Implementation of the education

Last edit: 22/04/2013
Approved: 22/04/2013

Structure of the education

The academic year is divided into terms, the periods etc. are explained in KTH's intranet, regulations.

Academic years 1 and 2 are for the most part structured in accordance with a system of obligatory courses of 7.5 credits including two parallel courses per period.

Academic year 1 begins with a course in basic mathematical and engineering skills. This serves to provide a soft start to the university studies. The course serves the special purpose of providing a smooth transition from upper secondary school to university level through revision of upper secondary school mathematics, experimental methods and skills training through practical problem solving and some programming. Academic year 1 also contains a mathematical base block with a number of courses in basic algebra and analysis and courses in basic physics.

Academic years 2 and 3 cover detailed mathematical knowledge through courses in vector analysis, complex analysis, transform methods, differential equations and mathematical statistics. Basic knowledge of physics is also built on in the academic years 2-3 with courses in, for example, modern physics, electromagnetic theory and solid state physics. The mathematics and physics are supplemented with a course of chemical concepts as well as more applied courses in numerical methods, project management and courses on electrical circuits and components. In academic year 3 students choose one field of specialization/Master programme. Academic year 3 ends with a degree project at foundation level. After which there is the opportunity to apply for a bachelor’s degree.

Academic years 4 and 5

Master programme courses are studied in academic years 4 and 5 and any entry requirement courses for these are studied in academic year 3 in the spring, parallel to the bachelor’s programme.

Obligatory courses on the Master programme are generally obligatory courses for ME. Research methodology and theory of knowledge thus becomes obligatory for all ME students studying in years 4 and 5 (but not for the bachelor’s degree).

Some courses may be excluded if they overlap with obligatory courses on ME. In principle, the entire selected Master programme with the included courses should be studied.

Language specialization

Studying the ME programme with a language specialization means that you study a language parallel to other courses and that in years 4 or 5 you have one-year exchange in any country where the respective language is spoken and used as language of instruction at university.

For European languages, in addition to the programme's regular courses, 25.5 credit courses in language and culture are split as 7.5 + 9 + 9 credits over the years. Academic year 4 is studied abroad with 15 language credits and 45 credits within the chosen specialization. In August, the summer between academic years 3 and 4, there is a 4.5 credit cultural course in the country where the student will be staying. The degree project is normally done in Sweden.

For Asian languages, the following is applicable: In addition to the programme's regular courses, there are courses of 30 credits in language and culture split as 6 + 6 + 9 + 9 credits over the years. Academic year 5 is studied abroad with 30 language and culture credits and 30 degree project credits.

Since the courses in language and culture are more than the allotted number for elective courses with 30 credits, an adjustment must be made on the specialization choice to accommodate the 45 respectively 60 credits of language specialization. This is done in the form of an individual study programme.

Courses

The programme is course-based. Lists of courses are included in Appendix 1: Course list

For students of the international specialization there is no scope for all elective courses. Students in other specializations have elective courses of around 30 credits.

Grading system

Courses in the first and the second cycle are graded on a scale from A to F. A-E are passing grades, A is the highest grade. The grades pass (P) and fail (F) are used for courses under certain circumstances.

Conditions for participation in the programme

The study application shall be completed by all students intending to study during the coming term. This application constitutes the term registration and forms the basis for progression to the next term. The study application for the autumn term shall be submitted no later than 15 May and the spring term no later than 15 November.

The choice of courses is generally made in connection with the study application.

The advancement rules for the ME programme are:

• from academic year 1 to academic year 2 - 45 credits from academic year 1.

• from academic year 2 to academic year 3 - 90 credits from academic years 1 and 2, including 50 credits from year 1

• from academic year 3 to academic year 4 - 150 credits from academic years 1, 2 and 3, 110 credits from academic years 1 - 2. Degree project at the foundation level, 15 credits, must be completed.

The choice of specialization is made in academic year 3.

Course registration is done before the third week of the course for the enrolled students who have declared their intention to take the course.

Recognition of previous academic studies

Students who have studied one or more courses at another university or college can apply to receive a credit transfer to the Civil Engineering degree. The courses to be credited may not overlap any courses already studied at KTH.

In order to replace an obligatory course, the documented skills to the same extent as for the corresponding course must be shown.

Application forms for credit transfer or replacement of a course shall be submitted for assessment and decision to the study counsellor by the programme coordinator. The application must include certified copies of grades for the cited course and course descriptions (syllabus). Processing normally takes two weeks from the date of application. A copy of the decision is always sent back to the applicant.

See rules for credit transfer:

http://intra.kth.se/regelveryutbildning-forskning/grundutbildning/prestationer/L27200

Studies abroad

To be eligible for exchange studies within the framework of an exchange agreement with foreign universities, the following is applicable:

• a maximum of two unfinished courses if you are in academic year 2

• a maximum of three unfinished courses if you are in academic year 3

For the selection of programme specific locations the KTH’s general selection criteria is applicable. See KTH’s

rules for exchange studies:

http://intra.kth.se/regelverk/utbildning-forskning/grundutbildning/utbytesstudier

Degree project

For the Civil Engineering degree a degree project of 30 credits in microelectronics shall be completed. The degree project is normally carried out at the end of the education and cannot be started until the student has accumulated at least 240 credits from the programme.

The degree project shall be completed within the specialization chosen by the student. The choice of degree project is made in academic year 3 in consultation with the dedicated examiner.

The degree project is graded in accordance with the scale A-F, where A-E are pass grades. To be awarded a pass the degree project must be graded a pass in accordance with three assessment criteria: process, technical/scientific content and presentation.

See KTH’s rules for degree project work:

http://intra.kth.se/regelverk/utbildning-forskning/grundutbildning/examensarbete

Degree

The conditions for the degree are met, by means of the course requirements being fulfilled.

The title of the degree is the Civil Engineering degree. The degree certificate states the education programme, Microelectronics, which the student has undergone.

The application for the degree is submitted to the education office at the KTH School of Information and Communication Technology.

See KTH’s local degree regulation:

http://intra.kth.se/regelverk/utbildning-forskning/grundutbildning/examina