Programme Structure and Content

2 semester course with desirable mobility

The BIM A+ programme has a duration of one academic year (60 ECTS credits) and is held on both University of Minho and University of Ljubljana.

For the academic year 2023/2024, Coursework (October – March) occurs simultaneously at the University of Ljubljana and the University of Minho, with the students being able to take the first semester at either of these two locations. The elaboration of Dissertation (April – September) can also be performed in any of these two institutions. This results in 4 possible tracks of mobility, as shown below:

Even though it is not mandatory that students carry out the entire coursework in one location and the dissertation in another location, this mobility situation is highly encouraged by the Consortium. The mobility track is based on students’ preferences taking into account an adequate balance between different institutions. The curriculum is exactly the same, no matter the student’s mobility track. For students applying for tracks #3 and #4 (i.e. no mobility), seats are more limited.

The study programme is composed of seven modules, with six sequential coursework modules and one final dissertation.

BIM A+1 (5 ECTS) Management of information and collaboration in BIM

Coordinator: Tomo Cerovšek (University of Ljubljana)

Main learning objectives:

Get an overview of BIM theory and standards;
Understand the role and potential of BIM for the industry;
Understand critical aspects in BIM implementation responding to project requirements;
Be able to plan use of BIM in Building projects and provide the right level of detail;
Be able to comply to legal and project collaboration requirements;
Assess capacity and capability for BIM Implementations on specific project;
Be able to put in place appropriate management procedures and BIM protocols.

BIM A+2 (5 ECTS) Modelling in Architecture and Engineering

Coordinator: Miguel Azenha (University of Minho)

Main learning objectives:

Be able to differentiate the requisites and uses that are of interest for each construction specialty (Architecture and Engineering);
Identify and describe adequate modelling practices in view of intended uses for the models;
List, apply and criticize the several modelling recommendations that exist at international level;
Capability to understand and perform BIM models for the specialties of Architecture, Structural Engineering and MEP Engineering;
Understand further particular cases of modelling, targeted for monitoring and management.

BIM A+3 (5 ECTS) Parametric Modelling in BIM

Coordinator: Bruno Figueiredo (University of Minho)

Main learning objectives:

Being capable of fully understanding the underlying concepts of parametric modelling;
Master the use of parametric approaches for advanced object creation;
Be capable of advanced object use of in BIM context through interactive editors and object libraries;
To be aware of scripting methodologies to extend the capacities of existing BIM platforms towards customized capacities.

BIM A+4 (5 ECTS) Advanced BIM data-systems and interoperability

Coordinator: Žiga Turk (University of Ljubljana)

Main learning objectives:

Be able to assess interoperability issues in BIM Exchange from technical, semantic and organizational point of view;
Methods of development of schemata and databases that are relevant to BIM;
Methods for exchange building product specifications;
Assessment procedures that are relevant for successful implementation of a project;
Interoperability issues in BIM based exchange of project information in infrastructure and building projects.

BIM A+5 (5 ECTS) 4D, 5D, 6D modelling and applications

Coordinator: Alberto Pavan (Politecnico di Milano)

Main learning objectives:

Be able to understand the value of BIM and the impacts on the “more” managerial aspects of Design and Construction (ie. Business process management, construction project management, integrated project delivery);
Be able to differentiate the requisites and uses that are of interest for dimension of BIM uses (ie. 4D programming, 5D estimating/accounting, 6D facility management);
Be able to detail the business processes impacted by BIM 4D, 5D and 6D and describe the digitalization approach in terms of workflows, data exchange mechanisms;
Provide references to practices that exist at international level;
Understand how the Common Data Environment (as prescribed in European practices) can support other business processes such as contract management, tendering and eProcurement, BIM to Field;
Understand how to adapt BIM 4D, 5D and 6D to modelling and applications for the specialties of Architecture, Structural Engineering and MEP Engineering

BIM A+6 (5 ECTS) BIM based rehabilitation and sustainability analysis

Coordinator: Pietro Crespi (Politecnico di Milano)

Main learning objectives:

Be able to organize and manage the various phases of the design, tender activity, construction and facility management of the retrofit of existing building;
Be able to organize Tools, methods, and instruments for the survey of the existing buildings;
The 3D modelling of the survey for the preliminary diagnosis of the damages and photorealistic reconstruction;
The structural model and the coordination between the structural model and the architectural model;
Model for the dynamic structural analysis of the building;
The design of the rehabilitation and envelope of the construction details;
Solutions for the reuse of existing buildings: Modelling, Budgeting, Estimating;
The sustainable reuse with LEED rating system, use of Revit for the evaluation of LEED;
MEP modelling, into the buildings and clash detection;
BIM to BEM: Energy management and analysis;
LCC in the construction and evaluation of the payback;
The phases in the project of reuse of existing building, the model checking.

BIM A+7 (30 ECTS) Dissertation

Main learning objectives:

Plan, develop and present the dissertation work.

Modules BIM A+1 to BIM A+6 are arranged from Monday to Friday as a mix of theory and application, in a context of a project-led education. Lectures are held from 8:30h to 12:00h (WET) and individual/group work is carried out at University from 14:00h to 19:00h (WET).

The Dissertation (BIM A+7) aims at developing research and/or professional competences in the field of Building Information Modelling.

Degree Awarded

The degree awarded is a Master’s degree, provided as an independent degree from each of the two institutions involved in Coursework and Dissertation for each student. The degree awarding institution and degree awarded are as follows:

University of Minho, Portugal: BIM A+ Mestrado Europeu em Modelação de Informação na Construção de Edifícios
University of Ljubljana, Slovenia: Magister BIM A+ European Master in Building Information Modelling

For students enrolled in mobility tracks #1 and #2, both degrees shall be awarded. Students in mobility tracks #3 and #4 (no mobility) are only eligible to obtain the degree from the University at which the graduation is obtained.