Master of Science

Risk, Reliability and Safety Engineering

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A career with security

In this master's degree programme, you'll be taught in-depth engineering know-how in risk analysis and risk assessment over three semesters. In addition to the master's degree, you can also obtain the additional qualification of "Specialist Planner for Preventive Fire Protection". 

Explore the engineering interfaces between security, occupational safety, environmental protection, fire protection, IT security and management and train as an expert in risk engineering. As a risk engineer, you can contribute to improving safety, health, the environment and people's quality of life.

  • ECTS: 90 ECTS
  • Programme duration: 3 semesters
  • Campus: Furtwangen
  • Faculty: Health, Safety, Society
  • Programme begins: summer semester (March), winter semester (October)
  • Application deadline: 15 January (summer semester), 15 July (winter semester)
  • Entry requirements: bachelor's degree, preferably in engineering or the natural sciences
  • Teaching language: German and English
  • Accreditation: yes (accredited through the university system accreditation)
  • Broad-based expertise With the "RIW" master's, we not only increase your engineering know-how. Management and analysis skills as well as legal topics and simulation methods will all contribute to making you a safety professional!
  • More perspectives Our graduates take on demanding positions in companies and institutions with security responsibilities. The master's also provides the ideal basis for a career as an independent service provider or security consultant.
  • Personal support Personal support for our students starts even before you apply -we regularly hold open consultation hours in which our professors provide information about RIW and answer your questions.
  • Two in one The additional qualification "Specialist planner for preventive fire protection" can be acquired together with this master's degree. As a fire protection professional, you will support construction projects by developing holistic fire protection concepts.

Details of the programme

Programme content and structure

The course content covers the following core areas:

  • Modeling
  • Risk assessment
  • Simulation

A large number of procedures for risk assessment are based on fundamental methods. The programme teaches the fundamental approaches to risk assessment. Building on this, case-related variants, for example quantitative, qualitative and numerical methods, are learned. Another focus is the modeling and simulation of risk scenarios and the derivation of protection concepts.

  • 37% individually selectable course content
  • 49% of the coursework - own work
  • 11% of coursework - presentations
  • 10% English content in the compulsory courses
  • 47% optional computer simulations
  • 80% possible share of engineering content
  • 53% possible proportion of management content

Entry requirements

The course is suitable for those who are interested in the risk analysis of complex technical and socio-technical systems and have a bachelor's degree in a technical or engineering field, for example in process engineering, mechanical engineering or industrial engineering. The course is taught partly in English, so in addition to good German proficiency (DSH 2 or TestDaF with TDN 4), English proficiency at CEF level C1 or higher is also required.

 

RIW specifics

The focus of the master's programme is methodological competence. Quantitative and qualitative risk analysis, technical and functional safety, risk assessments and also resilience engineering are examined from different perspectives and contexts in order to convey a comprehensive understanding of the existing methods and approaches. 
This means you will be able to apply well-known, classic analysis, assessment and treatment methods to problems, and can also combine suitable aspects from a wide range of methods.

What's included

Special features

Many of our students complete their studies part-time in order to gain additional practical experience in various areas of security.  Our students also often write their master's theses in cooperation with a company, public authority or research institution. For example, our part-time students have worked as external service providers in the fields of occupational health and safety and data protection, were safety engineers at a major institution and were involved in security research. The different experiences and current problems that the students and professors bring to the lectures and seminars make them particularly lively and instructive.

Feel free to contact us to find out what part-time study could look like for you.

Your career prospects

Jobs with lots of responsibility

Many career opportunities are open to our graduates. With a Master in Risk Engineering, you can start out in management positions, e.g. with plant and professional fire departments, in corporate security or with hazard prevention authorities. You can also work as an expert, for example for insurance companies, in fire protection or as an IT expert. By integrating sustainability principles into risk assessment, risk management and decision-making, you will help to ensure a safe and sustainable future in the long term.

Labs & equipment

[Translate to English:] Seminar
[Translate to English:] Grafik einer Batteriebrand-Simulation
[Translate to English:] Vier Personen stehen vor der Tafel und schreiben
[Translate to English:] Grafik: Entfluchtung
[Translate to English:] Entfluchtung
[Translate to English:] Grafik: H2-Freisetzung und Abschaltung
[Translate to English:] Zwei Personen im Hörsaal
[Translate to English:] Seminar
[Translate to English:] Gruppenarbeit
[Translate to English:] Grafik: Brandschutz-Simulation

Faculty of Health, Safety, Society

Our Faculty of Health, Safety, Society is the perfect place for you to start your career in health, social care and safety! From Midwifery Science to Risk Engineering, studying at GSG will give you the opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of others and help improve the health and safety of individuals and communities. You make the difference!

More about the Faculty of Health, Safety, Society (GSG)

HFU is one of the strongest research universities in the country. We have dedicated research areas in the area of health, society and sustainability. Here you can find our current research projects in this area.

Faculty news

Events

We'll answer any questions you have about your Safety and Security programme!

Your key contacts

  • Prof. Dr. Marion Meinert
    Prof. Dr. Marion Meinert Dean of Studies Risk, Reliability and Safety Engineering (MSc)
    Professor for Safety and Security
  • Marie Rosing
    Marie Rosing Departmental secretary

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