Architectural Engineering (BEng)

Program Overview

Cardiff University's Architectural Engineering (BEng) program equips students with the knowledge and skills to design, build, and maintain buildings. Accredited by prestigious institutions, the program emphasizes collaboration, practical experience, and flexible course structures, preparing graduates for successful careers in architectural engineering and beyond.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Architectural Engineering (BEng) program at Cardiff University is a three-year, full-time degree designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and practical experience necessary to become work-ready architectural engineers. The program boasts accreditation by prestigious institutions like the Institution of Civil Engineers, Institution of Structural Engineers, Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation, and Institute of Highway Engineers, signifying its commitment to meeting the highest academic standards. The program's focus lies in integrating structural engineering, architectural design, and building services, enabling students to plan, design, build, and maintain the buildings we interact with on a daily basis. Through a combination of lectures, tutorials, laboratory sessions, field trips, individual projects, and design classes, students gain a comprehensive understanding of the field while honing their practical abilities. A cornerstone of the program is its emphasis on fostering collaboration and professional skills. Students work on real-world engineering problems and industry-focused scenarios, often in collaboration with peers from other engineering disciplines. This mirrors the dynamic environments of real-world engineering teams and empowers students to develop crucial teamwork, project management, and communication skills. Furthermore, the program offers flexible course structures, allowing students to tailor their studies based on their specific interests and career aspirations. Through a range of options and pathways, students can further specialize in areas that resonate with them and pave the way for rewarding careers in the architectural engineering field.

Outline:

Year One:

• Focuses on core modules with a combination of lectures and practical laboratory sessions, laying the foundation for further studies.
• Key modules include Engineering Maths and Computation, Fundamentals of Civil Engineering, Applied Design and Practice.

Year Two:

• Features more lectures supported by practical laboratory sessions.
• Includes an off-site residential field course (Field Studies of the Natural and Built Environment) during the spring semester.
• Core modules comprise Building Modelling, History of Western Architecture, Hydraulics and Soil Mechanics, Structural Analysis & Design Theory, Sustainable Civil Engineering Design & Practice.

Year Three:

• Emphasizes a major individual project, contributing to a quarter of the overall year's credits.
• Offers a balanced combination of core modules and optional modules, allowing students to customize their learning based on personal interests and career goals.
• Core modules include Construction and Construction Management, Integrated Building Design, Architectural Engineering Design Studio, Tensile Structures, Project, Structural Analysis, Geotechnical Engineering, and Structural Design Studies.
• Optional modules encompass Concrete Materials and Structures, Environmental Geotechnics, and Finite Elements for Full-scale Engineering Problems.

Assessment:

Assessment methods used in the program are diverse and tailored to evaluate knowledge, understanding, professional and key skills.

• Year One assessments emphasize tests, short reports, a professional development portfolio, presentations, and written examinations.
• Years Two and Three assessments gradually shift from tests to exams, incorporating written assessments throughout.
• The major individual project in Year Three is assessed through a dissertation report.

Teaching:

The program utilizes various teaching methods to create an engaging and effective learning environment.

• Lectures and tutorials form the backbone of instruction.
• Practical laboratory sessions and project-based work enable students to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios.
• Instructors employ a rich library of online learning resources, encompassing instructional/informational videos, study notes, guided exercise questions, and online quizzes.

Careers:

Graduates of the program are highly sought after in the civil and structural engineering fields, often securing positions in major consultancy and contracting firms as graduate civil or structural engineers or building design engineers. Companies like Arup, Atkins, Capita Symonds, and Ramboll frequently recruit graduates. Architectural and building services practices also represent popular career paths. Further study is another popular option, with graduates pursuing MSc or PhD degrees at various institutions across the UK. Beyond engineering, graduates have branched out into diverse fields like finance, media, and marketing, working for companies like Deloitte, PwC, and Virgin.

Other:

The program also includes a unique opportunity for students to visit a major UK construction site, enabling them to experience innovative construction practices firsthand and explore their impact on sustainability, environment, and society.

Fees for home status We are currently awaiting confirmation on tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year. The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in the second and subsequent years of a course as permitted by law or Welsh Government policy. Where applicable we will notify you of any change in tuition fee by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which the fee will increase. Students from the EU, EEA and Switzerland We are currently awaiting confirmation on tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year. Learn more about the undergraduate fees for students from the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. We are currently awaiting confirmation on tuition fees for the 2025/26 academic year. Additional costs Course specific equipment The University will provide resources such as computers and associated software, laboratory equipment (including any safety equipment) and any required learning resources. Accommodation We have a range of residences to suit your needs and budget. Living costs We're based in one of the UK's most affordable cities. Find out more about living costs in Cardiff.