Decisions and guidelines

Decision to establish the education programme

This syllabus was established by the Board of the Faculty of Science and Technology on November 7, 2022 to be applied as of July 1, 2023.

The Master Programme in Battery Technology and Energy Storage is established at Uppsala University according to a decision by the Vice-Chancellor (UFV 2021/1010).

Entry requirements

Academic requirements

A Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish Kandidatexamen, from an internationally recognised university.

Also required is:

• 75 credits in chemistry and/or chemical engineering; and
• 20 credits in mathematics;

Language requirements

Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6. This requirement can be met either by achieving the required score on an internationally recognised test, or by previous upper secondary or university studies in some countries. Detailed instructions on how to provide evidence of your English proficiency are available at universityadmissions.se.

Aims

The program educates students at the advanced level with the aim to provide specialist competence in batteries and energy storage. Transitioning to an increasingly electrified society will require innovative methods in a growing industry in battery technology and energy storage to meet this need. The education is based on materials chemistry and materials analysis on which two specializations make it possible to build specialist competence in battery materials or battery cells and systems. The specialization of the education responds directly to the great need for battery competence in industry, either focused on production or applications of batteries, although the program also provides a solid basis for further postgraduate research education. The program is intended as in-depth studies for students with, above all, a chemical engineering background, even if the corresponding undergraduate degree in chemistry or materials science can be considered suitable. The program aims to provide both a broad and deep understanding of the historical development as well as the current prevailing foremost battery technologies not only in terms of chemical technology, but also in relation to other societal aspects such as transport infrastructure, digitization and sustainability.

Learning outcomes

Objectives of the degree

The Swedish Higher Education Act

The Swedish Higher Education Act contains provisions about the higher education institutions that are accountable to the Government.

The Higher Education Ordinance

According to the Higher Education Ordinance the Degree of Master (120 credits) has the following learning objectives

Knowledge and understanding

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall:

• demonstrate knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both broad knowledge of the field and a considerable degree of specialised knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work,and
• demonstrate specialised methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Competence and skills

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall:

• demonstrate the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and analyse, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information
• demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate issues critically, autonomously and creatively as well as to plan and, using appropriate methods, undertake advanced tasks within predetermined time frames and so contribute to the formation of knowledge as well as the ability to evaluate this work
• demonstrate the ability in speech and writing both nationally and internationally to clearly report and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences, and
• demonstrate the skills required for participation in research and development work or autonomous employment in some other qualified capacity.

In practice, the student should be able to independently initiate, be responsible for and lead scientific investigations and development work in complex contexts. On a scientific basis, she/he should plan and carry out calculations, experiments, and reporting in the field of battery technology, both independently and in collaboration in groups.

Judgement and approach

For a Degree of Master (120 credits) the student shall:

• demonstrate the ability to make assessments in the main field of study informed by relevant disciplinary, social and ethical issues and also to demonstrate awareness of ethical aspects of research and development work
• demonstrate insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
• demonstrate the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

In concrete terms, the student must be able to use correct terminology to independently present a picture of the state of knowledge in the battery field, explain and discuss scientific and research ethical issues related to batteries and energy storage, and give a correct and balanced picture of methods, results, conclusions and future application possibilities thereof.

Layout of the programme

Description of the program

General description

The Master programmes in technology at Uppsala University are coherent two-year programmes with the possibility to graduate with a degree of Master of Science (60 credits) when the requirements for this degree are met. The programmes contain recommended courses of study to assure the quality of the degree, presenting students with a choice of courses closely aligned with the learning objectives of the Higher Education Ordinance. There are also designated elective courses with opportunities for specialisation through successive selections of courses. The programme ends with a degree project.

Each academic year is divided into four study periods, two during the autumn semester and two during the spring semester.

Second-cycle courses involve a considerable amount of independent work and responsibility for one's own learning. This results in increased depth and complexity within the main field of study. The students also acquire the ability to communicate in English, both orally and in writing.

Description of the Master Programme in Battery Technology and Energy Storage at Uppsala University

The program begins with courses in Materials Chemistry and Analysis, as well as two introductory courses in energy storage and electrification. In-depth studies of rechargeable battery technologies follows focusing on battery production, testing and adequate modeling techniques. The 2nd year offers broader courses on themes such as sustainable development, life cycle analysis, and recycling, with ethical and social science perspectives integrated. At the same time, students get the opportunity for further specialization, both through a project course and advanced courses specialized for the offered study tracks in battery materials as well as battery cells and systems.

The program courses

Study plan

The following in-depth levels are used for the courses in the study plan:

G1N first cycle, has only upper-secondary level entry requirements

G1F first cycle, has less than 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements

G1E first cycle, contains specially designed degree project for Higher Education Diploma

G2F first cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements

G2E first cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements, contains degree project for Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science

A1N second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements

A1F second cycle, has second-cycle course/s as entry requirements

A1E second cycle, contains degree project for Master of Arts/Master of Science (60 credits)

A2E second cycle, contains degree project for Master of Arts/Master of Science (120 credits)

The main field of study

The main field of Battery Technology combines theoretical as well as practical aspects of relevance for understanding, developing, and applying battery materials, battery cells and systems where batteries are included as main components.

A course can and should be classified as belonging to the main field Battery Technology if mostly dealing with:

• Theoretical or practical knowledge of particular importance for the understanding, development, or application of battery materials, battery cells, or systems in which batteries are included as the main component.
• Methods for examining, predicting, controlling and verifying the chemical composition, structure, and properties of batteries.
• Design, production, testing and application of batteries individually and as components in larger systems. The role of batteries and their impact on social, economic, technical, and ecologically sustainable aspects of societal development.

Degree project

Common guidelines and instructions for degree projects apply to all programmes in technology at Uppsala University. Forms and instructions for students are available on the Faculty website http://www.teknat.uu.se/student.

Degree

In order to be entitled to a Master's degree, a Bachelor's degree, equivalent to a Swedish "Kandidatexamen", from an internationally recognised university, is aquired. 

Master's degree, 120 credits (Master of Science)

In order to be entitle to a Master of Science (120 credits) the following requirements have to be fulfilled: Completed courses totalling 120 credits (two years of full-time studies). Completed courses totalling 90 credits at the second cycle (advanced level), whereof at least 60 credits within the main field of study. At the most, 30 credits is allowed to be from the first cycle. Within the main field of study a degree project of 30 credits minimum, is required.

The program leads to a master's degree in technology (Master of Science, 120 credits) with battery technology as main field of study.

Other directives

Admission to a later part of the programme

In order to be admitted to a later part of the programme the student must:

• fulfil the general and specific entry requirements for the programme.
• have 15 credits of courses relevant to the programme, at Master's (advanced) level, in addition to the Bachelor's degree.
• have sufficient prior knowledge to be able to follow the programme at the level at which the student is admitted, which means that the student is able to study at least 15 credits from the programme outline (for the semester to which the student is admitted). The other 15 credits are specified in the individual study plan.

All points above must be satisfied, and the courses completed (modules do not count), at the latest by the deadline for supporting documentation of qualifications (see below). Students can only be admitted to a later part of a programme or a specialisation within a programme if there are available places in the programme in the semester in question.

An individual study plan for the first semester should be established by the programme study counsellor.

For studies starting the autumn semester the application period is 15th of March - 15th of April. Supporting documentation of qualification for the application may be submitted no later than 1st of June (for autumn semester). For studies starting the spring semester the application period is 15th of September - 15th of October. Supporting documentation of qualification for the application may be submitted not later than 1th of December (for spring semester). If the specified dates for the application deadline or completion date fall on a public holiday, the deadline is postponed to the nearest weekday. After the last application day, it is possible to submit a late application until the beginning of the semester. Late applications will be handled in the order they are received.

If the number of applicants is larger than the number of available places according to the dimensioning applicable, the selection criterion of average grade on prerequisite courses from a higher education institution (courses relevant to the programme) is used.

Grading system and assessment

The form of assessment and the grading system are shown in the course syllabus. Information about exam registrations are available at the virtual learning environment (this does not apply to exams at other higher education institutions than Uppsala University). For more regulations see "Guidelines on working conditions for first- and second-cycle students at Uppsala University" as of 2017-07-01.

Inclusion of course credits towards a Master of Science degree

Some courses may not be included in the same degree, due to content overlap. The course content is shown in each course syllabus and the Graduation Office decides which courses may be included in the degree.