Architectural Engineering MEng

Program Overview

The University of Sheffield's Architectural Engineering MEng program combines architectural thinking and practice with multidisciplinary engineering skills, focusing on creating low-impact buildings. It emphasizes project work, state-of-the-art facilities, and industry partnerships, preparing graduates for careers in the built environment and sustainability. Accredited by CIBSE and JBM, the program offers optional placement years and study abroad opportunities.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

This program combines subjects from all engineering disciplines associated with buildings and their infrastructure, while also providing a strong understanding of architectural thinking and practice. The program aims to produce graduates who are equipped to create the next generation of low environmental-impact buildings.

Objectives:

• Develop multidisciplinary skills in structural and mechanical engineering, architectural thinking, and practice.
• Foster social responsibility and holistic thinking in students.
• Prepare graduates for careers in creating buildings with minimal environmental impact.
• Equip students with the skills to contribute to the continuous development and innovation within the low-impact built environment of the future.

Outline:

The program is structured over four years of full-time study, with the option of an optional placement year.

Year 1:

• Core Modules:
• Mathematics and Python Programming: Reinforces and extends mathematical knowledge, introduces programming for solving engineering problems.
• Civil and Structural Engineering Mechanics: Covers elastic structural analysis and stress, strain, and deformation of beams.
• Soil Mechanics: Introduces the use of soils in engineering practice, covering soil classification and design of geotechnical structures.
• Global Engineering Challenge Week: Compulsory week-long project focusing on global engineering challenges in areas like water, waste management, energy, and digital.
• Sustainable Design and Engineering Skills: Develops skills to design solutions and assess options against sustainability criteria.

Year 2:

• Core Modules:
• Structural Analysis: Improves understanding of elastic and plastic methods of structural analysis applied to various structural forms.
• Structural Engineering Design and Appraisal: Discusses fundamental principles of structural engineering philosophy and design, covering analysis and design of structural elements.
• Further Civil Engineering Mathematics and Computing: Consolidates previous mathematical knowledge and introduces new techniques relevant to civil engineering.
• Geotechnical Engineering 2a: Extends knowledge of soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering, focusing on fluid-soil interaction and practical applications.
• Thermal and Fluid Engineering for Architectural Engineers: Introduces diffusive processes, thermodynamic cycles, compressibility, exotic fluids, and modes of heat transfer.
• Cities, space and urban design: Explores fundamentals of urban design, its role in mediating space, and core principles of reading, representing, and interpreting urban spaces.
• Sustainable Buildings: Defines sustainable building principles and demonstrates how to design sustainable buildings for various environments.
• Engineering - You're Hired: Compulsory week-long project focusing on real-world problems provided by industrial partners.

Year 3:

• Core Modules:
• Integrated Building Design: Integrates previous studies in developing the design of a low carbon building, considering structural, environmental, and architectural implications.
• Integrated Design Project - Concept Design Stage: A series of linked modules running for 14 weeks, focusing on developing proposals for redevelopment of a real brownfield site in Sheffield.
• Advanced Engineering Thermodynamic Cycles: Consolidates and expands upon thermofluids engineering, introducing more realistic energy conversion and power production processes.
• Advanced Structural Analysis: Covers modern theories for performing static assessment of structural members subjected to multiaxial loading.
• Advanced Structural Design and Appraisal: Takes students through the structural design process based on a case study of a real building.
• Electric Circuits: Introduces basic concepts of electric circuits, passive circuit elements, DC and AC power delivery, and electromechanical energy conversion.
• Thermodynamics for Buildings: Covers thermodynamic principles as they apply to buildings and cities, considering energy flows in the built environment.
• Accounting and Law for Engineers: Introduces key areas of accounting and legal risk relevant to engineering practice.
• Integrated Design Project - International Report and Individual Portfolio: Focuses on evaluating risks and opportunities of carrying out similar projects overseas, and developing a report and portfolio demonstrating learning and achievements.

Year 4:

• Core Modules:
• Individual Research Project for Architectural Engineering: A major piece of investigative research in a subject that is not of a routine nature, developing expertise in investigative techniques and research methods.
• Computational Fluid Dynamics: Provides an understanding of computational fluid dynamics, covering governing principles, numerical methods, and applications in a built-environment context.
• Structural Dynamics and Applications to Vibration Design: Covers structural dynamics and its applications in civil engineering, focusing on vibration response of single-degree-of-freedom and multi-degree-of-freedom systems.
• Building Performance Modelling and Simulation: Focuses on modelling and simulation of thermal phenomena occurring in buildings, developing building simulation and analytical skills.
• Civil Engineering Research Skills: Introduces academic engineering research and associated skills, developing data analysis capability and skills in reading and critiquing academic literature.
• Environment and Technology 5 (CIV): Presents principles of people and comfort, including human comfort, lighting, daylighting, thermal perception, and passive heating, cooling, and ventilation of buildings.

Optional Modules:

• Blast and Impact Effects on Structures: Introduces issues related to material and structural response to high-magnitude, transient loading.
• Parametric Architectural Geometry: Emphasizes computational schemes for architectural geometry construction using parametric modelling processes.
• Parametric Modelling and Computational Design: Provides lectures and hands-on experience of modelling and optimising engineering structures using Rhino modelling software and Grasshopper visual programming environment.
• Urban Microclimate: Covers fundamental processes that alter the local climate in cities and best practice design approaches to reduce the impact on the climate.
• Reuse of Existing Structures: Equips students with the knowledge and skills to assess existing buildings and structures for sustainable reuse solutions.

Assessment:

Students are assessed through a mix of:

• Examinations
• Coursework assignments
• Online tests
• Reports
• Group projects
• Presentations
• Design work
• Dissertations

Teaching:

• Methods:
• Lectures
• Tutorials
• Practical activities
• Design classes
• Coursework assignments
• Individual Investigative Project
• Integrative projects
• Online resources
• Faculty:
• Academic staff are world-leaders in their respective fields with extensive industry experience.
• Leading industry experts contribute to teaching and curriculum development.
• Unique Approaches:
• Emphasis on project work that mimics real-life situations.
• Access to state-of-the-art teaching and lab facilities, including the Diamond building.

Careers:

• Graduates work in various fields, including the built environment, sustainability, and environmental improvement.
• Potential career paths include:
• Building services engineering
• Mechanical, electrical, or acoustic engineering
• Structural engineering
• Graduates have secured positions at companies like AECOM, Arup, Atkins, Buro Happold, Eastwood & Partners, and Kier.

Other:

• The program is accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the Joint Board of Moderators (JBM).
• The program is currently seeking re-accreditation from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
• The program offers opportunities for placement years and study abroad.
• The University of Sheffield is ranked highly for civil engineering, with 96% of its research rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.
• The University of Sheffield has strong industry partnerships and provides industrial opportunities for students.
• The program is taught in The Diamond, one of the best teaching spaces in the UK.