Information for starters

There is a high international demand for Austrian Know-How in tunnelling. Especially the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (“NATM”) is internationally recognized and applied. With completion of this degree program you are well prepared for working successfully in this field.

The job prospects are very good at home and abroad.

Fields of activity:

This profession offers interesting tasks every day anew.

You can find a job at:

  • Engineering offices (design, project planning and static analysis)
  • Tunnelling construction and supplier companies
  • Authorities (Controlling and granting permits)
  • Research

Future

Excellent future perspectives result from a growing need for:

  • Underground traffic routes (train, subway and road)
  • Caverns for sport and research facilities, for power plants or permanent disposal sites
  • Supply and disposal pipes, which are increasingly build trenchless (no-dig installations, micro-tunnelling)

Qualifications:

If you bring along following characteristics, the completion of the bachelor program Mineral Resources Engineering ant the master program Mining and Tunnelling with focus on Geotechnics and Tunnelling as well as a promising career are within easy reach:

  • Technical understanding
  • Flexibility
  • Team spirit
  • Sense of responsibility
  • Foreign language skills and the willingness to learn foreign language
  • Wilingness to work abroad

Internship

You have to do internships for a total period of 120 days during your study (90 during the bachelor program and 30 during the master program).

The curriclulum:

Mineral resources Engineering with focus on Geotechnics and Tunnelling at the University of Leoben takes ten semesters and perfectly combines theory and practice. It is divided into the bachelor program Mineral Resources Engineering, which takes seven semesters and the following master program Mining and Tunnelling. In general, the whole degree program is split up into three parts (4 + 3 + 3 semesters).

All branches of study at the University of Leoben share the first year as an initial phase. Therefore changing the study program is no problem after completing the first year. The basic subjects mathematics, chemistry, physics and mechanics are further developed in this first year – differences from variating school education are compensated.v

Starting with the 3rd semester, the lessons get more specific, introducing subjects like mineralogy and geology.   Based on the basic lessons a solid technical education is performed during the first four semesters. In the second part, which takes three semesters, the study contains a broad professional education that covers the areas of exploitation and processing of raw materials, the production of construction materials as well as tunnelling and surveying. Writing two bachelor theses autonomously supplements the education.

After a successful completion of these seven semesters you are holding the academic degree bachelor of science. You are already qualified to take a position of responsibility in small to medium-sized mineral raw material companies, as well as tasks in tunnelling design and construction. Employment opportunities exist in the whole area of the exploitation and processing of raw materials to marketable products.  Tasks of underground construction for consultant engineers, construction industry or clients as well as the production of construction materials like cement, lime and gypsum are further job prospects. Furthermore the bachelor program is the basis for the following academic education to a master of science.

You can choose following master studies:  

Mining and Tunnelling with focus on:

  • Mining
    • Raw Material Production
    • Geotechnics and Tunnelling
    • Global Resources, Earth and Technology
    • Raw Materials and Energy Systems

Raw Materials Engineering with focus on:

  • Mineral Processing
    • Building Materials and Ceramics
    • Mineral Processing and Energy Systems

The master program’s aim is a deepening and a further scientification of the education in the key course elements to an equal level of a well known anglo-saxon university.


As graduate of the master program you can work nationally and internationally. The master program Mining and Tunnelling includes two semesters of subject-specific lectures. The third semester is reserved for a diploma thesis, in many cases in cooperation with industrial and economic partners. Tutorials, a field-specific internship in Austria or abroad, field trips and especially the master thesis improve your abilities for practical work and putting theory into practice.

In addition the master program offers complementary technical, economical, information technological and managerial courses. The specialty Geotechnics and Tunnelling deals with geotechnical exploration, designing, tendering and building underground construction structures and includes associated areas like surveying, geotechnical measurements, geo-information, construction contracts and construction management.

Some lectures are read in english to meet international demands. The master program is completed with the academic degree master of science.

For further information write an e-mail to:

subsurface(at)unileoben.ac.at

We will gladly answer your questions!