Digital Civil Engineering Science (DiCES)

This master’s program will teach you everything you need to know to launch a successful career in both academia and the building and construction industry. It provides you with the unique opportunity to study at two distinguished universities located in different parts of Austria: TU Wien and Montanuniversität Leoben. It offers you a well-balanced mix of online and face-to-face lectures, providing you with the flexibility to learn at your own pace while also benefiting from a supportive, vibrant community.

What to expect?

We build from the basics: You’ll learn all important fundamentals of Computer Science and Civil Engineering first before diving deeper into theoretical and applied Digital Civil Engineering Science. This is the best starting point for you to understand core scientific and engineering methods, end-to-end digitalization of design, and production and usage processes. You’ll acquire in-depth knowledge in digitalization and automation-supported Civil Engineering processes. You’ll learn from the best and will be integrated into an international research community. The unique combination of Computer Science and Civil Engineering as well as a good balance between teachers and students help you to reach your full potential.

Why all this?

As a graduate in Digital Civil Engineering Science, you’ll be ready for a successful career in both academia and the private sector. Drawing on in-depth knowledge in both civil engineering and computer science, you’ll be in-demand for civil engineering projects, whether small or large. Design programs that make civil engineering less resource-intensive or build on simulations that enhance and improve building processes. This master’s program is a joint program of TU Wien and Montanuniversität Leoben, both hubs for cutting-edge expertise in their respective fields. As a student, you’ll benefit from their history of academic excellence as well as their longstanding relationships with industry leaders. Develop, research, program, communicate, advise companies, manage building projects, or set up your own company. With a master’s degree in Digital Civil Engineering Science, you have a bright career ahead of you - not only in terms of salaries, but also in shaping a more sustainable future.

You’ll be starting the first and second semester with one week of face-to-face lectures at TU Wien and Montanuniversität Leoben. After this introduction phase, you’ll attend courses and seminars both on-site and online. An additional 4 to 6 weeks of face-to-face lectures are spread out over the duration of the first and second semester (that is, 4 to 6 weeks of each semester). Depending on the course or seminar, you’ll be attending on-site lectures either at TU Wien or at Montanuniversität Leoben.

The first semester is dedicated to getting around the foundations of Digital Civil Engineering Science. Depending on the subject area of your bachelor’s degree, you will gain a foundation in either Civil Engineering or Computer Science.

• If you have a degree in Computer Science or a related field, you’ll take courses and seminars from the “Civil Engineering Foundations" module: Building Processes and Economics, Building Technology, Geotechnics, Infrastructure, and Mechanics and Structural Analysis.
• If you have a degree in Civil Engineering or a related field, you’ll take courses and seminars from the “Computer Science Foundations” module: Information Systems, Programming & Algorithms, Security & Privacy and Visual Computing.

In the second semester, you’ll engage with core concepts, methods, and techniques of Digital Civil Engineering in the module Digital Civil Engineering Core.

During the third semester, you’ll be able to deepen your knowledge of Digital Civil Engineering. For the module “Digital Civil Engineering Advanced” you can choose from a wide range of courses that focus on Digital Engineering or IT in Engineering. Starting third semester, a well-balanced set of electives and soft skills enables you to further your education inside and outside of computer science and civil engineering.

The focus in the fourth semester lies on developing and writing up your master’s thesis, as well as completing elective courses.

There are many other ways to engage with interesting challenges that foster your talents and provide new experiences: This joint degree program offers you the unique opportunity to study at two distinguished universities located in different parts of Austria. Enjoy the hubbub of Vienna at TU Wien, and get your fill of fresh air and outside activities at Leoben at the same time.

About TU Wien

TU Wien is Austria’s largest research and educational institution in the field of technology and natural sciences. More than 4,000 scientists are researching "technology for people" in five main research areas at eight faculties. The content of the studies offered is derived from the excellent research. More than 26,000 students in 62 degree programmes benefit from this. As a driver of innovation, TU Wien strengthens the business location, facilitates cooperation and contributes to the prosperity of society.

About Montanuniversität Leoben

Montanuniversität Leoben is an internationally recognized educational institution and is passionately committed to developing pioneering technical solutions for a sustainable future. Thanks to the individual support and first-class education, our students are ideally equipped to successfully master the challenges of tomorrow.

You can submit your application for admission to the degree program once per academic year within the application period. The admission letter is only valid for the winter semester you have applied for and the following summer semester.

The admission process for this master’s program has three phases: In the first phase, you’ll have to register online, pay a one-time registration fee of 70€, and submit documents of your professional qualification (academic records, a certificate demonstrating your language skills, etc.). After reviewing your documents and confirming your eligibility for the program, you’ll be invited to an online test. The second phase of the admission process consists of successfully completing an online test. In the third and last phase, you’ll be invited to an interview.

If you want to apply for this master’s program, you need to have completed a minimum of 150 ECTS of your bachelor’s program. If your study program includes professional practical training, you also need to include proof of completion of your professional practical training when submitting your documents. You can find a detailed admission guide with further information for all three phases below.

• Start of Online Registration: March 10, 2025
• End of Online Registration: April 25, 2025
• Online Test: Mid-June 2025
• Final Decision about Registration: July 7, 2025

As a first step in the admission process, you must register online. During registration, you will be asked to pay a one-time registration fee of €70 and submit the required documents.

• Online Registration: online.unileoben.ac.at

You may participate in the admission process if you have completed a minimum of 150 ECTS (or equivalent) of your bachelor’s program. If your study program includes professional practical training, you must also have completed your professional practical training. To be admitted to the program, you’ll need to submit the following documents:

1. Proof that you have paid the registration fee

2. If you have already graduated:

   • Proof of completion of a relevant bachelor’s degree or another relevant study course at the same level of higher education at a recognized domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution. Bachelor’s degrees that are considered relevant are Civil Engineering and Informatics, as well as Industrial Data Science and Mineral Resources Engineering at the Montanuniversität Leoben

   If you have not yet graduated:

   • Proof that you have completed at least 150 ECTS from a relevant bachelor program or study course
   • A confirmation from the educational institution at which this course of study is being completed, stating the expected date of graduation
   • If the curriculum of the current bachelor’s program requires the completion of professional practical training, you must also have completed your professional practical training, and proof of completion of the professional practical training must also be submitted

3. Diploma or Transcript of Records (i.e., a documentation of all the lectures and courses you completed in your bachelor’s program up until now including ECTS and grades)

4. A Curriculum of your bachelor’s or study program

5. A Language Certificate to prove your language skills. We accept the following documents as a demonstration of your proficiency:

   • Proof that you have graduated in English on Level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) from an Austrian or foreign secondary school
   • Certificate of having passed a supplementary English examination as part of a pre-study program at an Austrian university
   • Completion of eight years of school at an English-language school (certified translation/notarization required)
   • Completion of a study program lasting at least two years in English at a recognized domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution (certified translation/notarization required)
   • TOEFL iBT, with a minimum requirement of 80 points
   • TOEFL PBT, with a minimum requirement of 550 points
   • IELTS , overall band score of at least 6

6. A legible scan or photograph of your passport or national identity document (ID card)

Documents not originally issued in German or English must also be submitted in the form of a certified translation. Proof that you have completed your bachelor’s degree (your Diploma) must be submitted by the end of the general admission period of the winter semester following the admission procedure.

After you have paid the registration fee and successfully submitted all your documents, we will review your application. If you are eligible to be admitted to the program, you will be invited to an online test. The test is the same for all applicants and includes questions from both civil engineering and computer science. You can find the dates and times for the next admission procedure in the Dates and Deadlines section.

Depending on the number of applications we receive, you may be invited to an online interview in addition to submitting your documents and successfully completing the online test. During this 30 minute interview, held in English, you’ll be asked to give a short overview of

• Your CV
• The content of your bachelor’s program and your thesis
• Your motivation to study Digital Civil Engineering Science
• Your expectations about the study program and future career path

After you have completed all phases of the admission process, we will notify you of whether you will be admitted to the program. Applicants who have received a provisional admission to the program must accept their university place in writing within a period of 14 days, otherwise the place will be forfeited.

The personal interview can be conducted online and depending on the number of applications, this part of the admission process may be omitted.

How do I apply, and what are the admission requirements?

If you want to apply to the program, please refer to our Admission Guide for detailed information.

What bachelor program do I need to be admitted to the program?

Admission to the Master’s program in Digital Civil Engineering Science requires the completion of a relevant bachelor’s degree or another relevant course of study at least at the same level of higher education at a recognized domestic or foreign post-secondary educational institution. Relevant bachelor’s degrees are, in any case, Civil Engineering and Informatics, as well as Industrial Data Science and Mineral Resources Engineering at the Montanuniversität Leoben.

I don’t have a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, Informatics, Industrial Data Science or Mineral Resources Engineering. Can I still be admitted?

That depends on your bachelor’s degree. After submitting your application, your academic transcript of records will be reviewed. Decisions about whether you’ll be able to enroll will be made by the dean of academic affairs and on a case-by-case basis.

Will I be admitted with or without additional prescribed courses?

That depends on your bachelor’s degree. After submitting your application, your academic transcript of records will be reviewed. If only a few additional courses are required to compensate for significant subject-related differences, you may still be admitted to the program with the requirement of completing compensatory examinations. The compensatory examinations can be prescribed to a maximum extent of 30 ECTS and must be completed by the end of the second semester. Decisions about whether you’ll be able to enroll with or without conditions will be made by the dean of academic affairs and on a case-by-case basis.

How do I know that I’ve been accepted?

After successfully completing all steps in the admission procedure, you will be notified of whether you have been accepted into the program.

How often does the admission process take place?

Our admission process takes place once per academic year. You can find details for the next application period in the Dates and Deadlines section.

Can I start my studies in the summer semester?

Since the obligatory foundational courses in civil engineering and computer science are only offered in the winter semester, you can only start your studies in the winter semester.

How many students will be admitted to the program?

We accept 30 students per academic year.

I have a non-EU citizenship. Can I still enroll in this program?

Yes, you can enrol in this master’s program if you have citizenship from a non-EU country. Please be advised that there may be additional steps that you need to take for you to be able to study in Austria. For further information and guidance, please refer to our International Office.

I have not completed my bachelor’s program yet. Can I still apply?

Generally speaking, you must have completed your degree program when applying for admission. However, if you are near completion, an individual assessment of your study progress will determine whether you may participate in the admission procedure. No more than 30 ECTS may be left until completion.

What are the requirements regarding German and English?

For German, none. The program is entirely in English. If an application form asks for your German skills, this is only because of other study programs; your answer does not affect your chances of getting admitted. For English, proficiency on Level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) is required.

Do I need a language certificate?

You only need to provide a certificate of your proficiency if you have not graduated in English on Level B2 of the CEFR from an Austrian or foreign secondary school. We accept the following certificates as a demonstration of your proficiency: TOEFL iBT (with a minimum requirement of 80 points), TOEFL PBT (pbtwith a minimum requirement of 550 points), and IELTS (overall band score of at least 6).

Do I write my master’s thesis at TU Wien or at Montanuniversität Leoben?

You can write your master’s thesis at TU Wien or at Montanuniversität Leoben. If you have more questions about your master’s thesis, please refer to our Study Support Center.

Do I need to write the master’s thesis in English?

Yes, your master’s thesis must be written and submitted in English.

Which university will I graduate from?

You will graduate from both TU Wien and Montanuniversität Leoben.

I need a place to stay for on-site lectures. Where can I stay?

We have a list of dormitories for Vienna and Leoben.

I need financial support. Where can I get information?

For financial aid, please refer to our Study Support Center or directly contact the Stipendienstelle.

I have more questions. Where do I get more information?

Please see the links and contact information below.

Links for TU Wien

• Faculty of Informatics
• Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering
• International Office
• Living in Vienna
• Dormitories in Vienna

Links for Montanuniversität Leoben

• Chair of Subsurface Engineering
• Campus Life in Leoben
• Dormitories in Leoben