Wood Technology

Innovation is a key success factor in the wood industry, in order to keep up with growing client demands and competition. Projects are becoming more global and complex.

This is where the Management of Processes and Innovation MPI specialisation comes into play. You acquire the skills to develop innovative technologies, products and business models and spearhead the processes involved from an entrepreneurial angle. You focus on sustainable material technologies to replace oil-based products in a future bioeconomy.

Essential topics are:

• Digital manufacturing in the wood industry
• Wood-based materials and material innovations
• Composites, polymers and other materials from renewable resources
• Ecodesign of products and buildings
• Management and implementation of innovation processes

You will complete two semester long specialisation projects. Each project comprises a case study as well as input modules on related topics:

Digital Manufacturing in the Wood Industry

In your first case study, you will design a Smart Factory – a model facility in which the production systems organise themselves to a large extent autonomously – with an integrated digital information network. You will then turn your Smart Factory into reality in our Technology Park. Throughout the project, you will be introduced to the basic principles of information management as well as to the planning and designing of organisational, logistic and financial business processes.

Innovation management

In your second case study, you will create an innovative project based on a central idea and develop it to the point of market launch. This will give you experience in how innovation strategies, structures and cultures are developed and implemented in business. As part of this case study, you will create and present a business case to a potential investor.

It is becoming increasingly complex to develop and build modern timber structures. This is placing growing demands on timber engineers.

In the Complex Timber Structures CTS specialisation, you work on methods for planning and constructing advanced free-form, shell and multi-storey structures out of wood.

Other key topics include:

• Modelling new and existing load-bearing structures
• Simulation and data management, such as building information modelling (BIM)
• Earthquake-resistant construction
• Building physics
• Normative parameters

You will complete two semester long specialisation projects. Each project comprises a case study as well as input modules on related topics.

Modelling of Complex Timber Structures

In your first project, you will analyse free-form and shell structures. Your focus will be on modelling, static analysis and performing calculations related to complex load-bearing structures and other details. You will also examine how these structures are implemented in practice. You will take an interdisciplinary approach to optimising designs for manufacturing and assembly. You will also use the CNC machines in our Technology Park to manufacture certain multiple-curved connection pieces.

Multi-Storey Timber and Hybrid Structures

In your second project, you will examine the load-bearing behaviour of multi-storey timber structures. You will then design, model and perform calculations related to earthquake-resistant load-bearing structures. You will apply all current structural standards regarding seismic impact to your work and learn how to critically evaluate results from earthquake calculations. In interdisciplinary teams, you will draft plans for multi-storey timber buildings, taking into account the constraints placed on high-rise structures with respect to construction processes, planning and cost security. You will apply procedural methods for assessing the condition of existing buildings and implementing structural reinforcement. You will also address aspects of building physics, fire safety, networked planning and building process management (building information modelling, BIM).

Academic requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in wood technology, timber engineering or a comparable discipline
• Applicants from other engineering fields (e.g. civil or material engineering)  are also welcome to apply.
• Sufficient qualifications in timber, structural or civil engineering are required for the specialisation Complex Timber Structures.
• A bachelor’s degree with 210 ECTS credits is required. If you can provide proof of 180–210 ECTS credits, you may earn the remaining credits as part of your master’s programme.
• Proof of English skills, if your native language is not English.
  See “Application”.

After you have submitted your completed application and paid the enrolment fee, our Head of Degree Programme will review your application. If you are eligible, we will arrange for an admissions interview, after which we will inform you of the final decision. You can check the status of your application online at any time.

Programme start: CW 38
Application deadline: 15 June

Applicants from outside the European Union (EU) who need a visa for Switzerland are encouraged to apply as soon as possible and to contact the head of the study programme.

Have you made up your mind to study at Bern University of Applied Sciences? Then don’t wait, sign up right away! With the online registration, you have an overview of the admission procedure at all times.

If you have missed the registration deadline, the head of the study programme will be happy to inform you whether a late registration is possible.

Documents required

Ensure the following documents in electronic format are available according to your educational background (documents: PDF/image material: JPG):

• ID document or passport*
• Passport photo in accordance with international passport standards* (photo guidelines)
• Diplomas and school-leaving certificates (e.g. vocational baccalaureate/specialised baccalaureate with grades, university entrance qualification, Abitur or upper secondary level qualification)
• Employer reference and/or internship certificate
• CV in table format

* mandatory

Additional documents for the Master in Wood Technology

• Certificate of your first degree (bachelor’s or equivalent qualification)
• Transcript of records *
• Diploma supplement
• Letter of motivation (max. 2 A4 pages)
• Proof of English proficiency, if your native language is not English **

* If your transcript of records does not align with the ECTS grading scale, we require your course list, a description of your school’s grading system and details of the work completed.

** We accept the following proof of proficiency in English:

• TOEFL revised paper-delivered test (PBT) scores of 66 points or higher
• TOEFL internet-based test (IbT) scores of 88 points or higher
• IELTS Academic with a band score of 6.5 or higher
• Cambridge ESOL CPE with Grade C or higher
• Cambridge ESOL CAE with Grade C/B or higher
• TOEIC Reading and Listening with combined scores of 785 or higher, in combination with TOEIC speaking scores of 160 or higher and writing scores of 150 or higher

Documents for international applicants

• Residence permit (if you are applying from abroad)

An official translation is required for all documents that are not available in German, English or French.

• The Library of Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineering in Biel/Bienne is a scientific library specialised in wood engineering. It is a member of the Swiss Library Service Platform network and open to the public.
• A library ID is required to borrow media. We are happy to assist you with research or getting hold of the media you need and answer any questions you may have about the Swisscovery research platform and its electronic resources.
• You may also use our facilities outside study hours.
• Besides being able to use the intranet, you are issued a personal e-mail address and given direct wi-fi access.
• The university cafeteria at the Biel campus offers inexpensive meals from Monday to Friday.
• Parking is available (charges apply). Parking permits are available from the student office if required. However, we recommend using public transport.
• Our research centre in Biel is the largest of its kind in the Swiss wood industry. Most of the tests performed are accredited in accordance with ISO/IEC 17025 by the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS). The tests are internationally recognised.
• BFH’s Wood Division maintains an extensive Technology Park in Biel – the only one of its kind in Switzerland. Our park features CNC machines and robots, test and chemistry laboratories for materials, wood components and surface treatment, climate chambers and testing systems for windows, furniture, construction elements and load-bearing structures. Whether you are a research associate, member of the teaching staff or a student, the doors to our Technology Park are open.

BFH offers a broad range of leisure activities, with training in numerous types of sports and various cultural courses. There is an attractive, varied choice of activities, ranging from badminton or power yoga to drawing or singing in a choir. “The Games”, our traditional sports day, takes place every year in early summer at the Federal Institute of Sport in Magglingen.