Building Sustainability in Urban Futures (MBA) Technische Universität Berlin

English

Introduction

This Master’s degree programme is a comprehensive, interdisciplinary course for those who plan a career in real estate project planning and management with a focus on implementing sustainability and acknowledging the relevance of different urban contexts.

The concept of the German “Energiewende” – literally, energy transition – has gained international attention. It includes a variety of measures that aim at making Europe's largest economy free of fossil fuels and nuclear energy. In order to attain this, all areas of energy production and consumption will have to go through a transition process. Besides mobility and industry, buildings are therefore one of the key factors for a successful Energiewende.

Advantages and Opportunities

The programme has an orientation on practical implementation. Whereas building a house has become a manageable task, things become much more complicated when considering the urban environment and wider interests such as energy efficiency. Strategic concepts for communication and cooperation are crucial for success when dealing with large-scale projects.

The Master’s degree programme in building sustainability focuses therefore not only on economic and technical perspectives but also aims at imparting basic knowledge in other relevant disciplines. This means that the scope of the programme is both broad and specific at the same time. The combination of technology, management, and sustainability-related topics is therefore a unique opportunity for young professionals to extend their skills.

Graduates will be able to moderate and manage complex projects in the planning, construction, and real estate sectors. The programme provides the knowledge and skills for assessing projects from economic, ecological, and technical perspectives as well as for creatively, both in teams or independently, finding solutions considering various stakeholder interests. Graduates will be able to enter the labour market (private and public sectors) or continue on with postgraduate studies.

EUREF Campus

The main study location is the European Energy Forum (EUREF), built around the historical Gasometer in Berlin-Schöneberg. The campus is the setting of an innovative community, which includes applied research, economic, and policy consultancies that are mainly based on the philosophy of sustainability. Students (who are the future building experts) study in close cooperation with leading enterprises and institutions located on the EUREF campus. This enables students to also become acquainted with practical projects in the field of energy, sustainability, and management.

31 March for the semester starting in October of each year

Programme Content

The Building Sustainability in Urban Futures MBA programme comprises skills, methods, and concepts to consider different approaches and to understand and align these approaches in order to reach sustainable solutions. Such competencies are indispensable in every building, construction, and real estate project that takes energy efficiency and other sustainability criteria as balancing economic, social, ecological, and cultural aspects in responsibility for future generations into account.

In this regard, students will learn a lot from experts and from each other. Students will hopefully enjoy the international, interdisciplinary teamwork as well as Berlin’s urban and cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Module Description

The Master’s degree programme is taught in English over a period of three semesters.

The first semester covers the technical, economic, entrepreneurial, and legal foundations for management decisions in the building sustainability sector.

The second semester deepens this view through the Management, Smart Buildings, Energy Performance of Buildings, and lecture series modules.

The third semester broadens this view while simultaneously focusing on practice according to each student's individual interests.

All semesters include lectures, tutorials, and seminars as well as company visits and excursions, online materials related to practice, and extracurricular activities.

The Master's thesis is due in the third semester and concludes the programme.

First Semester:

• Technology (9 ECTS)
• Economics (6 ECTS)
• Business (9 ECTS)
• Law (6 ECTS)

Second Semester:

• Management (12 ECTS)
• Lecture series (6 ECTS)
• Smart Buildings and the Integration of Renewable Energies (6 ECTS)
• Energy Performance of Buildings (6 ECTS)

Third Semester:

• Elective 1 (6 ECTS)
• Elective 2 (6 ECTS)
• Master's thesis (18 ECTS)

6,600 EUR

The semester contribution (enrolment fee) amounts to 329.09 EUR per semester and is not included in the tuition fees. It offers a semester ticket covering public transport in the Berlin metropolitan area (ABC zones).

In order to cover living expenses (room and board, health insurance, books, personal costs) for the study period in Berlin, we recommend that participants budget approx. 1,000 to 1,500 EUR per month.

Required application documents

• University degree recognised by German universities (at least 210 ECTS)
• Proof of at least one year of work experience (preferably in the relevant areas of construction, building management, and energy) after completion of studies
• Tabular CV with information that includes educational and professional background
• Motivation letter in English (maximum 1 page A4)
• Proof of English language proficiency (details below)
• GMAT/GRE (if available)
• Further documents, such as references, may be submitted.
• An APS certificate must be enclosed. The German Embassies in China, Vietnam, and India only issue study visas to applicants with the APS seal of approval.

Applicants must provide proof of their English skills: level B2 (or higher) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) (not required in the case of high school graduation from a school with English as its primary language).

31 March for the semester starting in October of each year

No

Although Technische Universität Berlin does not itself provide student accommodation, the "Studierendenwerk Berlin" (a local non-profit agency for students affairs) offers a number of accommodation options for students enrolled at educational institutions in Berlin. Accommodation is available through the Student Services Office (https://www.stw.berlin/) or on the private market.

The Career Service at Technische Universität Berlin offers a wide array of services for students seeking employment during their studies in Berlin as well as after completion of their degree programme.

The internationally renowned Technische Universität Berlin (TUB) is located in Germany's capital city at the heart of Europe. The academic activities are focused on achieving sharply-defined goals: building a distinctive profile for our university, ensuring exceptional performance in research and teaching, providing our graduates with excellent qualifications and a modern approach to university administration.

The TU Berlin strives to promote the dissemination of knowledge and to facilitate technological progress through adherence to the core principles of excellence and quality. Strong regional, national, and international networking with partners in science and industry are an important aspect in these endeavours.

TU Berlin is an internationally renowned research-intensive university dedicated to promoting science and technology for the benefit of broader society and committed to the principle of sustainability. The challenges and problems facing modern societies cannot be met on the basis of findings from individual disciplines. TU Berlin is addressing these challenges with the aid of transdisciplinary collaborative projects. The establishment of important research partnerships in the context of the Excellence Initiative, the German Research Foundation (DFG) and European Institute for Innovation and Technology, in addition to constantly increasing third-party funding for research projects, demonstrate the dynamic developments in this area.

Prestigious science prizes and awards make these successes even more obvious; these include Alexander von Humboldt Chairs, Einstein Chairs, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prizes, and numerous grants from the European Research Council. Research for Innovation – this is a credo that TU Berlin implements impressively. Its extraordinary profile as a technical university in association with its humanities, social sciences, planning, and economics programmes is indeed an excellent breeding ground for strong interdisciplinary work. By combining basic and applied research endeavours, and with close links to partners in science and industry, university researchers tackle societal issues and develop forward-looking solutions.

The study location is on the site of the European Energy Forum (EUREF) around the historical Gasometer in Berlin-Schöneberg. The campus offers an innovative community including applied research as well as economic and policy consultancies mainly based on the philosophy of sustainability. Students, who will be the future's energy experts, learn in close cooperation with leading enterprises and institutions located on the EUREF campus to become acquainted with practical projects in the field of energy.

As the capital of Germany and Germany's largest metropolis, Berlin offers unparalleled opportunities for students to enrich their extracurricular activities with culture, history, travel, and professional development. One of Europe's principal artistic centres, Berlin offers drama, musical performances and art exhibitions, as well as world-class cultural events such as the Berlinale film festival. Historically, Berlin is a fascinating city, bearing witness to Germany's Imperial Period, serving as the cultural epicentre in the Twenties, and being resurrected as a divided city during the Cold War. Now a vibrant symbol of German reunification, Berlin has been a focal point for European historical trends and movements.

Only a short trip from Germany's northern coastal regions, and serviced by international train and air connections, Berlin also offers excellent opportunities for inner-European travel. Berlin is most strongly influenced by the presence of the German government, but also serves as a major European financial centre. As a city that is constantly under construction, there is abundant demonstration material in sustainable and energy-efficient buildings. It also offers a range of opportunities for business and management internships, posing unique opportunities in cultural and public life that enable students to develop both personal and professional interests.