school of the Built environment

Independent Distance Learning

Safety, RiSk and Reliability engineeRing

Msc / Pg DIPloMA
Distinctly Ambitious
www.hw.ac.uk

programme Background
risk has become a key concept in modern society. growing concern about the environment and a number of disasters have served to focus attention on the hazards and risks involved in a wide range of activities from offshore oil production to rail and air transport; from the design of football stadia to the operation of chemical plants and environmental protection. Today there is a wide range of techniques available to assess risk and reliability, both in relation to safety and in the wider sense. These techniques now underpin new legislation on safety and have relevance over a broad spectrum of activities, including environmental and other systems, where risk and reliability are key concerns.

Your University
an overview

heriot-Watt university offers a superb environment for postgraduate study. We are one of the UKs leading universities, recognised internationally for excellent teaching and research in our specialist areas of science, engineering, business management, languages and textile design. our community of postgraduate students is made up of bright, highly imaginative and self-motivated individuals, who work closely with our forward-looking and energetic research-active academic staff. This collaborative atmosphere is fundamental to heriot-Watts enviable academic and research reputation. Those of you who choose to study with us will discover high quality taught and research programmes, flexible student-centred delivery, unrivalled facilities and pioneering research.

programme oBjectives
The programme is designed to give a thorough understanding of these techniques and experience of their application to a variety of real-world problems. It aims to provide students with an understanding of safety, risk and reliability engineering in both a qualitative and quantitative manner, and to develop the skills to apply this understanding. The programme will also introduce students to recent developments in analytical techniques, e.g. computer modelling of risk, reliability and safety problems.

or late April with the chance to take exams for most courses in August too. remote exams can be set up for an extra fee in most parts of the world. The programme comprises 8 taught courses of approximately 150 study hours in total. All courses have written examinations and some have compulsory coursework elements. This is followed by a 4 month individual project (Msc). for distance learners unable to commit to a full time project, the duration will be extended as appropriate. The content of the courses is designed to give a sound understanding of the engineering principles, analytical techniques, and philosophy on which safety, risk and reliability are based. for the Msc, students undertake eight taught courses plus the research project. students on the Diploma programme take the same eight courses. each taught course consists of 150 study hours in total. All courses have written examinations and some have compulsory coursework elements. The 8 courses are as follows: Risk Assessment and Safety Management Systems Reliability Learning from Disasters Safety, Risk and Reliability Fire Safety, Explosions and Process safety Data Analysis and Simulation Human Factors Environmental Impact Assessment A full syllabus for each course is given on the programme web pages. Dissertation: students choose a topic for their dissertation that aligns with the research interests of staff in the school and/ or relates to aspects of their employer; or interests that they wish to develop further. students receive academic supervision throughout the project period from heriot-Watt staff. Individual arrangements will be set up with each student.

industry Links
This programme and the associated programme safety and risk Management have been developed with the assistance of staff and ex-graduates working in relevant fields. Many companies support our programmes and employ our graduates.

graduate opportunities
The need for graduates with skills in the areas of risk, safety and reliability has been identified by numerous professional bodies. This includes the royal society, the engineering Council, and the health and safety executive. employers have made repeated references to the lack of graduates with a good grasp of the fundamentals of risk assessment. graduates from this Msc in safety, risk and reliability engineering have been in high demand for many years. Many of them have ended up working in consultancies or major hazard industries in a wide range of safety related roles. We often cannot provide enough graduates to fulfil demand from employers. starting salaries for graduates from this programme are often higher than would normally be expected; by about 10-20%. Past graduates have taken jobs with, among others: (1) International companies (e.g. oil, rail, engineering industries), (2) regulatory agencies, (3) Consultancies.

programme structure
This programme is available by attendance-free distance learning only. Distance learning students receive comprehensive courses study packs online. A PC with e-mail and Internet access is essential. The minimum recommended duration is two years for distance learning, although the structure is flexible and the programme can be taken over up to seven years. Most students take 3 years to complete the programme. There are three possible start dates per year in september, January and April. exams for all courses are run in either December

proFessionaL recognition
This degree is accredited as meeting the requirements for further learning for a Chartered engineer (Ceng) for candidates who have already acquired an Accredited Ceng (Partial) Beng (hons) or an accredited Ieng (full) Beng/Bsc (hons) undergraduate first degree. see www.jbm.org.uk for further information.

www.sbe.hw.ac.uk

www.postgraduate.hw.ac.uk/apply/

assessment methods
variable according to course choice, but approximately 30% coursework, 70% exam. Details of the coursework/ examination proportions are detailed in the relevant course descriptor. Assessment methods across the programme are set to provide an appropriate balance of examinations and coursework.

Language requirements
If your first language is not english, or your first degree was not taught in english, well need to see evidence of your english language ability. The minimum requirement for english language is IelTs 6.5 or equivalent. We offer a range of english language courses to help you meet the english language requirement prior to starting your masters programme: 2 semesters English (for IELTS of 4.5-5.0) 12 weeks English (for IELTS of 5.5) 6 weeks English (for IELTS 5.5*-6.0) (*minimum 5.5 reading and writing) further details can be found at: www.english.hw.ac.uk

Fees, Funding and schoLarships

Please refer to the university Postgraduate prospectus or school programme information pack for details of fees or scholarships. Tel: +44 (0)131 451 3707 fax: +44 (0)131 451 3630 email: enquiry.int@hw.ac.uk www.hw.ac.uk/fees www.hw.ac.uk/scholarships

entry requirements
for Msc level entry, students must hold: A good (minimum 2:2) honours degree in a relevant discipline and/or Full membership of a relevant professional institution and/or Equivalent UK/overseas qualifications which may be considered on an individual basis students admitted onto the Diploma programme who perform well may be allowed to transfer to the Msc programme.

how to appLy
you can apply online at: www.postgraduate.hw.ac.uk/apply/ you will also find guidance on how to fill in your online application and information about supporting documentation and fees at this address.

good reAsons

contact
Dr PAulIne ThoMPson sChool of The BuIlT envIronMenT herIoT-WATT unIversITy rICCArTon, eDInBurgh eh14 4As +44 (0)131 451 4417 p.thompson@hw.ac.uk sChool offICe +44 (0) 131 451 8363 +44 (0) 131 451 3161 pgenquiries@sbe.hw.ac.uk www.sbe.hw.ac.uk

The programme is highly estimated by industry. It was developed with industry input. Many students are sponsored by their employers. our graduates usually find employment quickly It is applicable to many different professions and to students with a wide range of previous scientific/ engineering experience The Msc can contribute towards Ceng accreditation It can be studied worldwide with a flexible timescale that can fit around other commitments research topics can be aligned with experience/interests/employment

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