What is it like to study at Chalmers?
Programmet på I
5 Years in Industrial Engineering & Management
To get an overview of the Industrial Engineering and Management (I) program at Chalmers, below is a summary of the three years of the bachelor's degree, what a technical specialization is and the available options, as well as the possible master's programs after completing the bachelor's degree. The program is constantly evolving, and courses may be replaced to ensure the education aligns with the changing needs of the job market, but the foundation remains the same.
The first year provides a strong foundation for the following years, with courses consisting of a mathematics track running parallel to an economics and management track. Students get a taste of subjects such as operations management, sustainability, and financial control. In the second year, there is less math, and instead, students take courses in programming, industrial marketing, logistics, and physics.
During the spring of the second year, all students choose a technical specialization, which consists of a package of four courses taken during the third year. After being presented with the three available specializations, students select the one that suits them best. The available options are Industrial Production, Information Technology (IT), and Financial Mathematics. In the final year of the bachelor's program, students take courses according to their technical specialization—one per study period. During the fall, they also take courses in the history of technology and business, as well as innovation economics. In the spring, they work on their bachelor's thesis.
After three years in the program, it is time to take the next step—applying for a master's program! There are three master's programs where Industrial Engineering and Management students (I:are) are guaranteed admission: Management and Economics of Innovation, Quality and Operations Management, and Supply Chain Management. Additionally, students have the opportunity to apply to other master's programs outside the guaranteed options, including Design and Construction Project Management, Entrepreneurship and Business Design, and Industrial Ecology.
Beyond these, depending on the chosen technical specialization in the third year, students may also be eligible for other master's programs:
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Industrial Production: Product Development and Production Engineering
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Information Technology: Data Science and AI, and Software Engineering and Technology
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Financial Mathematics: Engineering Mathematics and Computational Science
Kursplan
1
LP 1:
Introductory Course in Mathematics
introduction to IEM
Single-Variable Analysis
Financial Analysis and Corporate Valuation
LP 2:
LP 3:
Linear Algebra
Operations Management
Sustainable Transition
LP 4:
Multi-Variable Analysis
Financial Management
Sustainable Transition - continued
2
LP 1:
Probability Theory and Statistics
Principles of Program Development
Advanced Programming in Python
Industrial Marketing
LP 2:
LP 3:
Introduction to Data Science and AI
Logistics
LP 4:
Supply Chain Analytics
Physics for Engineers
3
LP 1:
Innovation Economics
Specialization Course 1
Engineering & Business History
Specialization Course 2
LP 2:
LP 3:
Specialization Course 3
Bachelor's Thesis
LP 4:
Specialization Course 4
Bachelor's Thesis - continued
4 & 5
Master + Master's Thesis
- Data Science and AI
- Entrepreneurship and Business Design
- Industrial Ecology
- Management and Economics of Innovation
- Quality and Operations Management
- Design and Construction Project Management
- Product Development
- Production Engineering
- Software Engineering and Technology
- Supply Chain Management
Studying at Chalmers
The structure of studies at Chalmers and other universities differs somewhat from high school. There is a greater focus on personal responsibility, and it is up to you to manage your time and choose how you want to learn the material you are expected to master. The study structure is generally as follows at Chalmers in general and in Industrial Engineering and Management in particular.
Academic Year
Each academic year is divided into four study periods (often abbreviated as LP), two during the spring semester and two during the fall semester. These periods last for eight weeks and conclude with an exam week, or exam period (Tenta-P), during which students take exams (tentas) for the courses they have studied during the period. Exams can be compared to major written knowledge assessments. Additionally, a study period may include a few self-study days. There are also five resit exam periods spread throughout the year.
Examination
At the end of each study period, you take your exams. This is your opportunity to showcase everything you've learned over the past weeks. An exam typically lasts around four hours, and in most cases, your grade on the exam determines the final grade for the entire course.
Don't be discouraged if you fail—or kuggar—an exam. Almost everyone experiences that at some point during their time at Chalmers. After the last exam of the study period, it's time to celebrate, as parties are held until the following Monday. Then, the next study period begins, and everything starts all over again!
Course
Each course covers a specific subject and has a set of learning objectives that students are expected to achieve. Examples of current courses in the Industrial Engineering and Management program include Multivariable Calculus, Industrial Marketing, and Innovation Economics. Courses vary in scope, which is measured in higher education credits (HP). One year of full-time studies corresponds to 60 HP, and to obtain a Master of Science in Engineering (civilingenjör) degree, you must complete 300 HP. A typical course is worth 7.5 HP, which is one-eighth of a year’s studies, and each study period at a full-time pace should amount to 15 HP.
During the first year, students take three courses in parallel, one of which is part-time and runs across an entire semester (two study periods). Therefore, in the first year, students take ten courses worth 6.0 HP each. In the second and third years, students take two courses per study period, with each course worth 7.5 HP. This structure differs significantly from high school, where students typically study many subjects simultaneously. Each course has an examiner, who has overall responsibility for the course, designs the exam, and grades it. The examiner often, but not always, also serves as the course lecturer.
Lectures
You will spend a significant part of your time at Chalmers' campus attending lectures. Each course includes a number of lectures per week. All students who wish to attend (except for mandatory sessions, where attendance is required) gather in a lecture hall to listen as the lecturer goes through a part of the course material. Make sure to bring something to take notes on! Most lectures are not mandatory, meaning you also have the option to study on your own if you prefer. However, the knowledge shared in lectures can sometimes be difficult to access elsewhere, so it’s important to have a good understanding of the lecture’s content in advance before deciding whether self-study is a better choice for you at that moment. Lectures are usually based on the course literature, so managing your study time wisely is crucial. Prioritizing between attending lectures and studying independently is an important skill to develop.
Course Literature
Each course has specific course literature that forms the basis of the studies. The examiner provides a list of required materials before the course starts. These may include textbooks, articles, videos, or other media that you are expected to learn from during the course. Sometimes, the examiner is very particular about the exact edition of a textbook you need, but in many cases, older editions or second-hand books work just as well—helping you save money. At the beginning of each study period, many older students sell their books, so make sure to ask around or join buy-and-sell groups for course literature!
Other Forms of Teaching
In addition to lectures, there are other types of teaching sessions that you should (and sometimes must) attend.
For mathematics courses, there are often problem-solving sessions, while programming courses usually include supervised lab sessions. These are typically optional but highly recommended. Some sessions, however, are mandatory, such as laboratory work or seminars. Seminars are common in economics and management courses and usually involve group discussions on a specific topic. Another frequent component is "duggor", which are smaller tests that often allow students to earn bonus points for the final exam. Many courses also include mandatory assignments or project work, which can be individual or group-based. These may involve writing essays, reports, or other coursework related to different aspects of the subject. The scope and nature of these assignments vary depending on the course and examiner.