Study Guide

Objectives

You will learn how to apply the latest knowledge on carbon-neutral construction, energy efficiency in buildings and low-carbon energy in buildings.
Working life needs experts who know how to build carbon-neutral buildings and know how to apply energy and material efficiency requirements. In Xamk's Master's degree in Building Services Engineering, you will learn how to apply the latest knowledge in carbon-neutral construction and energy efficiency in buildings to develop your work and work-life activities, without forgetting a good indoor climate. You will develop your expertise in energy efficiency and low-carbon energy in buildings.
In the Master's degree in Building Services, you will study how to take energy efficiency and healthy indoor air into account in design, construction and decision-making.
Tightening energy requirements, carbon-neutral construction and low-carbon energy in buildings are the key contents of the training. During your studies, you will learn about issues such as:
• for carbon-neutral buildings and structures
• low-carbon energy in buildings
• the energy efficiency of buildings, taking into account indoor air conditions.

The Master`s degree in Building Services is aimed at building technology professionals who want to deepen and broaden their skills in carbon neutral construction, energy efficiency in buildings and carbon neutral energy production. The Master's degree obtained through this training is also suitable for those whose jobs in demanding design positions or as teachers require a Master's degree.

Read more about the Master´s degree in Building Services Engineering
www.xamk.fi

Degree programme description

The scope of the training is 60 credits (cr):

Core competences, 25 cr
• Carbon neutral building
• Energy efficiency of buildings
• Low carbon energy in buildings
• Sustainable technology management
• Advanced tools for development

The studies in the core competences apply to all students in the degree.

Course contents

Carbon neutral building
• What is carbon neutral building?
• What regulations guide carbon neutral building?
• How do different building materials and forms of energy affect a building’s carbon dioxide emission?
• How to calculate a building’s carbon dioxide emissions?
• What requirements do the principles of carbon neutral building set on design, construction procedures and proper use/maintenance?
• What is the relationship between carbon neutral building and a building's energy efficiency?
• What is carbon handprint and how to effect on it?

Energy efficiency of buildings
• How can the energy efficiency of buildings be ensured?
• How can a dynamic calculation tool be used to study the impact of indoor air conditions on comfort and energy efficiency in buildings?
• How do different types of regulation affect energy consumption in buildings?
• How to find existing information on energy efficiency projects in buildings?
Low carbon energy in buildings
• How is heat produced with non-combustion solutions?
• What is waste heat and how does it relate to low carbon energy production?
• How do heat storages relate to low carbon energy production?
• How do hybrid systems relate to low carbon energy?
• How does the electrification of society affect heat production?
• How do governance measures affect to low carbon energy production and the assessment of profitability?

Sustainable technology management
• What are the basic principles of sustainable technology?
• What kind of technology is needed to achieve the sustainable development goals?
• What role does sustainable technology play in research, education and management?
• How do companies develop products and services in the field of sustainable technologies?
• What is the role of information in an organization?
• What is the concept of information management?
• How is sustainable development defined?
• What is responsible business?
• How do companies take sustainability into account in their business?
• Where to apply for funding for research and development projects?

Advanced tools for development
• How to identify needs for change and development in the built environment?
• How to find reliable literature for a research and development project and how to assess the reliability of the source material?
• What types of research methods exist?
• What kind of is a good research design?
• How to take into account the reliability of the research and development project and the usefulness of the results?
• How to write a report on a research and development project?

Complementary competence 

You can choose complementary competence studies from a wide supply of Xamk Master School’s common studies according to your interests. 
 
These common studies cover courses both in Finnish and English and include the following:  
• Digitality and technology in society
• International operating environments and communication
• Management, leadership and entrepreneurship
• Research and development
• Language studies

You can also choose complementary competence studies from other universities, if they are at the level of master’s degree.  

In case you have previously completed studies at the level of EQF 7, and they match the objectives of the degree, they can be accredited as part of your studies. More information is provided by the Degree Programme Coordinator. 

Implementation of studies

The Master´s degree in Building Services Engineering is completed alongside your work for about two years. However, employment is not a prerequisite. Classes are held on weekdays at Xamk's Mikkeli campus and are held about every month. During these days, learning assignments are given, which are done individually or in groups and usually have to be returned before the next class. The necessary materials are available on the e-learning platform (Learn) or in the e-library.

The tasks are independent of time and place. It poses challenges in terms of time management and balancing work and studies. In particular, thesis work (30 credits, equivalent to 800 hours of work) is best achieved by being able to organize periods of study for a few days or weeks at a time. Students who have taken 3-5 months of study leave from their work have been able to complete their thesis well within the deadline.

Progress in your studies

During the first year of your studies, you will learn about carbon neutral construction, low-carbon energy production and the development of working life activities. You will learn to understand the challenges of tightening energy regulations and the development and management of working life. During the first year of your studies, you will complete most of the courses in the program and will brainstorm and plan your thesis.

The second year of study aims to deepen your understanding of energy efficiency in buildings and develop your skills. During the second year of study, you will work on your thesis independently. Your thesis supervisor will support your work. You will present your work in joint seminars.

Career opportunities

The Master´s degree in Building Services Engineering qualifies you for positions requiring a Master's degree. Your job duties may include:
• managerial jobs
• specialist duties
• project/project manager jobs
• teaching duties
• other positions requiring a higher university degree.

The Master´s degree in building services engineering increases skills and enables you to work even in the most demanding ventilation and water and sewerage design tasks, provided that other requirements of the Ministry of the Environment are met (Ministry of the Environment's guidance on the qualification of building designers YM2/601/2015, www.ym.fi).

RDI and cooperation with world of work

The most important partners in the building services engineering program are major players in the building services engineering industry, such as FläktGroup Finland Ltd, Swegon Ltd, Koja Ltd, Uponor Ltd and Geberit Ltd Oy; the major design companies Granlund Ltd and Sweco Finland Ltd; and the designing ND simulation software providers Magicad Group, Cadmatic Ltd and Equa Finland Ltd. Representatives of our business partners will give lectures during the courses and the HVAC laboratory will provide access to the equipment of the different suppliers.

Students' workplaces are the most important link in their education to the world of work. The students in the group have a wide range of work experience in the sector and the group forms a network that supports learning. The learning tasks in the courses are accompanied by stimulating discussions on topical issues related to the world of work. For example, the course on Carbon Neutral Construction raises several topical issues, which are addressed through expert lectures, literature and group discussions.

Research and development issues related to your studies may be related to your background organization, the development of your field or broader joint research and development projects between the university and working life, or strategic challenges in the region.

The Sustainable Technology Management course introduces students to the development and research activities of companies and hones their skills in applying for funding for company development projects.

Learning environments

The Building Services Laboratory supports your studies

Xamk's modern HVAC engineering laboratory offers excellent facilities for research of:
• Indoor climate
• Air conditioning processes and
• The processes of indoor air conditioning and heat recovery systems.

In the lab, you can also study heating, water and sewerage systems. The equipment and components of these systems are visible and their performance can be viewed using the building automation system. The versatile instrumentation of the technical systems allows the performance of individual components and processes to be studied.

Modern instrumentation allows instantaneous measurements of indoor air conditions and HVAC system performance, as well as long-term monitoring in laboratory and field conditions. The instrumentation is available to you for the measurements you need to make in your thesis.

Take a look at the building services engineering laboratories.