fire protection systems and active fire protection systems.
Master and apply the principles necessary to develop a performance-based fire safety design.

Competence field 2: Scientific competences

Analyse complex problems and translate them into concrete research questions.
Consult the scientific literature as part of the own research.
Select and apply the appropriate models, methods and techniques.
Develop and validate mathematical models and methods.
Interpret research findings in an objective and critical manner.
Elaborate problems of fire risk assessment in a critical, autonomous and flexible manner with a limited amount of data.
Perform valid computer simulations of development and consequences of enclosure fires.
Perform valid computer simulations to assess the performance of smoke and heat control systems as means of active fire protection measure.
Perform valid computer simulations of the behaviour of structural systems in case of fire.

Competence field 3: Intellectual competences

Independently form an opinion on complex situations and problems, and defend this point of view.
Apply knowledge in a creative, purposeful and innovative way to research, conceptual design and production.
Critically reflect on one’s own way of thinking and acting, and understand the limits of one’s competences.
Stay up‐to‐date with the evolutions in the discipline to elevate the own competences to expert level.
Readily adapt to changing professional circumstances.
Develop scientifically sound arguments to optimize passive and active fire protection measures.
Develop scientifically sound arguments to develop a performance-based fire safety design.

Competence field 4: Competences in cooperation and communication

Have the ability to communicate in English about the own field of specialisation.
Project management: have the ability to formulate objectives, report efficiently, keep track of targets, follow the progress of the project,...
Have the ability to work as a member of a team in a multi‐disciplinary working‐environment, as well as being capable of taking on supervisory responsibilities.
Report on technical or scientific subjects verbally, in writing and using graphics.
Function in an international environment (students, PhD students, scientific co-workers, scholars).

Competence field 5: Societal competences

Act in an ethical, professional and social way.
Recognize the most important business and legal aspects of the own engineering discipline.
Understand the historical evolution of the own engineering discipline and its social relevance.
Master and apply critical insight in existing fire safety legislation and regulations in the development of a fire safety design.
Act in an ethical, professional and social way when developing and presenting a performance based fire safety design.

Competence field 6: Profession-specific competence

Master the complexity of technical systems by using system and process models.
Reconcile conflicting specifications and prior conditions in a high‐quality and innovative concept or process.
Synthesize incomplete, contradictory or redundant data into useful information.
Possess sufficient ready knowledge and understanding to evaluate the results of complex calculations, or make approximate estimates.
Pay attention to entire life cycles of systems, machines, and processes.
Pay attention to sustainability, energy‐efficiency, environmental cost, use of raw materials and labour costs.
Pay attention to all aspects of reliability, safety, and ergonomics.
Have insight into and understanding of the importance of entrepreneurship.
Show perseverance, innovativeness, and an aptitude for creating added value.
Integrate Fire Safety Engineering related knowledge to develop a performance-based fire safety design.