The graduate school is organised within the Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences.
Director of graduate studies: Ida-Maja Hassellöv
Administrator for graduate studies: Lotta Sjögren for the Division of Maritime studies, and Carina Schmidt for the Division of Marine TechnologySyllabus
Established by the First Vice President on 2005-10-24, registration number C 2005-1199.
Latest revised on 2021-06-21 registration number M2 2021-0146.
This syllabus applies to doctoral students admitted as of 2021-08-01.
Regarding older syllabus, please contact the first vice/vice head of department.
Transitional regulations:
A doctoral student admitted to an older syllabus may earn a degree in accordance with this, provided that the current Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes and current Local Qualifications Framework – third cycle qualifications are followed.
Doctoral students admitted to an older syllabus of graduate school Shipping and marine technology can, however, change to the current syllabus by an application to the Deputy/Vice Head of Department. The change must be documented in the individual study plan.
The graduate school is regulated by the Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes and the Local Qualifications Framework for Chalmers University of Technology - third cycle qualifications and is described in the syllabus for the graduate school. In the event of any conflict between the documents, the Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes and the Local Qualifications Framework for Chalmers University of Technology - third cycle qualifications are governing. For the most recent version of all regulatory documents referenced in this syllabus, see Chalmers’s internal website.
1. Subject description
Description of subject
The department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences comprises scientific areas related to shipping, naval architecture, and ocean engineering on and below the water. Shipping is the backbone of the global transport system and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) estimates that about 90% of world trade is transported by sea. In comparison with other modes of transport, shipping has historically been considered a mode of transport with a low climate and environmental impact. Today, we know that shipping has a significant impact on the atmosphere and marine environment, and accounts for almost three percent of global carbon dioxide emissions. In line with Agenda 2030 and the global sustainability goals, in particular goal 9 – Industry, innovation and infrastructure, goal 14 – Life below water and goal 13 - Climate action, efforts are now needed to ensure transition to sustainable shipping. The technical development has implied an increase in digitalisation on board which will lead to changes within the industry. This will have an impact on work performance and required demands put on the operators responsible for the operation and maintenance of the ship.
Within the Graduate School of Shipping and Marine Technology, research is conducted for more energy efficient and safe shipping, both with a focus on ship design, naval architecture, and navigation systems, and the human-technology interaction on board. Energy and environmental system analysis of the energy carriers of the future, as well as assessments of ships' emissions to air and water, including the impact on the marine environment, is also central. Furthermore, research is often closely linked to policy issues and the development of new regulatory frameworks. In addition to shipping, the subject also includes marine technology applications in offshore installations, such as offshore wind, wave power and aquaculture, which are important for the global sustainability goal 7 - Sustainable energy for all.
Description of specializations
The doctoral programme has four specializations: Naval Architecture, Shipping Technology, Maritime Environmental Science and Energy and Environmental Systems Analysis. The doctoral student chooses one out of the four specializations. To clarify the profile of the degree, the specialization can be added to the title of the degree.
Naval Architecture
The specialization may be specialized either towards marine structural engineering or hydrodynamics. Marine structural engineering comprises project planning of marine structures and their installations, strength characteristics of marine structures, fatigue, lightweight construction, and risk assessment. Hydrodynamics comprises the hydrodynamic properties and design marine installations or vessels with respect to e.g. resistance, propulsion, manoeuvring and sea keeping, and wave induced loads and motions. Simulation methods are developed in both areas. The specialization also includes research within energy efficiency where systems engineering, marine structural engineering, aerodynamics and hydrodynamics are integrated in holistic system models.
Shipping Technology
This specialization comprises ship handling and ship management, including Human Factors, work environment, maritime informatics, and nautical subjects. Other research topics are ship operation, chartering, cargo handling, and organizational issues like leadership, manning and education. Within all areas, studies, assessments, and measurements are made and guidelines and proposals are developed for the organizations concerned.
Maritime Environmental Science
This specialization comprises the environmental impact of seaborne transport in the form of emissions to air and water. Cleaning techniques and other solutions to reduce the environmental impact are studied as well. Other areas are the development and application of methodology for the assessment of the environmental impact and resource utilization from a system’s analysis perspective.
Energy and Environmental Systems Analysis
This specialization comprises assessment of the role of various energy carriers in the energy system based on energy system modelling and environmental system analysis. The focus is on the transport sector, but other parts of the energy system are also included with a focus on how these affect the conditions for future energy carriers in the transport sector.
2. Objectives of the doctoral program
Objectives
The national objectives for third cycle degrees (licentiate and doctoral degree) and local requirements are stated in the Local Qualifications Framework for Chalmers University of Technology – third cycle qualifications.
3. Entry requirements
General entry requirements
To be qualified for admission in Shipping and Marine Technology the student must have earned a degree at the second-cycle level. The orientation of the student’s degree shall also have a sufficiently close connection to the subject of the doctoral programme. Equivalent requirements apply to individuals who have taken their first degree in a country other than Sweden. The examiner, in consultation with the principal supervisor, shall assess whether the applicant has the requisite capacity to successfully complete the doctoral programme. Other requirements for general entry are regulated in Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes.
For the Naval Architecture track a technical education within Naval Architecture, Mechanical Engineering, Ocean Engineering, Marine Technology, Civil Engineering, Engineering Physics or the equivalent is required.
Shipping Technology, Maritime Environmental Science and Energy and Environmental Systems Analysis are very wide areas and the requirements are determined depending on the proposed project. In Maritime Environmental Science and Energy and Environmental Systems Analysis, this usually means a technical or natural science education. A suitable background for Shipping Technology is a ship officer’s education.
Admission
Regulations regarding admission are stated in Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes.
4. Curriculum
The study programme towards a doctoral degree encompasses 240 higher education credits. The study programme towards a licentiate degree encompasses at least 120 higher education credits. One year of full-time studies equals 60 credits.
For the licentiate degree programme the credits are distributed between courses and thesis work as follows: courses at least 45 credits and thesis at least 75 credits.
For the doctoral degree programme the credits are distributed between course work and thesis work as follows: courses at least 60 credits and thesis at least 180 credits.
Courses
Courses within the graduate school include general courses that cover all doctoral programmes at Chalmers as well as courses specific for the graduate school.
General courses in Chalmers’s doctoral programmes
Contingent on the approval by the examiner the student may choose suitable courses given at Chalmers. There are also national and international courses of relevance for the doctoral programme. Shorter and more specific courses in the form of literature studies with supervision and examination trough a short essay and seminars with discussion may be arranged when needed.
Courses specific for the Graduate school
The graduate school has no specific course requirements other than those that apply to Chalmers' graduate education that are specified in Local Qualifications Framework for Chalmers University of Technology – third cycle qualifications.
A PhD-student can receive GTS 1.5 credits for an international visit with more than four weeks duration and an additional 1.5 credits if the visit results in a joint per reviewed publication (conference or journal). For an international visit, the student is required to apply for funding from relevant sources.
Licentiate thesis
A licentiate thesis shall be written in English. In exceptional cases it can be written in Swedish; in such cases it shall contain a summary in English.
The purpose of the licentiate thesis is to account for the relevant scientific results that have been attained during the thesis work and describe these in a way that is accessible outside of the scientific inner circle of researchers. A licentiate thesis can either be written as a compilation thesis or as a monograph. If the licentiate thesis is a compilation thesis it should begin with an introduction, a summarizing text, followed by the included scientific articles. The purpose of the summarizing text is to put the studies in context, and to present relevant results that for various reasons are not described within the articles.
Other regulations concerning the licentiate thesis are stated in Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes.
Doctoral thesis
A doctoral thesis shall be written in English. In exceptional cases it can be written in Swedish; in such cases it shall contain a summary in English.
The purpose of the doctoral thesis is to account for the relevant scientific results that have been attained during the thesis work and describe these in a way that is accessible outside of the scientific inner circle of researchers. A doctoral thesis can either be written as a compilation thesis or as a monograph. If the doctoral thesis is a compilation thesis it should begin with an introduction, a summarizing text, followed by the included scientific articles. The purpose of the summarizing text is to put the studies in context, and to present relevant results that for various reasons are not described within the articles.
Other regulations concerning the doctoral thesis are stated in Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes.
Supervision
The Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes states that for each doctoral student at least two supervisors shall be appointed. One of them shall be appointed principal supervisor. The doctoral student has the right to supervision during the studies unless the Head of Department decides otherwise.
Other regulations concerning supervision are stated in Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes.
5. Examination
After completion of a doctoral programme a doctoral degree is awarded. A licentiate degree can be an intermediate stage in a doctoral degree. If a licentiate degree is not a part of the individual study plan, a midway seminar shall be held to denote that licentiate level has been reached.
Examination, licentiate degree
For a licentiate degree to be awarded, the doctoral student must have received a grade of pass for the licentiate thesis and its presentation and must also have received a grade of pass for the other elements that are included in the programme.
Examination, doctoral degree
For a doctoral degree to be awarded, the doctoral student must have had a doctoral thesis and its defence approved and must also have passed the other elements that are included in the programme.
Other regulations regarding examination are stated in:
- Appointment regulation for doctoral programmes
- Local Qualifications Framework for Chalmers University of Technology – third cycle qualifications
6. Title of degree
The title of qualification is Teknologie doktorsexamen i Sjöfart och marin teknik or Filosofie doktorsexamen i Sjöfart och marin teknik. The English translation of the title of the qualification is Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Shipping and Marine Technology.
For a licentiate degree the title of the qualification is Teknologie licentiatexamen i Sjöfart och marin teknik or Filosofie licentiatexamen i Sjöfart och marin teknik. The English translation of the title of qualification is Degree of Licentiate of Engineering in Shipping and Marine Technology or Degree of Licentiate of Philosophy in Shipping and Marine Technology.
The degree is given a title corresponding to the name of the faculty within which the undergraduate degree was earned. The title is determined by the Head of Department in connection with admission.
Any decision regarding exemption from use of the defined title is made by the Head of Department. In some individual cases, it is possible to use a title that does not correspond to the name of the faculty within which the undergraduate degree was earned.