Master of Science in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design)

Program Overview

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Master of Science in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design)

Overview

The Master of Science in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design) is a postgraduate program designed to equip building design professionals with the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve energy efficiency in building design.

Course Title

Master of Science in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design)

TU Code

TU414

NFQ Level

Level 9

Award Type

Major

Award

Master of Science

ECTS Credits

90

Duration

2.5 Years

Course Type

Postgraduate

Mode of Study

Part Time

Method of Delivery

Blended

Commencement Date

September 2025

Location

Bolton Street

Fees

€3,000 Year 1
€3,500 Year 2
€1,600 Year 3
€8,100 Total Fee

What is Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design)?

The program focuses on the energy performance standard required under the European Union Energy Performance in Buildings Directive (EPBD). This Directive requires that all new public buildings must meet the NZEB standard from the end of 2018 onwards, and ALL new buildings from the end of 2020 onwards.

Minimum Entry Requirements

The MSc in BP(EED) course is open to the following categories of applicants:

• Graduates of TU413 Diploma in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design)
• Advanced entry may be considered if applicants can demonstrate that they have obtained equivalent learning outcomes to TU413 Diploma in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design)

Career Opportunities

For building design professionals such as architects, architectural technologists, engineers, and building surveyors, an understanding of NZEB will be critical to professional survival. Graduates of the MSc in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design) will be uniquely qualified to research and assess the energy performance in new and existing building typologies.

Course Content

The course is delivered through a series of modules, some in blended online mode supported by workshops every four weeks, some in traditional part-time college-based mode.

Semester 1

• NZEB Policy & Technologies
• NZEB Calculation & Cost Optimality
• Energy Modelling Tools #1 (DEAP)

Semester 2

• Energy Modelling Tools #2 (PHPP)
• Hygrothermal Risk Assessment for Building Performance
• Thermal Bridge Calculation for Building Performance

Semester 3

• Building Environmental Assessment Methods
• Building Performance NZEB Design Project: Multi-Unit Residential

Semester 4

• Energy Modelling Tools #3 (Dynamic Simulation / NEAP)
• Building Performance NZEB Design Project: Office

Semester 5

• Research Methods
• Research Studies
• Building Performance (EED) Research Project and Dissertation

Module Listing

Year One

• Decarbonising Building Design [Mandatory]
• The Reflective Building Design Practitioner [Mandatory]
• Building Energy Modelling Using DEAP [Elective]
• Building Energy Modelling Using PHPP [Elective]

Year Two

• Hygrothermal Risk Assessment for Building Performance [Mandatory]
• Thermal Bridge Calculation for Building Performance [Mandatory]
• The Reflective Building Design Practitioner [Mandatory]
• Building Performance: Net Zero Carbon Residential Design Project [Mandatory]

Year Three

• Building Environmental Assessment Methods [Mandatory]
• Building Energy Modelling using Dynamic Simulation & NEAP [Mandatory]
• Circularity & Life Cycle Assessment in the Built Environment [Mandatory]
• Building Performance NZEB Project: Complex Buildings [Mandatory]

Schedule

The delivery of TU414 MSc in Building Performance (Energy Efficiency in Design) course suits those upskilling, re-skilling & returning to work.

As the programme is ‘nested’, please visit webpage for TU412 PG Cert BP(EED) for Stage 1 information, and webpage for TU413 PG Dipl BP(EED) for Stage 2 information.

In Stage 3, the programme runs in the calendar year, not the academic, year. In Spring two (5-ECTS) modules take place, with online classes each Wednesday over the full Semester. The third (20-ECTS) thesis module is delivered through tutorials arranged with thesis supervisor at mutually agreed times. There are two feedback workshops to a wider cohort in the Autumn.

A key aspect is that may students decide when they view lecture materials. Students should plan for a weekly commitment of ~10 hours in most weeks of each module.