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 provides the springboard for our Management of Processes and Innovation MPI specialisation. You will acquire the skills to develop innovative technologies, products and business models and spearhead the processes involved. 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 specialisation projects spanning the semester. Each project comprises a case study as well as thematically aligned input modules. 

Digital manufacturing in the wood industry

In your first case study, you will design a Smart Factory. Your model facility will feature an integrated digital information network and largely autonomous production systems. You will then build your Smart Factory in our Technology Park. As part of this project, you will be introduced to the foundations of information management as well as planning and designing 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. You will learn 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. Demands on timber engineers are growing at the same pace.

In the Complex Timber Structures CTS specialisation, you will 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 specialisation projects spanning two semesters. Each project comprises a case study as well as thematically aligned input modules.

Modelling Complex Timber Structure

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, keeping an eye on constraints such as construction processes, planning and cost. You will also operate the computer numeric control (CNC) machines in our Technology Park to manufacture select curved joints.

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 interpret results from earthquake evaluations. You will draft plans for multi-storey houses, including designs that go beyond constraints placed on high-rise structures. Over the course of this project, you will gain experience in assessing building condition and the need for structural reinforcement. You will also address aspects of structural physics, fire safety, networked planning and building process management (Building Information Modelling BIM).

Academic requirements
 

• Bachelor’s degree in wood technology, timber engineering or comparable discipline
• Above average final marks
• Applicants from other engineering fields (e.g. civil or material engineering) are welcome, provided their final marks are excellent
• 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: Calendar week 38
Application deadline: 31 July

Applicants, who do not reside within the European Union (EU) and who need a visa for Switzerland, are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, as visa procurement is prolonged by the corona pandemic.

Tuition and fees are standard across BFH. You may be eligible for financial support under certain conditions. Swiss wood industry professionals may qualify for further financing options.

We expect a high level of involvement and presence from our students in the master’s degree programme in wood technology.
It is possible, however, to arrange for part-time studies. You must discuss this with the Head of Degree Programme.

Military or civil service

You must complete your compulsory service, even during your studies.
We strongly encourage you to complete your military training before beginning your studies.

Coordinating your studies and compulsory service

Would you like to take a course at Bern University of Applied Sciences? Then apply now. By applying online, you’ll be kept up-to-date at every stage of the process.

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

Required documents

Please submit the following documents in electronic format and as appropriate for your educational background (passport documentation: PDF/images: JPG):

• ID or passport* 
• Passport photo according to international passport requirements* (Photo guidelines)
• Diplomas and leaving certificates (e.g. vocational baccalaureate/specialised baccalaureate with grades, university entrance qualification, Abitur or upper secondary level qualification)
• Swiss Federal Certificate of Proficiency with grades
• Employer reference and/or internship certificate
• Curriculum vitae

* compulsory
 

Additional documents for the Master’s degree programme Wood Technology

• Certificate for your first degree (bachelor’s or equivalent qualification), as well as a transcript of records
• Statement of purpose (max. two-page, A4 format)
• Transcript of records *
• Diploma supplement 
• 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 about the workload.

** 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

We require a certified translation of any documents issued in a language other than German, English or French.

Documents for foreign applicants

• Residence permit (if you’re applying from abroad)

Online application - At a glance (PDF, 66 KB)

• The Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineering Library in Biel/Bienne is a specialised academic library in the field of 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 advise you on any questions regarding research, media acquisition and the use of the research platform swisscovery and its electronic resources.
• You may also use these facilities outside study hours. BFHcard
• You will receive a personal email address as well as direct access to our Intranet and Wi-Fi network.
• The university cafeteria at the Biel campus offers inexpensive meals from Monday to Friday.
• Parking is subject to charge. You may request a parking pass from the administration, but we encourage you to use public transport.
• Our research centre in Biel is the largest of its kind in the Swiss wood industry. It is accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS) to carry out internationally recognised tests according to ISO / IEC 17025.
• The BFH wood department 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.

The BFH offers a broad range of leisure activities, with training in numerous types of sports and various cultural courses. The choices are varied and attractive, 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 for Sports in Magglingen.