Erasmus Mundus Master of Science in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Leuven et al)

The level defining descriptors of a master's programme, leading to the degree of master, as mentioned in article II.141 of the Code Higher Education and in article 6 of the decree of 30 April 2009 regarding the Flemish qualification structure:
a) general competences at an advanced level such as the ability to reason and act in an academic manner, the ability to handle complex problems, the ability to reflect on one's own thoughts and work, and the ability to convert this reflection into the development of more effective solutions, the ability to communicate one's own research and solutions to professional colleagues and laymen, and the ability to develop an opinion in an uncertain context;
b) general academic competences at an advanced level such as the ability to apply research methods and techniques, the ability to design research, the ability to apply paradigms in the domain of the sciences or the arts and the ability to indicate the limits of paradigms, originality and creativity regarding the continuously expanding body of knowledge and insight, and the ability to collaborate in a multidisciplinary environment;
c) advanced understanding and insight in scientific, discipline- specific knowledge inherent to a certain domain of the sciences or the arts, insight in the most recent knowledge in the subject/discipline or parts of it, the ability to follow and interpret the direction in which theory formation is developing, the ability to make an original contribution towards the body of knowledge of one or several parts of the subject/discipline, and display specific competences characteristic for the subject/discipline such as designing, researching, analyzing and diagnosing;
d) the competences needed for either independent research or the independent practice of the arts at the level of a newly- qualified researcher (in the arts), or the general and specific professional competences needed for independent application of academic or artistic knowledge at the level of a newly-qualified professional.
A master's programme is concluded by a master's thesis of which the workload, expressed in credits, amounts to at least one fifth of the total number of credits in the programme of study, and consists of at least fifteen credits and at most thirty credits.


Scope
The Master of Science (120 credits) is awarded after the student has completed the courses required to gain 120 credits with a defined specialization determined by the higher education institutions. The student obtains the joint Master diploma if he/she has obtained minimum 120 credits in total and minimum 54 credits at each of both universities where he/she is following the program.


Outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
For a Master of Science (120 credits) the student shall have:
- demonstrated knowledge and understanding in the main field of study, including both broad knowledge of the field and a considerable degree of specialized knowledge in certain areas of the field as well as insight into current research and development work, and
- demonstrated specialized methodological knowledge in the main field of study.

Competence and skills
For a Master of Science (120 credits) the student shall have:
- demonstrated the ability to critically and systematically integrate knowledge and analyze, assess and deal with complex phenomena, issues and situations even with limited information
- demonstrated 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
- demonstrated the ability in speech and writing both nationally and internationally to report clearly and discuss his or her conclusions and the knowledge and arguments on which they are based in dialogue with different audiences, and
- demonstrated the skills required for participation in research and development work or autonomous employment in some other qualified capacity.

Judgement and approach
For a Master of Science (120 credits) the student shall have:
- demonstrated 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
- demonstrated insight into the possibilities and limitations of research, its role in society and the responsibility of the individual for how it is used, and
- demonstrated the ability to identify the personal need for further knowledge and take responsibility for his or her ongoing learning.

Independent project
A requirement for the award of a Master of Science (120 credits) is completion by the student of an independent project for at least 30 credits in the main field of study.


Aims and attainment targets of the master program Nanoscience and nanotechnology:
The overall objective of the programme is to provide every student with both a broad common multidisciplinary basis and a personalized top-level specialisation in a certain area of nanoscience or nanotechnology.

By the end of the programme, you will possess:
- thorough knowledge of the general principles of physics, chemistry, electronics and biology that play a role on the nanometer scale;
- insight into the materials, fabrication and other experimental techniques that can be used on the nanoscale, as well as their limitations;
- understanding of the formation of complex macro systems which are unique in their operations and possess new functionalities;
- in-depth knowledge of at least one specialisation area within the field of nanoscience and nanotechnology;
- proficiency in translating this knowledge into useful technological applications;
- extensive analytic and synthetic problem-solving capacities;
- sufficient scientific background to undertake research.

Upon the completion of the two-year cycle, successful students will be awarded a joint Master's degree. In addition, the EMM-Nano consortium furnishes a joint degree supplement providing a description of the nature and level of the programme followed.