MSc Building Services Engineering

Detailed degree guide

Understanding, Knowledge and Cognitive Skills

• Fundamentals of the main Building Services and Architectural Engineering specialisms;
  • Building Services Engineering theory, design and practice.
  • Energy Efficient Construction, Sustainable Development and Environmental friendly design.
  • Behavioural responses of people to their environments.
  • Fluid mechanics
  • Water Conservation
  • Aural, Visual and Thermal Environmental Assessment
  • Construction Technology and Principles of Structures.
  • Health and Safety regulations.
  • Principles of Management related to built environment professionals (Contracts & Procurement and Value & Risk management).
  • Sustainable building design
  • Carbon management.
• Management and business practices which form the basis of modern Architectural Engineering management.
• Fundamentals of Mathematics and Applied Physics as applicable in the context of sustainable building design and Architectural Engineering.
• Comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the concepts, principles and theories of specialist technical issues, as selected by the student to meet their professional aspirations.
• Transfer problem-solving skills to a variety of contexts
• Apply numerical, scientific and management skills
• Integrate theory and practice

Scholarship, Enquiry and Research (Research Informed Learning)

• Conduct and analyse results from laboratory exercises relevant to the science of engineering
• Ability to plan, execute and report a self-directed research project
• Transfer problem-solving skills to a variety of contexts
• Apply numerical skills and engineering knowledge in the analysis of a novel problem.
• Apply theory to sustainable building design in collaboration with colleagues and industrial partners.
• Integrate theory and practice

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The postgraduate Building Services Engineering programme provides a flexible, student-centred, and resource-based learning and teaching environment, which actively promotes a deep approach to learning. Learning and teaching resources include lectures, tutorials, seminars and task-based activities. The programme includes group based lectures and tutorials, and students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning. The techniques adopted include library and computer-based facilities and design based activities focussed on individual programme courses designed to integrate the knowledge covered in the programme as a whole and develop transferable skills through dissertation, coursework and problem-solving elements.

Approaches to learning and teaching are reviewed and assessed by the course Leader and Director of Studies on an annual basis. The review and redesign of techniques and methods adopted are obtained from the Industrial Advisory Panel, student questionnaires, comments from the Student-Staff Committee, pass rates and external examiners' reports.

Specific details about learning and teaching methods are provided in the appropriate course descriptors.

Assessment Policies

The assessment policy for courses on the Building Services Engineering Programme is to tailor the methods of assessment to the subject being taught and the nature of the classes so that understanding, knowledge and subject-specific skills are assessed using a variety of approaches. These include written examinations, summative and formative coursework, practical exercises, presentations, individual projects and the dissertation. What is best for each programme is moderated by seeking a balance of modes which, as a whole, most effectively and efficiently test the learning outcomes of the Programme as a whole.

Formal assessment in courses teaching subject specific understanding, knowledge and skills is by either coursework or unseen written examinations but there are some courses which are assessed by both. The examinations are summative while coursework may be used to assess understanding and subject specific skills on a formative or summative basis. Continuous assessment is more common in courses explicitly designed to develop cognitive and core skills, and professional awareness. This approach to assessment enables staff and students to monitor the establishment and honing of transferable skills in practical exercises that are directly applicable to the built environment.

The methods of assessment adopted are continually reviewed. Specific details about assessment methods are provided in the appropriate course descriptor.