Energy-efficient and Environmental Building Design - Master's Programme

Our students will graduate with advanced knowledge, skills and competencies in the area of energy-efficient and environmen­tal building design in heating-dominated climates. Our goal is to educate highly skilled professionals, who will contribute to and influence the design, building or renovation of energy-efficient buildings with building-integrated renewable energy supply, considering the architecture and environment, the inhabit­ants’ behaviour, needs, health and comfort. 

The theoretical courses are complement­ed with practical modules, in which students apply their new knowledge. This enables a strong learn­ing progression and is the reason why the programme only consists of mandatory courses. Our students work together in small teams to design energy-efficient concepts and buildings and to analyse the consequences of design alternatives using supportive computer tools and methods in an integrated design process. The student teams are mixed both in terms of cultural background and academic background, such as in architecture and engineering. Thus, the students are trained in the interdisciplinary design process and in team work, which is important for their future careers. Courses also include site visits, industry guest lecturers and tours of good examples of energy-efficient building design.

In each of the first three semesters of the programme, you will take two theory-based courses followed by an applied course, in which you will apply theory to a specific building project. The fourth semester will be spent carrying out your degree project. Examples of companies where students have performed their degree projects include Medesco (Greece), LUWOGE consult GmbH (Germany), Skanska (Sweden), Arup (Germany), and WSP (UK).

List of courses in this programme www.lth.se/english/study/taemb

The programme involves teachers from different divisions at Lund University: Divisions of Energy and Building Design, Building Physics and Building Services at the Department of Building and Environmental Technology

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 in 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 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 decades, and Sweden is amongst 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), 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.