Introduction
The Interuniversity Master in Energy Engineering (Master degree class LM-30) is offered by the University of Trento, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering in collaboration with the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano, Faculty of Science and Technology.
The program is geared to preparing a professional figure able to address complex and advanced problems of energy engineering and/or requiring an interdisciplinary approach in the design, implementation, management, and upgrading of production systems, transport, and efficient use of energy.
The Master’s program starts in September and lasts officially 2 academic years.
The official teaching language is English. Optional courses will be offered in Italian and German with the contribution of academic staff from the Faculty of Engineering Science of the University Innsbruck.
Program Overview
The University of Trento has adopted the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). ECTS is based on the convention that 60 credits measure the workload of a full-time student during one academic year. A university credit point corresponds to 25 hours of work per student, time for the personal study included.
Students’ activities within the master’s degree in Energy Engineering consist of lectures and class/lab practice. One credit corresponds to at least 10 teaching hours. The assessment method is based on written and oral examinations and applicative projects.
Students must obtain in total 120 ECTS, partly at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano and partly at the University of Trento. In addition to the mandatory subjects, a range of optional courses will be offered.
There is no compulsory attendance, but the attendance of lessons, exercise classes, and lab work is strongly recommended.
All lectures and seminars will take place in the main premises of the Free University of Bolzano-Bozen, at the Faculty of Science and Technology in Bolzano, and at the University of Trento, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Mechanical Engineering.
After completing the courses in the study plan, students are required to write and discuss the final thesis, worth 15 ECTS, in order to be awarded the Master’s degree.
Courses
First year
1st semester (at the University of Trento)
Electrical Systems Engineering (6 credits)
Fluid Machines Engineering (9 credits)
Engineering Thermodynamics, Heat, and Mass Transfer (6 credits)
Environmental Fluid Mechanics/ Hydropower Plants (9 credits):
Environmental Fluid Mechanics (4 credits)
Hydropower Plants (5 credits)
2nd semester (at the Free University of Bozen - Bolzano)
Building HVAC Systems (9 credits)
Advanced Applications of Building Physics (9 credits)
Electric Power Conversion Equipment (6 credits)
One exam from the following two subjects:
Italiano Tecnico / Technisches Italienisch (3 credits)
Tedesco Tecnico / Technisches Deutsch (3 credits)
Second year
1st semester (at the Free University of Bozen - Bolzano)
Power Production, CHP and District Heating Systems (12 credits):
Thermal Engines (6 credits)
Thermal power production and distribution (6 credits)
Curriculum Technologies for Energy Efficiency
Special Issues of Building Physics (6 credits)
Applied Mechanics and Technologies for Energy Efficiency (12 credits):
Technologies and Production Processes for Energy Engineering (6 credits)
Functional Mechanical Design for Energy Efficiency (6 credits)
Curriculum Renewable and Innovative Technologies for Energy Supply
Hydropower and Wind power systems (12 credits):
Wind powers systems (6 credits)
Hydropower systems (6 credits)
One exam from the following two subjects:
Mechanics and Structural Design for Energy Engineering (6 credits):
Fundamentals of Structural Mechanics (3 credits)
Fundamentals of Structural Design (3 credits)
Advanced Materials for Energy Engineering (6 credits)
2nd semester (at the University of Trento)
Curriculum Technologies for Energy Efficiency
District heating system design (6 credits)
Curriculum Renewable and Innovative Technologies for Energy Supply
One exam from the following two subjects:
Electrochemical energy storage and conversion (6 credits)
Bioenergy (6 credits)
2nd semester (at the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano/at the University of Trento)
Optional Subjects (12 credits)
Master degree thesis (15 credits)
There is no compulsory attendance, but the attendance of lessons, exercise classes, and lab work is strongly recommended. The course concludes with the writing and discussion of a thesis. The Faculty will provide a separate set of regulations for this. All lectures and seminars will take place in the main premises of Unibz, at the Faculty of Science and Technology in Bozen - Bolzano and at the University of Trento, Department of Civil, Environmental and Mechanical Engineering.
Learning Outcomes
The study plan aims to develop the skills necessary to deal with the different issues and opportunities in the field of energy production and efficient energy use.
The alpine region in which the course is offered is especially vacated to the topic but is also extremely sensitive to the environmental pressures of the present level of resource exploitation.
The professional profile of the master graduate in Energy Engineering is oriented towards the design and operation of small to medium size energy production plants, in particular exploiting renewable sources, combined heat and power (CHP) in district heating, and of energy-efficient industrial systems and buildings. Energy conversion, energy distribution, and energy utilization systems are the main areas of interest.
The environmental sustainability of the energy utilization and the reduced exploitation of natural resources will be the common basis for the different disciplines involved: electrical engineering, technical physics, and building physics, fluid machines, industrial engineering.
Career Opportunities
The course aims at training experts able to deal with the various aspects of planning, implementing, and managing the integrated energy systems, such as production plants supplied from renewable sources, low energy consumption buildings, and networks able to transport electric and thermic energy from the production site to the local consumption sites. Energy engineers will work as independent professionals or in public and private companies, industries of the energetic and thermo-energetic sectors, and public and private utilities.
Graduates can access the third training level of Doctoral Schools.
Application Requirements
Completed BSc in a similar field and credits in specific academic disciplines as specified in the didactic regulations of the course;
English language Certification at B2 level;
Knowledge of Italian or German language at A1 level;
GPA of minimum 22/30 calculated according to the Italian grading system.
Students who submitted an eligible application will be invited for an interview.
