Program Overview

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BEng (Hons) Architectural Engineering with Foundation Year

Why study this course with LJMU?

• LJMU ranked 16th in the UK for construction, surveying and planning courses (The Guardian University Guide 2025)
• LJMU ranked 8th university in the UK for building degrees (The Times UK University Rankings 2025)
• Course developed in partnership with practising architectural engineers
• Degree covers both the domestic sector and commercial buildings, new and refurbished
• Opportunity to undertake a year's industrial work placement
• Dedicated Industry Unit to identify both placement opportunities and potential employers, both in the UK and overseas
• Annual employers day event helps students find placements and make useful industry contacts

About your course

The BEng (Hons) Architectural Engineering with Foundation Year at Liverpool John Moores University is the ideal course if you are interested in this subject but lack the necessary qualifications to study it at degree level.

About the Foundation Year

The Foundation Year is ideal if you have the ability to study for a degree but do not have the qualifications to enter directly onto the Architectural Engineering honours degree programme. Once you pass the Foundation Year you will progress directly onto the first year of the honours degree. If you are a full-time UK student, you will qualify for student financial support for the full duration of your course (subject to eligibility criteria).

We recognise that you may not have the required levels of mathematical and technical knowledge and so Foundation Year (Level 3) modules focus on these areas. We also place strong emphasis on transferable skills, such as presentation, teamwork and report writing which will be useful in any career you choose to pursue once you graduate.

About the BEng (Hons) Architectural Engineering Degree

The design of innovative, low carbon buildings can help to reduce the threat of global warming, and the further degradation of the natural environment. The Architectural Engineering profession aims to address the necessity for energy efficient buildings while still providing comfortable and aesthetically pleasing internal environments.

Modern living depends upon the engineering services that are an integral part of buildings, and these systems consume a significant percentage of the energy used in the UK. Architectural engineers operate as part of a professional team alongside architects, structural engineers, quantity surveyors and other construction professionals to ensure that buildings continue to function efficiently while de-carbonising the energy supply. They need to be technically competent and practical in outlook, but also good communicators as they give advice to a wide range of people.

This programme has been developed in partnership with practising professionals and will help you gain the skills required to design and integrate complex building engineering systems within an aesthetically pleasing building envelope, such that internal environmental conditions can be closely controlled and energy use is minimised.

In Level 4, you will be introduced to the basic underpinning engineering, scientific and mathematical principles, plus architectural and design philosophies. The technology focus at this point applies mainly to the domestic sector. In Level 5, your knowledge will be extended to encompass commercial buildings, both new and refurbished, and is applied to the design of systems for complex buildings. You will also have the opportunity to complete an optional placement year with a suitable employer. Level 6 of the BEng course includes the modelling and design of buildings, and the simulation of building services systems within complex buildings.

In addition you will be exposed to real, vocationally relevant project work with a focus on the promotion of sustainability. You will have the opportunity to carry out research in an area that you find particularly interesting. Projects are integrated at all levels of the degree, with materials and supervision provided by employers so you can replicate real-life scenarios in your work.

Additional course costs

There are no travel costs for day site visits. Optional residential study visits in the UK and abroad will have costs involved. Locations of such visits may be subject to change.

Course modules

What you will study on this degree

Further guidance on modules

Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.

Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.

Foundation Year

• Algorithms and Computing (10 credits)
• Foundation Mathematics for Engineering and Technology 1 (20 credits)
• Foundation Mathematics for Engineering and Technology 2 (20 credits)
• Introductory Foundation Physics (20 credits)
• Additional Foundation Physics (20 credits)
• Programming for Engineers (10 credits)
• Engineering and Technology Practice (20 credits)

Year 1

• Introduction to Construction Technology (20 credits)
• Science and Materials (20 credits)
• Professional and Digital Skills for Engineers (20 credits)
• Engineering Mathematics (20 credits)
• Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Principles (20 credits)
• Design Project 1 (20 credits)

Year 2

• Procurement and Contracts (20 credits)
• Mechanical Engineering for Buildings (20 credits)
• Electrical Engineering for Buildings (20 credits)
• Site Construction Management (20 credits)
• Applied Mathematics (10 credits)
• Design Project 2 (20 credits)
• The Professional Environment (10 credits)

Year 3

• Environmental Analysis (20 credits)
• Commissioning and Facilities Management (20 credits)
• Low Carbon Systems and Sustainability (20 credits)
• Design Project 3 (20 credits)
• Building Engineering Research Project (40 credits)

Professional accreditation

In principle Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE)

This programme is designed to provide the academic requirement for ACIBSE and IEng.

Your Learning Experience

• Teaching
• Support
• Assessment

Teaching on the course accounts for approximately 2.5 days of the week in the form of lectures, tutorials, online activities, workshops and practical sessions, and you will be expected to supplement this with your own research using our library and the web. The rest of your time should be spent in private study, some of which will be encouraged as working in multi-disciplinary teams.

There is a high level of support for students on this course, particularly if you choose to undertake a work placement. The Built Environment Industry Unit will help you to identify potential employers, both in the UK and overseas (though overseas placements are less common), and will support you during your placement, with occasional visits from a tutor to check on your progress.

The Unit acts as a link between you and a large number of organisations that take part in our annual employers day and get involved in employer interest/support groups. Activities like these give you the best possible chance of securing a placement and making useful contacts for your future employment.

Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.

All students perform differently depending on how they are assessed which is why we use a combination of assessment methods. These include exams (open and closed book), coursework (projects, laboratory and technical reports) and oral presentations.

Your tutors will give prompt and constructive feedback via Canvas (our virtual learning environment), face-to-face or in writing. This will help you to identify your strengths as well as the areas where you may need to put in more work.

Career paths

Architectural Engineering is closely allied to Building Services Engineering and is all about the design, installation and maintenance of sustainable systems that bring buildings to life.

Graduates work alongside other professionals such as architects, construction managers, quantity surveyors and building services engineers in the design of new buildings and the maintenance and refurbishment of existing buildings.

Architectural Engineering graduates are employed around the world with consulting engineers, architectural practices, contractors, public authorities and manufacturers.

Tuition fees and funding

Home

• Foundation first year: £9,535
• Second and subsequent years: £9,535
• Placement year: £1,905

International

• Full-time per year: £18,250
• Placement year: £3,910

Entry requirements

Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements

• Grades/points required from qualifications: CCD (88)

Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.

GCSEs and equivalents

• Grade 4 or grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics/Numeracy.

GCSE Equivalences accepted:

• Key Skills Level 2 in English/Maths
• NVQ Level 2 Functional skills in Maths and English Writing and or Reading
• Skills for Life Level 2 in Numeracy/English
• Higher Diploma in Maths/English
• Northern Ireland Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number
• Wales Essential Skills Level 2 in Communication or Application of Number

A levels

• CCD

BTECs

• Extended Diploma: MMM (96)

Access awards

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications

International Baccalaureate

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications

OCR Cambridge Technical

• Extended Diploma: MMM (96)

Irish awards

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications

T levels

• Acceptable on its own and combined with other qualifications.

Further information

• DBS, Occupational Health requirements
• Reduced offer scheme

At LJMU, we are dedicated to widening participation in education. We understand that academic potential isn't always accurately represented by grades alone. Therefore, we consider additional information included in your application. If you meet certain eligibility criteria, we may make an offer lower than our typical entry requirements.

International requirements

• IELTS
  • 6.0 overall with no component below 5.5, taken within two years of the course start date.

Further information

• DBS, Occupational Health requirements

Find your country

Please Note: All international qualifications are subject to a qualification equivalency check.

Related courses

• MEng Architectural Engineering
• BEng (Hons) Architectural Engineering
• BSc (Hons) Architectural Technology
• BA (Hons) Architecture
• BA (Hons) Architecture with Foundation Year
• BSc (Hons) Audio and Music Production
• BEng (Hons) Building Services Engineering | Part-time
• MEng Building Services Engineering | Part-time
• BSc (Hons) Building Surveying