Key information
- UCAS code
- K132
- Level
- Undergraduate
- Delivery type
- Full Time
- Degree qualification
- MEng
- Mode of delivery
- On-Campus
- Duration
- 5 years
- Location
- Edinburgh
- Start date
- September
MEng Architectural Engineering covers a broad spectrum of engineering disciplines including mechanics, construction, energy, thermal performance, water and wastewater, acoustics, and human behaviour. You’ll gain the knowledge and skills needed by industry to design buildings that not only provide sustainable and low energy environments that have a positive influence on the health and wellbeing of the people who use them, but buildings that are also resilient and adaptable to future climate change. In the later years of the degree, you’ll focus on practical inter-disciplinary design and management skills, with an emphasis on your personal development as an Architectural Engineer within the professional environment.
This industry-focused degree will ensure you have the knowledge and skills required for the specification, design, and management of engineering services required in buildings with an emphasis on energy efficient and sustainable solutions.
Your student experience
Your learning will be informed by the expertise of our research-active architectural engineers, civil and structural engineers, construction professionals, industry-leaders, and academics. You’ll hear from several guest speakers from industry during the degree to engage further and build your professional network.
96% of Heriot-Watt University’s engineering research was classed as world-leading in the REF 2021 review, which ranked us 1st in Scotland and 3rd in the UK for engineering research through a joint submission with the University of Edinburgh.
Our MEng Architectural Engineering programme is directly informed by the world class research carried out by Heriot-Watt’s Institute of Sustainable Built Environment (ISBE) which sits within the School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society (EGIS). EGIS is one of the United Kingdom’s leading institutions for multidisciplinary research and teaching in areas critical to economic development and societal equity. The institute’s academic team conduct high-value and high-impact research on fields covering sustainability, digital innovation, design, and management of the built environment. The research relevance of this undergraduate programme ensures your studies remain innovative and industry focused.
This School is also part of the Centre of Excellence in Sustainable Building Design, a leading body recognised by the Royal Academy of Engineering. The Centre is one of only four such centres established at United Kingdom universities that jointly form a national network to demonstrate and exchange best practice in teaching and research for the sustainable built environment.
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.
European Exchange
Worldwide Exchange
Inter-Campus Transfer: Dubai
Course content
September Intake - Edinburgh
Year 1
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
Year 2
Mandatory September
- Acoustics and Architectural Design
- Design Project
- Construction Technology: Structure and Fabric
Optional September
- Hydraulics and Hydrology A
- Surveying and GIS
Mandatory January
- Environment and Behaviour
- eConstruction
- Statistics for Science
Optional January
- Global Communication
- Cost Modelling and Measurement
- Global Challenges 1
Year 3
Mandatory September
- Laboratory Project
- Electrical and Lighting Services for Buildings
- Thermal Performance Studies
- Design Software Applications
Mandatory January
- Design Issues
- Energy and Buildings
- Critical Building Analysis
- Environmental Technology and Management
Year 4
A major feature of Year 4 starts with a collaborative design project across all built environment disciplines. You'll produce a building design to address a specific client brief, giving information on building form, design, services, sustainability, cost and planning. This is a highlight of Year 4 progressing into individual project work which is specific to the discipline. You'll also complete an individual research dissertation on a topic of your choice.
Mandatory September
- Design Project (AE)
- Dissertation (AE)
- Procurement and Contracts
Optional September
- Study Abroad (Design Component)
Mandatory January
- Sustainable and Intelligent Buildings
- Innovation in Construction Practice
- Design Project (AE)
- Dissertation (AE)
Optional January
- Study Abroad (Technical Component)
Year 5
Mandatory September
- Industrial Project
Optional September
- Foundations of Energy
- Dissertation (AE)
- Water Supply and Drainage for Buildings
- Climate Change, Sustainability and Adaptation
- Value and Risk Management
Mandatory January
- Architectural Acoustics
- Design of Low Carbon Buildings
- Thermofluids
Optional January
- Demand Management and Energy Storage
- Dissertation (AE)
- Urban Drainage Design and Analysis
- Water and Wastewater Treatment
- Strategic Commercial Management
- Social Sustainability
Programme Video
Built Environment at Heriot-Watt University
Fees and funding
| Status | Fee |
|---|---|
| Scotland | Paid by SAAS |
| England / Wales / N Ireland / Rep of Ireland | £9,535 |
| International | £19,456 |
- Status: Your residency status is usually defined as the country where you have been ordinarily resident for the three years before the start of your course.
- International: 'International' includes applicants from European Union countries who do not hold Pre-Settled or Settled status in UK. (This does not include students from the Republic of Ireland - see above).
Scholarships and bursaries
Bursaries for students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales
In addition to government loans and grants towards the costs of fees and living costs, we are offering generous financial support to attract and support eligible undergraduate students from England, Northern Ireland or Wales:
- Heriot-Watt University Bursary (up to £3,100 per year)
Entry requirements
We have standard entry requirements for all of our courses that you will have to meet.
Year 1
Standard entry requirements
- Highers BBBB (over two sittings). Must include Maths.
- A-Levels BCC- BBB. Must include Maths achieved at B.
- International Baccalaureate 28 points. Must include Maths achieved at Higher Level 5.
- BTEC Extended Diploma MMM. Must be in an engineering relevant subject and contain sufficient Maths.
- HNC B in graded unit. Must be in an engineering relevant subject and contain sufficient Maths.
Please check that you meet our University-wide National 5/GCSE (or equivalent) English and Maths requirements.
Minimum entry requirements *
- Highers BBBC (over two sittings). Must include Maths achieved at B.
- A-Levels BCC. Must include Maths achieved at B.
- International Baccalaureate 28 points. Must include Maths achieved at Higher Level 5.
- BTEC Extended Diploma MMM. Must be in an engineering relevant subject and contain sufficient Maths.
- HNC B in graded unit. Must be in an engineering relevant subject and contain sufficient Maths.
* Minimum: under our Fair Access Policy, we will relax our standard entry requirements for some Scottish and Rest of UK status students depending on their circumstances. Our minimum requirements will apply if you:
- live in an area within the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation lowest 20% (SIMD20) or POLAR4 Quintile 1 regions (RUK)
- or are care experienced.
We can also make exceptions for some Scottish students with grades above minimum but below standard. Read more about our Minimum and standard entry requirements.
Year 2
- Advanced Highers BC including Maths, plus Highers BBBB.
- A-Levels BBB. Must include Maths.
- International Baccalaureate 33 points. Must include Maths achieved at Higher Level 6.
- BTEC Extended Diploma DMM. Must be in an engineering relevant subject and contain sufficient Maths.
- HNC A in graded unit with 120 SCQF credit points. Must be in an engineering relevant subject and contain sufficient Maths at SCQF Level 7.
- HND BB in graded units. Must be in an engineering relevant subject and contain sufficient Maths at SCQF Level 7.
- Global College: Successful completion of our Engineering with Accelerator Programme
Year 3
- HND AB in graded units (in relevant HND and Mathematics at SCQF Level 7).
Additional information
- For all years, applications are welcomed from holders of non-school qualifications, mature candidates and overseas students.
- If you do not see your qualifications here please contact us at studywithus@hw.ac.uk
- For applicants studying HNC, HND or BTEC qualifications, when submitting your application please ensure you list in full all the units you are currently studying, as specific units (e.g. in Maths) may be required.
- Unfortunately we cannot consider HNC or HND Architectural Technology for entry to this programme unless applicants have also met the Maths subject requirements with additional qualifications (e.g. Highers / A-level / IB).
English language requirements
If your first language is not English, we'll need to see evidence of your English language ability.
The minimum English language requirement for entry to this programme is IELTS 6.0 (or equivalent) with no score lower than 5.5.
If you do not have IELTS 6.0, we offer a range of English language courses to help you meet the English language requirement for this programme prior to commencing your studies.
Please see our detailed English language requirements.
Why Heriot-Watt
We're the top university in Scotland for graduate outcomes which means that more of our graduates are employed or in postgraduate education than any other institution in the country and we ranked 5th in the UK.
We're also rated number one in the UK for CEO or MD roles, meaning more of our graduates go on to become CEOs or MDs than any other university in the whole of the UK. On top of that, we have beautiful campuses, across the globe, so you'll get a truly international education. Our Edinburgh Campus is home to Oriam, Scotland's National Sports Performance Centre combined with plenty of wellbeing resources, prioritising fitness and mental health for all students. Our Global Research Institutes look at solving real world issues such as climate change and saving our oceans as well as working on the next medical technological breakthrough and the future of AI and robots.
Employability
Work and study
Salary
Potential career paths
- Engineering professionals
Student life
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