MSc Modern Building Design

Explore the latest in building design practice, methodologies, and processes, developing your skills to work in engineering and architectural firms worldwide.

Our master's introduces you to the challenges of managing building design processes and practices in industry. And specialist units will build your understanding of research, planning and carbon management in practice. Focusing on multidisciplinary approaches, you’ll learn how to balance conflicting design tensions in a project. You’ll study complex issues such as integrating regulation with low-carbon certification and basic building physics. During the course, you’ll explore the relationship between Building Information Modelling (BIM) and collaborative integrated design management.

You’ll also develop detailed knowledge of design tools, strategies, and processes. Using dynamic digital modelling tools, you'll create optimal low-carbon building envelope solutions. You'll put theory into practice working on live project briefs with students from different construction, engineering, and architectural related disciplines. This challenges you to solve design problems in real time while experiencing the kind of multidisciplinary collaboration you’ll find in professional life.

Combining your dissertation with a three-month placement allows you to embed what you’ve learnt in a professional context. It also gives you the chance to deliver solutions to real industry problems posed by your company.

Course highlights

• In-depth topics: explore BIM, Building physics, dynamic modelling, codes, regulations and codes, standards, low-carbon building envelopes, sustainability, and well-being standards.
• Integrated placement: apply the strategies, theories, and methods you’ve learnt on the course so far to a professional position.
• Industry-focused research: complete a dissertation based on a real consultancy project set by your placement company.

Learn from experts in the field

You’ll learn from academics who research sustainable and low-carbon development, building physics and the environment. Their expertise and international collaborations feed into teaching and contribute to your learning experience.

Use specialist facilities

You’ll have access to well-equipped computer suites and laboratories for experimental work to support your studies. You'll use BIM-enabled software and will have access to online software training resources.