Study programme description for students
Risk Analysis - Master
Facts
Studyprogram code M-RISGOV
Credits (ECTS) 120
Level Master's degree (2 years)
Leads to degree Master of Risk Analysis (risikostyring)
Full-/Part-time Full-time
Duration 4 semesters
Undergraduate No
Language of instruction English
The master’s programme in Risk Analysis gives a unique competence in understanding and handling risk. The programme covers all the elements of risk analysis in a broad sense: risk assessment, risk perception, risk communication, risk management and risk governance, policy related to risk, and risk science. Key topics related to safety, security, reliability and resilience are also covered. The study programme has an international profile with admission of international students and with all the courses in the program being taught in English.
The study programme has two specialisations. Both specialisations provide a broad competence in risk analysis and cover concepts, theories, principles and methods for assessing, communicating, managing and governing risk, safety and security, but have different emphasis:
The specialisation in Risk Governance is relevant for students with different types of backgrounds. This specialisation emphasises risk management in a societal context. The specialisation covers different perspectives on risk and ways of bringing them together. The specialisation has a cross-disciplinary profile, emphasising different types of risk management approaches and research methods.
The specialisation in Engineering and Technology is open to students with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, technology, mathematics (including statistics), natural sciences or equivalent. This specialisation emphasises risk assessment and risk management. The specialisation has a technical profile and covers topics such as probability calculation and statistics, reliability analysis and technical safety.
As a risk expert, you can work in the private sector, in government as well as in non-governmental organisations. From safety officer to risk analyst, risk communication expert or researcher you will have many opportunities to make a positive impact. You can work with specific challenges, such as achieving the UN’s sustainability goals. These goals are the world’s joint work plan to eradicate poverty, fight inequality and halt climate change by 2030. As a risk expert, you can help achieve more of the sustainability goals. For example, sustainability goal number 11 is about making cities and communities inclusive, safe, robust and sustainable, and sustainability goal number 13 is about strengthening the ability to resist and adapt to climate-related dangers and natural disasters in all countries. You will also be able to contribute to the discussion on how best to design such goals and follow them up. Risk analysis and risk science help you ask the important and critical questions to ensure a good understanding of risk and focus on the best approaches and measures in this context.
Programme content, structure, and composition
The study programme is organised at the Department of Safety, Economics and Planning. The programme comprises a total of 120 credits (ECTS points), out of which 60 ECTS points are mandatory courses, 30 ECTS points are elective courses, and 30 ECTS points the master’s thesis.
The course work consists of lectures, seminars, project assignments, as well as mandatory and voluntary exercises.
The department offers a list of recommended and other elective courses. Elective courses beyond these must be approved by the department.
The master’s thesis may be prepared either with a faculty advisor only or in cooperation with an external partner (industry, public agencies, etc.).
UiS wishes to offer all its programmes and courses as planned; however, courses still have to be subject to availability of resources and a minimum student enrolment.
Learning outcome
After having completed the master’s degree programme in Risk Analysis, the student shall have acquired the following learning outcomes, in terms of knowledge, skills and general competences:
Knowledge
K1: has advanced knowledge within the academic field of risk science, related to concepts, theories, principles, approaches, methods and models for understanding, assessing, characterising, communicating, managing and governing risk, safety and security.
K2: has specialised insight into risk assessment and risk management with an engineering theory and method profile, or in risk governance with a social science theory and method profile, depending on the chosen specialisation.
K3: has in-depth knowledge of theories and methods that form the basis for and that characterise risk science.
K4: can apply this knowledge to new types of problems and issues, in particular practical cases and problems in society, industry, business, etc., such as achievement of the UN sustainable development goals.
K5: can analyse scientific issues based on the scientific area’s history, traditions, uniqueness and place in society.
Skills
S1: can evaluate theories, principles, interpretations, methods and models within risk analysis.
S2: can develop and apply methods and models in risk analysis; depending on specialisation, methods for risk assessment, reliability analysis, cost-benefit analysis and risk perception analysis.
S3: can plan and conduct analyses (interpreted in a wide sense) in an independent manner of risk, safety and security, using the above knowledge.
S4: can use relevant methods for research and scientific/scholarly work in an independent manner.
S5: can analyse and deal critically with various sources of information and use them to structure and formulate scientific/scholarly arguments.
S6: can carry out an independent, limited research or development project under supervision and in accordance with applicable norms for research ethics.
General Competence
G1: can analyse relevant professional, occupational and research ethics issues.
G2: can apply their knowledge and skills to deal with questions related to risk analysis, and in new areas to carry out advanced work tasks and projects.
G3: is able to evaluate the applicability of different tools and approaches that are relevant to risk analysis, and examine the short- and long-term effects of different practices and solutions.
G4: can disseminate extensive independent work.
G5: is familiar with and can use the current terminology within the field.
G6: can communicate about scientific issues, analyses and conclusions within the field, with both specialists and the general public.
G7: can guide decision-makers and other stakeholders on how to understand, assess, manage and govern risk, safety and security.
G8: can contribute to innovation and in innovation processes.
Career prospects
The study programme in Risk Analysis gives advanced knowledge in fundamental topics within risk science. This is an attractive competence both in working life and in research. The study programme qualifies for several different types of positions in both the private and public sector, for example:
Risk analyst, advisor or consultant: Risk analysis is today in extensive use in both the private sector, for example, in the petroleum and energy industries, banking and finance, and the ICT industry; and in the public sector, for example, in health care, in urban and regional planning, and the planning and operation of public infrastructure. Risk analysis is also being used in an ever-increasing number of industries and sectors. This creates a need for candidates with strong risk analysis competence who can ensure proper assessment, characterisation, communication, management, and governance of risk. The study programme provides the necessary broad and general competence to work as a risk analyst, advisor or consultant in different sectors.
Manager: An important management task is to make decisions under uncertainty about future consequences, i.e., when faced with risk. Risk assessments constitute an important basis for decision-making in such situations. A high level of competence is then required in understanding and interpreting the results of risk assessments and in conducting risk evaluations. Furthermore, a high level of competence is needed in communicating risk and in understanding how risk is often perceived differently by lay people compared with in professional risk assessments. Finally, there is a need for high competence in risk management and governance, and in the formulation of risk policies to ensure acceptable risk.
Researcher: As a researcher, there are many opportunities to contribute to the development and expansion of various parts of the research front. Key fundamental questions studied in the risk field are: How to understand risk and uncertainty? How to express risk and uncertainty? How to determine what is acceptable risk? How to manage risk? UiS has a Ph.D. programme (doctorate program) in risk management and societal safety that offers research training in risk science.
Course assessment
Schemes for quality assurance and evaluation of studies are stipulated in Quality system for educationStudyplan with courses
Student exchange
Schedule for the exchange
Students can go on a study abroad experience during the 3rd semester of the master's programme in Risk Analysis.
This semester consists of 30 ECTS credits of electives. During the exchange semester you can choose courses similar the master program specialisation. The courses you want to take abroad must be approved by the department. It is important that the courses from abroad not overlap with courses you have already taken. Some advice is to think about your specialisation and your field of interest.
Recommended institutions:
Specialisation: Risk Governance
Lund University, Sweden
University of Trento, Italy
Catholic University of Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal
Mid Sweden University, Sweden
European University Cyprus, Cyprus
Specialisation: Engineering and Technology
Lund University, Sweden
Politecnico di Milano, Italy
University of Bologna, Italy
University of Ostrava, Czech Republic
More opportunities
In addition to the recommended universities listed above, The University of Stavanger has several agreements with universities outside Europe that are applicable to all students at The University of Stavanger, provided that they find a relevant course offering. Within the Nordic region and the Baltics, all students can use the Nordlys and Nordtek networks.
Contact your Study Adviser at the Faculty if you have questions about guidance and pre-approval of courses.
General questions about exchange:
Go to the exchange guide in the Digital student service desk
See where you can travel
Admission requirements
Admission requirements for the specialisation in Risk Governance
A bachelor's degree within social sciences, natural sciences, psychology, pedagogy, social anthropology, law, geography, engineering, mathematics, statistics, biology, chemistry, physics, urban planning and societal safety, political science, economics. Other backgrounds that may meet the requirements for admission include: customs and border management, police, teacher education, health and social care, journalism, hotel management, and tourism management, social sciences, health and social sciences, economics and administration, history, and philosophy of science. Applicants with other types of educational background will be evaluated by the admission committee.
Admission requirements for the specialisation in Engineering and Technology
A bachelor's degree in engineering, technology, mathematics (including statistics), natural sciences or equivalent is required. Applicants must have at least 20 ECTS credits in mathematics/statistics/calculus. At least 5 ECTS credits must be statistics.
All applicants
Admission to this master's programme requires a minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian C (according to ECTS Standards) in your bachelor's degree. Applicants with a result Second-class lower Division or lower are not qualified for admission.
Contact information
Faculty of Science and Technology, tel. 51 83 17 00, e-mail: post-tn@uis.no
Study Adviser: Sabrina Ebenhoch
