On the first semester, you will work with energy demand reduction and healthy indoor climate. You will learn how to analyse a building’s indoor climate and on the basis of this you will explore how the energy demand can be reduced.

On the second semester, you will focus on ventilation, heating and cooling systems for buildings. You will analyse the systems and suggest how they can be optimised while considering factors such as finances and the level of comfort for the users of the building.

During the third semester, you have different options:

• You can do a regular semester at AAU with courses and project work
• You can begin your Master’s thesis, so your work is spread out over both your 3rd and 4th semester

Description of Courses
Read the description of the specific courses (modules) in the latest version of the study curriculum for Building Energy Design, located under the section titled "Overview of the programme."

On the fourth semester, you write your Master’s thesis, where you draw on all the knowledge, experience and skills you have acquired during your studies. Depending on your topic choice, the thesis will be in the nature of developmental work, further development, or actual research.

For a description of the courses on each semester, please see the current curriculum for Building Energy Design (under §18 Overview of the programme). 

During the Master’s programme in Building Energy Design, you gain an integrated understanding of the relation between energy efficient design of buildings, optimal operation concerning indoor climate, energy consumption, and overall economy.

You obtain specialised knowledge about energy design in buildings, and you will be able to create cost-efficient solutions with minimal environmental impact in terms of design, construction, and HVAC systems.

You will work with topics such as:

• Building energy use
• Indoor environmental quality
• Heat and moisture flow in building
• Energy modelling
• Ventilation
• Heating and cooling systems
• Building energy systems

With a Master of Science in Technology in Building Energy Design, you have plenty of opportunities to find work.

Your future job title could be:

• Project Manager
• Specialist
• Energy Consultant
• Head of Operations

As a graduate, you have plenty of opportunities to find work. You can work in consulting engineering companies where you can make calculations, choose materials, and supervise the construction. You can also work in large organisations such as hospitals, large real-estate companies and municipalities where you can optimise the operation of the buildings in relation to both indoor working environment and low energy use.

Graduating from Building Energy Design, you will have influence on the environmental development in our future society by working with topics such as energy use and optimisation, alternative energy, computer simulation of energy flux, control of building systems, indoor climate, heating plants, and mechanical and natural ventilation.

Problem based learning and working in groups during your study programme will give you many useful skills that make you an attractive candidate on the job market. You know how to approach a problem and solve it in collaboration with other people, which is often how things are done in the “real world”.

If you need guidance on the content and workload of the study, admission, study environment or know more about what it is like to study at Aalborg University, you can contact your student counsellor. The student counsellor is a student themselves and under an obligation to maintain confidentiality. 

Student guidance
Department of the Built Environment
Thomas Manns Vej 23
9220 Aalborg Ø

Phone (Wednesdays 15-17): 2075 8277
E-mail: studievejledning@build.aau.dk 
Office hours: Wednesdays 15:00-17:00

See who is in the study guidance team

Do you have questions regarding the composition of your education, admission, study changes, examination rules, credit, exemptions, etc. you can contact the Study Board. 

Study Board of the Built Environment
Thomas Manns Vej 23
9220 Aalborg East
E-mail: inst.build.sdnvn@build.aau.dk 

Read more about the Study Board.

Are you a student at AAU? In AAU Study and Wellbeing Guidance, we can help you with, among other things, choices during your study programme, study doubts, study techniques, motivation, wellbeing, leave and study resignation or perhaps just a conversation about your thoughts regarding your study programme and wellbeing. We are happy to talk to you about anything big or small.

See opening hours and contact information

Aalborg University is famous for its problem based learning which means that you work in a group on a written assignment each semester - possibly in collaboration with an industrial partner. This study method is also called “The Aalborg Model for Problem Based Learning”. The method is highly recognised internationally; including by UNESCO.
The problem based project work at Aalborg University gives you the opportunity to acquire new knowledge and competencies at a high academic level in an independent way. You get to apply theory to practice when you work to solve real-life problems, which will ensure that you are well prepared for your future career.
Learn more about PBL.

When doing project work, you work closely in groups with other students who have roughly the same academic interests and ambitions as yourself. This gives you the opportunity to cooperate, share knowledge and to explore larger and more complex academic problems than you would have been able to do on your own. Furthermore, the groups serve a social purpose and make it easier for you to get to know your fellow students.
Learn more about group work at AAU.

Aalborg University works closely with the business community, which means that during your studies you work with real issues from companies and organisations. Thus, you will already have the opportunity while studying to obtain practical experience with the theory you learn at the university.

At Aalborg University, we offer research-based teaching, which in short means that your lecturers conduct research in the same area they teach. You thus have access to the latest knowledge and dedicated teachers who are passionate about what they teach. The teaching material thus not only includes books but may also consist of current articles from journals. 

The laboratories at Aalborg University are of the highest standard, and they play an important role in the teaching. You will work under the best laboratory conditions with access to state-of-the-art technology, which is vital for your benefiting from the teaching.

As a university city, Aalborg has many advantages. The city is Denmark's fourth largest, and a good 20 percent of the municipality's inhabitants are students. The city has much to offer when it comes to culture, sports and leisure, but at the same time, has a manageable size and safe environment. Compared to other university cities in Denmark, it is easy to find good student accommodation in Aalborg.
Learn more about student life in Aalborg and what it means to study in Aalborg.