Architectural Engineering (with placement year)

This is a design-led course grounded in the prestigious School of Architectural, Building and Civil Engineering. The course develops your understanding of the principles of engineering, which you can then apply to architectural design projects.

Combining the creativity of architecture with the rigour of engineering, the Architectural Engineer plays a key role in the production of a sustainable built environment. Architectural Engineers oversee the whole building process, from concept to construction. Architectural Engineers combine architecture, environmental design and structural engineering to deliver iconic, resilient and sustainable buildings.

You will study environmental, structural, and architectural design in an interactive format. The traditional studies of building materials, mechanics of structures, building physics and environmental systems will be brought together with humanistic subjects through a series of integrated design projects. These will be the common ground where the relevant disciplines come together to challenge and develop your skills as an Architectural Engineer.

To ensure that you gain an appropriate industrial perspective, our students normally have the opportunity to undertake site visits and field trips. Students on the MEng course normally have the additional opportunity to go on a study trip to a European city. Contribution from leading practitioners and guest speakers in the fields of architecture and engineering is also an integral part of the learning experience.

What's the difference between MEng and BEng?

The MEng course will deepen and broaden your architectural competencies and environmental engineering skills through a major design project, as well as taught topics. You will gain an understanding of methods for automating construction manufacturing, as well as an in-depth understanding of the role of a building in its environment.

The BEng course will develop your skills and knowledge in the fundamentals of engineering, with an additional understanding of the architectural design process. As the BEng course is one year shorter compared to the MEng course, this option is ideal if you are keen to start your career in industry early, or if you wish to specialise through one of our other MSc programmes after your BEng studies. Students on the BEng degree have the option to transfer to the MEng degree at the end of year two, subject to satisfactory performance.

For a full list of areas studied, see the 'What You'll Study' section of the course page on our website.

Students are assessed through a combination of individual and group coursework, design-based outputs, technical essays, verbal presentations and examinations.

Students will develop and employ a wide range of skills, from hand-sketching to Building Information Modelling (BIM), from hand calculations to finite element modelling and analysis, from composing an engineering report to delivering a convincing visual presentation.