Fire Safety Engineering (PgDip, MSc)

The programme is a linked programme of awards leading to either a post-graduate diploma (comprising eight taught modules) or msc (eight taught modules plus research dissertation) in fire safety engineering. In the pg diploma programme (semesters 1 and 2) students will study compulsory modules in heat transfer and thermofluids, fire dynamics, structural fire engineering, fire engineering laboratory, active fire protection systems, people and fire and fire safety engineering design (2 modules). 

All core academic staff are actively engaged in research which is closely aligned with their teaching disciplines. The majority are members of the fire safety engineering research and technology centre (firesert), whilst others are members of hydrogen safety engineering and research (hysafer) and the centre for sustainable technologies (cst) within the built environment research institute. 

All staff were included in the 2021 research excellence framework (a measure of the quality of research) in which 91percent of our architecture, built environment and planning research was recognised as being world leading/internationally excellent, 100 percent of our research environment was rated as world leading/internationally excellent and all of our impact case studies were judged to have considerable impacts in terms of reach and significance. These results reflect the strong portfolio of published academic papers and external research grants held by the team and our vibrant phd programme. The research ethos of the department is evident within the msc programme which is research led and informed. 

Attendance

• The PGDip/MSc Fire Safety Engineering is a linked programme of awards. The PGDip is completed in full-time mode over 2 semesters, with students then progressing to MSc and undertaking their Master's Dissertation in the 3rd semester. The MSc therefore is one calendar year. Attendance at class is normally scheduled from 9.15 to 6.15 on Mondays and Tuesdays. From time to time other lectures will be scheduled on other days of the week. You are expected to be in attendance at all scheduled classes and also to spend significant time in independent study (about 400 hours over the duration of each semester).

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

• The programme provides a rich learning and teaching environment that is informed by current research staff and others. Throughout the programme, staff try to create a research ethos, with much questioning, discussion, reflection and debate, i.e. a learning and teaching environment that is centred around enquiry based learning. There is also a strong input from industry, particularly in the fire safety design modules. Learning and teaching methods include lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory work, design project work and computer laboratory work.
• Relatively small student cohorts ensure that lectures are participative and interactive whilst seminars provide more dedicated time for discussion on a particular theme (you are often directed to particular literature in preparation for such). Tutorials are key to develop learning, particularly in relation to the application of quantitative techniques that might be used in fire safety engineering. As a student, you will learn from example applications, and have the opportunity to learn on a one-to-one or group basis within an interactive and supportive environment. Laboratory work is an essential component of the learning and teaching strategy for the programme. You will have the opportunity to be exposed to the essential aspects of scientific exploration whilst engaging in a series of experimental investigations under the direction of staff in FireSERT's extensive laboratory facilities. In the design modules, the learning environments are designed to simulate, in so far as possible, consulting engineering professional practice. Fire engineering is, by nature, multidisciplinary and therefore in the second of two design modules you will work in a learning and teaching environment that is designed, in so far as reasonably practicable, to simulate professional working practice. You will work together in groups, supported by academic staff and industrial partners, to develop acceptable solutions to fire safety problems for a real live building project. Throughout the programme, face-to-face sessions are enhanced by learning opportunities created on-line via our on-line learning system Blackboard.
• A diverse range of assessment methods are adopted in the PG Dip/MSc programme to enhance your learning experience and help you understand and enhance your individual performance. Modules are assessed either entirely by coursework or by a combination of coursework and examination. Assessment may include group and individual presentations, laboratory reports, essays, design project work. As a student you should expect to be given clear, explicit information and guidance on the assessment and understand how it will be marked. You will also be given timely and relevant individual or group feedback on all work allowing you to identify areas of weakness and feed forward into your learning.

Year one
Fire Safety Engineering Design 1

Year: 1

• This module seeks to develop an understanding of the role and working environment of a fire engineer and experience of identifying, solving and communicating issues relating to a fire safety design of a building. The learning and experience in this module will equip students to tackle the development of a fire safety engineering design solution for a more complex building in FIR702.

Fire Safety Engineering Design 2
Year: 1

• This module seeks to develop in students the knowledge and experience in applying fire safety engineering approaches to the provision of fire safety in buildings. Students are exposed to an environment in which they experience the fire safety engineering design process within a comprehensive design exercise set at a high professional level.

Heat Transfer and Thermofluids
Year: 1

• The module provides the fundamental knowledge of core engineering sciences i.e. heat and mass transfer, fluid mechanics and thermodynamics, and aims to develop practical skills pertained to these disciplines in the context relevant to fire safety engineering. The module materials were designed to develop a deep understanding of the physical phenomena underlying fluid flow and heat transfer in fire, their interrelations and role played at different stages of fire development. Teaching methods on the module comprise lectures, tutorials and assignments.

Fire Dynamics
Year: 1

• Fire dynamics as a field of scientific knowledge embraces most fundamental principles related to fire initiation, development, suppression and release of toxic products of combustion. The module presents students with the unified consideration of the above problems and relates them practical fire safety design procedures, studied later in the course. Emphasis is on deep understanding of physical and chemical processes underlying fire behaviour. A large number of practical calculation examples is offered to students in order to prepare them for real fire design challenges.

Structural Fire Engineering
Year: 1

• This module considers durability, building code requirements, structural fire testing, material properties at elevated temperatures, thermally induced structural behaviour, in the context of structural design against fire.

People and Fire
Year: 1

• Fire safety engineering is inherently concerned with the provision of equitable life safety options for all occupants of buildings. This module provides an understanding of human behaviour with respect to fire, the impact of fire on people and the complex interactions which exist. Students can then apply this knowledge in the development of reasonable and safe solutions to complex problems related to fire safety design and management of buildings.

Fire Engineering Laboratory
Year: 1

• This module enables the student to acquire skills in observing, measuring and analysing physical and chemical attributes of behaviour associated with fire processes. It will also equip students with the necessary knowledge and understanding of the techniques required to conduct and interpret results from experimental research.

Active Fire Protection Systems
Year: 1

• Active fire protection is an integral and important part of overall fire safety design. The module provides students with the essential knowledge of methods and technologies currently used for active fire protection. Relevant physical/chemical principles underlying fire suppression techniques are emphasized. Practical examples are introduced in order to familiarize students with the real design procedures for fire protection systems.

Research and Dissertation
Year: 1

• This module enables the student to undertake an independent in-depth study of a particular aspect of fire safety science and engineering. It facilitates development of skills in problem solving and decision making whilst also refining other skills including investigative and evaluative skills. Students are required to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject researched, skills in critical analysis and use of contemporary investigative methods. Students are required to display these skills in written and oral format that will clearly display analysis of the principal arguments and conclusions of their work.

Year two
Research and Dissertation (Specialism)
Year: 2

This module is optional

• This module enables the student to undertake an independent, sustained, in-depth and rigorous piece of novel investigative research of a particular aspect of fire safety science and engineering. It facilitates development of skills in problem solving and decision making whilst also refining other skills including investigative and evaluative skills. Students are required to demonstrate their knowledge of the subject researched, skills in critical analysis and use of investigative methods. Students are required to display these skills in written and oral format that will clearly display analysis of the principal arguments and conclusions of their work.

Career options

• There is strong demand for well educated fire safety engineers, and the majority of students will embark on a career within a fire safety engineering consultancy. Graduates from the Ulster course are also employed in other interesting and diverse careers in fields related to fire safety both in the UK and worldwide e.g. as regulators, fire safety officers in both the public and private sector, researchers in research and testing facilities, and fire brigade officers both in the UK and Europe. Opportunities also exist within the Fire Safety Engineering Research and Technology centre (FireSERT) for PhD studies in a wide range of fire science and engineering related topics.

Professional recognition
Energy Institute (EI)

• Accredited by the Energy Institute (EI) on behalf of the Engineering Council as meeting the requirements for Further Learning for registration as a Chartered Engineer. Candidates must hold a CEng accredited BEng/BSc (Hons) undergraduate first degree to comply with full CEng registration requirements.

Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE)

• MSc - Accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE)

• MSc - Accredited by the Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) on behalf of the Engineering Council for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered Engineer.

Sustainability at Ulster

• Ulster continues to develop and support sustainability initiatives with our staff, students, and external partners across various aspects of teaching, research, professional services operations, and governance.
• At Ulster every person, course, research project, and professional service area on every campus either does or can contribute in some way towards the global sustainability and climate change agenda.
• We are guided by both our University Strategy People, Place and Partnerships: Delivering Sustainable Futures for All and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
• Our work in this area is already being recognised globally.  Most recently by the 2024 Times Higher Education Impact rating where we were recognised as Joint 5th Globally for Outreach Activities and Joint Top 20 Globally for Sustainable Development Goal 17:  Partnership for the Goals.
• Visit our Sustainability at Ulster destination to learn more about how the University strategy and the activities of Ulster University support each of the Sustainable Development Goals.