INFORMATION ABOUT ADMISSION FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS MSC PROGRAM IN LOGISTICS Application deadline for international applicants: 1 February 2013 1
Introduction Thank you for your request for information about admission to the international study programs at Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics (HiMolde). Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics is located in the small city Molde on the Western coast of Norway with about 25 000 inhabitants, and has approximately 2000 students at two faculties: the Faculty of Economics, Informatics and Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Health Sciences and Social Care. Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics offers study programs at Bachelor s, Master s and PhD level. However, the main language of instruction at the undergraduate (Bachelor s) programs is Norwegian, and except for a limited number of incoming international exchange students each semester, these programs are not open for international applicants seeking admission to obtain a degree. Our specialized university is also not offering any Introductory Program in Norwegian Language and Culture (IFUS program) to international applicants. At the moment around 150 international students are studying at Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics. Some of them are PhD students in Logistics, but the majority is studying at the 2 years (120 ECTS credits) international MSc programs; MSc in Logistics, MSc in Event Management and MSc in Team Sport Management. These international MSc programs have so far been the only study programs offered in English at our specialized university. The language of instruction at the other master s programs is Norwegian, and these programs are therefore not open to international applicants. Since admission to the MSc in Event Management and MSc in Team Sport Management is held only every second year, next admission will first be in 2014, not in 2013. International applicants who satisfy the formal admission requirements, and who can provide sufficient funding for their studies, can apply to the MSc program in Logistics within the application deadline 1 February 2013. This MSc program is offered once per year, in the autumn semester, and begins in mid August. Admission to the program takes place from mid March to mid May. For admission in 2013, there will be 7 seats available under the Quota Scheme for applicants recruited directly from one of our collaboration institutions in developing countries, and 6 vacant seats for students recruited directly from our collaboration institutions in Russia; Saint Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, and Russian State Social University, Moscow, or from the Faculty of Economics at the Higher School of Economics National Research University (HSE), Moscow, where HiMolde plan to sign a formal collaboration agreement in the nearest future. 2
Logistics Logistics deals with the organization of the flow of products, services and information from raw materials to the end user, and is therefore built on a broad spectrum of disciplines, such as economics, information/ communication technology, business administration, organization and management, besides quantitative techniques based on mathematics, operations research and statistics. Specializations and academic requirements There are two specializations within the MSc program in Logistics: 1. Industrial Logistics (the name of this specialization might be changed in 2013) This specialization emphasize the planning of production, transportation, inventory and distribution, and the quantitative and professional tools used. Applicants with a recognised first degree (BBA, BA, BSc, BEng, BTech), equivalent to a minimum of 180 ECTS (European Course Credit Transfer System) credits, in Logistics, Economics, Business Administration, Engineering, Mathematics or Computer Science, and who at the same time has the interest and the ability to use quantitative methods for planning production and transportation, can apply to the specialization Industrial Logistics. 2. Supply Chain Management This specialization aims at giving the students knowledge and understanding of strategic and managerial processes within firms, and emphasize the problems and solutions associated with the management of logistics activities and inter-organisational issues, like industrial organisation, purchasing and supply management. Applicants with a recognised first degree (BBA, BA, BSc, BEng, BTech), equivalent to a minimum of 180 ECTS (European Course Credit Transfer System) credits in Logistics, Economics, Business Administration, Management or Organization can apply to the specialization Supply Chain Management. Applicants with a first degree within Social Sciences might also be considered, if they otherwise have a satisfactory background within Mathematics and Statistics. Admission to the MSc program in Logistics at Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics is highly competitive. Applicants should preferably have an average grade of First Class Division or Second Class Upper Division from their first degree or equivalent average grade from the university where their first degree has been completed to be considered for admission. Applicants with an average grade of Second Class Lower Division or Third Class Division or equivalent average grade will usually not be offered admission. Applicants who have only completed an HND (Higher National Diploma), Advanced Diploma or equivalent diploma education are not qualified to apply for our international MSc programs. Qualified female applicants are encouraged to apply. 3
English requirements Applicants to the MSc program in Logistics, must pass either a TOEFL test with a minimum paperbased test score of 550 (or a minimum score of 213 on computer-based test or 79 on internet-based test) or an IELTS test with a minimum score of 6.0. Applicants with at least one year s education at higher secondary level or university level from Ireland, UK, US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, applicants from African countries with a BBA, BA, BSc, BEng or BTech degree where the main language of instruction has been English, or who have passed English as a subject at GCE O- or A-level, SSC in West African countries, Cambridge Overseas School Certificate or equivalent secondary education in Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa and Zambia, and applicants with a university degree where English is the main academic field of study (BA in English), do not have to submit TOEFL/ IELTS test results. Applicants from countries having ratified the Lisbon Convention (like e.g. the countries within EU/ EEA/ EFTA), must document a minimum of 7 years of English as a subject from their primary and secondary school when submitting their application form. For citizens from all other countries, the application will not be considered unless a TOEFL or IELTS test result is enclosed or sent directly to Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics. Please be aware that applicants from Asian countries (for example Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, P.R. of China, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam) with a BBA/ BA/ BSc/ BEng/ BTech degree where the language of instruction has been English, are not exempted from the English language requirements, except for candidates holding a BA degree in English language. English test results (TOEFL or IELTS test) should preferably be submitted together with the application within the application deadline 1 February 2013, and latest within 1 April 2013. English test results received after this deadline will usually not be considered for admission. Due to verification reasons, the English test results are not valid for admission if they are more than 2 years old. Completed TOEFL/ IELTS tests must therefore not be older than 1 February 2011 to be considered for admission in 2013. Please provide the name and address of Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics to the test centre when requesting them to forward the TOEFL/ IELTS test score, since our specialised university does not have any separate TOEFL code. 4
Financial requirements International applicants to the MSc Program in Logistics, can be grouped in two categories: 1. Applicants under the Quota Scheme 2. Applicants with Individual Funding 1. Applicants under the Quota Scheme The Quota Scheme was implemented by the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Education (KD) in the autumn 1994 as a Norwegian Governmental Development Assistance Scheme to promote capacity building in the students home countries, and at the students home institutions, and to promote the participation of students from these countries in the process of internationalisation of higher education. The Quota Scheme covers the student s living expenses while studying in Norway, travel allowances according to fixed national rates at minimum student prices, support to cover fieldwork periods in the student s home country as part of the study programme in Norway, and additional family allowances for children when they are staying together with the student in Norway. At the moment the yearly support is NOK 92 500 for students at undergraduate and graduate programmes (NOK 9 250 per month for 10 months per year). PhD students obtain NOK 111 000 per year (NOK 9 250 per month for 12 months per year). A major part of the support (60 %) is given as a loan, which will only be waived if the student is permanently settling down in his or her home country after completing the education in Norway. A minor part of the support (40 %) is given as a scholarship. If the student does not settle down in the home country after completing the study programme in Norway, he or she must repay the loan on the same conditions as for Norwegian citizens receiving loans from the State Educational Loan Fund. The State Educational Loan Fund is dealing with the payments for loan and scholarships under the Quota Scheme, but the nomination of candidates for the limited Quota Scheme seats first takes place at the Norwegian higher educational institutions in relation to their admission. From 2005 onwards, the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Education (KD) has changed the regulations for the Quota Scheme, so that individual applicants from non-collaboration institutions no longer can be considered for Quota Scheme support. Only candidates who qualify for admission, and who are either presently students, temporary or permanently employed at collaboration institutions in eligible developing countries or countries in Central and Eastern Europe/ Central Asia, where the respective higher educational institution in Norway has signed collaboration agreements, can now apply. There is also a requirement that eligible applicants must have stayed a minimum of one year in their home country directly prior to the planned education at the Norwegian higher educational institution. Candidates applying directly from another country, than their home country, will therefore not be considered for financial support under the Quota Scheme. For an updated list of eligible countries under the Quota Scheme, please see below or refer to SIU s web page: www.siu.no, where you can also find some useful information about the scheme. Below you will find a list of collaboration institutions in developing countries, and Central- and Eastern Europe (Russia) where Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics has signed formal collaboration agreements. Only candidates who at the moment are either attached to one of these institutions as students, temporary or permanent employees, can obtain a seat under the Quota Scheme for the MSc programme in Logistics at our specialized university. From 1 January 2005, the Norwegian Centre for International Cooperation in Higher Education (SIU) has taken over the national responsibility for the administration of the Quota Scheme from the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Education (KD). Currently 47 higher educational institutions in Norway are participating in the Quota Scheme. Every third year they are competing to get their share of a national quota of totally 1100 seats, where 800 seats are reserved for students from developing countries, and 300 seats for students from Central- and Eastern Europe/ Central Asia. For admission in 2013, Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics, has 7 vacant seats for candidates from our collaboration institutions in Africa and Asia, and 6 vacant seats for candidates from one of our collaboration institutions in Russia; St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg and Russian State Social University, Moscow, or from HSE, Moscow (planned collaboration) 5
Collaboration institutions in developing countries, and Central- and Eastern Europe/ Central Asia where Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics has signed formal agreements, and one planned collaboration institution (HSE, Moscow): Developing Countries Central- and Eastern Europe/ Central Asia Asia Nepal Purbanchal University, Biratnagar (Faculty of Management, Faculty of Science and Technology) P.R of China Suzhou University of Science and Technology (SUST), Suzhou Africa Ethiopia Addis Ababa University (AAU), Addis Ababa Hawassa University (HU), Hawassa Egypt The Arab Academy of Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT) (International Transport and Logistics Institute) Ivory Coast Universite d Abidjan Cocody, Abidjan South Africa North-West University, Potchefstroom Tanzania University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) (Business School (UDBS)) Russia Saint Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg Russian State Social University, Moscow Higher School of Economics National Research University (HSE), Moscow (Faculty of Economics planned collaboration) 6
Countries eligible for support under the Quota Scheme at Norwegian higher educational institutions (Following the OECD s DAC list for low income and middle income countries): Developing countries Central and Eastern Europe/ Central Asia Afghanistan Guyana Pakistan Albania Algeria Haiti Papua New Guinea Armenia Angola Honduras Paraguay Azerbaijan Bangladesh India Peru Benin Guyana Rep. of South Africa Bosnia-Herzegovina Bhutan Iraq Rwanda Bolivia Iran Sao Tome and Principe Georgia Brazil Ivory Coast Senegal Kosovo Burkina Faso Sierra Leone Kyrgyzstan Burundi Jordan Solomon Islands Macedonia Cambodia Kenya Somalia Moldova Cameroon Kiribati Sri Lanka Russia Cape Verde Islands Laos Sudan Central African Lesotho Republic Tajikistan Chad Liberia Swaziland Turkmenistan Colombia Madagascar Syria Ukraine Comoros Malawi Tanzania Uzbekistan Congo Maldives Thailand Cuba Mali The Philippines Djibouti Marshall Islands Togo Dominican Republic Mauritania Tonga East Timor Micronesia Tunisia Ecuador Mongolia Tuvalu Egypt Morocco Uganda El Salvador Mozambique Vanuatu Equatorial Guinea Myanmar Vietnam Eritrea Morocco West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza (Palestinian Areas) Ethiopia Myanmar Western Samoa Fiji Namibia Yemen Gambia Nepal Zambia Ghana Nicaragua Zimbabwe Guatemala Niger Guinea Nigeria Guinea-Bissau North Korea (Please notice that all Quota Scheme students at Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics must be recruited directly from one of Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics collaboration institutions in developing countries/ Russia listed on page 6 in this information document. No other scholarships are available). 7
2. Applicants with Individual Funding The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI), located in Oslo, requires that all admitted international students, who are not citizens of the EU/EEA/EFTA countries, and who need a visa to enter Norway, must document sufficient funding to undertake their studies at Norwegian higher educational institutions, before they can obtain a residence permit for study purposes (student residence permit) in Norway (www.udi.no). At the moment the minimum amount required is NOK 92 500. The figure will be updated in April 2013. It is important to notice that Norwegian state run higher educational institutions do not charge any tuition fee from international students, only a minor semester fee of NOK 620 to be paid to the Student Services Organisation in the beginning of each semester. The minimum financial requirements are therefore meant to ensure that the students are able to cover for their own living expenses while studying in Norway, including books, materials, accommodation, food etc. International applicants for admission to the MSc program in Logistics at Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics under the category Individual Funding and from countries where a visa is required to enter Norway must therefore document a minimum of NOK 92 500 to cover for the first academic year of the MSc studies together with their application form. They should also present a financial plan for how they intend to finance the second year of their MSc studies, since the international students will have to document additional NOK 92 500 at the time they apply to renew their student residence permit after one year. Documentation of funding submitted with the application can be confirmation letters from sponsors, confirmation of scholarships or grants, bank guarantees etc. Applications without such financial documentation will not be processed. Students from countries where a visa is required to enter Norway, and who are successfully admitted to the MSc program in Logistics under the category Individual Funding, will together with the letter of admission, be requested to transfer NOK 92 500 to a Norwegian bank account belonging to Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics within a fixed deadline, and in good time before arrival in Norway. When the money has been transferred, Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics will issue a confirmation letter confirming that the money has been received from the admitted student. The student will then be asked to present this confirmation letter to the nearest Norwegian Consulate or Embassy, who will then send the confirmation to UDI in Oslo. Please be aware that UDI can first finalize the application for student residence permit to Norway after receiving this confirmation letter. After the international students have arrived in Norway, they need to apply for a Norwegian ID-number. This ID-number will be received by the international students after about 3-4 weeks after arrival in Norway. The international students can then open their own private Norwegian bank account, and can request Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics to transfer their NOK 92 500 back to their private bank. More detailed information about the practical arrangements for transferring the required amount of money to the Norwegian bank account belonging to Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics will first be given together with the letter of admission. Applicants who are citizens of EU/EEA/EFTA countries, where a visa to enter Norway is not required, do not have to transfer a minimum of NOK 92 500 to the deposit account for international students mentioned above. They can instead include a letter with their application form, declaring that they are able to finance their studies at our specialised university for the first and second year of their MSc studies in Logistics. 8
APPLICATION DEADLINE AND PROCEDURES FOR APPLICANTS TO MSC IN LOGISTICS FOR ADMISSION IN 2013 The application deadline for admission to the international MSc program in Logistics for applicants under the Quota Scheme or with Individual Funding is 1 February 2013. Applicants are encouraged to forward their applications from December 2012 onwards. Contact person for applicants to the international MSc program in Logistics: Ms Ragnhild Brakstad Adviser/ International Coordinator MSc/ PhD students/ Programme Coordinator, Quota Scheme Office of the Director of Studies and Academic Affairs Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics P.O. Box 2110 NO-6402 Molde NORWAY Postal address for registered post: Molde University College - Specialized University in Logistics Britveien 2 NO-6411 Molde NORWAY Email: Ragnhild.Brakstad@himolde.no Phone (direct line): + 47 71 21 41 08 Fax: + 47 71 21 41 32 English home page: www.himolde.no. 9