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MSc Design and Management of Sustainable Built Environments

  • Year of entry
    2023/24
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  12 months Other: Flexible learning: 18-63 months
  • Year of entry
    2023/24
  • Course duration
    Full Time:  12 months Other: Flexible learning: 18-63 months

With our MSc Design and Management of Sustainable Built Environments course you will build on your knowledge of interdisciplinary design and develop the leadership skills to help you rise to the top.

Our MSc in Design and Management of Sustainable Built Environments is ideal for urban planners, architects, building services engineers, facilities managers and performance assessors looking to progress their careers.

This master’s course is accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, and the Energy Institute. (Accreditation is reviewed periodically. Successful completion of this course satisfies the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer.)

It provides an introduction to the fundamental subjects related to environmental design, operation and management, and an understanding of the latest theories and research. You will broaden your knowledge in environmental engineering, building design, energy efficiency and management, along with the application of digital technology and indoor environmental quality and wellbeing.

This course is offered as a one-year full-time course, or as a flexible modular course. The course is delivered through intensive residential weeks at our campus, supported through a professional online learning environment. Study over two years alongside your work commitments, or fast-track your studies with a one-year programme.

You will learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, guided reading, online resources and written assignments. Class sizes range from eight to 40 people and combine flexible and full-time students. All classes are taught in one-week intensive teaching blocks with assignment work between teaching weeks.

This course fosters leadership in environmental design and energy management. Its distinctive focus is on a truly interdisciplinary approach to the design and operation of sustainable buildings and cities.

During your studies you will benefit from our strong links with industry, with visits to sites and from industry speakers.

All of the resources of the University are available to our students. In addition, we provide facilities in the School, including:

  • The School’s Resource Room, with study spaces for individual and group work as well as subject-specific learning resources.
  • Dedicated computer labs equipped with the latest digital technology and software, including building information modelling (BIM), 3D laser scanning, 3D visualisation, virtual reality headsets, building energy simulations and urban microclimate simulations.

This programme is accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the Energy Institute. (Accreditation is reviewed periodically. Successful completion of this programme satisfies the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer.)

For more information, please visit the Construction Management and Engineering website.

Overview

With our MSc Design and Management of Sustainable Built Environments course you will build on your knowledge of interdisciplinary design and develop the leadership skills to help you rise to the top.

Our MSc in Design and Management of Sustainable Built Environments is ideal for urban planners, architects, building services engineers, facilities managers and performance assessors looking to progress their careers.

This master’s course is accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, and the Energy Institute. (Accreditation is reviewed periodically. Successful completion of this course satisfies the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer.)

It provides an introduction to the fundamental subjects related to environmental design, operation and management, and an understanding of the latest theories and research. You will broaden your knowledge in environmental engineering, building design, energy efficiency and management, along with the application of digital technology and indoor environmental quality and wellbeing.

This course is offered as a one-year full-time course, or as a flexible modular course. The course is delivered through intensive residential weeks at our campus, supported through a professional online learning environment. Study over two years alongside your work commitments, or fast-track your studies with a one-year programme.

You will learn through a mixture of lectures, seminars, tutorials, guided reading, online resources and written assignments. Class sizes range from eight to 40 people and combine flexible and full-time students. All classes are taught in one-week intensive teaching blocks with assignment work between teaching weeks.

This course fosters leadership in environmental design and energy management. Its distinctive focus is on a truly interdisciplinary approach to the design and operation of sustainable buildings and cities.

During your studies you will benefit from our strong links with industry, with visits to sites and from industry speakers.

All of the resources of the University are available to our students. In addition, we provide facilities in the School, including:

  • The School’s Resource Room, with study spaces for individual and group work as well as subject-specific learning resources.
  • Dedicated computer labs equipped with the latest digital technology and software, including building information modelling (BIM), 3D laser scanning, 3D visualisation, virtual reality headsets, building energy simulations and urban microclimate simulations.

This programme is accredited by the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the Energy Institute. (Accreditation is reviewed periodically. Successful completion of this programme satisfies the academic requirements for registration as a Chartered Engineer.)

For more information, please visit the Construction Management and Engineering website.

Entry requirements

IELTS: 6.5 overall with no element less than 5.5 (or equivalent).

Entry requirements: Normally a good undergraduate honours degree (good second class or above) or equivalent from a university outside the UK. If you have other qualifications and a number of years’ relevant work experience, you are welcome to apply.

Pre-sessional English language programme

If you need to improve your English language score, you can take a pre-sessional English course prior to entry onto your degree.

  • Find out the English language requirements for our courses and our pre-sessional English programme

Structure

  • Year 1

Compulsory modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

Sustainable Design and Management Principles and Practice

Code:

CEM107

Convenor:

DR Emmanuel Essah

Summary:

This module provides the knowledge and understanding necessary for students to perform environmental design and assess the performance of building passive and active systems in terms of their environmental impact. The module will introduce the role of building site impact, building façade design, building services engineering systems, construction materials, facilities management and system controls in moderating the internal building environment and an understanding of the energy implications for each. Building users’ need and indoor environmental quality, health and safety issues will also be addressed. The module will also provide experimental practice.

Assessment Method:

Practical 25%, Oral 25%, Portfolio 40%, Class test 10%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Research skills

Code:

CEM10A

Convenor:

PROF Libby Schweber

Summary:

Students are provided with research skills lectures and workshops to support their dissertation research and writing on a topic of their choice.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 70%, Set exercise 15%, Project 15%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Research dissertation

Code:

CEM10B

Convenor:

PROF Libby Schweber

Summary:

Students are provided with academic supervision to support their dissertation research and writing on a topic of their choice.

Assessment Method:

Dissertation 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Urban Sustainability

Code:

CEM220

Convenor:

DR Rory Jones

Summary:

This module develops an awareness and knowledge of how the principles of sustainable development can be applied in an integrated and holistic way at city level.

Assessment Method:

Project 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Energy in Buildings

Code:

CEM221

Convenor:

DR Mehdi Shahrestani

Summary:

Buildings account for more than 40% of total energy consumption in most countries. Considering this significant energy consumption, this module will provide an overview of the energy policies, demand and supply load profiles in buildings and also will address the main approaches to assess and improve the energy performance of buildings. In addition, sustainable and renewable energy generation technologies applicable to buildings will be introduced and the potential capability of these technologies to mitigate the building energy related CO2 emissions will be discussed. Moreover, this module will address the building energy systems and the concept of heat transfer together with detailed analysis of the heating, cooling and ventilation processes.

Assessment Method:

Exam 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Building Simulation

Code:

CEM222

Convenor:

DR Emmanuel Essah

Summary:

This module briefly introduces theory of heat transfer, overview of building simulations and it is designed to equip students through training and demonstration of an Industry standard software, with skills of computerised modelling and simulation techniques.

The module provides the basis to explore through modelling the mechanism and operational applications of buildings. The Software used is Integrated Environmental Solutions (IES - https://www.iesve.com/).

Assessment Method:

Assignment 80%, Oral 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Urban Microclimates

Code:

CEM223

Convenor:

DR Christos Halios

Summary:

The module introduces the basic physics as well as the up-to-date advances on urban microclimates including urban fluid mechanics, energy balance, solar radiation, acoustic etc, and evaluates how the urban surroundings interact with buildings. It will also address the application of urban microclimate principles to guide and assess urban climate planning.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 80%, Oral 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Building Information Modelling

Code:

CEM225

Convenor:

DR Laura Maftei

Summary:

The module introduces and explores Building Information Modelling (BIM) as sets of standard processes for managing information across delivery, operations and handover. The course addresses BIM as collaborative process, supported by a range of technologies, and introduces concepts of structured collaboration, data exchange, interoperability, and life cycle information management, in lectures and through group work. Emphasis is placed on the UK BS / PAS 1192 suite of standards as an example of BIM process, although international alternatives are discussed.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 65%, Project 35%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

ICT and Energy Management

Code:

CEM226

Convenor:

PROF Li Shao

Summary:

The substantial gap between design and in-use performances affects a wide range of newbuild and retrofit projects as well individual energy technologies. Against this background, energy monitoring and management offers major energy saving potential. Based on ICT and sensor technologies, energy monitoring and management integrates the optimisation of building energy systems with the engagement of users and FM in the process. This module will address these technology and user issues in a systematic way.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 80%, Set exercise 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Life Cycle Assessment

Code:

CEM319

Convenor:

DR Eugene Mohareb

Summary:

This module introduces the concept of life cycle assessment (LCA), methodological approaches for completing an LCA study, reviews prominent studies and provides students with the opportunity to critically review an LCA study of their choosing.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 60%, Oral 20%, Report 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Code Module Convenor
CEM107 Sustainable Design and Management Principles and Practice DR Emmanuel Essah
CEM10A Research skills PROF Libby Schweber
CEM10B Research dissertation PROF Libby Schweber
CEM220 Urban Sustainability DR Rory Jones
CEM221 Energy in Buildings DR Mehdi Shahrestani
CEM222 Building Simulation DR Emmanuel Essah
CEM223 Urban Microclimates DR Christos Halios
CEM225 Building Information Modelling DR Laura Maftei
CEM226 ICT and Energy Management PROF Li Shao
CEM319 Life Cycle Assessment DR Eugene Mohareb

Optional modules include:

X

Module details


Title:

Carbon Management

Code:

CEM224

Convenor:

DR Michael Peters

Summary:

Climate change presents a pressing and complex global challenge, which can be addressed through some combination of adapting human systems to withstand future impacts and mitigating the worst effects of climate change by reducing emissions of greenhouse gases. This module concentrates on the role of carbon management for countries, businesses and individuals in responding to the need for climate change mitigation. Attention is given to the level of certainty in climate science and the implications this has for global and local action. Policy tools for achieving carbon reduction and the role of the energy supply system are considered, alongside technological options for carbon sequestration.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Urban Energy Systems

Code:

CEM233

Convenor:

DR Maria Vahdati

Summary:

Emerging technologies, especially alternative vehicles and electricity based heating systems, have potential to bring a rapid change in demand on urban energy systems. Such changes need to be understood at district and city scales and may also be best managed at these scales. This module will consider the possible impacts of such changes and appropriate mitigation approaches, including the emergence of smarter energy grids. A particular focus is given to the rapidly changing role of energy distribution networks. Consideration of urban energy systems is used to introduce wider systems thinking approaches that offer new insights and currently have an evolving place in energy and sustainability research. Wider aspects of urban sustainability specifically related to energy use are also addressed.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 80%, Set exercise 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Engineering Project Management

Code:

CEM235

Convenor:

PROFESSOR Irem Dikmen

Summary:

Engineering projects have a financial and management context. From the standpoint of management, this module introduces a project management conceptual framework, defining what is meant by a “project” and what comprises the discipline of “project management”. From the financial standpoint two well-known techniques are introduced. First, capital budgeting, which is a technique usually implemented at the beginning of a project to assess its economic feasibility. Second, earned value management, whose main aim is to monitor project progress during the execution phase.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 40%, Set exercise 40%, Class test 20%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

Advanced Visualisation and Interactive Technologies

Code:

CEM242

Convenor:

DR Dragana Nikolic

Summary:

Practitioners in the architecture, engineering and construction (ACE) disciplines often find that no single drawing, graphic or tool best represents a given idea, concept or project. However, to evaluate a project at any stage, engineers, designers and stakeholders need to visualize project progress in a way that allows them to easily interact with, understand, critique and revise the work. One of these methods, virtual prototyping, tailors information representation for users and affords a level of interactivity that can assist the decision-making process at any point in the design and construction process (e.g. conceptual design diagrams for initial project phases or photo realistic representation at final phases). The purpose of this module is to introduce students to different interactive virtual, digital and physical prototyping tools and technologies used in the architecture, construction and engineering fields, particularly those related to building information modelling (BIM) and visualisation. Through a review of current research and applications of virtual reality and interactive technologies, the goal is to discern and evaluate the rationale for their use, and further explore methods to apply innovative approaches to support users in a given context of use.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 60%, Set exercise 5%, Project 35%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

X

Module details


Title:

New Technology, Management and Change

Code:

CEM243

Convenor:

DR Martin Green

Summary:

To gain an understanding of major theoretical approaches to socio-technical systems and to their use in understanding and implementing systems and change in the contexts of built environment and infrastructure teams, projects, firms and the construction sector.

Assessment Method:

Assignment 100%

Disclaimer:

The modules described on this page are what we currently offer. Modules may change for your year of study as we regularly review our offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Code Module Convenor
CEM224 Carbon Management DR Michael Peters
CEM233 Urban Energy Systems DR Maria Vahdati
CEM235 Engineering Project Management PROFESSOR Irem Dikmen
CEM242 Advanced Visualisation and Interactive Technologies DR Dragana Nikolic
CEM243 New Technology, Management and Change DR Martin Green

These are the modules that we currently offer. They may change for your year of study as we regularly review our module offerings to ensure they’re informed by the latest research and teaching methods.

Fees

New UK/Republic of Ireland students: £12,100

New international students: £25,800

Tuition fee information

Flexible modular courses (price per 10-credit module):

  • UK/Republic of Ireland students: To be confirmed for 2022
  • International students: To be confirmed for 2022

The fees listed are for full-time study, unless otherwise stated. Fee information will be confirmed in offer letters sent out to successful applicants. You can find further information, including information for part-time study, through our dedicated fees and funding page.

EU student fees

With effect from 1 August 2021, new EU students will pay international tuition fees. For exceptions, please read the UK government’s guidance for EU students.

Additional costs

Some courses will require additional payments for field trips and extra resources. You will also need to budget for your accommodation and living costs. See our information on living costs for more details.

Financial support for your studies

You may be eligible for a scholarship or bursary to help pay for your study. Students from the UK may also be eligible for a student loan to help cover these costs. See our fees and funding information for more information on what's available.

  • See list of Construction, Management and Engineering scholarships

 

Careers

Graduates will typically find employment in environmental urban planning, architectural design, environmental engineering, facilities management, energy assessment, green building assessment and energy policy.

Find out what it's like to study MSc Design and Management of Sustainable Built Environments at Reading.

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