INFORMATION ABOUT ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS AND APPLICATION PROCEDURES INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS MSC IN LOGISTICS Application deadline: 1 February 2016 1
Content 1. Introduction... 3 2. Programme description MSc in Logistics... 4 3. Admission Requirements MSc in Logistics... 6 4. Financial requirements for international applicants/ students... 8 5. Part-time work permit as an international student in Norway... 12 6. Application deadline and procedures for admission in 2016... 12 7. Contact person for international applicants to the MSc program in Logistics:... 12 2
1. Introduction Thank you for your request for information about admission to the international study programs at Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics (HiMolde). Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics is located in the small and scenic city Molde on the Western coast of Norway with about 25 000 inhabitants, and has approximately 2 500 students at three faculties: Faculty of Logistics, Faculty of Business Administration and Social Sciences, and Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Care. We offer study programs at Bachelor s, Master s and PhD level. However, the main language of instruction at the undergraduate (Bachelor s) programs is Norwegian, and except for a limited number of incoming international exchange students each semester, these programs are not open for international applicants seeking admission to obtain a degree. At the moment around 130 international students from 60 nationalities are studying at Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics. Some of them are PhD students at the PhD program in Logistics, but the majority is studying at the 2 years (120 ECTS credits) international MSc programs; MSc in Logistics, MSc in Petroleum Logistics, MSc in Engineering Logistics, MSc in Event Management, and MSc in Sport Management. These are the only international MSc programs offered in English to international applicants at our specialized university at the moment. The language of instruction at the other master s programs is Norwegian, and these programs are therefore not open to international applicants seeking a degree. For admission in 2016, only three international MSc programs will be offered for new admission: MSc in Logistics, MSc in Petroleum Logistics and MSc in Sport Management. There will be no new admission to the international MSc program in Engineering Logistics and the international MSc program in Event Management, since these MSc programs will be closed down for new admission from 2016 onwards. International applicants who satisfy the formal admission requirements, and who can provide sufficient funding for their studies, can apply for admission to the MSc program in Logistics within the application deadline: 1 February 2016. Since the previous Quota Scheme will be closed down nationally in 2016 and replaced with a new Partnership Programme for Higher Education Cooperation, Norway Developing Countries in 2017, and other strategic partnerships programmes for the BRICS countries and Japan, it will no longer be possible for international applicants to apply directly to HiMolde for new Quota Scheme seats or other scholarships. All international applicants must therefore apply under the category Individual Funding, and document sufficient funding (a minimum of NOK 104 080 for the first year of their MSc studies). 3
2. Programme description MSc in Logistics Logistics deals with the organization of the flow of products, services and information from raw materials to the end user, and is therefore built on a broad spectrum of disciplines, such as economics, information/ communication technology, business administration, organization and management, besides quantitative techniques based on mathematics, operations research and statistics. The MSc program in Logistics is of 2 years duration (120 ECTS, 4 semesters), and consists of 60 ECTS credits course work, and a master's thesis of 30 ECTS credits. The program is held every year, and the language of instruction is English. Students on this MSc program will choose one of two study options: Operation Management (OM) or Supply Chain Management (SCM). Students choosing the study option Supply Chain Management, must before the second semester of the MSc program starts, choose between 3 different sub-variants in the second semester: 1) Advanced Supply Chain Management 2) Transportation in Supply Chain Management and 3) Information Systems Programme Outline - MSc in Logistics Study Option: Operation Management: COURSES ECTS* Sem. 1 Sem. 2 Sem. 3 Sem. 4 LOG711 Supply Chain Management 1 7.5 7.5 LOG713 Models for Production Management 7.5 7.5 LOG716 Mathematical Modelling in Logistics 7.5 7.5 LOG722 Inventory Management 7.5 7.5 LOG733 Exact Optimization Methods in Logistics 7.5 7.5 LOG820 Vehicle Routing with Heuristics 7.5 7.5 VFA150 Electives 15 ECTS 15 15 LOG904 Seminars in Logistics 30 30 LOG950 Master's Thesis 30 30 TOTAL 120 30 30 30 30 * ECTS European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System. Elective courses in the second semester Study option: Operation Management: Code Course title ECTS credits IDA710 Business processes and information modelling 7.5 IDA715 Discrete Event Simulation 7.5 IDA725 Project Management 7.5 Programme Outline - MSc in Logistics Study Option: Supply Chain Management: COURSES ECTS* Sem. 1 Sem. 2 Sem. 3 Sem. 4 LOG708 Applied Statistics with SPSS 7.5 7.5 LOG711 Supply Chain Management 1 7.5 7.5 SCM702 Purchasing and Supply Theory 7.5 7.5 SØK710 Industrial Organization 7.5 7.5 SUB30 Sub-variants (see table below) 22.5 22.5 Elective Course for all sub-variants 7.5 7.5 LOG904 Seminars in Logistics 30 30 Master's Thesis 30 30 TOTAL 120 30 30 30 30 * ECTS European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System. 4
Sub-variant second semester (spring) Advanced Supply Chain Management Study Option: Supply Chain Management Code Course title ECTS credits LOG715 Business cases in SCM 7.5 SCM705 Cost Management in SC 7.5 SCM710 Contract Law 7.5 Sub-variant second semester (spring) Transportation in Supply Chain Management Study Option: Supply Chain Management Code Course title ECTS credits LOG715 Business cases in SCM 7.5 TRA816 Maritime Transportation 7.5 TRA820 Air Transport Economics 7.5 Sub-variant second semester (spring) Information Systems in Supply Chain Management Study Option: Supply Chain Management Code Course title ECTS credits IDA715 Discrete Event Simulation 7.5 IBE700 Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) with SAP 7.5 IDA710 Business processes and information modelling 7.5 Elective courses second semester (spring) for all the sub-variants Study Option: Supply Chain Management. Code Course title ECTS credits IDA725 Project Management 7.5 TRA700 Transportation Infrastructure Assessment 7.5 TRA705 Urban Freight Logistics 7.5 Any compulsory course from the other study option of the MSc program in Logistics, can also be chosen as an elective, in addition to the above mentioned elective courses 5
3. Admission Requirements MSc in Logistics Academic admission requirements 1. Operation Management (OM) This study option is meant for students interested in quantitative methods for planning and management of activities involved in procurement, production, inventory and distribution within and across companies. Applicants with a recognised first degree (BBA, BA, BSc, BEng, BTech), equivalent to a minimum of 180 ECTS (European Course Credit Transfer System) credits, in Logistics, Economics, Business Administration, Engineering, Mathematics or Computer Science, and who at the same time has the interest and the ability to use quantitative methods and models can apply to the study option 2. Supply Chain Management (SCM) This study option is suited for students with an interest in organization, business and to some extent social sciences. Although mathematics and statistics is used, the focus is more on the qualitative aspects involved in the management of the value chain. Applicants with a recognised first degree (BBA, BA, BSc, BEng, BTech), equivalent to a minimum of 180 ECTS (European Course Credit Transfer System) credits in Logistics, Economics, Business Administration, Management or Organization can apply to the study option Supply Chain Management. Applicants with a first degree within Social Sciences might also be considered, if they otherwise have a satisfactory background within Mathematics and Statistics. Admission to the MSc program in Logistics at Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics is highly competitive. Applicants should preferably have an average grade of First Class Division or Second Class Upper Division from their first degree or equivalent average grade from the university where their first degree has been completed to be considered for admission. Applicants with an average grade of Second Class Lower Division or Third Class Division or equivalent average grade will usually not be offered admission. Applicants who have only completed an HND (Higher National Diploma), Advanced Diploma or equivalent diploma education or a 3 years bachelor's degree from an Asian university are not qualified to apply for our international MSc programs. Qualified female applicants are encouraged to apply. 6
English language requirements Applicants to the MSc program in Logistics, must pass either a TOEFL test with a minimum paperbased test score of 550 (or a minimum score of 213 on computer-based test or 79 on internet-based test) or an IELTS test with a minimum score of 6.0. Exemption from the English language requirements: Applicants from countries having ratified the Lisbon Convention (like e.g. the countries within EU/ EEA/ EFTA), are exempted from taking a TOEFL or IELTS test, if they can document a minimum of 7 years of English as a subject from their primary and secondary school when submitting their application form. Applicants with at least one year s education at higher secondary level or university level from Ireland, UK, US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand where the main language of instruction has been English are exempted from the English requirements, and do not have to submit TOEFL/ IELTS test results. Applicants from African countries with a BBA, BA, BSc, BEng or BTech degree where the main language of instruction has been English, or who have passed English as a subject at GCE O- or A-level, SSC in West African countries, Cambridge Overseas School Certificate or equivalent secondary education in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa and Zambia, and applicants with a university degree where English is the main academic field of study (BA in English), are exempted from the English requirements, and do not have to submit TOEFL/ IELTS test results. Applicants from Asian countries (for example Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, P.R. of China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam) with a BBA/ BA/ BSc/ BEng/ BTech degree where the language of instruction has been English, are not exempted from the English language requirements, except for candidates holding a BA degree in English (English as the major academic discipline). For citizens from all other countries, the application will not be considered unless a TOEFL or IELTS test result is sent directly to Molde University College Specialized University in Logistics. English test score results (TOEFL or IELTS test) should preferably be sent directly from the test centre within 1 February 2016, or at latest within 1 April 2016. Certified copies by the test centre can also be submitted with the application form. English test results received after 1 April 2016 will not be considered for admission. Due to verification reasons, the English test results are not valid for admission if they are more than 2 years old (not older than 1 February 2014, for admission in 2016). Please provide the name and address of Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics to the test centre when requesting them to forward the TOEFL/ IELTS test score, since our specialised university does not have any separate TOEFL code. 7
4. Financial requirements for international applicants/ students Fees There are no tuition fees for Norwegian and international students at the Norwegian state run higher educational institutions. There is only a minor semester fee of NOK 695 to be paid to the Student Welfare Organisation in the beginning of each semester. The minimum financial requirement, estimated to NOK 104 080 per academic year, is therefore meant to ensure that the students are able to cover for their own living expenses while studying in Norway, including books, materials, accommodation, food etc. Individual Funding The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI), located in Oslo, requires that all admitted international students, who are not citizens of the EU/EEA/EFTA countries, and who need a visa to enter Norway, must document sufficient funding to undertake their studies at Norwegian higher educational institutions, before they can obtain a temporary residence permit for study purposes (student residence permit) in Norway (www.udi.no). At the moment the minimum amount required is NOK 104 080. Applicants who are citizens of EU/EEA/EFTA countries, where a visa to enter Norway is not required, do not have to transfer a minimum of NOK 104 080 to the Deposit Account for International Students mentioned below. These students must instead include a letter with their application form declaring that they are able to finance their studies at our specialised university for the first and second year of their MSc studies in Logistics. International applicants from countries where a visa is required to enter Norway, must document a minimum of NOK 104 080 to cover for the first academic year of the MSc studies together with their application form. They should also present a financial plan for how they intend to finance the second year of their MSc studies, since the international students will have to document additional NOK 104 080 at the time they apply to renew their student residence permit and part-time work permit after one year. Documentation of funding submitted with the application can be confirmation letters from sponsors, confirmation of scholarships or grants, bank guarantees etc. Applications without such financial documentation will not be processed. Students from countries where a visa is required to enter Norway, and who are successfully admitted to the MSc program in Logistics, will together with the letter of admission, be requested to transfer NOK 104 080 to a Norwegian bank account belonging to Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics within a fixed deadline stated in the letter of admission, and in good time before arrival in Norway. When the money has been transferred, our specialised university will issue a confirmation letter of funding, confirming that the money has been received from the admitted student. The student will then be asked to present this confirmation letter of funding to the nearest Norwegian Consulate or Embassy, and they will then send the confirmation letter to UDI in Oslo. UDI can first finalize the application for student residence and part-time work permit to Norway after receiving 8
this confirmation letter of funding. After the international students have arrived in Norway, they need to apply for a Norwegian ID-number. This ID-number will be received by the international students about 3-4 weeks after arrival in Norway. The international students can then open their own private Norwegian bank account, and our specialised university will transfer their NOK 104 080 back to their private bank. More detailed information about the practical arrangements for transferring the required amount of money to the Deposit Account for International Students will first be given together with the letter of admission, and not at the time of application. The previous Quota Scheme will be closed down nationally in 2016/ New Partnership Programme for Higher Education Cooperation, Norway Developing Countries will be implemented from spring 2017 onwards The Quota Scheme was implemented by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research (KD) in the autumn 1994 as a Norwegian Governmental Development Assistance Scheme to promote capacity building in the students home countries, and at the students home institutions, and to promote the participation of students from these countries in the process of internationalisation of higher education. From 1 January 2005, the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Higher Education (SIU) has had the national responsibility for the administration of the Quota Scheme. Currently around 47 higher educational institutions in Norway are participating in the Quota Scheme. The Quota Scheme has been covering the student s living expenses while studying in Norway, travel allowances according to fixed national rates at minimum student prices, support to cover fieldwork periods in the student s home country as part of the study programme in Norway, and additional family allowances for children when they are staying together with the student in Norway. At the moment the yearly support is NOK 10 092 for students at undergraduate and graduate programmes (NOK 10 092 per month for 10 months per year). PhD students obtain NOK 121 104 per year (NOK 10 092 per month for 12 months per year). A major part of the support (60 %) is given as a loan, which will only be waived if the student is permanently settling down in his or her home country after completing the education in Norway. A minor part of the support (40 %) is given as a scholarship. If the student does not settle down in the home country after completing the study programme in Norway, he or she must repay the loan on the same conditions as for Norwegian citizens receiving loans from the State Educational Loan Fund. The State Educational Loan Fund is dealing with the payments for loan and scholarships under the Quota Scheme, but the nomination of candidates for the limited Quota Scheme seats took place at the Norwegian higher educational institutions in relation to their admission. From 2005 only candidates who qualified for admission, and who were either students, temporary or permanently employed at collaboration institutions in eligible developing countries or countries in Central and Eastern Europe/ Central Asia, where the respective higher educational institution and Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics have signed formal collaboration agreements have been offered Quota Scheme seats at our specialized university. 9
The Quota Scheme will be closed down nationally in 2016. This means that international applicants from our collaboration institutions in developing countries can no longer apply directly to HiMolde for new Quota Scheme seats for study programmes starting in the autumn semester 2016 or later. The Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research (KD) has in collaboration with The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD) and SIU in Bergen decided to replace the Quota Scheme for developing countries, with a New Partnership Programme for Higher Education Cooperation, Norway Developing Countries with implementation of the partnership activities starting in the spring semester 2017: Http://SIU.no/eng/Programme-information/Development-cooperation/Partnership-Programme/ HiMolde is within a tentative application deadline: 1 September 2016, planning to apply to SIU in Bergen for new partnership programmes in collaboration with some of our partner institutions in Asia and/ or Africa. If we are granted funding for new partnership programmes by the Programme Board at SIU, there might be possibilities to link up exchange students from some of our partner institutions in Asia (Purbanchal University, Nepal) or Africa (AASTMT, Egypt, HU/ AAU, Ethiopia and UDSM, Business School, Tanzania) listed on page 12 from the spring semester 2017 onwards. There will, however, be no possibilities for direct applications from international students under the new partnership programmes, and therefore also no application forms to be downloaded from our home page. The Quota Scheme for Central- and Eastern Europe/ Central Asia and the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) will be replaced nationally by ongoing or new partnership programmes towards the BRICS countries and Japan presented in the new Panorama-strategy from the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research in October 2015. International applicants from our partner institutions in Russia, China or South Africa cannot apply directly for scholarships for partnership programmes included in the Panorama-strategy by downloading application forms from our home page. All exchanges within the partnership programmes will be done in close collaboration with our partner institutions in Russia or other BRICS countries, and will depend on new funding granted by SIU. The same will be the case for our collaboration with Belarusian State University (BSU) within the Eurasia programme if new funding is granted by SIU. 10
Collaboration institutions in developing countries, and Central- and Eastern Europe/ Central Asia (Belarus and Russia) where Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics has signed formal agreements Developing Countries Asia Nepal Purbanchal University, Biratnagar (Faculty of Management) P.R of China Suzhou University of Science and Technology (SUST), Suzhou Africa Ethiopia Central- and Eastern Europe/ Central Asia Russia Saint Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg Russian State Social University, Moscow Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, Moscow National Research University Higher School of Economics (HSE), Moscow Belarus Belarusian State University (BSU), Minsk Addis Ababa University (AAU), Addis Ababa Hawassa University (HU), Hawassa Egypt The Arab Academy of Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) (International Transport and Logistics Institute) South Africa North-West University, Potchefstroom Tanzania University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) Business School (UDBS) 11
5. Part-time work permit as an international student in Norway International students who have obtained a combined first time student residence and part-time work permit by UDI are allowed to work maximum 20 hours per week in the semester time and full time in all holidays (Christmas, Easter and Summer holidays). The part-time work permit will be renewed after one year of studies, if the students are following a normal study progression. International students from countries where a visa is required, and who are delayed in their MSc studies during the first year of studies, can be required by the Norwegian higher educational institution where they are studying to concentrate fully on their studies without working part-time during the second year of their MSc studies. International students should be aware that it is not always easy to get a part-time work beside their studies in Norway. They must therefore be prepared to fully cover their own living expenses during their studies. 6. Application deadline and procedures for admission in 2016 The application deadline for admission to MSc in Logistics for international applicants with Individual Funding is 1 February 2016. All international applicants applying directly from abroad or who have a temporary residence permit (not permanent permit) in Norway should apply within this application deadline. Last deadline for applicants who have applied within 1 February to submit TOEFL/ IELTS tests is 1 April 2016. Applicants who are Norwegian citizens or who have a permanent residence permit (not temporary permit) in Norway, can apply within the application deadline 15 April 2016. 7. Contact person for international applicants to the MSc program in Logistics: Ms Ragnhild Brakstad Adviser/ International Coordinator MSc/ PhD studies Office of the Director of Studies and Academic Affairs Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics P.O. Box 2110 NO-6402 Molde NORWAY Postal address for registered post (DHL etc): Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics Britvegen 2 NO-6410 Molde NORWAY Email: Ragnhild.Brakstad@himolde.no Phone (direct line): + 47 71 21 41 08 Fax: + 47 71 21 41 00 12