Application deadlines,
Admission requirements, etc

Power System Analysis
High Voltage Technology
Electric Energy Conversion

Electric Power Engineering is important to industrialized as well as developing countries. This Master Programme at Norwegian University of Science & Technology (NTNU) aims to

• Provide candidates with knowledge and skills for planning, design and operation of Electric Power Systems.
• Develop new methods and new high tech components for effective, reliable and sustainable systems and industrial products.

The department has a faculty of 12 professors, who are specialists in all fields of electric power engineering. We have extensive computer and laboratory resources. In addition there is a close collaboration with the research institute SINTEF Energy Research, located at the university campus. The two partners collaborate within the framework of a so-called Gemini Centre, which allows the master students to take part in research activities and to have access to advanced laboratories and experienced researchers. The Department also collaborates with other Norwegian industry and international partners and holds within the power engineering sector a forefront position among European universities.

Norway has a unique position in terms of energy resources. Hydro power is the main source of electric energy. There is also a potential for wind and wave power at a large scale along the coast. Some of this potential is now being utilized. This has resulted in Norway gaining a leading position within certain fields of electric power engineering, such as utilization of hydro power and other renewables, deregulated power markets, and offshore and maritime electrical installations. The Department of Electric Power Engineering at NTNU is Norway’s main supplier of education within this field. Together with SINTEF Energy Research it is also a major research unit. It is therefore natural for the Department to launch an international master programme in electric power engineering with strong emphasis on sustainability within the energy field.

The Master programme will have a mixture of Norwegian and non-Norwegian students, and the total number of students will be approximately 25. The target number of non-Norwegian students is 10. Students in the international programme will also meet in classes with Norwegian students following the five year Master Programme in Energy and Environmental Engineering with specialization towards Electric Power Engineering. Total number of these students is about 35.

The programme consists of two years of full-time studies, giving a total of 120 ECTS credits. There will not be charged any tuition fee. The teaching language is English.

The curriculum is organized in 2 semesters:

• Fall semester from middle of August to middle of December
• Spring semester from January to middle June

The first year includes 8 courses with 4 courses in each semester. The second year is dominated by project work in the Fall semester, and the Spring semester is completely devoted to the master thesis.

The curriculum is shown below. Minor changes can be made.

Courses that can be chosen as Elective 1 will include:
·         One more of the four courses TET4180, TET4120, TET4185, TET4195
·         TET4200 Maritime and offshore installations (URL under construction)
·         TET4170 Electrical Installations in Buildings
·         TEP4220 Energy and Environmental Consequences

 Courses that can be chosen as Elective 2 will include:
·         TPK5100 Project Management
·         TPK4120 Safety and Reliability Engineering
·         TET4165 Light and Lighting

Focus on experimental work is ensured through laboratory courses integrated in many of the courses above. In addition the students can include experimental activities in their project and thesis work.
 

SPECIALIZATIONS

The Master programme provides specialization within three areas (A - C):
 

A.

POWER SYSTEM  ANALYSIS

This specialization provides students with the ability to apply various analytical methods and simulation tools for planning and operation of power systems as well as systems with mixed energy sources and carriers. Methods and tools have been developed over a long period in close collaboration with SINTEF Energy Research. The research areas can be grouped under the following headlines, and these research areas are also areas where projects and theses for students typically are found:

• Hydro power scheduling and optimization
• Power markets: trade, economy and environmental issues
• System security, congestion management and network tariffs
• Integration of large scale and small scale generation in deregulated systems
• Distribution systems with multiple energy carriers
• Reliability and quality: assessment and asset management

In project and thesis work students are often included in development of new methods and tools within these areas, normally also in collaboration with energy utility companies in Norway.

B.
HIGH VOLTAGE TECHNOLOGY

This direction prepares students for design and operation of electrical power systems focusing on high voltage equipment for a reliable and cost-efficient power supply. Special attention is paid to physical aspects of materials in order to understand and control electromagnetic stresses and ageing mechanisms. Detailed knowledge is provided on high voltage equipment and marine-/subsea electrical systems. 

The student will be trained in experimental work in extensive laboratory facilities and in the usage of advanced computer programs for stress calculation. The students become skilled to work in electrical utilities, consulting companies, and the electrical power industry.

The high voltage technology group has a close cooperation with SINTEF Energy Research. Project- and master thesis works are normally carried out in relation to active utility and industrial partners. Typical topics are:

• HVDC cable materials
• Super conductivity
• Condition monitoring and assessment
• Stress simulation and transients
• Subsea technology
• Electrical installation and lighting

C.
ELECTRIC ENERGY CONVERSION

In this branch of study you will be the students are trained to apply analytical methods and numerical simulations for analysing, design and verification of power electronic converters, electrical machines and drives. Laboratory experiments with power electronic converters, machines and controllers based on Digital Signal Processors are included as well. The Energy Conversion Group has close contact with the industry and several common research projects are going on. The research is focused within the following areas: 

• Renewable Sources of Energy:  Within wind and wave energy, we are working on developing cost-optimal power electronics and electrical machines which enable best utilization of the energy sources with respect to energy-efficiency and environmental issues; in a system either connected to existing electrical infrastructure or by conversion to mechanical energy. We are heavily involved in wind energy research.
• Maritime systems and components:  Propulsion of ships by help of standard diesel engines are in many cases a non-optimal utilization of the energy. Today an increased use of diesel electrical propulsion of ships can be seen. New power electronics and electrical machines are developed for propulsion and thrusters. Knowledge is developed on how such large motor drives will influence the autonomous power systems on-board. The development of new integrated electrical systems for replacement of hydraulic systems (top-side as well as subsea) is an important area for research.

  The technology the Energy Conversion Group is focusing on is: 

• Power Electronics: Converter analyses and design.
• Electrical Machines: Design of Permanent Magnet Machines
• Electrical Drives: Sensorless Control of  Induction Machines, Permanent Magnet Machines and Synchronous Machines

LABORATORY FACILITIES

Together with SINTEF Energy Research the department is well equipped and has several modern laboratories for work in high voltage, high current and electrical heating, power electronics and electrical machines as well as materials and lighting laboratories. Some examples are:

• High voltage laboratories with voltages up to 800 kV AC and DC, and impulse generators up to 2.4 MV
• High current laboratories with maximum current 40 kA for a duration of 3 ms and 10 kA stationary
• Electrical machines up to 55 kW
• Power electronics
• Wind power 50 kW test unit
• Hyperbaric test equipment
• Long time testing
• High speed and thermographic cameras
• Extruder
• etc

In addition we have a well equipped computer lab and appropriate software for simulations. 
Supporting the activities in the laboratories is a staff of skilled technicians and engineers.
There is also a mechanical workshop, making it possible to design and construct components from scratch.

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

Engineers with a specialization in electric power engineering is in demand all over the world. In Norway there is a steady demand in sectors such as utility companies, industry, consultant and offshore oil and gas exploration. Citizens of EU countries can apply for jobs in Norway. Non-EU citizens will have to obtain a work permit first. Here are some opportunities:

• Through industrial network:
  We have close relations with Norwegian and international industry and utility companies.

• Follow up with PhD:
  Students completing the master programme with an average of B or better can apply for vacant PhD scholarships in electric power engineering at NTNU.

• Through project work and master thesis:
  In almost all our Master thesis the students work closely in cooperation with PhD-students and/or industrial partners.

• Innovation: create your own job

Innovation NTNU

2000 jobs created from 1980 to 2000
23 spin-off companies started in 2001

Innovation measures:

•  Education in entrepreneurship - Assistance to the formation of new     companies.
•  Start NTNU
•  Innovation Centre Gløshaugen
•  Forny Midt-Norge (seed capital)
•  Leiv Eriksson Nyfotek AS
• Venture Cup
This is a competition to make the best business plan.
Participants receive:
- free supervision
- free teaching
- free evaluation in writing
- cash prizes for the winners
Venture Cup has been running in parts of Europe since 1996. 50 Venture Cup participants in Norway have now formed companies. Seven of eleven finalists in 2003 came from NTNU.

The quality of life in Trondheim

Trondheim – student town no. 1

In Trondheim with 150,000 inhabitants, one person in six is a student and this is something that shapes everyday life. It is also the home city of Rosenborg, the soccer club known from many appearances in the Champions League.

Language skills in Norway
English is a compulsory part of Norwegian schooling, which means that practically every Norwegian has a reasonable knowledge of English. Many Norwegians learn one or more foreign languages besides English. German and French are the most usual third languages.

Trondheim's timber buildings make it one of Scandinavia's distinctive cities. Timber buildings are preserved as part of our cultural heritage. Photo: Norsk bildebyrå
 

'Studentersamfundet'
The unique round red house by Elgeseter bridge is the Student Society, known as 'Studentersamfundet' or 'Samfundet' for short. 'Samfundet' is owned by over 5000 members. It covers 7000 m2, 43 "floors", and has 350 rooms, including restaurants, pubs, service facilities and club rooms. There are many clubs in 'Samfundet', covering a variety of different interests such as photography, brass bands, orchestras, choirs, magazine publishing, theatre, radio broadcasting, amateur radio as well as others. All these clubs have their own rooms in the round house separated from the party areas. The students in Trondheim run 'Samfundet' themselves. Everything except the cleaning is done by students.
 

The world's biggest student conference
The International Student Festival in Trondheim (ISFiT) is held every other year. The 2003 festival is called 'Challenging Attitudes' and will bring 450 student leaders from about 120 countries together for debates, discussion and build up a feeling of community. World figures often attend ISFiT and past speakers have included the Dalai Lama and Chai Ling.

The International Buddy programme at NTNU
We are a group of students who by their own experience realized how fantastic an adventure it is to be an international student at NTNU.

First of all, you will meet people from the whole world who came here to study. You will make a lot of good friends among them, and it will be easier than you think, since they will all be in about the same situation as you. But secondly, and perhaps more importantly, every day you will experience the Norwegian culture  and people, and this will be quite different than what you are used to. The Norwegian students will be one of your main pathways leading there. Norwegians are usually very helpful, however, they have their own lives, duties, interests, and a different rhythm of life than the international students. It is therefore often difficult to find a path to them, and it happens that many international students never make friends with a Norwegian at all.

Hence the Buddy programme. Our buddy programme contacts the Norwegian students with the help of Norwegian student organizations, Student Parliament, Office of International Relations, posters, etc. and can provide YOU with a Norwegian student who becomes your personal buddy - somebody who knows a lot about the university, social life, places to go, and has contacts with other Norwegians. The buddy will take time to meet you and join various activities with you. We also organize several activities for buddies and their guests throughout the semester. To join our buddy programme, you can fill the form at www.buddy.ntnu.no anytime throughout the year, although we assign most of the buddies after we recruit them in late August and January.

International Student Organizations
BEST (Board of European Students of Technology)
BEST works in close collaboration with student associations and university authorities, to improve the exchange of technological students in Europe.

ESN (ERASMUS Student Network)
The organization works to integrate international exchange students in the student life at NTNU. Priority tasks at the moment are to build a buddy system and reception programme. Throughout the year ESN arranges trips, parties, excursions, and meetings.

IAESTE (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience.)
IAESTE provides students at institutions of higher education with technical experience abroad relative to their studies in the broadest sense. For many students this takes the form of short work placements abroad.

ISU (International Student Union)
The ISU works for international students’ rights in Norway. It is also in charge of many arrangements throughout the year.

Norway's largest sports association NTNUI (see www.ntnui.no)
Sporty students at NTNU can join Norway's largest sports association NTNUI with over 8 000 members and more than 40 different sports groups.

• Downhill bicycling
• Skiing, both cross country and down hill
• Artic / exotic diving all year round
• Koier (Cabins) Experience demanding weather and climatic challenges all year round.
  For a real taste of Norwegian life you should experience the cabins (koia) run by NTNUI. NTNUI has about 25 koier in the surrounding woods/mountains. (see www.ntnui.no/koiene/)

FURTHER INFORMATION

For information about the Department of Electrical Power Engineering:
http://www.elkraft.ntnu.no/engelsk/

General information for Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
http://www.ntnu.no

For information about admission requirements, application deadline, possibilities for scholarships see:International Master's Program

Application forms
 

FACTS ABOUT MSc in Electric Power Engineering at NTNU

Programme coordinator

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
Phone: +47 73594267
Fax: +47 73594279
E-mail: Halsten.Aastebol@elkraft.ntnu.no