Life sciences, including environmental and biotechnology, are one of the key industries of the 21st century, offering tremendous potential for growth, professional development and personal advancement. Innsbruck / Tyrol provides a highly competitive location through its excellently positioned universities, the Tyrolean Future Foundation, the Centre for Academic Spin-offs CAST, several innovative competence centres as well as a number of global players in the bioengineering industry.

Positioned at the interface of these institutions the internationally oriented MCI Master’s program ‘Engineering, Environmental & Biotechnology’ complements existent know-how, thus ameliorating the science- and business location.

The future-oriented specializations biotechnology and environmental technology focus clearly on innovative parts of applied science and research, thus equipping students with future-oriented qualifications.

Upon completion of their studies, the graduates of this Master’s program will work at the interface of engineering and science. They will have a sound command of the principles of both disciplines and the know-how, to combine them synergetically.

The graduates will have a comprehensive understanding of engineering and will focus on the development, optimization and controlling of biotechnological and environmental processes and technologies.

The Master’s program ‘Engineering, Environmental & Biotechnology’ comprises 4 semesters and lectures totalling 70 semester hours or 1,050 hours of instruction. Lectures are generally held in German, however, certain lectures and exams may also be in English. Winter semester lasts from the beginning of October until the end of January, summer semester from the beginning of March until the end of June. In general lectures will take place Monday to Friday during daytime.

The career prospects are very much determined by the field of specialization chosen by the student.

Graduates of the program for biotechnology deal with biochemical, micro- and molecular biological technologies. They develop and optimize processes for genetic engineering, operate bioreactors or work in the field of environmental technologies. They are responsible for adapting processes developed in the laboratory to a commercial scale, ensure smooth production processes and design and supervise bioprocess engineering facilities. Furthermore, in the field of environmental technology, they develop biological processes for the disposal of solid, liquid and gaseous materials.

Graduates have a large variety of career options in particular in the following fields:

Graduates of the program for environmental technology develop plants and processes on a highly advanced level. They combine natural science and engineering in the field of process technology and Research and Development are as much part of the job as adapting processes developed in the laboratory to a commercial scale. In view of the increasing pollution of air, water and soil and the resulting costs, technical environmental protection is gaining ever more importance.

Graduates of this interdisciplinary field of specialization have received a practice-oriented education and are ready to meet the technological challenges in the field of environmental issues, actively interfacing business and management in particular in the following fields:

A strong engagement in the field of applied research and development constitutes an integral part of the program and offers a good opportunity for students to address concrete problems and generate innovative solutions for the future, while still studying. International networks with other universities and a close collaboration with acknowledged industry partners are very crucial factors for economic and personal progress.

Main Research:

• Bioenergy
• Expression of recombinant proteins and protein engineering
• Membrane technology
• Modelling and simulation

One of the main objectives of this program is to convey sound knowledge in engineering, environmental and biotechnology, ensuring that the graduates skills enable them to take on leading positions and tasks in the following fields of action.

Fundamental career related goals of the Master’s program ‘Engineering, Environmental & Biotechnology’ are:

• Specialization in either biotechnology or environmental technology
• Acquisition of knowledge and competence in special fields of process engineering
• Profound competence in the use of scientific methods. Development of solutions for practical problems based on scientific findings
• Use of theoretical-analytical skills on complex applications
• Development of intellectual and social competence through abstract, analytical and networked thinking
• Ability to familiarize with new, unknown fields of work quickly and methodically, as well as the ability to act interdisciplinary

The international aspect of this study program is reflected in the composition of the faculty, the students, the curriculum and study related projects. The acquisition of excellent English skills is a particularly important fact. The study program includes an international semester for local and incoming-students from partner universities from all over the world. All courses of this semester are held exclusively in English. This international semester can alternatively be attended at MCI partner universities with the provision of full credit.

www.mci.edu/com/international

Admitted to the Master’s program ‘Engineering, Environmental & Biotechnology’ are graduates of relevant Bachelor’s programs as well as graduates of post secondary courses pertaining to the intended studies. For example: process engineering, chemical engineering, biological engineering and biotechnology.

The relevance and recognition of other diplomas is determined by the program director. 60 students are admitted per year. Applications for admission to the program should be submitted using the application form.

The verification of the prerequisites is followed by these parts of the admission procedure:

• Resumé (30%)
• Written entry exam (20%)
• Interview (50%)

Applications can be handed in at any time. The standardized application form as well as all required documents should be submitted in good time.

Applications for the recognition of previous studies, exams or scientific activities must be submitted to the program director. Whether the application will be favourably considered is dependant on admission to the program.

The academic staf f consists of full-time professors and lecturers of MCI supplemented by experienced lecturers from the fields of science, business and various other professions. This guarantees that the latest developments in scientific research and practical application are fully integrated in the curriculum of this program.

Coupling progressive didactic teaching methods with intensive mentoring ensures a practice-oriented educa tion that of fers the support needed to complete this course of studies within the projected timeframe. ‘Theoretical’ and ‘practical’ are not contradictory. The combination of these two approaches of fers both oppor tunities and challenges in this new form of teaching and learning.

Students are required to pay a tuition fee of currently EUR 363 plus membership fee to the Austrian Student Union per semester. A deposit of EUR 363 must be paid at the beginning of the program, in order to prevent students failing to begin or dropping out of their studies. This deposit will be used to cover the tuition fees for the 2nd semester. Students are also required to pay for any course material supplied by MCI.

Graduates of the program are awarded the academic degree „Master of Science in Engineering“, in short MSc (attested by a leaving certificate, the Master’s diploma, the international diploma supplement etc.). Graduates of this Master’s program are entitled to continue their studies towards a PhD and to pursue a career as as a legally certified engineer.