Sustainable solutions for the material world of tomorrow
Create safe pathways through mountainous terrain, facilitate access to valuable resources and shape the world of tomorrow. This is the vision that the Master's degree programme in Mining and Tunnelling at Montanuniversität Leoben makes a reality. You will acquire the skills to implement complex tunnel constructions and develop sustainable concepts for resource extraction.
What to expect from the study programme?
The Master’s programme is taught in English, offering you the choice of four specialisation tracks: Mining Engineering, Geotechnics and Tunnelling, Geomatics for Mineral Resources Management and European Mining Course (EMC).
- Mining Engineering
Advanced study in surface and underground mining, extraction technologies, rock mechanics, sustainability and raw materials policy.
|
Mining Engineering Program Structure | |
|---|---|
| 1st Semester | |
| Underground Mining | 4 ECTS |
| Mine Operation, Scheduling and Costing | 4 ECTS |
| Open Pit Mining | 1 ECTS |
| Economic Geology and Mining Economics | 6 ECTS |
| Mineral Economics | 3 ECTS |
| Deposit Modelling and associated Software | 2 ECTS |
| Continuous Mining Methods and Conveying Technologies in Surface and Underground Mining | 3 ECTS |
| Sustainable Development: History of thought, basic concepts and current applications | 6 ECTS |
| 2nd Semester | |
| Rock Mechanics 1 | 5 ECTS |
| Monitoring Techniques, Data Handling and Analysis in Mining | 3 ECTS |
| Planning of a Mineral Resources Project | 3 ECTS |
| Environmental Engineering in Mining, Mine Rehabilitation and Post Mining Operation | 6 ECTS |
| 3rd Semester | |
| Rock Mechanics 2 | 6 ECTS |
| Mine Ventilation, Water Control, Infrastructure | 4 ECTS |
| Feasibility Study | 3 ECTS |
| Mine Operation, Scheduling, Costing | 3 ECTS |
| Excursion | 2 ECTS |
| 4th Semester | |
| Master Thesis Module | 30 ECTS |
- Geotechnics and Tunnelling
Investigation of geotechnical properties, underground construction planning, numerical modelling, and digitalisation in tunnelling.
|
Geotechnics and Tunnelling Program Structure | |
|---|---|
| 1st Semester | |
| Selected Chapters in Soil Mechanics | 6 ECTS |
| Rock Mechanics and Rock Engineering | 6 ECTS |
| Computer-Aided Calculations for Solving Practical Case Studies in Geotechnics | 3 ECTS |
| Advanced Hydrogeology and Deep Geothermal Systems | 2 ECTS |
| Construction Contracts | 3 ECTS |
| CAD-Design in Tunnelling | 3 ECTS |
| Conventional and Mechanised Tunnelling Methods | 3 ECTS |
| Planning and Construction of Underground Structures | 3 ECTS |
| 2nd Semester | |
| Geotechnical Laboratory | 3 ECTS |
| Geotechnical Site Investigation | 3 ECTS |
| Calculation Exercises on the Finite Element Method | 2 ECTS |
| Selected Aspects of Engineering Surveying in Mining and Tunnelling | 6 ECTS |
| Design of Underground Structures | 4.5 ECTS |
| Introduction to Building Information Modelling (BIM) in Tunnelling | 2 ECTS |
| Tunnel Maintenance | 1.5 ECTS |
| Practice-Oriented Work in the Field of Geotechnics and Tunnelling | 2 ECTS |
| 3rd Semester | |
| Geotechnical Measurement Methods and Equipment | 1.5 ECTS |
| Numerical Methods in Geotechnics | 6 ECTS |
| Special Methods of Rock and Foundation Engineering | 1.5 ECTS |
| Construction Operations in Tunnelling | 2 ECTS |
| Cost Calculation and Construction Management | 1.5 ECTS |
| Tunnel Safety | 1.5 ECTS |
| Sustainability in Subsurface Engineering | 4 ECTS |
| 4th Semester | |
| Master Thesis Module | 30 ECTS |
- Geomatics for Mineral Resources Management
Application of geographic information systems, data acquisition, and analysis in the raw materials industry.
- European Mining Course (EMC)
A global perspective on the entire value chain of raw materials projects, offered in collaboration with RWTH Aachen (D) and Aalto University (FI).
The programme combines comprehensive theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience, including industry-relevant projects, field excursions, and laboratory experiments at Zentrum am Berg (ZaB), a world-renowned research and training facility for tunnelling and mining.
What are your career opportunities?
Graduates of the Master’s programme in Mining & Tunnelling are well-prepared for careers in the global raw materials and infrastructure sectors. Career opportunities include:
- International mining companies and resource corporations
- Construction and infrastructure projects in tunnelling and civil engineering
- Geotechnical consulting firms and engineering service providers
- Government ministries, public administration, and research institutions
- Environmental and sustainability consultancy in the mining and construction sectors
With this degree, you will have the skills and knowledge to drive innovation in the industry. Bring your ideas to life and shape the future of raw materials and infrastructure!