MSc in Energy-Efficient and Environmental Building Design
Helsingborg, Sweden
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Request the earliest start date
TUITION FEES
Request tuition fees
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
Scholarships
Explore scholarship opportunities to help fund your studies
Introduction
Programme overview
Buildings are responsible for a large share of our global energy use. Energy use is in fact the main determinant of a building’s global environmental footprint, considering its total life span.
Lund University is internationally renowned for high-quality research related to energy-efficient buildings. Our expertise is centred on a whole-building perspective, which accounts for inhabitant needs as well as their comfort and health. The University’s advanced research, and its close ties to the building industry, create an excellent foundation for a strong Master’s programme with a largely unique focus on buildings.
Our students will graduate with advanced knowledge, skills and competencies within the area of energy-efficient and environmental building design in heating-dominated climates. Our goal is to create highly skilled professionals, who will significantly contribute to and influence the design, building or renovation of energy-efficient buildings and relating to renewable energy supply, taking into consideration the architecture and environment, the inhabitants’ behaviour, needs, health and comfort, as well as the overall economy.
The carefully tailored theoretical courses are complemented with practical modules, in which students apply their new knowledge. This pedagogical approach enables a strong learning progression and is the reason why the programme is shaped by tailor-made mandatory courses. Our students work together in small teams to design energy-efficient concepts and buildings and to analyse the consequences of various design alternatives using supportive computer tools and methods in an integrated design process. The student teams are intentionally mixed both in terms of cultural background and academic backgrounds, such as in architecture and engineering. Thus, the students are trained in the interdisciplinary design process and in teamwork, which is very important for their future careers. Courses also include site visits, guest lecturers from the industry and tours of existing good examples of energy-efficient building design.
The programme involves teachers from different departments at Lund University, mainly: Department of Architecture and Built Environment (Divisions of Energy and Building Design and Environmental Psychology) and Department of Building and Environmental Technology (Divisions of Building Physics and Building Services).
Curriculum
Programme structure
Semester 1:
- Energy Use and Thermal Comfort in Buildings (7.5 credits)
- Moisture Safety Design (7.5 credits)
- Passive House – Integrating Thermal and Moisture Issues (15 credits)
Semester 2:
- Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality (7.5 credits)
- Daylighting and Lighting of Buildings (7.5 credits)
- Energy-Efficient Office Building – Integrating Daylight and Ventilation (15 credits)
Semester 3:
- Building Integrated Solar Energy Systems (7.5 credits)
- Life-Cycle Perspective and Environmental Impact of Buildings (7.5 credits)
- Public Building – Integrating Solar Energy, Costs and Environmental Issues (15 credits)
Semester 4:
- Degree project in Energy-Efficient and Environmental Buildings (30 credits)
Career Opportunities
Career prospects
The rising global awareness of environmental concerns, coupled with increasingly demanding building regulations, means there is a high demand for professionals that are skilled within energy-efficient building design.
With a specialisation in building considerations for heating-dominated climates, graduates become attractive candidates on e.g. the European, Russian, Chinese and North American job markets. The methodologies and knowledge gained can to a large extent also be of use for building design in temperate climates.
The local Swedish market has seen a significant surge in the demand for energy-efficient buildings in the last ten years, and we are among the leading countries in the world in practising these principles.
The programme leads to a Master of Science degree in Energy-efficient and Environmental Buildings. As a graduate, you will be able to work in design teams responsible for planning and designing energy-efficient and environmental buildings, including renovation of the existing building stock. You will be able to take a leading role in companies (e.g. building consultancies, architect firms, construction companies) and municipalities pursuing energy and environmental aspects, with a whole-building perspective in mind. Students have linked their degree project to research projects at the university, and others performed their degree projects at a variety of architecture and engineering companies. Some have gone on to work for e.g. White Arkitekter (Sweden), Bengt Dahlgren (Sweden), Sweco (Sweden), Skanska (Sweden), Link Arkitektur (Norway), Arup (Germany), and WSP (UK), and Rambøll A/S (Denmark). Other graduates have moved on to PhD positions at e.g. Queensland University of Technology in Australia, ETH Zürich, Lund University and Luleå University of Technology.