The programme is conducted in English and focuses on problem-based projects where you and your study group collaborate with companies on realistic cases and projects. You and your study group can work on topics such as evacuation plans, emergency preparedness or systematic risk assessments. You will learn how risk management works in practice in high-tech and safety-critical sectors.

With a Master's in Risk and Safety Management, you will have strong technical and analytical skills within risk assessment, simulation and safety management. You will understand industry standards and legislation and can develop strategies for both prevention and preparedness. You can facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration and communicate knowledge about risk management to technicians, management and authorities. You will also have hands-on experience with handling complex safety challenges in collaboration with industry.

With a Master's in Risk and Safety Management, you have the opportunity to work in an industry where safety, operations and risk management are crucial. You can work with safety management, risk assessment and crisis management in industries such as offshore and energy, transport, construction and the utility sector. Other graduates find jobs at large companies such as Siemens, Carlsberg, Ørsted, Novo Nordisk or international consultancies – or in public organisations responsible for emergency response and safety.

1st semester is about the legislation that construction projects are subject to, and the different industry standards that are in force in the given area.

Through the project work, you will investigate how the different statutory requirements have influence on the projects, including the possibilities and restrictions they cause.

Project

• Industry Standards and Legislation (15 ECTS)

Specific project examples:

• Risk Assessment of a Rocket Launch Test in the North Sea
• PtX with focus on safety of the H2 storage
• From risk assessment to legislative solutions: PtX hydrogen storage in Denmark

Courses

• Systems Engineering (5 ECTS)
• Applied Statistics and Probability Theory (5 ECTS)
• Risk Analysis (5 ECTS)

During the 2nd semester, you work with analysis of risk and safety management. Through the courses, you learn about risk management and decision-making. In addition to that, there is an opportunity to choose courses in maintenance planning and risk communication.

The content of the courses is integrated into the project work. For instance, based on risk analysis, you can work with how you outline and choose between alternatives to a current solution.

Project

• Risk Analysis and Management (15 ECTS)

Specific project examples:

• Ergonomics and Noise Management Strategies for the Workers of Wind Turbine Blade Manufacturing Plant
• Evaluation of the Risks at the Construction Phase of the Channel Tunnel that Led to Costs Overrun
• Malfunctions and Maintenance of ground cables of the Danish Energy sector

Courses

• Risk Management (5 ECTS)
• Decision Making (5 ECTS)
• Electives (5 ECTS) (see the curriculum for Risk and Safety Management)

During the 3rd semester, you will work with the operative part of risk management in connection to construction projects. In the project you and your project group will investigate how you can use risk management to prevent and handle the emergencies that can occur when carrying out a project.

Project

• Operational Risk Management in Projects (15 ECTS)

Specific project examples:

• Emergency Evacuation of Copenhagen Metro
• Fire Safety Evacuation Plan for the Canteen at Aalborg University Esbjerg Campus
• Evaluating Simulation as a Tool for Enhancing Emergency Preparedness through Scenario Testing on Office Buildings

Courses

• Simulation of Emergencies (5 ECTS)
• Emergency Management (5 ECTS)
• Electives (5 ECTS) (see the curriculum for Risk and Safety Management)

On the fourth semester, you write your Master’s thesis, where you draw on all the knowledge, experience and skills you have acquired during your studies. Depending on your topic choice, the thesis will be in the nature of developmental work, further development, or actual research.

Project

• Topic of your choice (30 ECTS)

Specific project examples:

• Autonomous Vehicles in Traffic System
• Power to X - with focus on safety of the H2 storage
• Evacuation of occupants from roadway tunnel in the Fehmarbelt fixed link

For more detailed description of the courses on each semester, please see the current curriculum for Risk and Safety Management (under the article Overview of the programme). 

You will obtain competences that enable you to identify the risks connected to a company’s operations, to analyse risks, and to make suggestions for reducing or avoiding risk in accordance with both the legislation and relevant standards within the area.

Furthermore, in connection with operations, you will be able to set up possible crisis scenarios and work out plans for coping with such situations. Moreover, you will be able to work with preparation and implementation of procedures for managing health, safety and quality (HSEQ) in risky operations.

Problem based learning and working in groups during your study programme will give you many useful skills that make you an attractive candidate on the job market. You know how to approach a problem and solve it in collaboration with other people, which is often how things are done in the “real world”.

With a Master of Science in Technology in Risk and Safety Management, you have various job opportunities. You can for instance work as

• a risk analyst,
• a work environment coordinator or
• a project manager

The sectors you could work in would be wind, oil and gas, structural and civil engineering, transportation or the public sector.

With a degree in Risk and Safety Management, you will become part of a field which will be marked by growth and development in the future. The possibilities of making a career in either Denmark or overseas are therefore great.

Examples of risk scenarios:

• the collapse of a building or a bridge
• an oil leak
• fire on a drilling rig
• a chemical accident in the pharmaceutical production
• accident during discharging and installation of parts for wind turbine generators in wind parks

AAU Career helps you on your way from student life to job life in Denmark by giving you the tools to examine your options and find out what to do.

While studying at AAU, you can participate in career and job-related events, find help on our website, and book a personal career counselling session to talk about e.g.:

• Finding your way in your career
• Danish working culture
• Application and CV the Danish way
• What you can offer an employer
• How to go about job search in Denmark – both student job, internship and full-time job

Read more about AAU Career here.

AAU Career helps you on your way from student life to job life in Denmark by giving you the tools to examine your options and find out what to do.

While studying at AAU, you can participate in career and job-related events, find help on our website, and book a personal career counselling session to talk about e.g.:

• Finding your way in your career
• Danish working culture
• Application and CV the Danish way
• What you can offer an employer
• How to go about job search in Denmark – both student job, internship and full-time job

Read more about AAU Career here