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

Master's programme · 2 years · 120 credits

Houses and residential buildings with normal gardens and roof gardens built in sustainable ways at Western Harbour in Malmö (Aline Lessner/imagebank.sweden.se)

Description

A programme for those with a Bachelor’s degree in architecture, civil engineering, architectural engineering or equivalent. Buildings are responsible for a large share of our global energy use. Energy use is in fact a significant 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, creates 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 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 (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.

Closed for applications

Application opportunities

Contact

Programme Director

Jouri Kanters

Email: msc [dot] eebd [at] lth [dot] lu [dot] se

International Coordinator

Sabine Richardson

Email: msc [dot] eebd [at] lth [dot] lu [dot] se

Requirements and selection

Entry requirements

A Bachelor’s degree in architecture, civil engineering, architectural engineering or equivalent. Completed courses within the three subjects building technology/structural engineering, building physics/science and building services. A minimum of 3 credits/ECTS is required for each of these three subjects. In addition, a total of 30 credits/ECTS is required as sum of any combination of courses within energy and building technology/structural engineering, building physics/science, building services, building materials and architecture. English 6.

Selection criteria

The selection is based on academic qualifications.

English language requirements

Most of Lund University’s programmes require English Level 6 (unless otherwise stated under 'Entry requirements'). This is the equivalent of an overall IELTS score of 6.5 or a TOEFL score of 90. There are several ways to prove your English language proficiency – check which proof is accepted at the University Admissions in Sweden website. All students must prove they meet English language requirements by the deadline, in order to be considered for admission.

How to prove your English proficiency – universityadmissions.se

Country-specific requirements

Check if there are any country-specific eligibility rules for you to study Bachelor's or Master's studies in Sweden:

Country-specific requirements for Bachelor's studies – universityadmissions.se

Country-specific requirements for Master's studies – universityadmissions.se

Apply

Start Autumn Semester 2024

Day-time Lund, full time 100%

In English

Study period

2 September 2024 - 7 June 2026

Application

Closed for applications

How to apply

Lund University uses a national application system run by University Admissions in Sweden. It is only possible to apply during the application periods.

When to apply for studies

Step 1: Apply online

  • Check that you meet the entry requirements of the programme or course you are interested in (refer to the section above on this webpage).
  • Start your application – go to the University Admissions in Sweden website where you create an account and select programmes/courses during the application period.
    Visit the University Admissions in Sweden website
  • Rank your programme/course choices in order of preference and submit them before the application deadline.

Step 2: Submit documents

  • Read about how to document your eligibility and how to submit your documents at the University Admissions in Sweden website. Follow any country-specific document rules for Master's studies or Bachelor's studies
    Country-specific requirements for Bachelor's studies – universityadmissions.se
    Country-specific requirements for Master's studies – universityadmissions.se
     
  • Get all your documents ready:
    - official transcripts and high school diploma (Bachelor's applicants)
    - official transcripts and degree certificate or proof that you are in the final year of your Bachelor's (Master's applicants)
    - passport/ID (all applicants) and
    - proof of English proficiency (all applicants).
     
  • Prepare programme-specific documents if stated in the next paragraph on this webpage.
  • Upload or send all required documents to University Admissions before the document deadline.
  • Pay the application fee (if applicable – refer to the section below on this webpage) before the document deadline.

* Note that the process is different if you are applying as an exchange student or as a part of a cooperation programme (such as Erasmus+).
* If you have studied your entire Bachelor's programme in Sweden and all of your academic credits are in Ladok, you do not have to submit transcripts or your diploma when applying for a Master's programme. However, there may still be other documents you need to submit! See the link below. 

Svensk student? 
Läs instruktionerna om att söka till ett internationellt masterprogram på lu.se

Programme-specific documents

In addition to the documents mentioned under Step 2, you must also submit the document 'Summary sheet’ when you apply to this programme. To do this you need to:

  1. Fill in our template.
  2. Save the template as a PDF.
  3. Upload the PDF to your account at universityadmissons.se.

Template for the summary sheet Energy-Efficient and Environmental Building Design (PDF, 479 kB, new window)

No additional programme-specific documents (such as a CV or letters of recommendation) are required when you apply for this programme.
 

Watch on YouTube: How to apply for a Master's programme 

Tuition fees

Non-EU/EEA citizens

Full programme/course tuition fee: SEK 340 000

First payment: SEK 85 000

Convert currency – xe.com

Citizens of a country outside of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland are required to pay tuition fees. You pay one instalment of the tuition fee in advance of each semester.

Tuition fees, payments and exemptions

EU/EEA citizens and Switzerland

There are no tuition fees for citizens of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland.

Application fee

If you are required to pay tuition fees, you are generally also required to pay an application fee of SEK 900 when you apply at the University Admissions in Sweden website. You pay one application fee regardless of how many programmes or courses you apply to.


*Note that there are no tuition or application fees for exchange students or doctoral/PhD students, regardless of their nationality.

Scholarships & funding

Lund University Global Scholarship programme

The Lund University Global Scholarship programme is a merit-based and selective scholarship targeted at top academic students from countries outside the EU/EEA.

Lund University Global Scholarship

Swedish Institute Scholarships

The Swedish Institute offers scholarships to international students applying for studies in Sweden at Master's level.

Scholarship information on the Swedish Institute website

Country-specific scholarships and funding options

Lund University has agreements with scholarship organisations and funding bodies in different countries, which may allow applicants to apply for funding or scholarships in their home countries for their studies at Lund University.

External scholarships

Information about scholarships from external organisations

Testimonials about this Master's