Sustainability and Smart Building Technology bbw Hochschule - University of Applied Sciences

This Master's programme in Sustainability and Smart Building Technology is the only one of its kind in the field of property management and technology. Located in Berlin, the hub of Europe's start-up ecosystem, the university gives students access to new innovations and even the opportunity to launch their own "proptech" (property technology) start-up. The real estate sector in Germany accounts for more than 10% of gross domestic product (GDP). Students can make the most of the close contact with our leading industry partners and experienced teaching staff as well as the many opportunities for their future careers.

• People spend around 90% of their time indoors. To feel good, we need enough light, fresh air and a comfortable temperature. As a result, homes, offices and shops not only need space, but also energy. Both of these resources are under scrutiny as we strive to create a sustainable future. This course focuses on technology in the property sector that can be used to make buildings efficient and user-friendly.

Every year, more and more buildings are being designed and built with sustainable, user-friendly, high-end technology. However, there are still a large number of buildings that have a long lifespan and poor energy efficiency. This programme focuses on actions and strategies that can be implemented to improve existing infrastructures in terms of their use of resources, with the aim of equipping them with digital technology to make them more user-friendly for all stakeholders, whether they are owners, managers or users.

Career prospects

Graduates of this programme will acquire a range of skills specific to the profession. They will be able to fill the new jobs available in the property and property management sector, with a range of prospects extending to a variety of property management areas. The Master's programme will also give graduates the opportunity to start their own businesses, not to mention access to a wide range of potential employers, such as private, cooperative and municipal housing associations, asset management companies, property management companies, project development companies, real estate service providers, consultancy and valuation companies, organisations and consortia. In particular, "proptech" start-ups offer excellent career prospects after graduation.

Occupations | Lines of Work

• Project Manager of Digitalisation
• Innovation Manager
• Chief Digital Officer
• Manager of Technological Infrastructure

We launched the programme in response to the high demand for real estate professionals with an understanding of the commercial issues surrounding real estate and the ability to implement projects in the areas of intelligent building technology and sustainability. As the largest industry in Germany, the real estate sector is also the largest producer of carbon dioxide emissions. This programme teaches how intelligent technology can be used in real estate to protect the environment and contribute to environmental sustainability. Students will graduate from the programme qualified to manage the day-to-day business of the sector, to face the challenges of smart building technology, and to develop long-term strategies and visions for establishing a sustainable approach to real estate in their various asset classes. They will have developed the ability to plan and optimise the processes involved in smart building management using technologies such as the Internet of Things, energy management tools and other platforms.

First Semester

• Project Management – Basics
• Presentation and Negotiation Skills
• PropTech and Smart Building Technologies I – Introduction
• IT Architecture, BIM, Smart Building Planning and Design
• Design Thinking, Agile Methods and Digital Business Models in Real Estate
• Smart City Applications, Smart Mobility and Big Data

Second Semester

• Project Management in the Construction and Real Estate Industry I – Project Management
• PropTech Best Practices
• Sustainability, ESG and Regulatory Environment
• PropTech and Smart Building Technologies II – Technology Assessment
• Fundamentals of Construction Technology
• Project Development in Existing Buildings / Facility Management

Third Semester

• Real Estate Economics – Economic and Business Fundamentals
• Project Management in the Construction and Real Estate Industry II – Project Control
• Energy Creation and Management Technologies
• Real Estate Asset Management
• Sustainability Impact Monitoring and Offsetting
• Research Methods in Science 4th Semester
• Practical Application Project Work

Final Stage

• Master's Thesis and Final Oral Examination

Students may take the opportunity to complete an internship, but no ECTS will be awarded. Students can benefit from our well-developed network of companies to find a suitable internship. Knowledge of German at the B1 level (CEFR) or higher will greatly increase students' chances of finding an internship.

• A Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) of at least six semesters at a university (or equivalent institution), a technical college in Germany, or an equivalent institution abroad with a minimum grade of "satisfactory" is required for acceptance into the Master's programme.*
• B2 English language certificate – not older than two years
• Transcript of Records
• At least one year of relevant professional experience

*An initial, state-recognised professional qualification from a university of applied sciences in the following or similar subjects:

• architecture
• civil engineering
• business and industrial engineering
• business studies and economics
• facility management
• real estate
• geography
• town and regional planning
• law
• commercial law
• surveying

Included in the tuition fees

Students can use the exclusive bbw job portal to find part-time jobs, internships and jobs after graduation. Employment as a student worker is possible. German language skills at a level B1 (CEFR) or higher will greatly increase students' chances of finding a part-time job.

• Networking & Employer Engagement: alumni panels and career talks
• Digital Career Services: online job portal + virtual career counselling sessions

Our career advisory services increasingly emphasise:

• Lifelong career adaptability
• Self‑awareness and career ownership
• Transferable skills rather than single job outcomes
• Continuous upskilling and portfolio careers
• Global employability skills

We are your personal guide to academic success!

As an accredited and state-recognised university, we are the ideal bridge between practical academic training and companies' real needs for skilled professionals and managers.

Thanks to our brilliant lecturers (who have professional and managerial backgrounds), our applied research projects and our own state-of-the-art science lab on campus, you can be sure that our degree courses are as practical as they come.

We are thrilled to offer a wide range of business, industrial engineering and engineering degree programmes, whether part-time, dual or full-time. These programmes are designed to meet all your academic needs and set you up for a successful start to your career.

In short, bbw University of Applied Sciences is the perfect springboard for a career in business. Our students come from all over the world and discover Berlin as their new home through their studies.

The location of bbw University of Applied Sciences is in the middle of Germany's largest science and technology park and Berlin's largest media location.

The science city of Adlershof has direct connection to public transport and the Autobahn. In Berlin's most important science, business and media location, renowned non-university research institutions, other universities and over 1,000 companies await you.