Master's Programme in Building Technology

Civil engineering plays a key role in creating safe and healthy built environments. Combining the global needs for energy efficiency and sustainability with the characteristics of a good living environment requires theoretical understanding, professional skills and a broad perspective.

The Master’s Programme in Building Technology deals with the design, construction, use, and maintenance of civil engineering structures, such as buildings and bridges. With its four main topics – structural engineering, building performance, construction management and mineral-based materials – the programme offers knowledge and skills for future careers in industry, research, education or government bodies. Based on your individual choices, you may specialise in topics like indoor air quality, repair and maintenance, fire safety engineering, energy efficiency, and building services.

Since 2018, we offer a dedicated group of courses under the title Structures and architecture, thus providing a unique possibility for integrating engineering and design studies.

The programme strives for the development of working life skills: analytical and critical thinking; multidisciplinary collaboration; and communication for scientific and technical professionals. Professional ethics and social and environmental responsibility are an integral part of the education.

Study programme

The programme includes six courses (totalling 30 credits) of common studies, which make up the autumn term of the first year. After the first term, you choose a specialisation within building technology or – by combining courses from different fields – gather a wider understanding of engineering applications related to building technology.

Technical knowledge is deepened by choosing six courses (30 credits) from the advanced course packages offered by the programme. The synthesis or specialisation of your studies can be further strengthened through 30 credits of elective studies, which may include courses offered by the study programme or other Aalto University courses. For those looking for specialisation, pre-defined course packages are also available.

For more information on the courses included in the programme, please visit the programme's section on Into, Aalto University's student portal.

Career opportunities

As the need of civil engineers is undeniable for building and maintaining structures, there is a natural demand for professionals graduated in building technology.  After graduation, students have typically worked with design, construction, project, and research tasks in the field of building technology.  In later phases, duties may often be connected to the roles of advisor, administrator, manager or senior researcher.  If not self-employed, a vast variety of possible employers can be found: national and international  construction businesses as well as building materials industries. Positions also exist in the public sector, e.g. public administration, environmental organisations and institutions such as United Nations.

Admission requirements

Aalto University's student selection process is competitive and paper-based. Applications that pass the eligibility check (administrative evaluation) conducted by Aalto University Admissions Services proceed to the school's programme-specific academic evaluation.

The following are used as criteria for academic evaluation:

• university/higher education institution; recognized for high quality of education and research
• degree and relevance of studies; suit very well or excellent to the study option
• academic performance; need to be mainly very good or excellent
• motivation and commitment to the programme; should be clearly in connection with the study option

Contact information

For enquiries regarding the application process, please contact [email protected]

For enquiries regarding the content of programme and studies, please contact [email protected] 

Programme director: Professor Simo Hostikka