TU Graz
Focus on TU Graz
University
Overview: University
TU Graz at a Glance
Organisational Basis
Mission Statement
Key Objectives and Focus Areas
TU Graz Portfolio of Affiliated Companies
History
Buildings of TU Graz
University Gazettes
Working at TU Graz
Overview: Working at TU Graz
Job Vacancies
Professorships
Starting Work at TU Graz
Staff Policy
Services for Employees
Overview: Living in Graz for Employees
Services
Overview: Services
News+Stories
Follow TU Graz
TU Graz events
Media Service
Projects with Companies
Form a Partnership with TU Graz
Publish Job Vacancies
Services for Children and Young People
TU Graz Library
Archive Research
Services for Alumni
Childcare
Organisational Structure
Overview: Organisational Structure
Organisational Chart
Rectorate of TU Graz
Senate of TU Graz
University Council of TU Graz
Deans
Service Departments and Staff Units
Representative Bodies for Members of TU Graz
Committees
Studying and Teaching
Focus on Studying and Teaching
Degree and Certificate Programmes
Overview: Degree and Certificate Programmes
Bachelor's Degree Programmes
Master's Degree Programmes
Teacher Education Programme
Doctoral Programmes
Continuing Education
Massive Open Online Courses
Studying at TU Graz
Overview: Studying at TU Graz
Advisory Services for Prospective Students
Open Day
Registration and Admission
Information for New Students
Welcome Days
Living in Graz for Students
Student Teams
Academic Calendar
Financial Matters
Learning Languages
Accessible Learning
TU Graz StreeTech
Be the Face of TU Graz
Planning your Career
International: Studying and Teaching
Overview: International: Studying & Teaching
Study Abroad
Exchange at TU Graz
Degree Seeking Students
Welcome Center
Teaching Abroad
International Teaching Staff
International Cooperation Ventures
Nostrification
Summer Schools and Summer Programmes
Become an International Student Ambassador
Teaching at TU Graz
Overview: Teaching at TU Graz
Teaching at TU Graz News
Strategy of Academic Affairs
Dialogue Formats and Events
Higher Education Development
Higher Education Didactics
Educational Technology
Services for Teaching Staff
Prize for Excellence in Teaching
Cooperation in Teaching
Student Mentoring
Research
Focus on Research
Fields of Expertise
Overview: Fields of Expertise
Advanced Materials Science
Human & Biotechnology
Information, Communication & Computing
Mobility & Production
Sustainable Systems
Research at TU Graz
Overview: Research at TU Graz
Services for Researchers
Research Cooperation Ventures
Doctoral Schools
TU Graz Research Portal
International Research
Overview: International Research
Research Stays Abroad
Research Stays at TU Graz
Research and Business
Overview: Research and Business
Projects with Companies
Form a Partnership with TU Graz
Publish Job Vacancies
Competence Centres and Research Companies
Business Enterprises – Start-ups and Spin-offs
Research and Technology Advisory Committee
Faculties and Institutes
Overview: Faculties and Institutes
Faculty of Architecture
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Faculty of Electrical and Information Engineering
Faculty of Computer Science and Biomedical Engineering
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Economic Sciences
Faculty of Mathematics, Physics and Geodesy
Faculty of Technical Chemistry, Chemical and Process Engineering, Biotechnology
Information for...
Quick Links
Prospective Students
Researchers
Teaching Staff
Pupils
Internationals
Companies
Studienanfängerinnen und -anfänger
Continuing Education
Media Representatives
Alumni
Prospective Employees
TU Graz
Graz University of Technology
TU Graz/ Studying and Teaching/ Degree and Certificate Programmes/

Master's Degree Programme Biorefinery Engineering

Biogenic resources are a central component of a sustainable economic system in Europe. Biorefinery engineers develop, plan, and implement innovative, technical products and processes for using biogenic resources economically and in an ecologically sustainable manner.

You will acquire all the knowledge necessary for this from the very wide-ranging technical specialisations covered in the Master’s degree programme Biorefinery Engineering at the TU Graz: This expertise extends from process engineering to chemistry and biotechnology through to energy engineering and environmental engineering. The focus in all of this is on innovation, practical application, and students' international activities.

Content

  • You will acquire the engineering sciences knowledge and skills necessary for the construction and operation of technical systems for the use of biogenic resources.
  • You will learn how to develop and optimise process engineering methods.
  • You will be able to evaluate the technical, logistic and economic challenges resulting from the use of biogenic raw materials along the entire chain of valued creation.
  • You will learn how to understand deal with complex problems in scientific and industrial contexts, to formulate these and to develop and present the solutions for them.
  • You will assess regional, economic, social and ecological framework conditions in the context of the bioeconomy.
  • You will learn how to recognise trends in bio-based industry.
  • You will acquire the scientific and analytic methods needed to evaluate and characterise biogenic resources.
  • You will carry out independently high-quality and structured research work.
  • You will carry out research-led traineeships at the university or with industry partners.

You can find each of the individual courses offered in the curriculum.

International activities

Students have optimal opportunities to prepare themselves for activities in an international environment with the numerous provisions on offer:

  • Courses in cooperation with international academic and industrial partners
  • International practical internships
  • Participation at international winter and summer schools at home and abroad
  • Semesters abroad
Two laboratories express their delight about the research results. Photo source: Lunghammer - TU Graz
  • Duration of study: 4 semesters
  • ECTS credit points: 120
  • Academic degree: Diplom-Ingenieurin or Diplom-Ingenieur (Dipl.Ing. or DI), equivalent to the Master of Science (MSc)
  • Language of instruction: English
  • Admission requirements

Curriculum

Semester plan

Marlene Kienberger, Assistant Professor of Biorefinery Engineering at TU Graz. Photo source: Kienberger
Marlene Kienberger, Assistant Professor Biorefinery Engineering

The close link with practice and the orientation towards innovation of this degree programme enables students to carry out high-quality, structured research work and to develop innovative systems with a scientific basis to convert biogenic resources into energy and high-quality products economically and with great ecological responsibility as part of a modern bioeconomy.

Admission Requirements

According to the curriculum, graduates of the following bachelor’s programmes offered at TU Graz and University of Graz will be accepted without an admission procedure:

Graduates of all other degree programmes offered at the TU Graz or, in the case of a NAWI Graz programme, the University of Graz, also do not have to undergo the admission procedure. You can apply for admission at the Registration Office.


All other programme applicants must undergo the admission procedure.

Registration period for the academic year 2020/21: 15 October to 15 December 2019

More about the admission procedure

Regulations for the admission procedure

Admission Deadlines

Winter semester 2019/20:

8 July to 30 November 2019

Summer semester 2020:

7 January to 30 April 2020


Please note: You may need to complete an admission procedure before you can register for the programme.
 

Further informationen on admission

International degree programme applicants: admission and application deadlines

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement N°656760.

Career Options

Biorefinery engineers are in great demand in Europe as interdisciplinary experts for biogenic problems along the entire bio-based industry value chain. The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET) roadmap points out the annual need for around 3000 technical Master’s studies graduates in this field.

Biorefinery Engineers

  • develop, plan and implement innovative, technical products and processes, for using biogenic resources in an economic and ecologically sustainable manner.
  • design process plants for the production of bio-based materials and operate them.
  • are experts in the implementation of a modern bioeconomy.
  • are able to recognise and categorise trends in the bio-based industry and to convert innovations into business models.
  • develop innovative systems for the bioeconomy on a scientific basis .
  • take on management tasks in an international and interdisciplinary environment.
  • work together with experts from other specialist disciplines, they are active along the biogenic resources value creation chain.
  • support the change to a sustainable energy and economic system in Europe.

Information and Advice for Prospective Students

Student Teams of TU Graz
Women in Science and Technology
(in German)