Wood building and construction

Why wood building?

Building with wood is sustainable, forward-looking and innovative. This renewable building material scores points for unique characteristics that make modern construction possible. Ranging from a simple carport, via lightweight extra storeys on a building through to a vast and complex engineered support structure, wood represents an outstanding opportunity for construction and also provides an excellent indoor climate.

Why construction or extension?

Alongside traditional civil engineering training, the Wood Building and Construction degree programme also focuses on technical extensions. This is becoming increasingly important with advancing digitalisation and networking and also offers enormous opportunities in renovation and redensification.

What does Rosenheim offer?

As Europe’s leading training facility in the wood sector and the most important educational institution in southeastern Bavaria, Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences combines a regional profile with an international reputation. Close contacts with numerous companies in one of Germany’s strongest economic regions make it possible for around 6,000 students to acquire skills for their future careers by working on real projects during their practical studies. A friendly atmosphere, individual support and intensive contact between students and teaching staff, as well as the modern infrastructure on campus, produce the best possible conditions for studying.

With lots of lakes and its proximity to the mountains, Rosenheim offers a wide variety of leisure activities. Quality of life is excellent thanks to the perfect balance of city and countryside. The university organises numerous activities in the areas of music, community, culture and sport.

Course structure and modules

The Wood Building and Construction degree programme stands out for its application-oriented teaching and provides wide-ranging engineering training based on scientific knowledge and methods. The core areas of the degree programme are:

• Wood construction & statics
• Basics of constructive civil engineering
• Building physics & building technology
• Building chemistry & materials science
• Construction site management, building law & production engineering
• Business administration & corporate planning

Students of the degree programme must complete 12 weeks of prior work experience by the end of the 3rd semester. The core areas are studied in detail during the six theoretical semesters of the degree programme. The fifth semester serves as the practical semester. Fixed elements of the degree programme include research and development as well as visits to wood construction companies. The Bachelor's thesis is characterised by its strong

relation to wood and practice

Fixed elements of the degree programme include research and development as well as visits to wood construction companies. The Bachelor's thesis is characterised by its strong relation to practice and also provides the opportunity to implement projects in the free economy. Graduates are awarded the title Bachelor of Engineering and authorised in accordance with Art. 61 (3) of the Bavarian building regulations (Bayrische Bauordnung) to present building documents for timber structures.

Prior work experience / practical semester

Work experience must be completed before or during the degree programme in wood technology within the following framework:

1. Prior work experience lasting at least 12 weeks (usually before starting the degree programme, but at the latest before starting the 4th semester. Can be waived in part in the case of vocational training.)
2. Practical semester with engineering work lasting 18 weeks (usually in the 5th semester.)

Prior practical experience acquired, for example, through an apprenticeship at a joinery or carpentry firm or other related profession can help towards the success of your degree programme. Vocational training, experience of using wood or work experience at a wood-processing company are desirable but not absolutely necessary prior to starting the degree programme.

Focussing on the practical

Anyone looking to take on and be successful in management positions in the wood building and construction sector, particularly in medium-sized enterprises, needs to have technical knowledge and practical experience. A degree programme or practical vocational training alone can only provide knowledge of particular subsections of the subject.

In order to close these gaps, we developed a combined degree programme that links theory and practice. In parallel to their studies, our prospective engineers in wood building and construction gain a qualification in one of the following skilled professions:

• Draughtsperson
• Parquet layer
• Drywall fitter
• Carpenter

Degree programmes with advanced work experience offer students the opportunity to acquire additional, extensive practical experience. During lecture-free periods and the practical semester, students are paid to work at a company – without obtaining a vocational qualification.

Career opportunities

• Production and operation in wood construction, prefabricated building companies and component factories
• Planning and construction of timber structures
• Construction management, execution and assembly in extensions
• Building renovations, addition of extra storeys and conversions
• Technical sales in the building materials industry
• The public sector
• Contractor, managing director or operations manager