The MSc in Energy Efficient Building at Pulchowk Campus is offered under the curriculum title MSc in Energy Efficient Buildings. It is a two-year postgraduate program under the Institute of Engineering (IOE), Tribhuvan University, and is associated with the Department of Architecture.
The curriculum focuses on building physics, climatology, energy efficiency in building structures, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, research methodology, energy economics, renewable energy, energy-efficient design, modelling, green buildings, energy policy, auditing, and related areas. Students complete core coursework in the first year, specialized electives and group project work in the third semester, and a 16-credit thesis in the fourth semester.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Course | MSc in Energy Efficient Buildings |
| Level | Master’s degree |
| Campus | Pulchowk Campus – Institute of Engineering |
| Department | Architecture |
| University | Tribhuvan University |
| Institute | Institute of Engineering (IOE) |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Academic structure | 4 semesters |
| Semester I | 16 credits |
| Semester II | 16 credits |
| Semester III | 12 credits |
| Semester IV | 16 credits |
| Elective courses | 16 credits |
| Project component | Group Project Work |
| Final component | 16-credit thesis |
MSc in Energy Efficient Buildings is structured around the relationship between buildings, climate, energy use, technical systems, design decisions, and energy policy.
The first semester establishes a technical foundation through Building Physics, Climatology, Energy Efficiency in Building Structure, and Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning. The second semester introduces Research Methodology and Energy Diplomacy and Energy Economics alongside two electives.
The third semester consists of two additional electives and Group Project Work. The fourth semester is devoted to the thesis.
At Pulchowk Campus – Institute of Engineering (IOE), the program is part of the Department of Architecture's postgraduate academic portfolio under Tribhuvan University.
Energy Efficient Buildings is one of the postgraduate programs associated with the Department of Architecture at Pulchowk Campus.
The department's broader academic portfolio includes:
These are separate academic programs. MSc in Energy Efficient Buildings has its own curriculum centered specifically on energy performance, climatic considerations, building systems, specialized energy-related electives, project work, and research.
The program follows a four-semester structure.
| Semester | Main Academic Components | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Semester I | Building Physics; Climatology; Energy Efficiency in Building Structure; HVAC | 16 |
| Semester II | Research Methodology; Energy Diplomacy and Energy Economics; Elective A1; Elective A2 | 16 |
| Semester III | Elective B1; Elective C1; Group Project Work | 12 |
| Semester IV | Thesis | 16 |
The progression moves from core technical and climatic study toward specialization, applied group work, and independent research.
The first semester contains four compulsory courses carrying 4 credits each.
Building Physics introduces the physical behaviour of buildings in relation to their performance.
Within the wider curriculum, the subject supports later study in energy efficiency, modelling, passive design, HVAC, green buildings, and energy auditing.
Climatology provides the climatic dimension of building-energy study.
Its placement alongside Building Physics creates a foundation for understanding how climatic conditions relate to the design and operation of buildings.
The course also connects naturally with later electives dealing with climate change, energy efficiency, passive building operation, sustainable settlements, and energy-efficient design.
Energy Efficiency in Building Structure is a dedicated 4-credit core course.
Its inclusion gives the physical building structure a central place within the program rather than treating energy performance only as a mechanical-services issue.
HVAC is the fourth compulsory subject in Semester I.
The course places heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems within the technical foundation of the degree.
Together, Building Physics, Climatology, Energy Efficiency in Building Structure, and HVAC establish the common first-semester base before students move into research, economics, and specialized electives.
Semester II consists of:
This semester combines research preparation and energy-economics study with 8 credits of elective specialization.
Research Methodology provides academic preparation for later Group Project Work and the final thesis.
Its position in Semester II gives students a formal research component before the program becomes increasingly project- and thesis-oriented.
Energy Diplomacy and Energy Economics introduces economic and policy-oriented considerations into a curriculum otherwise strongly connected with buildings, climate, energy systems, and design.
This expands the program beyond technical building performance alone.
Elective A1 includes:
These options focus on the performance and improvement of buildings under different operational, climatic, design, and retrofit conditions.
Passive Building Operation & Maintenance places attention on building performance during use, while Energy Efficiency and Retrofitting introduces the improvement of existing buildings.
Elective A2 includes:
This elective group gives solar and renewable-energy study a defined place within the course.
Students can select a direction related to solar design, system operation, grid connection, industrial or public-sector application, or broader renewable-energy design.
The third semester carries 12 credits and consists of:
This semester shifts toward advanced specialization and applied academic work.
Elective B1 includes:
This group expands the program from individual building systems toward modelling, policy, green-building operation, urban settlements, and sustainable settlement planning.
Energy Efficiency Systems Modelling and Analysis introduces an analytical and modelling direction, while Energy Efficiency Strategy, Energy Policy & Regulations addresses the policy and regulatory dimension.
Green Building Design Analysis Operation and Maintenance brings design and building operation together, while the settlement-focused subjects extend the scale of study beyond individual buildings.
Elective C1 includes:
These subjects introduce policy, auditing, risk, reliability, and decision-analysis perspectives.
Energy Efficiency and Audit provides a direct link with the assessment of energy performance. Reliability & Risk Analysis adds a risk-oriented analytical component, while Multi Criteria Decision Analysis introduces structured evaluation where several factors must be considered together.
The program contains 16 credits of elective study distributed across Semesters II and III.
The elective framework covers areas including:
This gives students room to develop different academic directions while retaining the same common core in building physics, climatology, structural energy efficiency, HVAC, research, and energy economics.
Semester III includes 4-credit Group Project Work.
The group project follows the core first-year subjects and is undertaken alongside the final two elective areas.
Its placement immediately before the thesis gives students an applied academic stage between coursework and independent research.
The project component also reflects the program's emphasis on integrating technical, environmental, energy, design, and analytical considerations within building-related study.
Semester IV is devoted to a 16-credit thesis.
The thesis is the largest single academic component in the curriculum.
Students reach this stage after completing core study in building physics, climatology, building energy efficiency, HVAC, research methodology, energy economics, four elective components, and Group Project Work.
The final semester therefore concentrates on independent postgraduate research rather than additional taught courses.
Across the program, students study areas including:
The course combines technical building study with environmental, economic, analytical, policy, and research components.
Students considering Energy Efficient Buildings may also encounter other postgraduate programs within the Department of Architecture.
MSc in Energy for Sustainable Social Development is separately identified within the same department.
MSc in Urban Planning focuses on planning, urban and regional study, planning studios, and thesis research.
Masters in Architecture (M.Arch) focuses on architectural theory, design studios, urban design, specialized architectural electives, project work, and thesis.
MSc in Energy Efficient Buildings remains distinct through its concentration on building performance, climate, energy systems, efficiency, renewable energy, modelling, auditing, and related building-energy issues.
Admission operates through the postgraduate framework of the Institute of Engineering under Tribhuvan University.
The applicable IOE postgraduate admission and entrance rules govern entry to Pulchowk Campus master's programs, while the program itself follows the curriculum and academic requirements prescribed under the TU/IOE system.
The program runs for two years across four semesters.
It is associated with the Department of Architecture at Pulchowk Campus.
The first semester includes Building Physics, Climatology, Energy Efficiency in Building Structure, and Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning – HVAC.
Yes. Elective A2 includes subjects related to solar energy, grid connection, solar applications, solar-system control and operation, and renewable-energy design.
The curriculum includes 16 credits of elective study across the second and third semesters.
Yes. Semester III includes 4-credit Group Project Work.
Yes. Semester IV consists of a 16-credit thesis.
Yes. Energy Efficiency and Audit is listed under Elective C1.
Yes. Green Building Design Analysis Operation and Maintenance is included among the Elective B1 options.
