Energy and Sustainable Building Design MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert

Postgraduate

Distance

Price on request

Description

  • Type

    Postgraduate

  • Methodology

    Distance Learning

  • Duration

    1 Year

  • Online campus

    Yes

  • Delivery of study materials

    Yes

  • Support service

    Yes

  • Virtual classes

    Yes

The need for sustainable approaches to building design is recognised across the globe. As the effects of climate change are increasingly felt, the drive towards more energy efficient buildings is intensifying. Sustainable buildings need not be technologically complex, but a high level of sophistication in design procedures and performance analysis is required.

Accredited by both the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the Energy Institute, this programme will allow you to develop an understanding of building physics and acquire skills in building simulation, with an emphasis on sustainability. This course is the opportunity for you to graduate with a recognised qualification, satisfying the educational aspects of becoming a chartered engineer.

This course is designed for those who wish to understand the ways new and renewable energy can be harnessed in buildings, gain the ability to undertake the simulation and modelling tasks essential for credible building performance analysis, and work creatively within a multi-disciplinary design team, including building services engineers.

You will develop a broad insight into energy and sustainability issues, building physics and performance, energy analysis techniques and in-depth knowledge of computer modelling techniques for the design of modern sustainable buildings.

Facilities

Location

Start date

Distance Learning

Start date

SeptemberEnrolment now closed

About this course

This course is aimed at both recent graduates and professionals working in relevant fields. The knowledge and advanced modelling skills you gain will enable you to work effectively as a building design professional or analyst. These skills are increasingly in demand in architectural and engineering consultancies, utilities and regulatory organisations, and local and national government.

Our graduates go on to work in a wide range of energy, buildings and sustainability roles – for example, energy and environmental consultants, in non-governmental environmental organisations, central and local government (including the European Commission), and multi-national organisations. Some of our graduates stay on at DMU to continue their academic training with PhD studies.

Recent graduate destinations include:

The Carbon Trust
BMW
Turley Associates
National Energy Foundation
European Commission
Knightstone Housing Association
National Grid
Leicester City Council
Mott MacDonald
WSP Group
Arup
WYG
David Chipperfield Architects

You should have the equivalent of a British Honours degree (2:2 minimum) in a relevant numerate subject, for example engineering, physical sciences, mathematics. Architects with an interest in computer modelling are also encouraged to apply.

We are happy to consider equivalent qualifications from anywhere in the world.

Your degree can fit around your work and other commitments thanks to flexible study options. The course is designed to be tailored around you with part-time, full-time or distance learning options, and multiple exit awards from a full master’s degree to a single module.
Accredited by CIBSE and the Energy Institute, you will benefit from the highest- quality teaching and be able to graduate with an industry-recognised qualification. The CIBSE is an international body which represents and provides services to the building services profession, with a membership of 17,000. The Energy Institute is the leading professional body for the energy industries, supporting almost 12,000 professionals.
Through interdisciplinary teaching which allows you to look at various subject matters, you can develop a broader insight into energy and sustainability issues, as well as in-depth knowledge of computer- modelling techniques for the design of modern sustainable buildings.
You can benefit from excellent career prospects, with many of our graduates from this programme progressing on to work for organisations such as the European Commission, Mott MacDonald, WSP Global, WYG, and Arup Group. As well as this, a variety of our graduates have gone on to work at other energy and environmental consultancies, central and local government, and multinational organisations.
Our modules are taught by expert research and teaching staff at the Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development, which has more than 30 years’ experience to draw on. This means you’ll be able to learn first-hand from researchers who are actively involved in furthering knowledge in this area and will be able to offer you real-world experience and insight.

Questions & Answers

Add your question

Our advisors and other users will be able to reply to you

Fill in your details to get a reply

We will only publish your name and question

Reviews

This centre's achievements

2021

All courses are up to date

The average rating is higher than 3.7

More than 50 reviews in the last 12 months

This centre has featured on Emagister for 15 years

Subjects

  • Options
  • Teaching
  • Performance
  • Quality
  • Design
  • Climate Change
  • Project
  • Industry
  • Accredited
  • Quality Training
  • IT Development
  • Climate

Course programme

Course modules

The MSc has been designed to offer flexibility, with attended or distance learning study available and a range of possible awards from a full MSc to a single module. Modules studied:

Sustainable Development – covers the key concepts of sustainable development and sustainability. This module discusses social, ecological and economic sustainability concepts and encourages you to develop a critical appreciation of the sustainable development debate

Sustainable Buildings – introduces you to the main aspects of sustainability in regards to the built environment, exploring the environmental, economic and social/cultural issues that need to be considered for achieving successful building design and operation

Sustainable Energy – provides a systematic understanding of the global energy system and energy sources. The module examines the physical principles and application of current technologies and their environmental impacts, and how these interact in energy systems

Building Physics – provides you with a thorough understanding of the physical processes that govern how buildings respond to the external environment. This module examines the thermal properties of buildings, how daylight and natural ventilation interact with buildings and how this affects the quality of the indoor environment

Building Performance Modelling – enables you to understand why and how building simulation can be used to analyse building thermal, daylight and ventilation performance. This module will enable you to make appropriate selections of simulation methods, analyse results and give coherent recommendations

Energy Analysis Techniques – This very practical module will equip you with the skills to analyse energy data from buildings and industrial processes, and to carry out energy audits and surveys to identify energy and greenhouse gas saving opportunities. Issues such as heating, lighting, ventilation and general energy use are considered, and crucially, ways to bring about energy savings and how to make energy saving recommendations, sometimes as much as 20% with zero (or very low) investment. The case studies we use are mainly for non domestic buildings but all of the techniques can also be applied to dwellings.

The module includes the theory behind energy analysis, and we carry out practical building surveys, and data analysis in lab sessions, the assessment being to prepare a report similar to one you would produce as a professional energy efficiency consultant.

Study Skills and Research Methods – provides the skills necessary to successfully complete a research project of a high standard, introducing you to a range of research methodologies and practices relevant to the successful completion of the MSc

Dissertation – you will complete the MSc by undertaking a building-related dissertation on a topic of your choice, supervised by an experienced member of the research staff

Optional modules:

Choose one from two (three distance learning) optional modules

Leading Change for Sustainability - aims to equip students with theoretical knowledge and practical skills to enable them to play an effective leadership role in promoting sustainability and pro-environmental behaviour change. The module focuses upon understanding and influencing human behaviour, drawing upon a range of theoretical frameworks and contemporary case studies on topics including energy, climate change, transport and waste. There is a highly participatory teaching and learning approach and a chance for students to develop as reflective practioners by implementing and learning from real-life behaviour change interventions.

Low-Impact Manufacturing – introduces the concept of an industrial system, linking different types of industry, including raw material processing, manufacturing and waste processing, that combine to satisfy consumer demand. It explains the ways in which energy and resource use can be identified at each stage of a product life-cycle

Engineering Business Environment – enables you to understand and reflect upon the role of business in a rapidly changing, globalised world. As well as considering the changing environment in which businesses operate, time is spent exploring the steps a business can take to respond to the environmental challenges ahead. (This module is available in distance learning mode only)

Teaching and assessments

Full-time students attend for two days each week and receive formal lectures from experienced researchers and teaching staff, complemented by informal seminars and group discussions. Part-time students attend one day per week. You will also be expected to undertake self-directed study. All teaching material is fully documented and available on the web-based virtual learning environment (VLE) before timetabled events take place.

Distance learning students follow a structured study plan provided on the VLE, supported by discussion forums with other students, and email and telephone conversations with the module leader. Our course has been commended in an academic quality review for its “innovative and sophisticated forms of e-based learning and teaching”.

All assessment is by coursework. Each taught module has two items of coursework. The first is a smaller assignment for which feedback is given while the module is being studied. A second, major assignment is due at a later date after the material has been assimilated.

As well as the eight taught modules, students complete either an individual dissertation or a team-based design project, and all students get to attend the annual MSc conference, where final year students present.

Contact and learning hours

You will normally attend 2-4 hours of timetabled taught sessions each week for each module undertaken during term time; for full time study this would be 12 hours per week during term time. You can also expect to typically undertake a further hours of 6 hours independent study and assignments as required per week.

Academic expertise

Modules are taught by research and teaching staff in the Institute of Energy and Sustainable Development (IESD), providing you with a unique opportunity to learn from scientists actively involved in furthering knowledge in this area.

The IESD’s research has developed over a 30-year period to create the underlying knowledge, techniques and technology necessary to achieve more energy efficient and sustainable lifestyles.

Current research is driven by the UK’s commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase the use of new and renewable energy technology and provide a high-quality, comfortable, safe and efficient built environment.

Applied research seeks practical solutions to contemporary problems, whilst more theoretical and/or blue sky explorations seek to understand our physical and social world, generating new knowledge that can have long-term benefits in many fields of human endeavour.

Additional information

Duration: One year full-time (with optional one year placement available), a minimum of two years
part-time, three to five years by distance learning.

Course code: H2K171

Energy and Sustainable Building Design MSc/PG Dip/PG Cert

Price on request