About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: KH12
- Applications: UCAS
- Level: Undergraduate
- Department: Planning and Architecture
- Campus: Frenchay
- Duration: Four years
- Delivery: Full-time
- Programme leader: Paul Kirby BSc, MCIBSE, Chartered Engineer
- Key fact: Awarded the Happold 'Brilliant'Award in 2009.
Introduction
Combining architecture and engineering, this course equips you to contribute to the creation of environmentally-response buildings. As a dual degree it offers a wide variety of career opportunities in this rapidly expanding field.
News
UWE Bristol building wins 2011 South West RIBA award
A building designed to inspire and help educate architecture students has won the public sector building 2011 award from the RIBA. Read more.
plan+make degree show June 2011
Have a look at our students' work which was on display at the plan+make degree show2011. Students from across the Department of Planning and Architecture exhibited along with students from across the Faculty. The event, held in June each year, enables our students to showcase their final year projects to both family and friends as well as employers from the region.
Structure
Content
The course will be built around a sequence of design studios, and in parallel, you will develop the analytical skills necessary to design efficient and cost effective engineering installations. You will develop a body of knowledge on construction, specification, environmental physics and building services systems. There will be a strong emphasis on energy efficiency and environmentally-sound specification.
The course will include the following areas:
- Architecture Design Studios
- Architecture and Environmental Engineering Design Studios
- History of Architecture
- Mathematics
- Building Services Engineering
- Theories of Architecture
- Strategic Design and Energy Simulations
- IT for Designers
Teaching and learning
Teaching methods are varied depending on the module; studios, lectures, project work and tutorials all have a part. Assessment is achieved through a balance of coursework and examinations. Examinations are held in either January or May/June. Coursework will be a variety of essays, reports, surveys, design projects or teamwork.
You are encouraged to do 'formative work' to prepare for assessments: this does not count towards your marks but the feedback which you receive will help you to improve your performance. Support is available for students who have difficulties with numeracy, IT, literacy and study skills.
The Department's inter-professional approach includes projects where you will work with students from other disciplines within the built environment. This encourages mutual respect and understanding of the professions which you are likely to be working with during your career, and helps you to develop and practice the skills of presentation, negotiation, communication, and delegation.
The teaching staff provide a friendly, enabling environment for learning. They are also actively engaged in research or professional practice, ensuring that you learn directly from the latest academic and business developments.
Special Features
Professional accreditation
This degree is both a 'Part One' qualification in architecture (prescribed by the Architect's Registration Board and validated by Royal Institute of British Architects) and is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) as a qualifying first degree leading, via 'further learning', to Chartered Engineering status.
Study facilities
A range of specialist facilities are provided by the Department. A suite of computer rooms supports software for word processing, data analysis and spatial enquiry. They provide access to e-mail and internet, including Department and University websites which enable you to use a vast number of specialist electronic journals and databases, and resources provided by lecturers to support their modules. A Project Room provides space for you to work on individual and group assignments, together with a range of materials and equipment.
You may also use the well equipped laboratories for concrete and environmental services, environmental physics, earth sciences, spatial analysis (including mapping and Geographical Information Systems) and surveying technology, each with specialist technicians supporting both teaching and research. An audio-visual group provides support for photography, digital imaging, filming and sound recording.
The Department is based in a large modern building, to which a new set of studios and teaching rooms (designed by a member of the Department) have recently been added:
"The Studios are more of a textbook than a building, an object lesson in functional and sustainable design. They are to function as a learning tool and provide an opportunity for research through their construction, the use of innovative materials and performance monitoring." Royal Institute of British Architects Journal, September 2002.
The new Studios building incorporates a colour-theory installation which was one of 11 finalists for the Royal Fine Art Commission 'Building of the Year' competition in 2004, and it won the award for Architectural Education. The overall award was won by Maggie's Centre in Dundee, designed by Frank Gehry. The Studios also won first prize from the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) for its technical excellence in design and construction.
Student representatives sit on a wide range of committees at University and School level, where they can influence discussions and decisions which affect your learning experience.
Careers/further study
The degree is validated by both the architectural and engineering professions offering a choice of two different career paths to follow. If you choose to continue in architecture you have the advantage over others of being an architect with something extra to offer. If you choose engineering you are an engineer with additional skills. Whichever way to go you will be distinct.
The prospects for all jobs will ebb and flow with the state of the economy but whichever professional strand you pursue there is a growing demand for people who know what is needed to design environmentally responsible buildings.
Many degree subjects develop the skills of analysis and criticism but a degree in architecture and engineering offer more, and that is that most sought after skill, a talent for problem solving.
Graduate destinations
Find out what our graduates are doing six months after graduating- includes examples of careers, employers and further study. Download a PDF from graduate destinations.
Key employer partnerships
Our degrees can lead to a wide variety of career choices. To ensure that our degrees make you as employable as possible we work closely with partner employers in our planning and architecture consortium.
Creating employable students
UWE places strong emphasis on employability and skills development at every level. Through work placements, volunteering, study abroad and UWE initiatives which nurture talent and encourage innovation, students gain valuable real world experience and graduate with diverse career opportunities and a competitive place in the job market.
See great graduate prospects for further information.
Be inspired
Browse some of the job roles you might consider with this degree.
Useful links
UWE - careers in architecture
UWE - careers in engineering
Guardian - what to do with a degree in architecture
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA)
The UWE careers service provides guidance and support throughout your studies in addition to useful resources, CV checks, career coaching and details of current job vacancies.
Entry
Typical offers
- GCSE: English Language and Maths at grade C or above
- A-level subjects: A2 Maths C or above
- Access: Achievement of the Access to HE Diploma; achievement of level 3 credits to match content of A level Maths in Calculus and Pure Maths; achievement of level 2 credit in English Language. Contact us for further advice for Access students.
Fees
Details regarding fees and funding are available on the Money matters webpages.
How to apply
Please see the general information about applications.
We welcome applications from students without the conventional entrance requirements but who do have substantial relevant work or other experience and whose motivation and skills would enable them to succeed on the course.
We also welcome applications from people with disabilities, and we are happy to arrange visits for disabled applicants to find out whether the course is suitable, and discuss what support is appropriate.
Students who successfully complete the Engineering Foundation course may be permitted to transfer onto the first year of this degree course.
Students with disabilities
We welcome applications from people with disabilities.
Following is a list of the types of activities that the course normally involves. We are committed to supporting students with disabilities, and wherever possible we will make reasonable adjustments to these activities to enable students with disabilities to successfully complete the course. We encourage applicants to disclose any disabilities or support needs in their application forms, so that we can offer information, advice and support. There is a Disability Service at UWE Bristol and a Disability Support Co-ordinator in the Department.
- Use a computer
- Read and produce drawings, plans and maps
- Visually inspect buildings and locations, including physical movement around and through buildings and locations
- Participate in field courses or activities away from the University
- Take part in discussions and presentations
Open days
We run open days throughout the year, when you can meet lecturers and current students, see the facilities and resources that we offer, and visit the student accommodation. Please ask for details. For further information regarding the course, you are welcome to contact: Paul Kirby (Course Leader) Paul.Kirby@uwe.ac.uk or the Admissions team admissions@uwe.ac.uk +44 (0)117 32 83333.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011