Sustainable Construction: Skills for a New Building Culture
Next start: 16 January 2026
Schedule (in German only)
Application deadline: 26 November 2025
Online Advisory Appointments 2025 (no registration required):
On the following dates, Lucia Edelsbrunner (Programme Management, TU Graz) will be available to answer your questions:
- Fri, 7 November, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
- Tue, 18 November, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m
- Thu, 20 November, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m
Please use this Webex-Link to join!
On the following dates, Marlina Paternostro (Programme Management, TU Vienna) will be available to answer your questions:
- Wed, 5 November, 09:30 – 10:00 a.m.
- Fri, 14 November, 09:30 – 10:00 a.m.
- Fri, 21 November, 09:30 – 10:00 a.m.
- Mon, 24 November, 09:30 – 10:00 a.m.
Please use this Zoom-Link to join!
Sustainability Award of the Federal Ministry for Science and Research and the Food Ministry in the category of teaching and curricula
- Final degree: Certificate from Graz University of Technology and Vienna University of Technology
- Duration: 2 semesters part-time
- ECTS credit points: 42
- Language of instruction: German
- Schedule (German only)
- Study locations: TU Graz and TU Wien
- Tuition fees: € 9.800,- (VAT-free), individual modules each € 4.200,- (VAT-free), these fees do not include travel, lodging or meals expenses
- Discount: The first 5 complete applications received will be granted a 10% discount. The tuition fee will therefore be € 8,820 (VAT-free) instead of € 9,800 (VAT-free).
- Curriculum: Graz University of Technology and Vienna University of Technology Certificate (German only)
Content
The university programme consists of three modules:
Module 1: Sustainability Strategies in the Construction Industry
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Development of Sustainability in the Construction Sector
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Ecological Sustainability
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Economic Sustainability
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Social Sustainability
Module 2: Integrated Planning & Energy Efficiency
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Integrated Project Development
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Buildings & Energy Efficiency
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Calculation & Simulation Tools
Module 3: Building Certification in Practice
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Assessment Methodology & Evaluation Criteria for Building Certification
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Practical Application of Building Certification
Depending on availability, the modules may also be booked individually at the start of the programme.
After completing the programme, you will have the following competences:
- you will view the life cycle of buildings in a holistic manner, understanding the need for better design quality, modified construction products and construction systems.
- you understand the changes in competition and the design process, connected with sustainability in the construction sector.
- you have mastered the fundamentals of sustainable economics and use the necessary tools in building practice and construction projects.
- you are aware of the connections between building energy use and climate protection, and can issue energy certifications for buildings.
- you have the necessary specialist knowledge to complete the ÖGNI consultant examination (including ÖGNI registered professional).
- you develop and implement sustainable strategies in an interdisciplinary working environment.
Climate change is the greatest threat to sustainable development in all parts of the world and has far-reaching, unprecedented impacts. The construction sector, including buildings, is the biggest polluter, but also holds enormous potential.
Excellent architecture is sustainable. Excellent technology is architecture’s perfect partner. This combination of architecture and engineering results in houses that are forward-looking, environmentally friendly and great to live in. This is how we tackle climate change and the energy crisis.
![[Translate to Englisch:] Kopfhöhrer](https://www.tugraz.at/fileadmin/_processed_/e/6/csm_AirCampus_Archiv_2_Sujetfoto_c_TheAngryTeddy_pixabay.com_2728bc63e7.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Bildquelle: TheAngryTeddy – pixabay.com")
The programme is particularly recommended for those working in the construction industry or in the property sector – from individuals involved in project development to those responsible for property management. The programme offers a broad range of approaches to make buildings climate-resilient and to raise awareness of climate-friendly and climate-conscious materials and construction methods.
The topic of sustainability has fully captured the building sector. More and more people want to use buildings that have a positive relationship with the environment. This programme is a good starting point for dedicated people wishing to help design a better world.
My ambition is to support the development of practicable solutions as well as to encourage suggestions for applying these solutions. In the future, appropriate priority should be assigned to optimizing interfaces in construction processes as well as to ensuring the high-quality execution of these processes. I also see great added value in networking and exchanging ideas with experts. The university programme in Sustainable Construction offers the ideal conditions for this.
Target Groups
The university programme is aimed at
- planners from the construction sector (e.g. architecture, civil engineering, building services engineering),
- clients, investors (e.g. at real estate funds, project developers from larger municipalities, provincial real estate organisations, national real estate organisations, building departments at large companies).
- public administration departments
Furthermore, this programme provides postgraduate continuing education for managers in the construction industry, who have specialised in sustainable construction, or who wish to specialise in this area.
In general:
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An internationally recognised first academic degree in a technical, natural science, legal or business-related field of study
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Additionally, for non-technical disciplines: at least two years of relevant professional experience
In exceptional cases, and subject to the availability of study places:
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Completion of a secondary technical or general higher school leaving certificate (HTL or AHS Matura), plus a successfully passed Baumeister (Master Builder) examination in accordance with the Austrian Trade Regulation Act and at least five years of relevant professional experience in the construction sector
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Completion of a secondary technical or general higher school leaving certificate (HTL or AHS Matura) with at least eight years of professional experience in the construction industry and appropriate professional authorisation (e.g. licence for engineering offices, or certification as a sworn and court-appointed expert)
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Completion of a secondary technical or general higher school leaving certificate (HTL or AHS Matura) with at least ten years of managerial experience in the construction sector
The decision on admission is made by the academic director of the programme on the basis of the qualifications submitted.
An increasing number of real estate companies are reworking their internal planning guidelines to reflect the principles of sustainable construction, and want to certify new buildings. This means that there is a dramatic increase in demand for qualified technicians. As there is no comprehensive training in sustainable construction in standard degree programmes, graduates of this study programme have a clear advantage in the job market.
Graduates work
- in all areas of building construction design,
- in project development and
- in building operation.
Information and Individual Advice
We would be happy to provide you with information and personal advice.
Online advisory appointments
Lucia EDELSBRUNNER
Mag.phil.
TU Graz Life Long Learning
Phone: +43 316 873 4937
lucia.edelsbrunner@tugraz.at
1. Online Application
Fill in the online application.
2. Application documents
Afterwords we ask you to send the required documents (scans) by e-mail to office@nachhaltigesbauen.eu:
- Digital photo (min. 284 x 426 Pixel,:file format bmp, wbmp, jpg, jpeg, png, gif)
- CV (max. 2 pages)
- Cover letter
- proof of school graduation and academic degree
- proof of former inscriptions at Austrian universities
- copy of passport
3. Application Interview
If required, you will be invited to an interview with the programme director.
TU GRAZ
Alexander PASSER
Univ.-Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. MSc
Phone: +43 316 873 5250
alexander.passer@tugraz.at
TU WIEN
Karin STIELDORF
Ass.Prof.i.R. Projektass. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn.
Phone: +43 1 58801 253441
karin.stieldorf@tuwien.ac.at
