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Third cycle study subjects

At LTH, third cycle education is conducted in over 50 subjects at various departments. In each subject's general syllabus you can read more about content, eligibility and structure.


An aerosol is a particle suspension in a gas or gas mixture. The subject of aerosol technology addresses the formation, transport, physical and chemical transformation, and deposition of airborne particles, the physical and chemical properties of different aerosol systems and other properties of significance for human health, the environment and technical applications. The areas of application include measurement technology, analysis technology, environmental technology, materials technology and technology for eliminating air pollutants, administering drugs and technology for professional hygiene and sanitation. A major part of aerosol technology research consists of experimental studies. The aim is to develop and extend the knowledge of aerosol systems specialising in applications within technology, the work environment and the natural environment.

General syllabus Aerosol Technology (PDF, 236 kB, new tab)

Design Sciences' website

The subject concerns basic and applied research with applications in the food, pharmaceutical, chemical engineering and environmental engineering industries. The research involves work in genetics, biochemistry and fermentation technology using microorganisms. Genetic engineering applications are of particular interest, such as genetic modification of the metabolism of microorganisms in industrial processes and DNA-based analysis techniques.

General syllabus Applied Microbiology (PDF, 244 kB, new tab)

Department of Chemistry's website

The subject addresses the significance of architecture and spatial design for the relationship between people and the built environment. The applications of the subject are to be found in the planning, artistic shaping, design, creation, use and change of the built environment.

Research in the subject aims to develop theories and methods, and to collect and systematise information and experiences supporting the development of the subject and discipline of architecture. The field can encompass issues in the social sciences, science, engineering, humanities, aesthetics and art.

The research deals with topics such as the properties of the built environment and its significance for different forms of societal life, including cultural and social aspects; spatial design techniques and their implications; participatory design; artistic methodology; and distinctive environments with regard to climate, culture and architecture.

General syllabus Architecture (PDF, 242 kB, new tab)

Department of Architecture and Built Environment's website

Automatic Control, which deals with feedback systems, is a basic subject within the field of systems engineering. The aim is to use measurements to make systems operate as desired in spite of external interference. The subject is based on theories of dynamic systems and makes use of a thoroughly developed apparatus of mathematical concepts. There are applications in all fields of engineering and feedback can also be applied to areas of economics and biology. Automatic Control provides a theoretical foundation of automation that is central to many types of engineering.

General syllabus Automatic Control (PDF, 235 kB, new tab)

Department of Automatic Control's website

Biomedical engineering comprises theoretical and experimental activities based in engineering and addressing issues tied to medicine and biology.

General syllabus Biomedical Engineering (PDF, 250 kB, new tab)

Department of Biomedical Engineerings's website

The subject involves research and third-cycle studies in biophysical chemistry. Methods of physics and molecular biology are used to study proteins and other biomolecules in solutions or more complex systems in order to explain biological function in terms of molecular exchange, structure and dynamics. Research in biophysical chemistry also deals with simpler model systems of relevance to the subject. The prevailing experimental technique is nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) for which the department at LTH has unique expertise and equipment and also engages in method development.

General syllabus Biophysical Chemistry (PDF, 268 kB, new tab)

Department of Chemistry's website

Biotechnology is of key importance for the transition to a sustainable society. Biotechnology research develops and exploits microorganisms or components of microorganisms to attain useful technological goals with environmentally sustainable methods. The areas of application include environmental biotechnology, industrial biotechnology and biotechnology in healthcare.

The specialisations of the research studies subject are:

  • microbial and enzymatic methods of producing chemicals, materials and energy carriers from renewable raw materials;
  • increased use of biorefineries through use/development of biotechnical methods/tools;
  • biotechnical methods of cleaning contaminated environments;
  • development of efficient microorganisms and enzymes through methods of molecular biology and enzyme technology as catalysts for these processes;
  • insulation and use of microorganisms and enzymes from extreme environments; and
  • development of bioanalyses and biosensors for use within the healthcare, environment and processing sectors. 

General syllabus, Biotechnology (PDF, 246 kB, new tab)

Department of Chemistry's website

The subject is comprised of

  • studies of the physical and chemical structure of building materials;
  • studies of the interactions between the materials’ structure and their physical and chemical properties;
  • studies of biological phenomena related to buildings and constructions;
  • studies of transport processes in materials; transportation of gas/steam, fluids and ions, also related to transportation;
  • studies of the deterioration and life span of building materials, and the development of quantitative life span models;
  • studies of the function of combinations of materials, for example finishes or repair layers;
  • development of methods for measuring properties of and processes in materials;
  • studies of the environmental impact of building materials, e.g. the use of waste products for materials production, use of recycled building materials, and emissions from materials and material combinations.

Much of the research is material-neutral which means that the findings are generally applicable to almost all building materials, or to all materials within a certain group, such as the group porous mineral materials. Another part of the research is material-specific. The latter applies mainly to concrete and masonry. Within the field of concrete, materials are also studied from a holistic perspective including assessment of production technology, construction technology and building physics issues.

General Syllabus, Building Materials (PDF, 240 kB, new tab)

Department of Building & Environmental Technology's website

The research subject of Building Physics comprises the transport of heat, moisture and air in new and existing buildings and building components and its consequences. Furthermore, the subject includes design of buildings and building components from the perspective of indoor environment, efficient energy use, resource management, moisture control and the impact of buildings on the exterior environment. The interface between buildings and their technical systems and the needs and health of people are important issues for research in the subject.

General syllabus Building Physics (PDF, 263 kB, new tab)

Department of Building & Environmental Technology's website

The research subject addresses, from the point of view of people’s environmental requirements, the indoor climate and energy supply of buildings, installation systems for heating, cooling, ventilation, sanitation and electricity, and the interaction between installation systems and the rest of the building. The research in the field covers topics such as: theoretical and experimental analyses and systems for heating, cooling, ventilation and automatic control from the perspectives of people’s requirements of indoor climate and the energy supply required for buildings; experimental studies and theoretical models of air flow and temperature distribution in rooms and buildings; systems optimisation for individual buildings or groups of buildings specialising in the interaction between the installation system and the rest of the building, the maintenance of the systems and low energy consumption; integrated systems assessment based on the requirements of users.

General syllabus Building Services Engineering (PDF, 232 kB, new tab)

Department of Construction Sciences' website

The subject presupposes knowledge of chemistry, thermodynamics, microbiology, mathematics and economics. The programme includes experimental studies ranging from laboratory work to pilots and industrial applications, modelling and simulation of technical processes, as well as process design and system analysis. Components of the programme include reaction engineering, separation engineering and catalysis, pharmaceutical processes, biorefineries and other applications.

General syllabus Chemical Engineering (PDF, 240 kB, new tab)

Department of Chemical Engineering's website

Computer science comprises theory, technical solutions, and methodology for computational processes and for systems with software, both in general and for different application domains.

Example areas include theoretical computer science, programming languages and tools, distributed systems, embedded systems, computer graphics, artificial intelligence, natural language processing, robot programming, software engineering, and human-computer interaction. 

General syllabus Computer Science (PDF, 246 kB, new tab)

Computer Science's website

The research subject of Construction and Architecture comprises the whole process of planning, construction and administration from the ideas stage to demolition and reuse. The third-cycle programme may involve social sciences, humanities and art as well as engineering. Research is carried out in the fields of conservation (dealing with the development of existing buildings), design methodology (involving all the stages of the design process), building economics (addressing the process of construction), energy and construction design (examining the relationship between design and energy) and housing and housing development (covering above all the construction and architecture of developing countries). 

General syllabus Construction and Architecture (Dep. of Architecture and Built Environment) (PDF, 239 kB, new tab)

Department of Architecture and Built Environment's website

The research subject of Construction and Architecture comprises the whole process of planning, construction and administration from the ideas stage to demolition and reuse. The third-cycle programme may involve social sciences, humanities and art as well as engineering. Research is carried out in the fields of conservation (dealing with the development of existing buildings), design methodology (involving all the stages of the design process), building economics (addressing the process of construction), energy and construction design (examining the relationship between design and energy) and housing and housing development (covering above all the construction and architecture of developing countries). 

General syllabus Construction and Architecture (Dep. of Building and Environmental Technology) (PDF, 239 kB, new tab)

Department of Building & Environmental Technology's website

Electrical Engineering at LTH comprises electromagnetic field theory, electronics, networks, security, signal processing, and wireless and wireline communication. The aim of research within the field is to arrive at an understanding of the underlying physical context through theoretical and experimental methods, and to formulate, realise and verify effective solutions in different applications. 

General syllabus Electrical Engineering (PDF, 257 kB, new tab)

Electrical and Information Technologys website

Electrical Measurements comprises experimental studies of sensors, instruments and methods for the measurement and registration of electrical and non-electrical phenomena and systems for the collection and processing of large amounts of measurement data.

Important parts of the field concern measurement of non-electrical processes and measurement problems within science and medicine as well as in industry and environmental protection. Furthermore, the history of the department and the close ties to the university hospitals in Malmö and Lund make various forms of medical engineering key research areas.

General syllabus Electrical Measurements (PDF, 237 kB, new tab)

Department of Biomedical Engineering's website

Energy Sciences is a deep and broad subject that includes the study of energy transformation, energy distribution and energy economics. This includes both the study of components such as turbines, combustion engines, fuel cells and heat exchangers as well as the study of related fundamental physical and chemical processes such as heat transfer, fluid mechanics, combustion and electrochemical reactions. The latter can also be applied to processes other than energy transformation. In addition, there are studies of energy use and energy supply. Research within the subject is conducted with analytical, numerical and experimental methods and with a focus on sustainability and renewability, e.g. the use of biofuels and wind power.

General syllabus Energy Sciences (PDF, 235 kB, new tab)

Department of Energy Sciences' website

The main focus of research studies in Engineering Acoustics is building acoustics. The field of study has widened to embrace the whole spectrum from the propagation of sound in buildings to people’s experience of soundscapes. The available specialisations within building acoustics at the division are: measuring methods for indoor insulation and transmission of sound, psychoacoustic and statistical methods for assessing sound environments, and experimental methods for determining the acoustic properties of different materials.

The aim of the research is to produce the knowledge required to achieve soundscapes that are suited to different buildings. This work includes the development of design criteria and design tools. Design criteria are based on objective measurements of people’s experience of sound in different situations, whereas design tools are obtained on the basis of methods for calculating the propagation of sound in buildings and building components.

General syllabus Engineering Acoustics (PDF, 240 kB, new tab)

Department of Construction Sciences' website

Engineering Education is an interdisciplinary research subject comprising studies of teaching, learning and knowledge formation in engineering. The subject spans aspects of educational sciences and engineering, focusing on research on the development of teaching and education to enable high quality learning within engineering. The core areas of the subject are higher education teaching and learning and subject didactics in the first, second and third cycles of study, but it also addresses issues of pedagogy and didactics concerning engineering in schools and in professional life.

General syllabus Engineering Education (PDF, 238 kB, new tab)

Design Sciences' website

Engineering Geology comprises the material properties, content, stratigraphic relationships and spatial organisation of geological material. Furthermore, the subject deals with the appearance and movement of ground water in these materials. In certain applied senses, the links of sea and lake systems to applied geology are also included.

Research in Engineering Geology is physically and methodologically structured and of an applied nature. The fundamental aim is to demonstrate and develop central techniques and methods for the planning, execution and control of construction work. The environmental risks and impact in the geosphere caused by construction work are other fields of research. Furthermore, development of measurement technology is another field of applied research.

Engineering Geology is associated with a number of established fields of science and engineering. Among these are applied geophysics, non-destructive testing of construction materials, sensor technology, initial investigation methodology, drilling and sampling technology, drilling hole physics, well construction, hydrogeology, ground source heat, geothermal energy and marine measurement technology. 

General syllabus Engineering Geology (PDF, 239 kB, new tab)

Department of Biomedical Engineering's website

Environmental Psychology examines how people experience and are affected by their environment, and how people affect the environment through their behaviour. The subject is concerned with both the physical and the social environment and the interaction between the two. Light, colour, form, sound and climate are important factors, just as the character of individuals and groups and the character of the environment as a whole. The subject also addresses how architects, designers, planners and engineers can work to create a pleasant and good environment and how ordinary people can contribute to their environment. Other components of significance include method and theory development and environmental simulation, i.e. comprehensible presentations of environmental planning.

General syllabus Environmental Psychology (PDF, 264 kB, new tab)

Department of Architecture and Built Environment's website

Fire Safety research focuses on the physical and chemical processes involved in the start, growth, spread and extinguishing of fires, interaction between fires and buildings/facilities, systems for preventing or discovering fires or limiting the impact of fires, and evacuation and human behaviour in conjunction with fires. The concept of fire refers to both fires and explosions and to both indoor and outdoor fires. The research on impact also includes undesired emission of flammable, explosive and/or poisonous substances in the industry and transport sectors. The subject also covers fire analysis using both probabilistic and deterministic methods and method development for the dimensioning of fire safety. The general aim is to find cost-efficient and innovative methods to keep damage to people, the environment and properties at an acceptable level.

General syllabus Fire Safety (PDF, 241 kB, new tab)

Department of Building & Environmental Technology's website

The subject covers experimental and theoretical studies based on science and engineering aiming to address issues of relevance to the food industry, the pharmaceutical industry and adjacent business sectors, and systems aspects of the production and consumption of food in society.

Research in the area may comprise: mapping of the properties of raw materials, principles for the development of methods and formulations, consequences of consumption and the creation of active properties of health promotion. Further topics of research include changes taking place during processes, the engineering knowledge required to design and optimise equipment, processes and systems taking the environment, security and economics into account, and the connections between structure, chemistry and processing and consumer experiences of quality.

The subject deals with interdisciplinary issues of major significance to the development of the industry and to the health and environment of people, placing special demands on the programme. Therefore, the third-cycle programme in food and formulation engineering is to highlight one or several of the main aspects of the subject, i.e. products, processes and people.

General syllabus Food and Formulation Engineering (PDF, 241 kB, new tab)

Department of Food Technology, Engineering and Nutrition's website

Geotechnical Engineering comprises soil and rock mechanics including technological applications. Among the topics addressed are relations of tension and strain for different types of soil, rock and grain based on experimental investigations taking the composition, formation and previous load into account. Furthermore, the behaviour of masses consisting of the mentioned materials is analysed. The applications include analyses of bearing capacity, subsidence and vibrations, and studies of issues of foundation work, soil stabilisation, support constructions and the interaction of soil and structure. A key focus of research is methods and strategies of calculation specialising in computer simulations and verification of measurements. The ambition is to spread knowledge of advanced calculation methods in construction projects concerning the interaction between soil and buildings.

General syllabus Geotechnical Engineering (PDF, 234 kB, new tab)

Department of Construction Sciences' website

Immunotechnology comprises both basic and applied studies of issues of immunology, biomedicine and protein chemistry. The focus areas of research are:

  • Cancer – new aspects of diagnosis and treatment
  • Allergy – molecular and cellular mechanisms of hypersensitivity and predictive in vitro testing
  • Proteomics – mapping of the function and significance of proteins in polygenic diseases
  • Functional genomics – studies of genes and the function and significance of gene products in different disease processes
  • Affinity proteomics – development of antibody/protein biomatrices for advanced serum analysis of polygenic diseases
  • Bioinformatics – advanced analyses of the large amounts of data produced by studies within proteomics and genomics.

General syllabus Immunotechnology (PDF, 241 kB, new tab)

Department of Immunotechnology's website

Industrial automation involves the integration of information systems with material and energy flows. The subject is based on a synthesis of automatic control, real time systems and instrumentation engineering. Actuators in the form of electrical drives are important components of many integrated systems. Automation concentrates on the structural problems in manufacturing systems, processing industries or power industries. The subject’s focus is on the coordination of and interaction between many different components such as machines or processes, rather than control of individual components. Research in industrial automation is often inspired by industrial problems.

General syllabus Industrial Automation (PDF, 242 kB, new tab)

Department of Biomedical Engineerings website

As a professional field, Industrial Design has the aim to produce desirable, meaningful and relevant experiences of interaction with products, systems and services that generate value for users, industry and society.

As a research field, Industrial Design focuses on artefacts, processes and contexts and their relationship to and significance for design.

  • Artefacts: products, systems and relations to them, such as notions, experiences, structures, forms, aesthetics, meaning
  • Processes: methods, tools, skills, production, creativity, multidisciplinarity
  • Contexts: use, users, culture, environment, society, brand, organisation

Consequently, the research subject of Industrial Design deals with both basic and applied knowledge generation in industrial design as a phenomenon, aiming to increase understanding of the field from the perspectives of epistemology and practice. The field covers aspects of both human relations and technology, such as function, aesthetics, meaning, emotions, and social, cultural, managerial and environmental issues. 

General syllabus Industrial Design (PDF, 245 kB, new tab)

Design Sciences' website

Industrial electrical engineering focuses on technology and systems for electrical and electromagnetic energy conversion. The subject is interdisciplinary by nature, with strong elements of electromagnetics, power electronics and electronics, materials engineering, electric machine design, automatic control, real time systems, industrial automation and electrical measurements. The dynamics of the systems are often on the short timescale of 100 ns–100 ms, which places major demands on speed of control for desired performance. The subject is linked to industrial automation, which deals with research problems on a more general system level. Research in industrial electrical engineering is often inspired by industrial problems.

General syllabus Industrial Electrical Engineering (PDF, 241 kb, new tab)

Department of Biomedical Engineerings website

The research area of Industrial Engineering and Management deals with design, strategy, planning and control, development, and economic evaluation of industrial operations. The area comprises three main focus areas: Logistics and supply chain management, Production and inventory control, and Technology strategies, innovation and business models. Industrial Engineering and Management is concerned with problem areas in the interface between technology/engineering and economics/business management. It aims at integrating both perspectives, by using methods and principles from one area and modifying and applying it to the other. This is done by applying mathematical methods from the engineering sciences on problems in business and economics, and also by using managerial and economic analysis and principles to study problems of technical nature and assessment of technical alternatives. The area is multidisciplinary by nature and covers issues of strategic as well as operative nature within all types of operations.

General syllabus Industrial Engineering and Management (PDF, 242 kB, new tab)

Department of Industrial Management and Logistics' website

The aim of Industrial Environmental Economics is to provide knowledge of strategies, policies and tools to move social development in the direction of sustainability. The purpose of education and research in the subject is to build knowledge about feasible strategies and interventions to achieve a more sustainable society. Special emphasis is placed on the environmental policies and knowledge of society and industry about strategies such as control, management, business models, visions and scenarios.

General syllabus Industrial Environmental Economics (PDF, 240 kB, new tab)

The International Institute of Industrial Environmental Economic's website (IIIEE)

The subject covers third-cycle education in the area of material chemistry. The research areas overlap to some extent with the research subject of inorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, organic chemistry, polymer technology and physics. The research focuses on synthesis of new solid materials and assembly of soft matter, and studies of their chemical and physical properties. Since the physical properties are directly dependent on the material's order/disorder, their structure (both atomic and long range) is studied mainly with diffraction and/or scattering techniques. Collaboration with researchers in other areas of chemistry, physics, biology and other engineering subjects is an important part of the third-cycle programme.

General syllabus Materials Chemistry (PDF, 228 kB)

Department of Chemistry's website

Mathematical statistics encompasses probability theory and statistical theory, with applications in all areas of society, in particular science, engineering, medicine and economics.

The main function of probability theory is to develop mathematical models for describing and analysing random events and to study the mathematical properties of such models. Areas studied within statistical theory include principles and methods for building and testing models using empirical facts and data. The subject’s role also includes developing models in collaboration with areas of application for experimental verification of proposed models. Probability theory and statistical theory are intimately linked, as statistical theory builds on the former and often gives rise to problems relating to probability theory.

General syllabus Mathematical Statistics (PDF, 244 kB, new tab)

Centre for Mathematical Sciences' website

Mathematics is a science that uses logical inferences to study concepts with well-defined properties laid down in axioms. The classical division of mathematics is into three main branches: analysis, algebra and geometry, between which there is a continual exchange of ideas and results. Concepts, theory formation and methods from these three branches have long been important tools in applications in engineering and science. Over recent decades, the importance of mathematics has further increased as a result of the rapid developments in computer science, which have made it possible to develop and analyse mathematical models for very complicated systems. This has also given rise to new mathematical research problems, which along with the research problems within the discipline help to drive mathematics forward.

General syllabus Mathematics (PDF, 246 kB, new tab)

Centre for Mathematical Sciences' website

The third-cycle subject Mechanical Engineering Sciences encompasses theoretical, experimental and applied mechanical engineering science in a broad sense and focuses on long-term sustainability. All aspects of the subject can be encapsulated and collectively referred to as Mechanical Engineering Sciences. The subject is fairly broad and research issues overlap, for example, it may include mechanics of materials, materials engineering, component design, production and material engineering. Analytical, numerical and experimental research methods are used in the subject. The field of work spans several TRLs (Technology Readiness Levels) from basic research to applied research and industrial implementation.

General syllabus Mechanical Engineering Sciences (PDF, 243 kB, new tab)

Department of Mechanical Engineering Sciences' website

Mathematical modelling is increasingly applied in most scientific disciplines. Mathematics software is required to solve such problems, and computational science today has a status as an essential complement to the classic combination of theory & experiment. The growing performance capacities of computers enable larger and more accurate models to be studied, and raise the importance of algorithms with low complexity.

Numerical analysis encompasses the construction, analysis and implementation of computation methods intended for the solving of mathematically formulated problems using computers. The subject can also include the use of such methods to develop new technologies in applied sciences, primarily in engineering, natural science, medicine, etc. The construction of numerical methods must take into consideration a number of important goals, including stability, accuracy and efficiency.

General syllabus Numerical Analysis (PDF, 238 kB, new tab)

Centre for Mathematical Sciences' website

Organic chemistry deals with the chemistry compounds containing carbon. Traditionally, the subject deals with molecules of low molecular weight, both natural and artificial. Organic chemistry comprises the molecular and supramolecular synthesis, medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, and structural determination of molecules containing carbon, where modern instruments and an accumulated knowledge of how to synthesise molecules allow for the production of complicated molecules for further studies. Organic chemistry is a core science with a high impact on other areas of natural science such as physics, biology and medicine. Organic chemistry is of crucial significance for the development of for instance polymeric materials, pharmaceuticals, paints and other materials with specific functions.

General syllabus Organic Chemistry (PDF, 247 kB, new tab)

Department of Chemistry's website

Packing Logistics is a multidisciplinary field focusing on packaging and its integration with logistics. Research in the subject wants to contribute to sustainable development through integrating packaging and the development of packaging with logistics, innovation and product development in the fields of technology, finance and the environment.

Packaging refers to a method of delivering goods to an end user in a safe and efficient manner, but also to a design that minimises spills and is functional for the end user. Other important aspects of packaging are the possibilities of reuse or recycling and/or disposal of the packaging material at minimal cost and in compliance with current rules and knowledge of minimal environmental impact. Packaging should be defined so as to encompass everything from simple boxes to sophisticated containers for special purposes and indicate a hierarchical order.

Logistics refers to the planning, organisation and control of efficient flows of materials and goods, both outward and back, and to the storing of goods, services and associated information from raw materials to consumption in order to satisfy the requirements of customers.

Innovation refers to the generation of new products, processes and services, from idea to commercial use.

General syllabus Packaging Logistics (PDF, 240 kB, new tab)

Design Sciences' website

Research studies in Physics comprise theoretical, experimental and applied physics in a broad sense. All fields of physics can be included under the general heading Physics. 

General syllabus Physics (PDF, 356 kB, new tab)

Department of Physics' website

Polymer Technology is an interdisciplinary subject including the chemistry and physics of polymers, polymers from renewable resources, processing and use of polymer materials, and degradation and environmental aspects of polymer materials. Polymer chemistry comprises polymerisations and characterisation of polymers, as well as chemical modifications of polymer materials. Polymer physics treats the properties of polymers in solutions, melts and solid states. Both synthetic polymers and biopolymers are included in the subject area. The research in Polymer Technology is both basic and applied, and primarily focused on studies of new structure-property relationships.

General syllabus Polymer Technology (PDF, 244 kB, new tab)

Department of Chemistry's website

The subject can be divided into two main specialisations: basic biochemistry and applied biochemistry. Basic biochemistry deals with the structure, function and decomposition of biomolecules (including proteins, carbohydrates and nucleic acids), and with the control and regulation of the reaction steps involved in cell metabolism. Applied biochemistry deals with the use of enzyme technology and genetic technology in industries such as food and pharmaceuticals for the production of sugar, steroids, antibiotics and hormones, and for analytical purposes in process regulation, clinical chemistry and environmental management.

General syllabus Pure and Applied Biochemistry (PDF, 248 kB, new tab)

Department of Chemistry's website

Rehabilitation and habilitation engineering (referred to as Rehabilitation Engineering below) is focused on people with disabilities. It is an interdisciplinary subject at the interface of such epistemologically heterogeneous fields as technology, science, humanities, social sciences and medicine.

Rehabilitation Engineering is more clearly focused on human needs than is usually the case for engineering subjects. The need to adapt technology to people rather than the opposite is highlighted in the case of people with disabilities. Unlike people without disabilities, they are unable to compensate for shortcomings in the technology. Research on functionality and user value is therefore highly prioritised.

General syllabus Rehabilitation Engineering (PDF, 249 kB, new tab)

Design Sciences' website

Risk and safety are two closely related concepts, sometimes seen as antonyms or the two sides of a coin. Studies within the subject aim at developing knowledge to better assess, understand and address issues of risk and safety on various spatial and temporal scales.

An important part of the subject is the analysis of how and why accidents, crises, or other disturbances or disruptions occur in interactions between people, technology, and the environment. Equally important is to understand how such interactions result in successful outcomes where negative consequences are avoided or reduced. Most modern risk and safety problems involve interactions among several actors in conditions characterized by uncertainty, complexity and differences in values. Therefore, understanding risk and safety management in such conditions often requires a systems perspective where attention is paid to the interactions, goals, opportunities, and resources of the involved actors.

Whether the focus is on critical infrastructure, a disaster risk management system, a community, an industrial accident, or other events, studies within the subject of Risk and safety aim at developing specific knowledge that allows us to better frame risk and safety problems and ultimately suggest how such problems can be better dealt with. 

General syllabus Risk and Safety (PDF, 244 kB, new tab)

Department of Building & Environmental Technology's website

The research in solid mechanics deals with methods and principles to determine strains, stresses and collapse phenomena in deformable bodies. Major emphasis is placed on fundamental understanding and modelling of materials behaviour and phenomena. Solid Mechanics is a fundamental topic within Mechanical Engineering and a cornerstone for many associated disciplines. The problems and issues addressed in solid mechanics are highly relevant for industrial applications. Research is carried out within the fields of constitutive mechanics, numerical methods, fracture mechanics, biomechanics, stability analysis and experimental methods

General syllabus Solid Mechanics (PDF, 240 kB, new tab)

Department of Construction Sciences' website

Structural Engineering is concerned with the principles for dimensioning and designing structures for buildings and plants, taking into account the expected loads and strains during the lifespan of the construction. A key focus is placed on the properties and dimensions of structural elements in concrete, brick, steel or wood. Reliability is an important concept, meaning that construction elements and systems must be designed to withstand breakage, damage or loss of important functions during the lifespan of the structure. An overall aim for research in the field is to drive the development of rational and competitive systems for construction work.

The current focus areas for research in the subject are:

  • Structure and system reliability
  • Wood, concrete and masonry structures under impact of climate and deterioration
  • Rational building systems and detail solutions
  • Computer support in building processes

General syllabus Structural Engineering (PDF, 241 kB, new tab)

Department of Building & Environmental Technology's website

The disciplinary core of the subject is structural mechanics based on the principles and idealisations of continuum mechanics. The subject deals with the methods and principles of calculating deformations and tensions for different types of construction, material and load. Structural mechanics is a core subject of construction engineering but there are applications in a number of different fields associated with construction. A key focus of research is methods and strategies of calculation specialising in computer simulations of applied mechanics. The ambition is to spread knowledge of advanced calculation methods in projects in close cooperation with industry.

General syllabus Structural Mechanics (PDF, 267 kB, new tab)

Department of Construction Sciences' website

The doctoral subject Technology and Society encompasses multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary studies of technology’s role, interplay and importance in different sectors of society. The subject takes a broad approach to this relation and the interplay and its governance is studied in different research fields including: transport systems, road and railroad construction, environmental and energy systems, and land use and housing markets. The research entails both qualitative and quantitative studies, and is often characterised by diverse methods and theories from engineering, the social, legal, and natural sciences.

General syllabus Technology and Society (PDF, 228 kB, new tab)

Department of Technology and Society's website

Transformative Innovation is a subject that aims to understand, explain and improve activities that focus on the development and adaptation of new and existing solutions (e.g. systems, goods and/or services) as well as new or changed processes (e.g. technical, organisational and business-related) in order to create value for individuals, groups, companies and other organisations, as well as society as a whole.

The research includes how the subject contributes to strengthening the ability of individuals, groups, companies and other organisations to develop and/or adapt solutions and processes based on identified or assumed needs. This includes research on ways of working, behaviour, usage and perceptions, as well as the development and application of strategies, methods, techniques and tools. The research addresses human, organisational, process-related and technical aspects such as user-centred design, technology and business development, development methodology, integration and collaboration, industrialisation and sustainable development.

General syllabus Transformative Innovation (PDF, 291 kB, new tab)

Department of Design Sciences website

The subject of Water and Environmental Engineering presupposes elementary knowledge of hydrology, hydraulics, microbiology, mathematics and chemistry. The programme includes experimental studies ranging from laboratory work to pilots and industrial applications, modelling and simulation of technical processes, as well as process design and system analysis. Components of the programme include separation of nutrients and micro compounds, sludge treatment, separation engineering, infrastructure and technical processes for purification of drinking water, urban runoff and wastewater.

General syllabus Water and Environmental Engineering (PDF, 241 kB, new tab)

Department of Building & Environmental Technology's website

Water Resources Engineering comprises water-related subjects of importance for the built environment in a broad sense. Emphasis is on the sustainable use of water resources, both today and in the future. Although engineering solutions are in focus, the subject also involves the interaction between such solutions and society in general. The major research areas are general hydrology, atmospheric hydrology, geohydrology, urban hydrology, hydrodynamics, coastal engineering, physical processes in lakes and rivers, and water quality, both from a chemical and biological point of view. The research carried out is often multidisciplinary and conducted both in the laboratory and field. 

General syllabus Water Resources Engineering (PDF, 258 kB, new tab)

Department of Chemical Engineerings website (in Swedish)

The aim of Working Environment research is to obtain new knowledge of the interplay between people, technology and organisation, of links between the working environment and human health, safety, comfort, job satisfaction, motivation and performance, and of the relationship between, on the one hand, the people-technology-organisation system and, on the other, quality of life, efficiency and risk. A special emphasis is placed on the knowledge required to achieve both quality of working life and efficiency when designing workplaces and jobs, developing new technology and organising work and management functions. Working Environment research is often a part of multidisciplinary research programmes with participants primarily from engineering, medicine, and/or social sciences/behavioural science.

General syllabus Working Environment (PDF, 329 kB, new tab)

Design Sciences' website

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