Bauhaus-Universität Weimar: Natural Hazards and Risks in Structural Engineering (Master of Science)

Natural Hazards and Risks in Structural Engineering (Master of Science)

The Natural Hazards and Risks in Structural Engineering (NHRE) master’s degree programme has a strong international orientation. It trains students to apply themselves to demanding engineering tasks with regard to specific external influences, such as earthquakes. We teach students how to use modern equipment to assess the dangers and damage potential of natural phenomena, we show them how to create models and simulations, and we prepare them for conducting projects and- risk analyses of their own.
In this way, the programme provides students with key qualifications for engineering positions which require innovative, enterprising solutions for dealing with a wide variety of natural dangers, like earthquakes, floods and storms.

About NHRE

The occurrence of an increasing number of natural hazards all over the world and their various effects on individuals, societies and modern economies is one of the major challenges for future decades. The master course in "Natural Hazards and Risks in Structural Engineering" faces this challenge by providing indispensable tools for taking into account those phenomena in the different design processes in civil engineering. Thereby, the master course aims at combining practical structural engineering with state-of-the-art concepts regarding computational mechanics, dynamics and probability theory/stochastic analysis. Consequently, the master course provides key qualifications for innovative work in the field of earthquake, flood and wind engineering and offers an international setting in which students will achieve both technical success and personal advancement.

Main areas covered by the master course in "Natural Hazards and Risks in Structural Engineering" are earthquake engineering and structural design, Geo- and hydrotechnical engineering, Finite element methods and structural dynamics, non-linear analysis of structures under extreme loading, stochastics and risk assessment, as well as disaster management and mitigation strategies. The course program covers, thereby, both theoretical and application orientated topics.

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) grants four to eight scholarships to admitted applicants of the Master course NHRE within the program "Postgraduate Courses for Professionals with Relevance to Developing Countries". The scholarships start only in Winter semester. The enrolment for students of the DAAD scholarship "Postgraduate Courses for Professionals with Relevance to Developing Countries" is only possible in Winter semester. Therefore the application has to be done until the 15th October the year before. Further information about the focus of the scholarship program can be obtained from the DAAD website.

Objectives and goals of the degree programme

1) The master’s degree programme in “Natural Hazards and Risks in Structural Engineering” is an intensive and application-based advanced course of study. The programme is highly supervised and research- oriented. It provides students a solid technical basis in the key areas of structural engineering through coherent and co-ordinated degree programme, integrating research and practical applications.

(2) The degree programme enables students’ excellence in oral and written skills. By providing students with advanced, scientifically-based, interdisciplinary knowledge, they are able to take on demanding engineering tasks in the areas of planning, construction and realization of structures under specific conditions. They are also able to carry out site- or structure-specific risk analysis using modern tools to estimate the threat of natural hazards.

(3) In addition to strengthening their theoretical and scientific competence, students are able to develop skills in modelling, simulation and application of performance-based design, field work and laboratory investigations.

(4) In order to structure and reflect the complexity of the chain reactions inherent to natural hazards, this programme explores in detail various engineering disciplines and engineering-related areas of the natural sciences, social sciences and economics. It examines the central role that structural engineering plays in reducing the impact of natural disasters. Furthermore, it focuses on the engineering methods that are used to assess and reduce the vulnerability of structures.

(5) The programme highlights the demands on engineering technology at both regional and global level by using international projects as models. The elective compulsory modules expand on specific lines of development; they equip and prepare students systematically for future professional careers or further research positions.

Requirements/Application/Admission

As a prerequisite for admission to the program, the following admission requirements have to be fulfilled:

Academic degree

All applicants have to hold a

Bachelor degree in Civil Engineering or a related field
The minimum qualification of admission to this programme is normally a “Bachelor of Science” degree in Civil Engineering, or equivalent professional qualification with a final grade of 2.5 (acc. to German system) or better. The Examination Committee must ensure that the candidate’s prior degree is equivalent to that of the B.Sc. programme in Civil Engineering. If not, the Examination Committee may attach additional conditions for admission, which the candidate must meet. In such cases, candidates are not legally entitled to gaining admission to the programme.

English language proficiency

Language proficiency is an important factor in academic success. Since English is the sole language of instruction at the Graduate School in Structural Engineering, all applicants seeking admission must possess an adequate knowledge of written and spoken English as a prerequisite to admission. Regardless of country of origin or of citizenship status, applicants will be required to provide proof of proficiency in the English language based on one of the two following forms:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
A minimum score of 85 on the Internet-based test of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The institution code for the Bauhaus University Weimar is 8968.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
A minimum overall band score of 6.5 with no other component score less than 6.0 is required on the test of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Required application documents

Generally required documents

If you want to apply for the M.Sc. course on "Natural Hazards and Risks in Structural Engineering (NHRE)" without DAAD scholarship, please apply trough uni-assist:

https://www.uni-assist.de/index_en.html

You are requested to submit the following application documents:

A completed "Application Form for Admission to Studies".

Include an up-to-date curriculum vitae, including all information up to the time of application.
A legally certified copy of your upper/higher secondary school diploma or leaving certificate. If national examinations are given in your country, submit also a legally certified copy of the certificate from the "Examining Board" showing subjects taken and grades earned. If your original documents were not issued in English or German language, please provide in addition to them legally certified English or German translations.
A legally certified copy of your Bachelor’s degree certificate. If your original document was not issued in English or German language, please provide in addition to it a legally certified English or German translation.
A legally certified copy of your credit/mark sheets showing clearly subjects taken and grades earned during your Bachelor’s studies. If your original credit/mark sheets were not issued in English or German language, please provide in addition to them a legally certified English or German translations.
In case not Bachelor thesis is written in your Bachelor's degree and not mentioned in your transcript of records, please submit your Bachlor's thesis or an equivalent project done during your Bachelor studies.
A proof of English language proficiency.

All photocopies of documents that need to be included with your application must be legally certified. Legally certified photocopies of documents can be obtained in Germany from sources like, e.g., city halls, district courts or public notaries. Secondary schools and universities are permitted to make legally certified photocopies of their own documents only. In countries outside Germany, legally certified photocopies may be obtained from the German foreign missions or the respective country’s authorities which are authorised to legally certify photocopies. A photocopy of a legally certified photocopy must always be legalized again. Do not send original documents, since the university cannot be held responsible for the possible loss or damage of such documents.

DAAD programme "Postgraduate Courses for Professionals with Relevance to Developing Countries"

If you want to apply for the M.Sc. course on "Natural Hazards and Risks in Structural Engineering (NHRE)" with DAAD scholarship, please apply trough Bauhaus-Universität Weimar application portal:

https://weimar.gomovein.com/locallogin/5873933e547cd0744f8b4567/eng

Please follow the instruction on this internet site and given in this PDF, especially the form of the application. You can use additional this overview to cross-check your application.

For filing an application for a scholarship from the DAAD programme "Postgraduate Courses for Professionals with Relevance to Developing Countries" you have to submit additionally to the general application papers the following documents.

A completed "Application for Research Grants and Study Scholarships"

Download: Application form

Letter of Motivation, containing information about your expectations from our master course and the effects on your professional and personal life as well as for your country.
Letter of Recommandation
Confirmation from your current employer of the duration of employment

All certified documents have to be send online until the deadline! Due to the recent worldwide situation of COVID-19 you can apply online only. The certified documents have to be presented when you get registered in our university.

If you have any other questions regarding the application process/status, admissions and registration,
please contact Mrs. Theuerkauf at the Student Office.

When and where to apply

Application address

Please send your application documents directly to the

Bauhaus-University Weimar
Department of Study and Education
NHRE
c/o Johanna Theuerkauf
Geschwister-Scholl-Str. 15
99421 Weimar
GERMANY

Application deadlines

General Application deadline is
for the Winter semester (beginning in October): 15th July.

The enrolment for students of the DAAD scholarship "Postgraduate Courses for Professionals with Relevance to Developing Countries" is only possible in Winter semester. Therefore the application has to be done until the 15th October the year before.

Finances/Scholarship

General administration

Every foreign student has to apply for a residence permit at the Foreigners’s Registration Authority ("Ausländerbehörde"). Required documents for the application are the registration certificate from the university, the confirmation of registration ("Meldebestätigung") from the Residents’ Registration Office ("Einwohnermeldeamt"), a proof of sufficient financial resources ("Finanzierungsnachweis"), and a proof that you have private or statutory health insurance.

Financial resources

The standard of living in the Federal Republic of Germany is high and, consequently, so too are the costs and expenses needed to be able to share in that standard. You should reckon with monthly expenses totalling at least € 600. Your will find that this will allow you only a very modest lifestyle. If you do not hold a scholarship or grant, you have to proof to the German foreign mission in your country as well as to the Alien's Registration Authority in Germany, that you can finance your stay in Germany. This means, that you have to provide proof that you have sufficient financial resources at your disposal for the duration of your studies ("Finanzierungsnachweis"). The minimum amount is approximately € 7200 per year, i.e., € 600 per month, but may differ from Authority to Authority. (Please note, that you are allowed to import as much foreign currency into Germany as you wish, but you should check on currency regulations and restrictions in your own country.)

Scholarships
There are a lot of possibilities for getting a grant. At least three are shown in the following:

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) grants four to seven scholarships to students of the Master course NHRE within the program "Postgraduate Courses for Professionals with Relevance to Developing Countries". You have to submit your application until the 15 October 2021 for the enrolment for the winter semester 2022/2023. Further information about the focus of the scholarship program can be obtained from here.
You can also apply at DAAD for an individual grant. Please have a look at this DAAD web page.
The program "Leadership for Africa" is starting off with refugees as well as nationals from Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan and Tanzania as well as from Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Senegal. If you are from these countries, you can check out this program as well.

Working in Germany
It is possible for international students in Germany to work part-time to cover your living expenses. Please note, that this normally does not cover your living expenses in total! Please check the maximum allowed hours to work as a student. The German authorities (responsible are local employment agency (Agentur fur Arbeit) and the foreigners’ registration office (Ausländerbehörde)) adhere strictly to the employment legislation applicable to foreign students in Germany. Any violation may lead to immediate expulsion from Germany. Although students from EU countries may work in Germany, jobs are not so easy to find.

Scholarship holders and foreign students who are not citizens of an EU country may only earn a kind of pocket-money; such work is carefully monitored. Please ensure that you give serious consideration to the proof of financial resources. (See also this DAAD web page).

Fees

The Master programs NHRE are tuition free. However, all students at the Bauhaus-University have to pay an administrative fee (the so called "Verwaltungskostenbeitrag") and a social contribution ("Semesterbeitrag") which contributes to social benefits such as free railway transportation within the region, free bus usage in Weimar and the student service organisation ("Studentenwerk"). The actual semester contribution can be found here. Further information is available on this page.

Health insurance

Student health insurance
As a student you are eligible for statutory health insurance at the lowest monthly rates. This regulation does not apply to students who are over the age of 30 (see below). The largest statutory insurance company is the "Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse (AOK)". A number of other "Ersatzkassen" insurance companies offer comparable staturory health cover. At present the monthly insurance premium at the "AOK" amounts to € 110 (see also the "AOK" web site ).
Some countries’ health insurance schemes are recognized in Germany, so you may be able to continue being insured in your own country. However, the decision if your countries’ health insurance is accepted as an adequate health insurance cover rests with the "AOK" in the town or city you are studying in. Please note also, that an accident insurance is not accepted as an adequate health insurance cover.

Are you over 30 years of age?
If you are over 30 years of age, you are not bound by the statutory health insurance regulations. However, this is not actually a privilege, since private insurance is significantly more expensive than statutory insurance. We recommend that you ask the "AOK" whether you might not be eligible for statutory or voluntary insurance cover after all.

Accommodation

The student service organisation "Studentenwerk Jena-Weimar" runs 11 halls of residence in Weimar. The rental fees range from € 105.00 to € 261.00 per month. You should apply for a room in one of the halls of residence in advance. The application form can be downloaded from the web page of the "Studentenwerk Thüringen".

Travel

By airplane

If you are travelling by plane, you should fly to Frankfurt, Berlin, Leipzig or Munich, since these towns offer the most convenient railway connections to Weimar.

By train

A number of fast and Intercity trains from several directions stop at Weimar station. Weimar can be easily reached by train form Frankfurt (2 hours 30 mins), Berlin (3 hours), Leipzig (1 hour) and Munich (6 hours). If you are coming from Munich, you should travel via Fulda. Even though it's a little more expensive, it's a lot quicker, and you'll need to change trains only once (in Fulda). The Deutsche Bahn offers a timetable on the internet.

The railway station is north of the city centre, which is easily accessible within a few minutes either by bus or on foot.

By car

If you are coming from the north, take the A9 Berlin-Munich motorway up to the Hermsdorfer Kreuz intersection. Change to the A4 motorway (towards Frankfurt) and take the Weimar exit.

If you are coming from the south, you should also take the A9 Munich-Berlin motorway up to the Hermsdorfer Kreuz intersection, change to A4 motorway (towards Frankfurt) and go as far as Weimar.

If you are coming from the Frankfurt/Main region (from the west), it is best to take the A4 Frankfurt-Dresden motorway and travel to Weimar via Eisenach and Erfurt.

If you are coming from the east, the fastest way is the A4 Dresden-Frankfurt motorway.

Lecturers

Dr.-Ing. Jochen Schwarz

Head of course program NHRE
Earthquake Damage Analysis Center (EDAC)

Subjects:

Primary hazards and risks (Seismic monitoring)
Earthquake engineering and structural design
Multi-Hazard and risk assessment
Risk projects and evaluation of structures
Evaluation of Existing Masonry Structures under Extreme Impacts (in the frame of “Model validation and simulation”)
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and building stock survey

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Guido Morgenthal

Head of course program NHRE
Institute of Structural Engineering
Chair of Modelling and Simulation of Structures

Subjects: