Environment & Energy

The agricultural sector is in upheaval. The trend towards sustainable, ecological production and the increasing societal interest in the origin of food products are causing far-reaching changes in the agricultural sector. Intelligent robot technology, smartphones and satellite control enable us to use our resources for agricultural production efficiently. Efficient product marketing, yield optimisation, animal health, food quality and sustainability form the focus of this study programme. Graduates therefore combine technical and economic knowledge that qualifies them to make agricultural companies as well as those in the food and agricultural technology sectors better able to compete internationally.

Energy consumption is rising worldwide. Sustainability is the key in the future, especially when it’s a matter of the use and consumption of energy. This degree programme is all about the efficient and sustainable production, storage and use of energy (for electricity supply and heating). Photovoltaic, solar heat, hydro- and wind power, biomass and the improvement of the efficiency of industrial processes, production plants and buildings are the focus of the degree programme. Ecological, energy-efficient building, heating and cooling complete the fields of study.

The Bio- and Environmental Technology degree programme unites chemistry and biology with the engineering sciences of biotechnology and environmental technology. The combination of Biotechnology and Environmental Technology offers a unique possibility to study two future technologies simultaneously. Biotechnologists work on the engineering applications of biology. They produce medicines, biological fertilizers, biofuels and biogas. Biotechnology is very important in medicine for the regeneration of tissue, the treatment of infections or the diagnosis of illnesses. Environmental Technologists purify waste water or air, clean up contaminated sites and reduce current and future pollution in their planning of industrial plants.

One of the leading trends today is the change to an environmentally friendly electrical power supply. This degree programme focuses on the design, operation and production of equipment for modern electrical power supply, electrical power distribution and transport, and energy conversion. This includes components for smart grids, the use of renewable energies and electric cars. The aim of the Electrical Engineering course is to provide graduates with the skills and know-how to meet the requirements of international electrical power engineering in the future. Our program is very practice-oriented and includes an internship, excursions to reputable companies, as well as the possibility of an exchange semester with one of our international partner universities.

Green Science tackles global challenges such as climate change, sustainability, circular economy, waste management, soil erosion and industrial pollution. This unique programme allows international students to start their academic career in English language while acquiring German language skills to start their professional career in the Austrian job market.

Process Engineering is the practical application of basic physical and chemical principles for the industrial production of solid, liquid and gaseous substances. Process Engineers work on the plants and processes. They are concerned with physical, chemical and biological steps – they crush, mix, modify, separate and purify raw materials – and thus create new products. They ensure that pills contain enough active ingredients or that the ingredients of yoghurt, lipstick, fuels or building materials are correctly mixed. Their knowledge and competence ensure that production processes are configured in an environmentally-friendly and energyefficient way.

The Master’s degree programme Eco-Energy Engineering offers specialisation in the conversion, distribution and optimised, environmentally-friendly use of energy in industrial plants and buildings. The main areas of emphasis, solar technology and building optimisation, focus on the functionality, planning, construction and operation of plant and buildings. Learning is project-based, ensuring relevance to practice and the opportunity for students to determine their own additional areas of interest.

The Bio-and Environmental Technology Master’s degree programme offers students the opportunity to specialise in either biotechnology or environmental science. Central to this degree programme are environmental process engineering and biotechnology, plant planning and plant engineering with (bio-)analytics, the technology of food production and quality management. ’Soft skills‘ such as language skills, personality, academic and business economics competences enable a smooth transition into work. Independent of their chosen specialisation all graduates gain a common understanding of both of the core technologies our future depends on.

New technologies such as electric cars or renewable and ecological power supply systems require fundamental research in electrical (energy) engineering. DC grids (used in batteries, hydrogen systems, or to distribute and transport electrical energy), and power electronics are the latest technologies aiming to provide a green and environmentallyfriendly energy supply. Introducing SMART technology into our power supply reduces costs as well as increasing reliability and accessibility for the end-consumer. This program will educate the experts needed to make electrical energy supply sustainable and future-proof. They will be pioneering the future!

The energy transition has many facets: be it electro-mobility, the implementation of energy communities, the increased use of renewable energy and its storage, sector coupling, increasing energy efficiency, smart metering, demand-side management and much more. Much is currently in the making and the success or failure of all projects will depend on how well we manage to harmonise technological progress, the necessary standardisation and legislation as well as the economic framework conditions. This is precisely where the part-time Master's degree programme in Energy Informatics comes in. Students acquire in-depth knowledge of technological developments in the energy sector, learn how to use IT and programming in a targeted manner and gain an insight into the legal and economic framework conditions.

Sustainability is the key to our future development, especially when it comes to energy utilization and consumption. As natural resources are becoming increasingly scarce or more expensive, the utilization of energy in a sustainable way is more and more important. This degree program combines the education in energy systems with respect to sustainable energy resources, energy efficiency, the decarbonization of the traditional energy system as well as the management of international energy-related projects. Special emphasis is placed on learning and working in multicultural teams.