MSc in Sustainable Building Design

Program Overview

The MSc Sustainable Building Design program equips students with a comprehensive understanding of sustainable design principles and practical skills. Accredited by CIAT, the program emphasizes a holistic approach to building design, considering social, economic, and environmental aspects. Students gain hands-on experience through live projects, industry collaborations, and the use of industry-leading software and assessment methods. Graduates are highly employable in the sustainable construction industry, with many securing top-level roles in leading companies.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This MSc Sustainable Building Design course is the ideal way for students from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds to pursue a career in this exciting and important sector. By providing you with a thorough understanding of both theory-based and practical skills, you’ll graduate from this course as a specialist designer with the education and vision required to help create a sustainable future for the construction industry. Throughout the CIAT accredited course, you’ll be encouraged to develop a holistic approach to designing sustainable and intelligent buildings. Learning is centered around social, economic, and environmental aspects of design, otherwise known as the three pillars of sustainability. The curriculum introduces the essential academic theory that underpins each of these areas and explores the technical tools required to successfully plan performance-based building projects. You’ll also be introduced to Building Information Modelling (BIM), working with an expert course team on a range of live projects in a design environment that simulates real workplace practices. These projects will help you to build a portfolio of practical work and equip you with the essential tools and software packages used by the industry. You’ll also develop an understanding of globally renowned energy assessment methods such as BREEAM, LEED, and Passivhaus. The course benefits from extensive links with industry, formed over many years of delivering accredited courses with professional organizations (e.g., CIAT, CIOB, and SBID). Practitioners from a cross-section of the built environment industry contribute regularly to the academic process by providing real-world projects, guest lectures, site visits, and informal mentoring sessions. The course also has a placement option, allowing you to put your studies into practice in the workplace. The placement takes place after you've finished your MSc studies. Not only in the industry-led course content, but also in the student body. Our students are of many different nationalities, bringing with them a wealth of experience, meaning you'll study in a diverse, multicultural environment that reflects the truly global nature of the sustainable construction industry. Kickstart your career in sustainable building design by enrolling in this comprehensive program that combines theory, practical experience, and exposure to industry-leading trends and technologies. Join a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to making the world a better place through sustainable design.

Outline:

Year One

Core Modules

• Building Information Management
• Sustainable Building - Performance Analysis
• Sustainable Building - Strategies and Assessment
• Sustainable Building Project

Optional Modules

• Design Project
• Research Dissertation

Placement

To allow you to put your studies into practice in the workplace, you can apply for a placement after you finish your MSc studies. Placements can be 12 weeks (one semester), 24 weeks (two semesters), or a full year to give maximum flexibility to suit individual situations. It is your responsibility to apply for and secure a placement within six weeks of completing your studies.

Teaching:

You’ll be taught by industry experts. And practitioners from the built environment industry regularly provide real-world projects, guest lectures, site visits, and mentoring sessions.

Careers:

Graduates from MSc Sustainable Building Design have successfully gained employment in companies across the UK and overseas. For example, our graduates have secured employment with companies such as Brightspace Architects, Ridge and Partners, Architecture PLB, EP Projects, Raft Architecture, Kier, Barratt Homes, Arup, and more. We use our contacts to provide students with real-world employability skills such as guest lectures, site visits, and live briefs.

Other:

• The course is accredited by CIAT.
• The course has a high rate of graduate employability.
• Most of our graduates have leveraged their newly-acquired knowledge to secure top-level roles in the sustainable construction industry.
• The course has high student satisfaction.
Previous students on this course have rated it 100% for overall student satisfaction (PTES).
• You will receive free architecture career consultation for life.
Our careers advice service, Solent Futures, is available to all Solent students and graduates for life, helping you to progress in your current career or discuss options for a change in career.
• This course is eligible for the Postgraduate Master's student loan.

• UK and Channel Island full-time fees: £9,675 per year
• International full-time fees: £17,065 per year
• UK and Channel Island placement year fee: £1,800
• International placement year fee: £3,060