PGD in Sustainable Construction
Post-Graduate Diploma – an opportunity to study in Finland.
Finland consistently ranks high in the world happiness ranking, quality of education and security. It is also abundant in nature and peaceful environment.
Finland is a technological forerunner in various sectors and innovation is supported by a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem producing some of the world’s most successful companies.
Full time studies
- location: Mikkeli, Finland
- duration of studies: 1 year
- rolling certificate-based admission, deadline 1.5.2025
- The qualified applicants will have to submit a motivation video as per instructions provided by Xamk
- Acceptance information will be sent to the selected students shortly after the admission decision has been made
- tuition fee: €12 000
- studies begin: 3 November 2025
Entry requirements
- relevant prior studies: at least Bachelor’s degree in Construction Engineering, Energy Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or other relevant degree. Note: Engineering in IT, Robotics, etc. do not qualify for this programme
- at least 2 years (24 months) of work experience from the sector of engineering after completing the Bachelor’s degree
- valid English language test: minimum IELTS 6.0 or PTE 55
Selection procedure
- Suitability of the degree and work experience
- Motivation video
Mode of study
- full-time studies
Studying at Xamk
South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences, Xamk, is situated in Mikkeli city, just 2.5 hours train ride from the capital city Helsinki. Living costs are significantly cheaper in Mikkeli compared to the capital region.
Xamk is among the top universities of applied sciences in terms of number of degree programs, amount of continuous learning credits and external research funding, according to the Ministry of Education and Culture’s comparison of various indicators.
By joining Xamk, you have the possibilities to explore multitude of interests in various in-house development projects and study programmes.
Post-graduate Diploma in Sustainable Construction
In the Post-graduate Diploma in Sustainable Construction, you will learn how to use the latest knowledge on carbon-neutral construction and energy efficiency in buildings to develop your own work and working practices – while ensuring healthy indoor climate conditions. It will deepen your expertise in building energy efficiency and low-carbon energy solutions.
You will learn how to integrate sustainable construction and energy efficiency into building design, construction and decision-making. The focus is on tightening energy requirements, low-carbon building solutions and sustainable energy use. Your studies will cover topics such as:
- Construction expertise and regulation – a strong foundation for sustainable development in construction
- Carbon-neutral construction and energy efficiency – towards a low-carbon future
- Advanced modelling and technologies – tools for developing sustainable construction
The Post-graduate Diploma in Sustainable Construction provides in-depth knowledge on carbon neutral construction, energy efficiency and sustainable technologies. During your studies, you will develop your expertise and learn how to use modern design and modelling tools to promote low-carbon solutions in the construction sector. This hands-on training will equip you to contribute to a more sustainable future as an expert in responsible construction.
Possibility to continue to our Master’s programme
After completing the Post-graduate Diploma Programme in Sustainable Construction at Xamk, it is possible to transfer credits and continue in our Master’s programme at the same campus. However, it is important to notice that you must fulfill specific requirements to be able to obtain a study place in our MBA programme. We prefer students who are strongly motivated to further their studies in the Master’s programme after completing the diploma.
The enrolled students will have to submit a final thesis (30 ects) to graduate with Master’s degree in Carbon-neutral construction (Master’s of Engineering). The master’s studies are charged according to the Xamk standards at the year of application. As of 2025, the tuition fee for 1 semester is 6750e (early bird discount of 10% and other scholarships apply).
The conditions to enter the master studies are:
- 60 ects obtained from the PGD by the end of 2026
- Submitting the online application form during the joint application round (the detailed instructions will be provided when the PGD programme begins)
- Relevant prior studies: at least Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field
- 2 years of work experience from the relevant field, after completing bachelor’s degree
- Paid tuition fee per semester (Tuition fee for the academic year 2025-2026 per semester is €6750. Please note that the tuition fee is subject to change for the academic year 2026-2027). Degree students will be entitled to scholarships. Please note that the scholarship scheme is revised annually and subject to change for the academic year 2026-2027). It is possible to graduate from the Master’s programme within one semester.
How to apply
The application period for Post-graduate Diploma in Sustainable Construction is now open!
The applicants may choose to apply individually by submitting the online application and all the required documents via the online application form, or with the help of our authorized partners who will also provide extensive guidance on the application procedure, entry requirements, preparation for relocation to Finland etc.
Please, be prepared to submit the following documents together with the online application:
- a copy of your passport
- a copy of the relevant degree certificate
- a copy of a valid English proficiency certificate (IELTS 6.0 or equivalent)
- a proof of the sufficient work experience (employment certificate or other relevant document)
Please, note that Xamk does not charge any application fee, however, if you apply with one of our agents you maybe charged counselling fee for additional services such as, but not limited to immigration consultation and visa application assistance. Please, be in touch with an individual agent to find our more about the related fees and processes. The fees charged by an agent are not in any way controlled, influenced or related to Xamk.
Welcome to Mikkeli
Mikkeli is located on the beautiful shores of Lake Saimaa, just a couple of hours away from Helsinki. There are over 6000 students in Mikkeli. In total, the city has about 50,000 inhabitants. Xamk’s campus is located within a 10-minute walk from the city center, where you can find Finland’s most beautiful market square, diverse shopping centers, and a cozy pedestrian street.
Mikkeli offers plenty of leisure opportunities to balance out your studies. The city is surrounded by beautiful nature, with clean waters and forests providing space to breathe and relax. There are diverse recreational activities available, making student life vibrant and lively. The atmosphere in Mikkeli is relaxed – it’s easy to live and thrive here!
You can easily get to Mikkeli by bus or train. For example, the train journey to Helsinki takes less than 2.5 hours. More information is available at www.matkahuolto.fi, www.onnibus.fi, and www.vr.fi.
MORE INFORMATION
Xamk
Xamk
Finland
Finland
Mikkeli Campus
Mikkeli Campus
If you have questions or inquiries about the programme, please contact pgd@xamk.fi
The academic coordinator for this PGD Programme is
Frequently asked questions
Post-Graduate Diploma (PGD) is a master-level education programme, designed to enable a transparent and straightforward recruitment process of international talents and their further relocation to Xamk campus towns to join the full-time studies on-site. Our PGD programmes consist of 60 ECTS of professional courses, which are meant to prepare the students for multi-faceted working environment in Finland and to ensure their competitiveness in the employment market.
Students who successfully accomplish our PGD programme and who meet the eligibility requirements of the related Master’s degree, can get their acquired 60 ECTS transferred directly to the Master’s program at Xamk. This setup provides the participants with an opportunity to graduate with a Master’s degree from Xamk after submitting their final thesis and thus does not extend the study time unlike similar setups in other HEIs worldwide.
Students accepted to a PGD and who meet the eligibility requirements for further Master’s degree programme enrollment are granted a conditional acceptance letter to one of our Master’s degrees. An unconditional letter of acceptance to Master’s degree programme will be handed out after the successful graduation from the PGD and fulfillment of the admission requirements for the relevant Master’s program. The detailed requirements for enrolling in a Master’s programme are explained above in the main section of the web-page.
No, however, the students who successfully accomplish the studies can apply to continue their studies in the Master’s Programme. Please, note that since the Post-graduate Diploma Programme does not lead to a degree itself, some of the degree students’ benefits do not apply here, e.g. Kela supported lunch discount, YTHS medical on-campus services, international mobility opportunities etc. However, those will be available once you transfer to degree studies upon completion of this programme.
You can apply to the programme by yourself or via an educational agent. You will find the detailed requirements and application information from this site.
The application period for the Post-graduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship and Startups is now open. Please fill in the application form here.
After being accepted to the programme, Xamk’s Education Export team will send you the guidelines on how to complete the payment. Please remember to only trust email addresses that end with xamk.fi.
We will send an acceptance letter to all accepted students. We recommend to start the visa application process as soon as your study place has been confirmed, because the process can take a long time to be completed.
We will also organise an online orientation session, where you will get all the necessary information to start preparing for your arrival to Finland.
In addition to that, you will receive a thorough info package with plenty of advice and guidance to make your relocation as smooth as possible. There are also informational videos that you can watch prior to your arrival.
We strongly recommend to arrive to Finland only a few weeks before the programme starts. This will give you plenty of time to settle to Kouvola and find your way around the town before your studies start.
In case you arrive with your family, please read our guide very thoroughly and make the necessary preparations for their arrival as well.
No, there is no scholarship scheme in Post-graduate Diploma Programmes.
Although we will ensure the students are provided with support to complete all the courses, there is still a chance some students may struggle with certain courses. In case if some courses are not completed, students will still receive ECTS for the completed courses, and they will remain valid in their personal study register.