The Master of Industrial Design at AHO has an average duration of 10 semesters - 300 credits. Each semester yields 30 credits. The first 6 semesters consist of compulsory foundation level teaching. After the foundation level teaching has been completed, the next three semesters consist of a 24-credit studio course and a 6-credit elective course. The final semester consists of a diploma assignment.

Parts of the foundation studies will be in cooperation with the students at the Master of Architecture programme. For the student to be able to move on to graduate studies, all courses must have received the grade PASS.  

During the fourth year of studies, students can choose freely among studio courses and elective courses listed in the course catalogue, given that they satisfy the criteria regarding minimum knowledge, and there are no special reservations governing the electives.

For the student to be able to start the diploma studies he or she must have passed the foundation level, achieved credits amounting to 9 semesters, and passed the diploma programming (6 credits).

The scope of the diploma assignment is 30 credits. In addition, the student must take a compulsory 6-credit elective on programme work during the semester prior to the diploma assignment.

Candidates who have passed and completed 270 credits and the 30-credit diploma exam of the Industrial Design programme will be awarded the degree Master of Industrial Design

 Organisation of the study programme:  

A semester consists of courses of varying credits and duration. AHO's courses have the following designations: foundation level teaching, electives and studio work. The aims and structure of each course can be found in the course descriptions.

 Full time study:  

The master’s programmes are full-time studies that require attendance and devoted work in all lectures, seminars, workshops etc. It is not possible to study Industrial design as a part-time study.

 Foundation level studies:  

The foundation level studies are based on the studio model. This includes lectures, seminars and workshops. In addition, some themes are separated as independent subjects with separate exams. The lectures at the foundation level are mainly in Norwegian.

 Studio course:  

A form of teaching based on project work in a studio, which integrates teaching academic knowledge and skills as part of the project work. Studio teaching is an intensive form of teaching that entails a high exchange of knowledge between the teacher and student. The teaching will be either in Norwegian, Norwegian and English or in English only.

 Elective course:  

The elective courses are courses meant to supplement the Studio courses either as practical courses or as theoretical courses. All elective courses are available to all students from the 7th semester onwards.

Description of the competence to be acquired from an academic offering and the assessment criteria can be found in the course descriptions in the Course catalogue. The Regulations governing Master’s Degree Programmes at AHO  state the terms concerning the hand in of supplementary material, extensions due to illness or maternity leave and concerning continuation/new exam when failed a written or oral exam.

 At the foundation level  

Project work ends with an assessment of the student’s work by appointed sensors. Project courses in 1st year are marked Pass/Fail . All other courses and examns at the foundation level is assessed subject to an A-F grade scale. E is the poorest pass mart. Assessment is based on attendance, semester progression and the quality of submitted material.

 Studio courses  

Ends with an assessment of the students’ project work by appointed examiners, where at least one is an external examiner. Studio courses are marked Pass/Fail . Assessment is based on attendance, study progression and the quality of submitted material. When evaluating project work, criteria will be related to the number of semesters completed.

 Elective courses  

Assessment is based on attendance, semester progression and the quality of submitted material. Elective courses are marked Pass/Fail .

 Diploma  

See the Regulations governing Master’s Degree Programmes at AHO  

Upon graduation, all students receive a Diploma Supplement  attached to their Diploma and transcript of records.

Each semester, students are asked to hand in an individual evaluation of the teaching of an elective in relation to the elective's learning goals. The evaluation may also cover the learning environment and administrative services. The evaluation is returned electronically and anonymously, and covers all courses; both at the foundation level, studio courses, intensive courses and the diploma work.

Semester evaluations are completed by students, examiners and academic staff, according to specific guidelines. The evaluation is held in order to assure the general quality of the education at AHO. The institutes, the board of education and the general academic environment are responsible for handling any problems or shortcomings that emerge in the evaluation process. A summary of the results of the evaluation, and the action taken, can be found under Kvalitetssystem  (Norwegian only).

The Master of Industrial design programme has a tradition to arrange an excursion/study trip each semester. The average duration is 1-2 weeks. The expenses are covered by the students themselves. Excursions are not compulsory, but AHO recommends that students take part.

Unfortunately, AHO does not have the resources to supply students with all relevant materials, software and hardware. Consequently, students are expected to finance this themselves.