Curriculum for the Bachelor of Science (BSc) Programme in Energy Engineering, 2022, Aalborg

1: Preface

Disclaimer
This is an English translation of the curriculum. In case of discrepancy between the translation and the Danish version, the Danish version of the curriculum is valid.

Pursuant to Act 778 of August 7, 2019 on Universities (the University Act), the following is established.

The programme also follows the Examination Policies and Procedures incl. the Joint Programme Regulations for Aalborg University.

2: Basis in Ministerial orders

The Bachelor’s programme is organised in accordance with the Ministry of Higher Education and Science’s Order no. 2285 of December 1, 2021 on Full-time University Programmes (the University Programme Order) and Ministerial Order no. 2271 of December 1, 2021 on University Examinations (the Examination Order). Further reference is made to Ministerial Order no. 104 of January 24, 2021 (the Admission Order) and Ministerial Order no. 114 of February 3, 2015 (the Grading Scale Order).

3: Campus

The Bachelor's programme is offered in Aalborg.

4: Faculty affiliation

The Bachelor’s programme falls under the The Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University.

5: Study board affiliation

The Bachelor’s programme falls under the Study Board of Energy.

6: Affiliation to corps of external examiners

The Bachelor’s programme is affiliated to the external examiners corps: Nationwide engineering examiners/Machine.

7: Admission requirements

Admission to the Bachelor’s study programme in Energy Engineering requires a higher secondary education.

The specific entry requirements for the programme are Danish A, English B, Mathematics A with a minimum grade of 4.0 in average, and one of the following pair of requirements:

1. Physics B and Chemistry C
2. Physics B and Biotechnology A
3. Geoscience A and Chemistry C

cf. the Admission Order.

8: The programme title in Danish and English

The Bachelor’s programme with specialisations entitles the graduate to the designation:

• Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Engineering (Energy Engineering with specialisation in Electrical Energy). The Danish designation is: Bachelor (BSc) i teknisk videnskab (Energi med specialisering i Elektrisk Energiteknik)
• Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Engineering (Energy Engineering with specialisation in Thermal Energy). The Danish designation is: Bachelor (BSc) i teknisk videnskab (Energi med specialisering i Termisk Energiteknik)
• Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Engineering (Energy Engineering with specialisation in Mechatronics). The Danish designation is: Bachelor (BSc) i teknisk videnskab (Energi med specialisering i Mekatronik)

9: Programme specifications in ECTS credits

The Bachelor’s programme is a 3-year, research-based, full-time study programme. The programme is set to 180 ECTS credits.

10: Rules concerning credit transfer (merit), including the possibility for choice of modules that are part of another programme at a university in Denmark or abroad

The Study Board can approve that passed programme elements from other educational programmes at the same level replaces programme elements within this programme (credit transfer).

Furthermore, the Study Board can, upon application, approve that parts of this programme is completed at another university or a further education institution in Denmark or abroad (pre-approval of credit transfer).

The Study Board’s decisions regarding credit transfer are based on an academic assessment.

11: Exemptions

The Study Board’s possibilities to grant exemption, including exemption to further examination attempts and special examination conditions, are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures published at this website: https://www.studyservice.aau.dk/rules

12: Rules for examinations

The rules for examinations are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures published at this website: https://www.studyservice.aau.dk/rules

13: Rules concerning written work, including the Bachelor’s project

In the assessment of all written work, regardless of the language it is written in, weight is also given to the student's formulation and spelling ability, in addition to the academic content. Orthographic and grammatical correctness as well as stylistic proficiency are taken as a basis for the evaluation of language performance. Language performance must always be included as an independent dimension of the total evaluation. However, no examination can be assessed as ‘Pass’ on the basis of good language performance alone; similarly, an examination normally cannot be assessed as ‘Fail’ on the basis of poor language performance alone.

The Study Board can grant exemption from this in special cases (e.g., dyslexia or a native language other than Danish).

The Bachelor’s project must include an English summary. If the project is written in English, the summary can be in Danish. The summary is included in the evaluation of the project as a whole.

14: Requirements regarding the reading of texts in a foreign language

It is assumed that the student can read academic texts in modern Danish, Norwegian, Swedish and English and use reference works etc. in other European languages.

15: Competence profile on the diploma

The following competence profile will appear on the diploma:

A graduate of the Bachelor's programme has competencies acquired through an educational programme that has taken place in a research environment.

A graduate of the Bachelor's programme has fundamental knowledge of and insight into his/her subject's methods and scientific foundation. These properties qualify the graduate of the Bachelor’s programme for further education in a relevant Master’s programme as well as for employment on the basis of the educational programme

16: Competence profile of the programme

The graduate of the Bachelor’s programme has the following qualifications:

Knowledge

• Knowledge about theory, method and practice in central subject areas within thermal, electrical and mechatronic energy engineering together with its control
• Knowledge about project organisation and project management including planning of meetings, problem solving and process control
• Knowledge about business cases, understanding business processes, entrepreneurship and innovation methods
• Knowledge about digitalisation within the energy engineering area
• Knowledge about digital learning processes
• Understanding of and reflection on theory, method and practice of the above mentioned energy engineering subject areas and apply digital methods for analysis and optimisation
• Knowledge about and insight into fundamental thermal, mechanical and electrical areas consisting of heat transmission, fluid flow, thermodynamics, circuit theory, electromagnetic theory, material science, electrical and thermal machines, hydraulics, statics, mechanics of materials and vibration analysis
• Knowledge about and insight into the mathematical foundation in engineering
• Knowledge about and insight into fundamental control theory, laboratory technology and digital data acquisition, including storage and processing

In addition, the graduate specialised in

• Electrical Energy should have knowledge about and insight into fundamental power electronics, power systems and steady-state models for electrical machines
• Mechatronics should have knowledge about and insight into analysis and design of mechatronic systems and their control
• Thermal Energy should have knowledge about and insight into cooling and heating technology, combustion, thermal process design and thermal energy systems

Skills

• Be able to apply problem based learning in an engineering context and related digital methods
• Be able to use up-to-date methods and tools to solve problems within thermal, electrical and mechatronic energy engineering, and also to apply these skills when employed
• Be able to evaluate theoretical and practical energy problems and also to give reasons for their choice and select a relevant solution based on set up digital energy engineering, mathematical, simulation and/or analysis models
• Be able to manage a project process towards the project goals based on an iterative and reflecting digital process towards the project solution
• Be able to communicate academic problems and solutions to both peers and non-specialists or collaborative partners and users
• Be able to operate and control units in energy areas
• Be able to make scientific analysis and simulations in different suitable digital tools, based on results achieved from models or practical digital or analogue measurements on energy systems

Competences

• Be able to handle complex and development-oriented situations in a study or work context
• Be able to be part of discipline-specific and interdisciplinary co-operation with a professional approach within the energy areas
• Be able to participate in an effective team based on personal cooperation competences, including ability to actively listen and be able to provide constructive feedback and motivate in the cooperation
• Be able to identify own learning needs and structure own learning in different learning environments, including also e-learning
• Be able to work with different project types, including discipline oriented, multi (with more groups in a larger joint project, where each group takes care of a sub part) and interdisciplinary projects
• Be able to transfer academic knowledge and skills to problem solving in practice
• Have gained the ability to make an overall assessment and make critical reflection on problems
• At the end of the Bachelor’s programme in Energy Engineering the graduate has achieved professional competences in planning, production, distribution and consumption of electrical, thermal and/or mechanical energy, together with control of energy systems. The achieved skills enable the graduate to perform design, development, consultancy and research in Danish and international companies or public institutions. Examples could be energy supply companies, wind energy, machine or process industry and electro-technical companies and consultants.

17: Structure and Contents of the programme

The Bachelor's programme is structured in modules and organised as a problem based study. A module is a programme element or a group of programme elements which aims to give students a set of professional skills within a fixed time frame specified in ECTS credits and concluding with one or more examinations within specific exam periods. Examinations are defined in the curriculum.

Types of Instruction

The Bachelor's programme is based on a combination of academic, problem oriented and interdisciplinary approaches and organised based on the following types of instruction that combine skills and reflection:

• Lectures
• Class teaching
• Project work
• Workshops
• Exercises (individually and in groups)
• Digital learning in different ways, including flipped class room, blended learning, game or quiz
• Teacher feedback
• Professional reflection
• Portfolio work
• Laboratory work

The Bachelor’s programme in Energy Engineering comprises academic elements in the subject areas of thermal and electrical energy, control theory and mechatronics. The Bachelor's programme is common to all students of the 1st – 4th semesters, after which the programme is divided into three specialisations comprising of: Electrical Energy, Thermal Energy and Mechatronics; each specialisation with 50 ECTS elective modules on the 5th and 6th semesters. The teaching on the 5th and 6th semesters is in English due to enrolment of international guest students.

The project report of third to fourth semesters can be written in English if the supervisor is of foreign origin or if the students want to practice their English skills. This is assuming that all group members give their consent.

Rules concerning the Progress of the Bachelor’s Programme

The student must participate in all first year examinations by the end of the first year of study in the Bachelor's programme, in order to be able to continue the programme. The first year of study must be passed by the end of the second year of study, in order that the student can continue his/her Bachelor's programme.

In special cases, however, there may be exemption from the above if the student has been on a leave of absence. Leave is granted during first year of study only in the event of maternity, adoption, military service, UN service or where there are exceptional circumstances.

AAU Micro

AAU Micro are small e-learning modules of limited, well-defined scope. AAU Micro modules are extra-curricular but may be employed to support learning in curricular course and project modules.  

18: Overview of the programme

All modules are assessed through individual grading according to the 7-point grading scale or Passed/Not passed. All modules are assessed by external assessment (an external examiner) or by internal assessment (an additional examiner or no additional examiner).

Programme modules of the first four semesters

Joint study programme for all Energy students of 1st - 4th semesters. From 5th semester the student chooses one of three specialisations: Thermal Energy, Mechatronics or Electrical Energy.

Final two semesters of BSc in Energy Engineering with specialisation in Thermal Energy (elective elements).

Final two semesters of BSc in Energy Engineering with specialisation in Mechatronics (elective elements)

Final two semesters of BSc in Energy Engineering with specialisation in Electrical Energy (elective elements)

Theory of science and scientific methods are included in the project modules (15 ECTS credits) as the project work is based on Problem Based Learning as a scientific method. Besides Problem Based Learning other scientific tools are taught in the course Problem Based Learning.

Commencement of Studies Exam (Studiestartsprøve)

Size:           
The commencement of studies exam does not yield ECTS credits and will not appear on the diploma

The purpose of the commencement of studies exam is to ascertain whether students have actually commenced their studies. The students must participate in and pass the commencement of studies exam in order to continue on their studies. If the students do not participate in or pass the commencement of studies exam or re-exam, the students’ enrollment at their studies will be terminated immediately after the re-exam.

The commencement of studies exam will be held within the first weeks of the semester.

Contents:
The commencement of studies exam is based on the instruction course and contains for instance general questions about the students’ expectations and motivation for their choice of studies.

Re-exam:
There will be only one commencement of studies re-exam. If the students do not participate in or do not pass the commencement of studies exam or re-exam, the students’ studies will be terminated before 1 October. The Study Board can grant exemption from the rules regarding the commencement of studies exam if there are unusual circumstances.

Examination format:
Written exam

Assessment:
Internal assessment. The students receive the assessment “Approved” or “Not approved” based on their answers to the written exam. The students receive the assessment “Approved” when the written exam is answered and handed in.

Appeal:
The students can complain about the commencement of studies exam to the University. The complaint must be submitted to the University at sl-klager@adm.aau.dk within two weeks from the result of the commencement of studies exam is announced. If the University rejects the complaint, the decision may be appealed to the Danish Agency of Science and Higher Education, if the appeal concerns legal issues.

19: Additional information

The current version of the study curriculum is published on the Aalborg University website for study curricula and on the Study Board's website.

Additional information about semester descriptions is available in Moodle. Moodle provides study-related information, i.e. course descriptions, course literature, timetables and information about activities and events.

20: Commencement and transitional rules

The curriculum is approved by the dean and enters into force as of September 1, 2022. 

The Study Board does not offer teaching after the previous curriculum from 2020 after the summer examination examination 2024.

The Study Board will offer examinations after the previous curriculum, if there are students who have used examination attempts in a module without passing. The number of examination attempts follows the rules in the Examination Order.

21: Amendments to the curriculum and regulations

The Vice-dean has on November 24, 2023, approved an addition of Micro Modules in section 17, valid from spring 2024.

The Vice-dean has on January 17, 2024, approved a revision of the modules "Control of Energy Conversion Systems" and "Real-Time Systems and Graphical languages", valid from spring 2024.