Building the future!

Are you looking for a programme in which you learn how to design and evaluate sustainable buildings from the used materials, over the energy concepts up to the point of demolition? Do you want to contribute to a responsible use of resources to protect the climate and the environment?

Then „Green Building Engineering“ is the right choice for you!

Within the Master’s programme Green Building Engineering starting in winter semester 2023 you can combine your interest in the environment, technology, society and business in order to develop green buildings and make your contribution to a more sustainable society and economy. With an interdisciplinary approach, the engineering Master’s programme addresses all relevant areas necessary for the planning, dimensioning and assessment of tomorrow’s sustainable buildings. Successful graduates have a comprehensive knowledge of construction, the materials used, energy concepts, deconstruction and recycling. Anyone who is interested in making an active contribution as an engineer to making the building sector more sustainable is in the right place here – and worldwide: The Master’s programme is offered in English.

Why Green Building Engineering?

The construction sector is one of the largest of the world economy! With an equivalent to roughly 13% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product), worldwide construction-related spending adds up to 10 trillion dollars. Apart from the economic aspect, the sheer size of the sector makes it one of the main factors when it comes to environmental impact. Buildings alone account for more than 30% of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and more than 40% of global energy consumption, with the numbers growing annually. And since buildings last a long time, the actions we take now will affect the environment for years to come, bringing multiple benefits to both the economy and society.

Construction and demolition are the biggest sources of waste and contribute to around 35% of all waste in the EU. This is why we need to start considering all phases of construction within our design. The industry should become more aware of the pollution and waste generated, including the parameters of sustainable construction by aiming at closed-loop material cycles. This and many other aspects of resource-efficient and effective use of raw materials and energy are taught within this Master’s programme.

Course Content

• Planning, design and dimensioning of buildings
• Digital design and automated construction
• Ecological assessment
• Green roofs, facades and shading systems
• Resource-efficient building materials
• Material and construction bionics
• Circular design and construction
• Energy-efficient building technology (heating, ventilation, air conditioning)
• Energy supply within buildings and neibourhoods
• Ecological evaluation: key figures, comparisons

You will learn…

After successfully completing the Master’s programme in Green Building Engineering, you will…

• …have a broad understanding of the basic and deep knowledge of green building construction
• …be capable to design and plan new green buildings, including the structure, building components, building physics, energy management, greening systems
• …be able to further develop existing buildings to green buildings based on the principles of a resource-efficient and effective use of raw materials and energy and the integration of the structures in a circular economy.
• …know how to choose suitable materials for their projects and make decisions about maintenance and energy improvements that are resource-efficient and effective
• …have a basic knowledge in spatial planning, landscape architecture, law and economics, innovation management and social sciences
• …be able to approach problems from different perspectives to find the most suitable solutions
• …have a broad understanding of resource efficiency, effectiveness, and the circular economy in regard to the industry
• …manage and solve complex technical problems
• …make decisions and be responsible for an entire project to design and evaluate green buildings (e.g. life cycle assessment)

Career prospects: constructing resource-efficient buildings

The construction industry is one of the most influential sectors in terms of resource consumption. With the sustainable mindset becoming more relevant within society, the demand for qualified personnel specialised in resource-efficient construction has begun to rise. Graduates of the Green Building Engineering Master are perfectly qualified engineers throughout various disciplines of the construction sector and beyond. Due to the interdisciplinary approach of the Master’s programme, graduates are well-rounded-off engineers specialised in green building construction as a holistic concept. With development opportunities into different areas, graduates will be able to work either directly in the construction sector (e.g. in engineering or planning offices, construction companies, as freelance engineers or consultants), the public sector (e.g. federal ministries, provincial governments, municipalities), the service sector or in research and development (e.g. universities and in general in the education sector, research institutions, R&D divisions of various companies or consulting).

Structure of the Master’s programme

The curriculum includes…

• …compulsory modules with a total of 54 ECTS credits
• …the master thesis with 30 ECTS
• …elective modules with 24 ECTS credits
• …12 ECTS credits are freely selectable, with the possibility of attending module courses at BOKU or at other universities.

Please see the curriculum for further detail.

Plus: Vocational Permission for civil engineer

Graduates of the Green Building Engineering Master, who have at least three years of practical experience after graduation, and have a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences and Civil Engineering (Umweltingenieurwissenschaften) from the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences (BOKU), or a Civil Engineering (Bauingenieurwesen/Bauingenieurwissenschaften) from TU Wien, TU Graz or Universität Innsbruck or fulfil the equivalent admission criteria, will be able to take the examination for civil engineers at the Chamber of Civil Engineers Austria (Ziviltechnikerprüfung).

Admission requirements

Graduates of the following Bachelor’s programmes are eligible for admission, provided the necessary requirements for English language proficiency are met:

• Environmental Sciences and Civil Engineering (Umweltingenieurwissenschaften) offered by BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna
• Civil Engineering (Bauingenieurwesen/ Bauingenieurwissenschaften) offered by TU Wien, TU Graz and University of Innsbruck

For graduates of other Bachelor’s programmes, learning outcomes required for admission are defined in the curriculum. In addition, knowledge of English at level B2 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) is required.

Combined competences: natural sciences, technology and socioeconomics

The 3-pillar principle serves to solve interdisciplinary issues and is the central identification feature of the bachelor’s and Master’s programmes at BOKU – University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna.

In the Master’s programmes, the content of the compulsory and elective modules, based on the entire curriculum (except for the master’s thesis), are assigned to the following areas with a minimum share of 15% each:

• Technology and Engineering
• Natural Sciences
• Economic and Social Sciences, Law