Systems Engineering (Industry master)

Why study Systems Engineering?

Systems engineering is a recognized method of developing systems in aerospace, maritime, healthcare, energy, communication, and manufacturing. A master's degree in Systems Engineering qualifies and equips you to lead and innovate in the creation of complex products, systems, and services.

This programme is designed for people who have just completed a bachelor’s degree programme and do not have a job. You will have a temporary paid part-time job in a company, in parallel to your studies. 

If you are already working as an engineer, you can also choose Systems Engineering (Executive Master) or you can take a single courses in Systems Engineering.

What is Systems Engineering?

The System Engineering perspective is based on systems thinking, considering a system as a combination of system elements. Systems thinking occurs through discovery, learning, diagnosis, and dialog that lead to sensing, modeling, and talking about the real-world to better understand, define, and work with systems.

A systems thinker knows how systems fit into the larger context of day-to-day life, how they behave, and how to manage them.

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Where will I work?

You will be attractive to potential employers because of your extensive work experience combined with an interdisciplinary master’s degree. The students on this programme will be well-prepared for positions as project leaders.    

Working in a company

The students on this programme work 50% as engineers in relevant companies on the same terms as permanent employees.  

We have an ever-expanding portfolio of national and international high-tech companies which employ our students.

What you will learn

Systems Engineering is an interdisciplinary master’s degree programme which focuses on how to design and manage complex engineering systems throughout the life cycle of products. Systems engineering is the ultimate tool for the rapid translation of knowledge into competitive products and services.

The master’s programme consists of systems engineering subjects and elective subjects. The area you choose to specialize in will depend on your professional background, your current job, what your employer needs and what jobs you might like to do in the future.

Further education

With an MSc in Systems Engineering you can apply to study one of our PhD programmes within:

• Technology
• Nautical Operations

Admission is granted by the 'programstyret' for each individual PhD program based on an individual evaluation. For more information regarding admission please see the University PhD Handbook.

We can offer research training with supervisors from Systems Engineering, and in collaboration with leading Systems Engineering institutions such as Stevens Institute of Tecnology and the University of Twente. Our current research includes Systems Engineering, Systems Architecture, Engineering Communication, Logistics, Security and Reliability, Design Thinking and Human Centric Design. We use the industry as a laboratory as a research method, and collaborate with a number of industries including transport, maritime, defense, subsea, energy, MedTech and materials.

We also encourage professionals with special interest in Systems Engineering to start a business PhD. On completing the master’s in systems engineering, students shall be able to conduct R&D work in the business field, and/or proceed with doctoral studies at, for example the University of Agder (UiA), University of Oslo (UiO), Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), USN or at institutions abroad.

Norwegian Institute for Systems Engineering (NISE)

NISE was established through the joint efforts of the Norwegian Centre of Expertise in Systems Engineering (NCE SE) and USN. NISE now forms part of the Department of Science and Industrial Systems at Campus Kongsberg. The main task of NISE is to enhance technical collaboration between research institutions and the technology companies in NCE SE.

By collaborating with leading research and development environments and Stevens Institute of Technology (SIT), NISE offers top-level expertise in systems engineering. SIT has been the model for the establishment of NISE since 2006. Some SIT professors have part-time teaching and research duties at NISE.

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All instruction is in the form of intensive teaching sessions. The systems engineering subjects have one week of intensive instruction followed by ten weeks for working on a project assignment. Some of the elective subjects will have 3 x 3 days of instruction. In addition to attending the intensive sessions, you must set aside time for work on project assignments.

Your master’s thesis will be linked to development projects in the company where you are employed or have your placement. Six months of the programme will be available for you to work on your master project. You will have supervisors from both industry and USN.

Admission, start and summer job

Please remember to fill in this online form. In order to be admitted to the full-time programme, you must apply via the application system “søknadsweb” (use the search button during the application period).

The programme will commence in early August. If you are offered a place on the Industry Master’s Programme, you may also be able to take a summer job, which will normally start in June.