Key information
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Delivery type
- Full Time
- Degree qualification
- BEng (Hons)
- Mode of delivery
- On-Campus
- Duration
- 4 years
- Location
- Dubai
- Start date
- September
The programme is for those who wish to understand the energy, CO2 and functional performance-related engineering strategies and systems used in buildings to ensure high performance, and also how these relate to basic aspects of architectural design such as spatial design and human response to the physical features of the built environment. Fundamental and integral to the programme is a grounding in mathematics and building science as well as an understanding of the management and professional practices that form the knowledge base and skills of the modern architectural engineering professional.
The programme is structured around three main themes:
- Energy and sustainability of buildings
- Systems and whole building design
- Human behaviour and interaction with buildings.
With a focus on designing the buildings and cities for the future:
- Buildings that use less energy
- Zero emission
- Climate change
- Renewable energy
Your student experience
Why study Architectural Engineering at Heriot-Watt University's Dubai Campus?
- This is the first and only programme in the Gulf region to offer a UK Architectural Engineering degree.
- The programme provides you with engineering skills and combines them with an understanding of digital innovation, design and building management.
- Our programme is designed to help shape the built environment for the 21st century, in terms of providing a sustainable, energy efficient, low carbon and green society.
- Throughout your studies, you will have the opportunity to develop an awareness of the fundamental interactions between environmental, technological, design, and human factors.
Go Global
With Go Global, Heriot-Watt's global student programme, you can carry your studies to new places and experience new cultures, expanding your horizons on the way. You'll discover what it means to be a true global citizen and emerge prepared for wherever your career journey will take you.
Inter-Campus Transfer: United Kingdom
Course content
September Intake - Dubai
Note that the programme structure below is to illustrate the distribution of teaching and is subject to developmental change.
Mandatory September
- Mechanics A
- Construction Technology: Small Scale Buildings
- Shaping Tomorrow Together A
- Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists 1
Mandatory January
- Building Services Technology
- Mechanics B
- Shaping Tomorrow Together B
- Mathematics for Engineers and Scientists 2
Programme Video

Meet Sana - Architectural Engineering | Heriot-Watt University
The programme structure is extremely engaging covering all aspects of design, mechanics, energy and sustainability.
Fees and funding
AED 79,100 per year
- All tuition fees inclusive of VAT.
Additional information
To know about the fees for this programme, please send an email to dubaienquiries@hw.ac.uk
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
The normal entry criteria are listed below. However, the final decision remains at the discretion of the course director after evaluating scores of individual relevant subjects.
Students who are eligible to be admitted directly into second year can choose to join the first year, where available.
- GCE A-Level - CCC (or AABB at AS-Level)
- CBSE/Other Indian Boards - 65%.
- American High School Diploma/SABIS - 70% + SAT I – 1000 (500 English and 500 Math)
- Tawjihiyya - 80% or Elite/Advance - 75% + EmSAT (English 1400, Math 1200 and 1100 Physics)
- International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme - 24 points (3 HL – including Maths and Physics, and 3 SL)
- BTEC Level 3 Ext Diploma - MMM
- FBISE grade 12 or equivalent - 70%
- Russian/Kazakhstan (Attestat) - Grades of 5 in every subject + IELTS 6.0
- French Baccalaureate - 13/20 + IELTS 6.0
- Lebanese Baccalaureate - 80% or 13/20 + IELTS 6.0
- Foundation year - Successful completion of Heriot-Watt University Degree Entry Programme (Engineering) with a CCCC.
- Gaokao - 65% overall score including compulsory subjects
- IELTS - 6.0 overall with no band below 5.5
- TOEFL IBT - 78 including reading 18, listening 17, speaking 19, and writing 21
- Compulsory subjects to include Mathematics, Physics and English.
To find out more about the specific entry requirements for your country, please refer to our International Entry Requirements.
To find out about the entry requirements for this programme, please send an email to dubaienquiries@hw.ac.uk
Why Heriot-Watt
As the first British university to set up a campus in Dubai in 2005, we have established ourselves as a pioneer in the higher education market in the UAE. The five-star accreditation by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) secured in 2019, 2020, and 2022 is a testament to our reputation for world-class teaching.
The futuristic Dubai campus is designed to offer interactive and collaborative learning experiences with innovative classroom styles fostering group work and engagement like Collaborative lecture theatres, Digitally Classrooms and Seminar rooms. The campus also has dedicated cutting-edge laboratories and workshops that span various engineering disciplines along with Psychology, IT, Photography, Design and Architecture.
Our practical, leading-edge research combined with strong links to business and industry, have made our graduates highly employable and sought after by the best organisations worldwide, with over 90% in graduate-level jobs or further study within six months of graduation. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education through our Go Global programme.
Employability
Graduates from the Architectural Engineering programme can expect to find jobs in: Sustainability Engineering Companies; Building Design Consultancies; Multinational architectural / construction companies; Building services and engineering companies; and Government organisations. Some of our current graduates work with Emirates Green Building Council, Johnson Controls, Buro Happold, WSP Parsons Brinckerhoff Engineering Services.
Student life
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