Curriculum for the Master's Programme in Lighting Design, 2020, Copenhagen

1: Preface

Pursuant to consolidation Act 778 of August 7, 2019 on Universities (the University Act), the following is established. The programme also follows the Joint Programme Regulations and the Examination Policies and Procedures for Aalborg University.

2: Basis in Ministerial orders

The Master’s programme is organised in accordance with the Ministry of Higher Education and Science’s Order no. 20 of January 9, 2020 on Bachelor’s and Master’s Programmes at Universities (the Ministerial Order of the Study Programmes) and Ministerial Order no. 22 of January 9, 2020 on University Examinations (the Examination Order). Further reference is made to Ministerial Order no. 153 of February 26, 2020 (the Admission Order) and Ministerial Order no. 114 of February 3, 2015 (the Grading Scale Order).

3: Campus

The programme is offered in Copenhagen.

4: Faculty affiliation

The Master’s programme falls under The Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Aalborg University.

5: Study board affiliation

The Master’s programme falls under Study Board of Media Technology

6: Affiliation to corps of external examiners

The Master’s programme is associated with the external examiners corps on Nationwide engineering examiners/Design

7: Admission requirements

Applicants with a legal right of admission (retskrav)

Aalborg University offers no bachelor’s educations with a legal right of admission to this education.

Applicants without legal right of admission

• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Architecture, Royal Danish Academy - Architecture, Design, Conservation
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Design, Royal Danish Academy - Architecture, Design, Conservation
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Architecture, Aarhus School of Architecture
• Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Engineering (Architecture and Design), Aalborg University
• Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Landscape Architecture, University of Copenhagen
• Bachelor of Science (Bsc) in Engineering (Architectural Engineering), Technical University of Denmark
• Bachelor of Architectural Technology and Construction Management, KEA/VIA
• Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Medialogy, Aalborg University
• Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Art and Technology, Aalborg University
• Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Engineering (Sustainable Design), Aalborg University
• Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Design, Design School Kolding
• Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Humanities and Technology, Roskilde University

Bachelor’s programmes not already mentioned must contain a minimum of 30 ECTS within the area of Design, or 30 ECTS within the area of Architecture, or 30 ECTS within the area of Media Technology/Engineering.

All applicants without a legal claim must prove that their English language qualifications is equivalent to level B (Danish level) in English

8: The programme title in Danish and English

The Master’s programme entitles the graduate to the Danish designation Cand.scient. i lysdesign. The English designation is: Master of Science (MSc) in Lighting Design.

9: Programme specifications in ECTS credits

The Master’s programme is a two year, research-based, full-time study programme. The programme is set to 120 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 Master’s Thesis

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 Master’s Thesis 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 text and use reference works, etc., in English.

15: Competence profile on the diploma

The following competence profile will appear on the diploma:

A Candidatus graduate has the following competency profile:

A Candidatus graduate has competencies that have been acquired via a course of study that has taken place in a research environment.

A Candidatus graduate is qualified for employment on the labour market based on his or her academic discipline as well as for further research (PhD programmes). A Candidatus graduate has, compared to a Bachelor, developed his or her academic knowledge and independence so as to be able to apply scientific theory and method on an independent basis within both an academic and a professional context.

16: Competence profile of the programme

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

The graduate of the Master’s programme can perform highly qualified functions in the labour market on the basis of the educational programme. Moreover, the graduate has prerequisites for research (a Ph.D. programme). Compared to the Bachelor’s degree, the graduate of the Master’s programme has developed her/his academic knowledge and independence, so that the graduate can independently apply scientific theory and methods in both an academic and occupational/professional context.

The graduate of the Master’s programme

Knowledge

• Must have knowledge of theory based on the highest international research in relation to designing with daylight and electric light in virtual and real space.
• Be able to understand and synthesize at the highest international level the knowledge of light in the subject areas of architecture, media technology and engineering.
• Be able to critically relate the knowledge and understand the importance and potential of artistic and scientific innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship in designing with light
• Be able to identify scientific and sustainable issues across the subject areas by designing with light

Skills

• Must master the lighting design scientific methodologies, tools and general skills related to employment within the field of lighting design
• Must be able to evaluate and select among theories, methods, tools and general skills to create new lighting analyses and solutions
• Must be able to set up new analysis and sustainable solution models on a scientific basis
• Must be able to discuss professional issues across disciplinary research-based and practice related knowledge and discuss professional and scientific problems and solutions with both peers and non-specialists

Competencies

• Must be able to manage work situations and developments that are complex, unpredictable and that require new solutions that can be used to explore and exploit the great potential of new lighting design with a media- and light technological, architectural and sustainable approach
• Must be able to independently initiate and carry out discipline-specific and cross-disciplinary collaboration by combining the art and science of designing with light
• Has the ability to apply acquired knowledge in research, innovation and practice
• Must be able to independently take responsibility for own professional development and specialisation in lighting design  

17: Structure and Contents of the programme

The programme is structured in modules and organized 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. Each semester has an overall theme, which is reflected in the scope of the (mandatory) course modules and semester projects.

The programme is based on a combination of academic, problem-oriented and interdisciplinary approaches and organized based on the following work and evaluation methods that combine skills and reflection:

• lectures
• classroom instruction
• project work
• workshops
• exercises (individually and in groups)
• teacher feedback
• reflection
• field studies
• portfolio work

18: Overview of the programme

An overview of the ECTS credit breakdown for the various semesters by modules is shown in table form below.

In general, students may choose different options for the semester. The thesis project must have a size of at least 30 ECTS.

3rd semester
Option A:

• 3rd semester: 20 ECTS semester project, supplemented by 2 courses

Option B:

• 3rd semester: Project-oriented work in a company in Denmark or abroad 25 ECTS supplemented by one course

Option C:

•  3rd semester: Project oriented work in a company in Denmark or Abroad 30 ECTS

All modules are assessed through individual grading according to the 7-point scale or Pass/Fail. All modules are assessed by external examination (external grading) or internal examination (internal grading) or by assessment by the supervisor or course-responsible only.

If the student wants to study abroad, the Study Board recommends this in the third semester. The student must apply for a preapproval of credit transfer by the Study Board of Media Technology.

NOTE: Elective courses will only be offered if 12 students or more register for the course during the registration period. Students will be offered other options if a chosen course is not offered.

19: Additional information

For further description of the chosen exam format, please refer to the semester descriptions for the relevant semester and module. These can be found on the Study Board's website.

All students who have not participated in Aalborg University’s course ‘Problem based Learning’ or PBL introductory course during their Bachelor’s degree must attend and have approved the PBL introductory course before they can participate in the project exam. For further information, please see www.create.aau.dk/education/.

20: Commencement and transitional rules

The curriculum is approved by the dean and enters into force as of September 1, 2020.

The Study Board does not offer teaching after the previous curriculum from 2017 after the summer examination 2021.

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

On March 7th, 2023, the Pro-Dean of Education has approved the elective module "User Experience Design for Service Interaction" (module code: MSNSSDM1202) to be replaced by the elective module "User Experience Design for Service Interaction" (module code: MSNSSDM1232).
Furthermore, the Pro-Dean has approved the removal of the elective module "Advanced A/V Production" on the 3th semester. The amendment is valid from autumn 2023. 

On November 30th, 2023, the Pro-Dean of Education has approved that the description of the type of exam has been modified in the following modules: "Seeing the Light", "Creating with Light: Interactive Lighting", "Lighting Design Innovation", "Project-Oriented Study, 25 ECTS", "Project-Oriented Study, 30 ECTS" and "Master’s Thesis". The amendment is valid from autumn 2023 and spring 2024. Furthermore, the Pro-Dean of Education has approved that a list of 7 degrees has been added to the list of applicants without legal right of admission. This amendment is valid from autumn 2024.

On September 26th, 2024, the Pro-Dean of Education has approved that the admission requirements has been revised. The amendment is valid from autumn 2025.