‣ Wood

Bachelor of Science in Wood Technology

“It is harder to build a good chair than a skyscraper.” Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

2 Bachelor degree programme in Wood Technology2 Professional profile3 Objectives and skills3 Entry requirements

4 The degree programme4 A practice-oriented programme4 First year4 Second year5 Third year6 Overview of the academic year6 Work placement6 Student mobility6 Certificate of Global Competence7 Modules and ECTS credits7 Graduation

8 Overview of the modules

10 Majors and AHB terminology

12 Additional information

13 Follow-on study

14 Practicalities14 Starting date14 Course duration 14 Study language14 Semester fees15 Application15 Course guidance and information15 Head of degree programme

16 The wood and construction industries’ educational disciplines brought together in one institution

Contents

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Using renewable raw materials is more popular than ever; wood, a home-grown raw material, is becoming increasingly important in both social and political terms. As raw materials become less abundant globally, forests and timber face important challenges.

Professional profileGraduates of the Bachelor of Science in Wood Technology programme are engineers who design and develop living spaces and furniture made from wood. They have theoretical and practical skills in the manufacture of all kinds of products made of wood, in sawmills, wood processing plants, carpentries, cabinet makers’ workshops, furniture factories and in engineering firms.

The broad range of skills and know-ledge covered on this programme will prepare you for a wide range of career paths. You will be able to take up managerial positions in medium-sized to large businesses in the wood industry or in related sectors such as machine tools, building chemicals and adhesives. Wood engineers also hold executive positions in busi-nesses of all sizes. They work in R&D and testing authorities. You could take up a position in an engineering firm, work for private or public authorities or join the teaching profession. Your talents, skills and spe-cialist knowledge can also be put to good use in the field of cooperation and development.

Our degree programme prepares you for a wide range of professional profiles. We cover subjects from raw materials to semi-finished products, through load-bearing structures and on to furniture making and energy efficient housing.

Bachelor degree programme in Wood Technology: multi-faceted and well grounded

The Wood Division of Bern University of Applied Sciences trains tomorrow’s top wood engineers. Our bachelor is the only applied science university qualification in wood techno-logy in Switzerland.

3Objectives and skillsWood engineers who occupy management positions in industry are responsible for developing intelligent products made from wood and wood composite materials. Your job as a wood engineer is to find solu- tions. You will be working on timber constructions, planning wood manufacturing processes and developing functional, cost-effective products. The degree programme is unique in Switzerland and is based closely on the requirements and needs of the wood industry and related sectors. With their specialist knowledge and good communi-cations skills our wood engineering graduates are in great demand world-wide.

The course concept covers wood engineering, timber building con-struction, the building shell, interior construction, processing and manu-facturing technologies, product development and business management. We think that an in-depth knowledge of wood as a renewable resource and working material is of primary importance. That is why our pro-gramme includes modules on wood biology, technical applications and projects on process and product management.

Entry requirements – Completed vocational training in the wood industry, with a voca-tional baccalaureate

– Academic baccalaureate with an preparatory work placement in the wood industry (for more information about the internship go to ahb.bfh.ch/wood/bachelor

– Wood-related diploma at a college of higher education

Admission for applicants with a different educational background is at the discretion of the head of the degree programme.

During the degree programme, you will gain an insight into other disciplines related to the wood industry.

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The degree programme: finding your way

A practice-oriented programmeThe syllabus of the Bachelor of Science in Wood Technology at Biel/ Bienne covers all the processes and applications involving the use of wood and wood-composite materials. All our teaching staff have a professional background and experience in research, ensuring that theory and practice are closely interwoven in our courses. Workshops, study trips, practical laboratory work, semester papers, projects car-ried out in collaboration with the R&D department and our industrial partners are all designed to ensure that your studies remain firmly rooted in the real world.

The course is modular in its structure and consists of taught and self-study modules. There are three types of modules: compulsory, elective and compulsory-elective modules. German is the main teaching language. Some study units also be held in French or English. In principle, this is a full-time degree programme, but part-time study is possible in some cases. To contact the head of the degree programme.

First yearIn your first year you brush up your communications skills and tech- nical knowledge. You follow modules in natural and material sciences. You also lear about the legal and economic framework of the wood industry. Towards the end of the first year you choose one of the two majors on offer.

Second yearIn the second year you start the modules of your chosen major: Timber Structures and Technology (TST) or Process and Product Management (PPM). They account for approximately 25% of your study time during this year. The other modules provide you with background and specialist knowledge about business studies, wood engineering, construction engineering, logistics, measurement and process control technology, energy management and building physics. In the third semester there are courses in mathematics, structural static analysis and information technology. In the fourth semester you start project work with a semester paper. Under the guidance of our teaching staff, you gain your first experience with industry partners and write a scientific and technical paper independently.

The courses are concentrated on our campus in Biel/ Bienne. It’s relatively small size and friendly atmosphere foster lively and produc-tive communication between our students and our teaching staff.

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Third yearIn your third year, you may choose from six minors – process manage-ment, product management, interior construction, the building shell, timber house construction and engineering and timber construction – in addition to your chosen majors, Timber Structures and Technology (TST) or Process and Product Management (PPM). These minors make up around 25% of the third year of the programme. Project work continues in the fifth semester and followed by your bachelor thesis, which you complete during the sixth semester or during an optional work place-ment. In the sixth semester, you also participate in an interdisciplinary project, where you apply your new-found skills and knowledge.

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Work placementAfter the fifth semester you can decide to complete an optional work placement in a wood industry company or in a wood research institute at home or abroad. During this period you are supervised by depart-mental teaching staff. This is your first experience as a practicing wood engineer and, at the end of it, you write your bachelor thesis. The work placement will broaden your professional skills. By going abroad you can also improve your language skills or even learn a new language. This is an opportunity to get to know another country, its people and culture. The work placement is a supplementary module. It will smooth your entry into the professional world after graduation. Work place-ments can also be taken into account if you later decide to study for a master’s degree or a PhD in one of our partner universities, in Switzer-land or abroad.

Student mobilityThe Bologna Reform supports international student mobility. Bern Univer- sity of Applied Sciences attaches great importance to strong interna-tional ties and fosters its students’ mobility. Use the opportunities that we offer and take advantage of our network of partner institutions around the world. You can find more information at ahb.bfh.ch/International.

Certificate of Global CompetenceWith BFH’s supplementary ‘Certificate of Global Competence‘, you have the opportunity to acquire intercultural and transcultural skills during the course of your studies and to earn a qualification for them. More information: www.ahb.bfh.ch/international.

We help our students to find decide to complete an optional work placement in Switzerland and abroad.

Teaching Examinations Free time

Overview of the academic year

*Ascension weekend

Autumn semester

Spring semester

38 – 51 52 – 1 3 –4 2 5 – 7

26 – 3724 – 25 *8 – 14 16 – 23

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Modules and ECTS creditsThe bachelor’s degree is a professional qualification and the first level of a multi-tier higher education system. According to the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS), to earn the degree you must complete a minimum of 180 credits. The work placement is worth a further 30 credits.

Courses are divided into learning modules. A module includes one or more courses. Each module is assigned a certain number of credits. Approximately 40% of the modules are taught and the rest are undertak-en in the form of guided or independent self-study. Successfully complet-ing an academic year entitles you to a minimum of 60 credits.

GraduationEach semester ends with an exam session. Your studies conclude with the presentation of your bachelor thesis. The Bachelor of Science in Wood Technology gives graduates a head start in their chosen profession. This bachelor degree is internationally recognised.

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Module Schedule

Semester

6th

5th

Work placement

4th

3rd

2nd

1st

Major PPM (Process and Product Management) MinorsMajor TST (Timber Structures and Technology) Work placement

Special Weeks are interdisciplinary modules offered within the Department of Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineering

Interior furnishing 6 Credits

Process management 3 Credits

Product management 3 Credits

Building shell 3 Credits

Timber house construction 3 Credits

Engineering and timber construction 6 Credits

Manufacturing concept, Lean production, Finance5 Credits

Fire prevention in timber con- struction, Timber construction, Construction processes, Cost estimate and calculation 5 Credits

Corporate management,Controlling, Finance 6 Credits

Engineering and timber construction, Concrete con struction, Steel construction6 Credits

Credits1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Plant layout, Quality and Process management, Business organisation6 Credits

Building structure dynamics, Concrete construction, Steel construction6 Credits

CAD-CAM, Product development, Flexible production4 Credits

Engineering and timber construction4 Credits

Finance, Marketing4 Credits

Finances, Wood construction4 Credits

Com-puter Science1 Credit

Communication and SocietyLanguages (German, French, English), Law7 Credits

Communication and SocietyLanguages (German, French, English), Macroeconomics, Wood industry policy 7 CreditsIntermodular week

Communication and SocietyBuilding and housing culture, Representation technique3 Credits

Material, Processes and ComponentsMaterials science, Building shell, Surface technology4 Credits

Project work5 Credits

ProjectsInterdisciplinary project, Project week 6 Credits

Ecology and Envi-ronment, Safety at work2 Credits

Logic and ForcesMathematics, Structural analysis8 Credits

Logic and ForcesMathematics, Structural analysis6 Credits

Logic and ForcesMathematics, Structural analysis 6 Credits

ManagementCosting, Business administration, Project management 4 Credits

Technics and PhysicsBuilding physics, Energy management3 Credits

Materials, Processes and ComponentsScience of materials, Chemistry, Wood anatomy6 Credits

Materials, Processes and ComponentsMaterials science, Chemistry, Timber macroscopy, Wood drying, Wood protection 6 CreditsIntermodular week

Material, Processes and Components Science of materials, Adhesive tech- niques, Wood materials 4 Cr.

Semester paper3 Credits

Technology and PhysicsBuilding physics, Logistics, Wood-processingmachines 5 Credits

Commodity classification, Surfacing technology, CAD Autocat 4 Credits

Engineering and timber construction, CAD, Measurement 4 Credits

Surfacing technology, Procurement management, Materials logistics 5 Credits

Structural analysis, Engineering and timber con-struction, Processing of plans 5 Credits

Process management 6 Credits

Product management 3 Credits

Interior furnishing 3 Credits

Building shell 3 Credits

Timber house construction 3 Credits

Engineering and timber construction 3 Credits

Dimensioning, Measurement and Process control technology, Wood processing machines 5 Credits

Computer statics, CAD, Wood processing machines 5 Credits

Technology and PhysicsMachining, Tools, Chipping gauge, Measurement and process control technology 6 Credits

Technology and PhysicsPhysics, Sawmill technology, Constructional design (carpentry), Timber house construction 9 CreditsIntermodular week

Computer Science3 Credits

Computer Science2 Credits

ManagementBusiness organisation, Business administration,Marketing 5 Credits

Bachelor thesisIf not completed during the work placement.12 Credits

Elective ModulesIf you wrote your bachelor thesis during your work placement, you can follow supplementary courses in the following subjects: leadership, operations management, wood materials science, fire prevention, costing in timber construction, product conformity and material emissions.

2221 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

The head of the degree programme recommends you do an optional work placement in a Swiss or foreign company for a period of at least nine months. Usually you also complete your bachelor thesis during this time.30 Credits

Without work placement 180 credits, with work placement 210 credits. We strive to continuously adapt the syllabus to the needs of the industry, so adjustments may occur during your studies.

Special Week2 Credits

Special Week2 Credits

Special Week2 Credits

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10 At the end of the first year, you choose between two majors: Timber Structures and Technology (TST)In this major the emphasis is on the statics, calculation and dimensioning, as well as construction and execution. You will have a command of the fundamental concepts and the characteristics specific to wood in the construction of complex buildings and supporting structures. You will apply Swiss and European norms professionally. You will develop build-ings that make a statement.

Process and Product Management (PPM)In this major you concentrate on processes which use wood to manu-facture in telligent and environmentally friendly products. You cover fascinating subjects such as processing and machine technologies, opera tional planning, business management, product development and marketing.

In your third year, you deepen your knowledge; to this end, you choose at least two out of six minors each semester:

Process management (only open to those taking PPM as a major) You learn to develop and apply complex and economical finishing processes in the modules on production, operating efficiency, flexible finishing cells and reverse engineering.

Product management (open to both majors)As part of the modules on product development, design techniques and visualisation you move between and coordinate design, production and sales. You develop new products right up to the commercialisation stage.

Interior furnishing (open to both majors)Using what you have learned in the modules on design, con- struction, interior architecture and planning, you are now in a position to work with architects and designers to plan and implement customdesigned interiors.

Majors and minors

11The building shell (open to both majors)In the modules covering the building shell, architecture, window and façade technology, and house and building technology, you learn the energy-efficient techniques and methods that are required for renova-tions and new construction.

Timber house construction (open to both majors)In the modules on building physics, building processes, timber house construction and architecture, the focus is on ensuring quality and durability, while paying attention to efficiency and the environment.

Engineering and timber construction (only open to those taking TST as a major)With the modules on foundations and modelling, construction and pro-cesses, timber construction and stability, and composite construction and statics, you become qualified to develop and build both traditional and futuristic supporting structures.

12 Infrastructure – You have the use of our library, which has an expansive reading room. It is a member of NEBIS, the country-wide network of libraries and information centres, and you have access to its entire catalogue.

– You may also use these facilities outside of study hours. – You receive a personal email address as well as direct access to our Intranet and Wi-Fi network.

– Parking is subject to charge. A limited numbers of parking passes are available, but we encourage you to use public transport.

– Our research centre in Biel/Bienne is the largest of its kind in the Swiss wood industry. In Burgdorf, we operate a geotechnics laboratory jointly with the Institute for Geological Sciences of the University of Bern. Both facilities are certified according to ISO/IEC 17025 by the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS) and carry out internationally recognised tests.

Accommodation and cateringThe university cafeteria offers a range of affordable meals and snacks from Monday to Friday. We help our students find affordable accommodation near the campus. For more information, go to our home page at www.ahb.bfh.ch (in German).

Sports and cultureBern University of Applied Science offers a broad range of leisure, sports and cultural activities. Badminton or power yoga, drawing or choir singing: the choice is yours. ’The Games’, our trad i- tional sports day, takes place every year in early summer at the Federal Institute for Sports in Magglingen. You can find more information at www.bfh.ch/hochschulsport.

Additional information

13Master of Science in Wood TechnologyIn our Master’s programme, wich is unique in Europe and offerd in cooperation with Rosenheim University of Applied Sciences (Germany),students deepen and broaden the knowledge acquired in their bachelor’s degree. They profit from the possibility to connect content, work in an interdisciplinary way and apply the knowledge gained in real-world case studies. The students chose one of two specialisations, Complex Timber Structures (CTS) or Management of Processes and Innovation (MPI). The programme is modular in structure and lasts three semesters for full-time students, and four to six semesters if completed part-time. For more information about the programme go to www.ahb.bfh.ch/wood/master.

Doing a PhDHolders of a master’s degree with an excellent academic record may, write a doctoral thesis at Bern University of Applied Sciences in collaboration with an academic university. It is this university who decides admission. Candidates can thus benefit from our practice- oriented infrastructure and labs, and our profound specialsist know-ledge. We can help you find the appropriate partner academic university and research topics.

Continuing educationThe range of continuing education courses offered by Bern University of Applied Science in the disciplines of architecture, wood and civil engineering supports life-long learning and helps you keep fully up-to-date profes sionally. The courses teach the latest innovative and pro fessionally relevant subject matter through intensive dialogue with teachers and researchers, as well as with expert professional with a wealth of practical experience. Our offerings include further education study programmes (MAS and CAS), specialist conferences and other courses. They are geared to your career needs, your individual situation and your company’s requirements. Look under Continuing Education on www.ahb.bfh.ch to find the full range of our programme.

Follow-on study

14 Starting dateCalendar week 38

Course durationFull time: six semesters. Allow an extra nine months for practical training.

For further information about part-time studies please contact the head of the degree programme.

Teaching languageMainly German. Some units are taught in French or English.

Semester fees – Tuition fees CHF 750 For international students CHF 950

– Flat rate charge CHF 50 – Examination fees CHF 80 – Fee for social, cultural and sports CHF 24 infrastructure and events

– Voluntary Membership charge for the CHF 15 VSBFH students’ association

The registration and matriculation fees are CHF 100 each. However, if registration leads to matriculation, the matriculation fee is waived. An average of CHF 400 must be budgeted per semester for photocopies, books and excursions.

Practicalities

15ApplicationYou can apply online; the deadline is the end of July. You can find more information and the online application form here: www.ahb.bfh.ch/wood/bachelor

Course guidance and informationA programme handbook won’t necessarily answer all your questions. That is why we organise a number of events to present our degree programmes and answer your questions. You may also arrange for a personal advising session. To download the timetable of our info events, go to our home page at www.ahb.bfh.ch, and to make a personal appointment, contact the head of the degree programme directly.

Head of the degree programmeDr Cornelius Oesterleecornelius.oesterlee@bfh.ch

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The fields of study of the wood and construction industries united under one roofCourses offered by Bern University of Applied Sciences Architecture, Wood and Civil EngineeringBachelor

– of Arts in Architecture – of Science in Civil Engineering – of Science in Wood Technology

Master – of Arts in Architectur (in cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland)

– of Science in Wood Technology (in cooperation with the University of Applied Sciences of Rosenheim, Germany)

– of Science in Engineering (in cooperation with the other Swiss Universities of Applied Sciences)

Master of Advanced Studies – MAS Timber Construction – MAS Preservation of historical Buildings, Restoration and Conversion – MAS in sustainable Construction – MAS Real Estate Management

Certificates of Advanced Studies (CAS)

Courses offered by the College of higher education of Wood Biel/Bienne

– Technical Specialist HF Wood Technology with diplomas in Timber Construction, in Woodworking Industry and in Lumber Industry

– Postgraduate course in management – Timber Construction Foreman diploma – Timber Construction Foreman, Federal Diploma of Higher Education – Wood Specialist, Federal Diploma of Higher Education – Master in Timber Construction, Advanced Federal Diploma of Higher Education

Range of services offered by our Research and Development (R&D) Division:

– lied R&D in every area of study – Contract services – Internationally recognised tests carried out in facilities certified ac-cording to ISO/IEC 17025 by the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS).

– Knowledge and technology transfer

The Department of Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineer-ing is part of Bern University of Applied Sciences. It is one of Switzerland’s lead-ing educational insti-tutions in the areas of civil engineering and wood. As a na-tionally and interna-tionally recognised university of applied sciences, with a long-standing tradition, we train success-ful architects, civil engineers and wood engineers or techni-cians for successful careers.

Legal notice:This brochure provides general information and orientation. In case of doubt, the wording of the legal provisions and regulations is binding. We reserve the right to make changes without notice.

November 2018

Picture credits: Cover: Alexander JaquemetPage 5: Alexander Jaquemet; Corinne Cuendet, Clarens / LignumPage 7: Alexander Jaquemet; BFHPage 9: Alexander JaquemetPage 11: Corinne Cuendet, Clarens / Lignum; Chaimann / Lignum

Bern University of Applied SciencesWood DivisionSolothurnstrasse 102P. O. Box 6096CH-2500 Biel 6

Phone +41 32 344 02 80infoholz.ahb@bfh.ch

www.ahb.bfh.ch/wood