Specifically, they visited the high school Passivehaus where they learned the criteria on which it is based and the Design PH and PPHP tools to demonstrate compliance with the Passivhaus standard. The course had a strong practical component and the students were able to design a building with Passivhaus criteria and verify compliance. 

According to the director of Master's Degree, Ana Sánchez-Ostiz, "a strategy based on passive design allows limiting energy demand. One option is to follow the criteria established by the Passivhaus standard, which are based on: design depending on the climate (solar gain and protection), high insulation thicknesses, thermal bridge solutions, air tightness, high performance windows, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery systems".

The goal of Master's Degree is to train experts in environmental, social and economic sustainability in architecture, urban planning and engineering. It focuses on energy management (active and passive measures), the Materials (sustainable materials, life cycle analysis, healthy materials), environmental building certifications (BREAAM, WELL, LEED, PASSIVHAUS) and new construction systems that allow the design and construction of sustainable buildings.