Study guide
Source: https://studiekiezer.ugent.be/2026/en/afstudeerrichting/EYFIRE Parent: https://www.ugent.be/ea/en/education/study-programmes
Postgraduate Studies in Fire Safety Engineering
Fires happen all the time and all over the world. But fire is not a hazard that simply occurs and where we have to accept the consequences. The Postgraduate Studies in Fire Safety Engineering (MFSE) equip professionals with the knowledge and skills to design and engineer the built environment in ways that reduce both the likelihood and the consequences of fire. \ This programme can be completed as a two-year part-time programme, with 30 ECTS per year, or participants can decide to spread the completion of the programme over more than 2 years.
2026-2027 2025-2026 2024-2025 2023-2024 2022-2023 2021-2022 2020-2021
Postgraduate Studies
2 year 60 credits
Faculty of Engineering and Architecture
English
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About the programme
Programme summary
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Off to a good start
After graduation
What
We can engineer the built environment to limit the likelihood of catastrophic fires occurring. The shift from a prescriptive approach towards performance-based fire safety designs creates a growing demand for advanced expertise in the multidisciplinary field of fire safety engineering. Now, climate change and the global transition toward more sustainable ways of living are increasing fire risks, making fire safety engineering more essential than ever.
Fire safety engineering is the application of engineering principles, rules and expert judgement based on a scientific understanding of fire. Fire engineers study fire and its phenomena as well as its effects on the built environment and human behaviour, to identify and quantify the risks. By implementing the principles of performance-based design, they optimize fire protection measures to safeguard life, the environment, property, and cultural heritage.
Fire safety engineering students will learn:
- the nature and characteristics of fire and its spread
- how structures, materials and people behave in the event of a fire
- how to evaluate, quantify and mitigate fire risks
- how to design fire detection, ventilation and suppression systems
- how building design interacts with firefighting and rescue operations
- how to analyse fire incidents and which lessons to draw from them
Find out more about Fire Safety Engineering in our FSE Q&A series.
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For whom
The admission requirements may vary. Depending on your prior education, you can either enrol directly or there may be additional requirements.
Take a look at the admission requirements
Structure
The Postgraduate Studies in Fire Safety Engineering is a two-year, English-taught programme designed for students with an engineering background. As a part-time programme (30 credits per year), it offers professionals the opportunity to combine work and study. Courses are scheduled as much as possible on the same days, so course attendance can be scheduled efficiently. Participants can decide to spread the completion of the programme over more than two years as well. The programme consists of 11 general courses, 9 credits of elective courses and a dissertation project.
Labour Market
With this degree the participant gains valuable knowledge to work in the field of fire safety consultancy, fire prevention, fire brigading, building design, building services engineering and architecture.
Study programme quality
Quality Assurance
At Ghent University, we strive to educate people who dare to think about the challenges of tomorrow. For that purpose, we provide education that is embedded in six strategic objectives: Think Broadly, Keep Researching, Cultivate Talent, Contribute, Extend Horizons, Opt for Quality. *Ghent University continuously focuseson quality assurance and quality culture. The Ghent University's quality assurance system* offers information on each study programme’s unique selling points, and on its strengths and weaknesses with regard to quality assurance.
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