Education

Rheology is an interdisciplinary science concerned with the flow and deformation of matter. It studies processing problems encountered with complex industrial fluids such as plastics, food products, coatings, industrial slurries, etc. The objective of EURHEO - European Master's in Engineering Rheology - is to offer an advanced education programme in Rheology and its applications to different Engineering areas. It links together fields such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, molecular biology, chemical and mechanical engineering, textile and food technology, etc.

EURHEO combines the expertise of six leading European universities in the field of Rheology. The curriculum is designed to provide graduates with the necessary skills to understand the relevance of rheology in materials science and engineering and to apply that knowledge to solve real-world engineering problems both autonomously and as a member of a multidisciplinary research team. The EURHEO study programme is tailored individually to the needs of each student. At KU Leuven, the programme is closely linked to the Master of Science in Engineering: Chemical Technology. Each EURHEO student is required to study at at least two universities in two countries. Upon completing their studies, students receive multiple degrees from the universities where they have taken courses and training.

This is an initial Master's programme. This programme can also be taken part-time.

Objectives

Rheology studies the deformation and flow of matter. It is a relatively young and multidisciplinary science that encompasses such different industrial areas of activity as plastics, ceramics, cosmetics, pharmaceutics, food and biotechnology, but also paints and inks, adhesives, lubricants and surfactants. There are many situations in which the deformation, or the flow of matter (which depend on the rheological characteristics of the materials involved) determines the performance of a product, the effectiveness of a service and/or the rate of a manufacturing process. Techniques and procedures developed for specific types of materials and industries within the context of rheology often are later found to be useful in completely different areas. A good example is the increasing use of computational, theoretical and experimental tools developed for polymers and the plastics industry in the food industry.

By the end of the programme the student will possess the required knowledge, understanding and skills to apply key elements of chemical engineering and will have mastered rheology at an advanced level. The student will have acquired a thorough technological knowledge, a multidisciplinary perspective and the required insight in the larger context (environmentally, sociologically, culturally, politically, economically and technical-industrially). Building on strong personal and professional interaction during the programme, the student will be able to create synergies within the different areas of rheology and contribute to its advancement in Europe and beyond. The student will have acquired a perspective based creativity, systematic and scientific study, and an awareness of the larger context and the engineer's role in society.

After graduation

Graduates will be qualified to work as a rheologist, that is, is an expert in rheology capable of solving real industrial problems in the field of polymer processing, construction using non-metallic materials, lubrication, food processing, printing and coating, oil exploration and many other technologies. The EURHEO programme is an integrated market-oriented programme aimed at research and product development in both industry and research institutions.

(Inter)national

The EURHEO programme is a partnership between six leading European universities in the field of rheology:
- University of Minho (Portugal) (coordinating institution)
- K.U.Leuven (Belgium)
- Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) (Belgium)
- University of Huelva (UHU) (Spain)
- University of Calabria (Spain)
- University of Ljubljana (Slovenia)

Graduates are conferred a double degree from the institutions at which the student completed the programme.

Contact

Faculty of Engineering Science
Programme director
Prof. dr. Ir. P. Van Puyvelde
Contact
Prof. P. Moldenaers
Administrative office
Kasteelpark Arenberg 1 bus 2200
3001 HEVERLEE
tel. + 32 16 32 13 50
fax + 32 16 32 19 82
info@eng.kuleuven.be
www.eng.kuleuven.be

General information
Study Advice Service
Naamsestraat 80 box 5415
3000 LEUVEN, Belgium
To contact us please complete the contact form on our website.

Useful links

Visit this programme's website: http://eurheo.eu/rheology.