Introduction

This master's program includes a core curriculum of mandatory cardiovascular courses and a broad range of elective courses within the cardiovascular and biomedical enginering field, including perfusion techniques. A student who wishes to work within the health sector will obtain the necessary background to manage extracorporeal circulation with a heart-lung machine during cardiac surgery and take part in introducing new cardiovascular monitoring  and treatment techniques that demand special qualifications. In addition, the program will give the student experience in research relating to the development and use of new cardiovascular technologies.

The master's program is offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences, Aarhus University in collaboration with the Engineering College of Aarhus and Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, which all perform quality teaching on an international level.

Aim

• To ensure the necessary qualifications to mind and manage extracorporeal circulation and circulatory support units used during and after cardiac surgery.
• To ensure the scientific skills that are necessary to participate in clinical research within the cardiovascular area.

Entry requirements

A relevant Bachelor's degree in nursing, engineering, medicine, chemistry, biology , physics, laboratory biotechnology or a similar background, e.g. senior nurse, is required to begin this program. Additionally, at least 2 years of relevant clinical or technical experience after completion of such education is required. Such experience could be from a surgery department, intensive care unit, department of anaesthesia, or a biomedical engineering department in a hospital or industry.

Duration

The program is based on part-time tuition over 4 semesters, with duration of 2 years. There are 4 modules, where one module each semester consists of full-time tuition covering the first 6 weeks, starting around September 1^st and February 1^st.

Language

The official language will be English.

Structure

The first 3 modules are divided up into 3 courses. The 4^th module will be used to perform the final master thesis.
There is an examination/assessment shortly after each module.

Each course represents a total of 5 ECTS point (European Credit Transfer System and consists of approximately 50 hours of tuition and laboratory exercises.

Lectures will be given at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Aarhus University, The Engineering College and Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby. Animal experimental exercises  will take place at The Clinical Institute, Aarhus University.
Fluid mechanics and medical instrumentation demonstrations and exercises will take place at the laboratories of Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby and the new Cardiovascular Fluid Dynamics Lab at the Engineering College of Aarhus.

Title and competence profile

Completion of the program leads to the title: Master of Cardiovascular Technology.

A master's degree in cardiovascular technology with speciality in perfusion techniques will, complemented with clinical practice approved by The National Health Board and The European Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (EBCP), qualify the student to perform the following tasks:

• set up and manage extracorporeal circulation using a heart-lung machine during open heart surgery
• set up and manage circulatory support, including use of an inter aortic balloon pump, ventricle assist systems or an artificial heart
• set up and manage extracorporeal membrane oxygenation
• set up and manage extracorporeal circulation in non-cardiovascular applications, such as selective organ perfusion
• supervise surgical procedures concerning treatment of heart rhythm disorders, including pacemaker implantation
• participate in an interdisciplinary collaboration involving research and development of new methods for surveillance, diagnostics and treatment of cardiovascular patients
• collaborate with the biomedical industry concerning exploitation of research results for development of new equipment with the cardiovascular field
• assess new methods and equipment in the cardiovascular field
• teach the theoretical background for an application of new cardiovascular methods

Advisory committee

In addition to the academic committee required for master programs in Denmark, an advisory committee will be established, representing employers of the graduated masters from hospitals and industries in Scandinavia, as well as member from EBCP and SCANSECT.

Regulations

The master's program is based on regulations concerning master programs from The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (no. 682, August 16, 2002), and The National Board of Health's regulations concerning perfusion education (no. 68, May 17, 1995).

Tuition fee

€ 14.000,00 includes books and teaching material for all four semeters but not room and board.