BEng(Hons) Architecture and Environmental Engineering
This course is open for applications
Accreditations and partnerships:
About
Redefining architectural education. Our accredited four-year degree offers a strong focus on sustainable, high performing buildings. Graduates have a wide choice of career options including architecture, environmental services engineering, or sustainability consultancy.
Why study architecture and environmental engineering?
As the world's resources become scarce, there's a growing need to create buildings that are environmentally responsible. This calls for design professionals with the creative and analytical skills ofbotharchitects and engineers - an unusual mix of skills that is highly sought after by employers. It's these future designers who will achieve design excellence, pursuing imaginative strategies for using resources efficiently.
BEng (Hons) Architecture and Environmental Engineering is a multi-disciplinary course, producing in demand, versatile graduates with specialist knowledge and the skillset to create exciting buildings.
This joint degree enables you to work towards professional status in both engineering and architecture, developing your cultural, artistic and technological interests in parallel.
Why UWE Bristol?
On our Architecture and Environmental Engineering degree, you'll gain a rare mix of knowledge and skills that'll prepare you for this expanding sector of design.
Explore architecture, passive design, environmental physics, environmental systems in buildings and the effective use of energy and materials.
It's in the overlap between function, aesthetics and physics that true inventiveness can flourish. Each way of thinking stimulates the others, giving you innovative solutions to problems. Learn from industry-experienced tutors and practising professionals who bring up-to-the-minute ideas from their active projects.
Develop your professional portfolio with a stream of practical design projects from real clients in the Bristol area.
Go on site visits and residential field trips in the UK and overseas to make sure your design thinking is linked to the world beyond your studies.
Where can it take me?
With a dual degree, you'll be ready for a variety of careers in architecture, environmental engineering and sustainability consultancy.
Opportunities are available anywhere from small private practices up to large multinationals like Foster & Partners, Arup and Atkins.
Many students choose to pursue further study, including our Master of Architecture, MSc Façade Engineering or MSc Building Information Modelling courses.
Watch: Welcome to the School of Architecture and Environment at UWE Bristol
Entry
Typical offers
You will need to meet the following Level 2 requirements:
- GCSE: Grade C/4 in English and Mathematics, or equivalent.
In addition to the above Level 2 qualifications, you'll need to achieve the published tariff points from your Level 3 studies prior to entry. Below is an indicative list of the main qualification types. However, we will consider any Level 3 qualifications towards meeting our entry requirements.
- Tariff points: 120
- Contextual tariff: See our contextual offers page.
- English Language Requirement:
International and EU applicants are required to have a minimum overall IELTS (Academic) score of 6.5 with 6.0 in each component (or approved equivalent*).
*The university accepts a large number of UK and International Qualifications in place of IELTS. You can find details of acceptable tests and the required grades you'll need in our English Language section.
- A-level subjects: Grade C in Mathematics, or grade A in Use of Mathematics, or grade C in Physics.
- EDEXCEL (BTEC) Diploma: A merit in one of the following; Further Engineering Mathematics, Further Mathematics for Construction, Mathematics for Engineering or Physics. Please list the units you are taking in your application. For further advice on acceptable units please email us.
For information on required Guided Learning Hours please see our minimum entry requirements page.
- Access: 15 Level 3 credits at Merit in Mathematics or Physics.
- Baccalaureate IB: You must have a minimum grade of 5 in Higher Level Mathematics or Physics. We accept the IB Career-related Programme in conjunction with other Level 3 qualifications.
- Irish Highers: H2 in Mathematics or Physics.
- Welsh Baccalaureate: We accept tariff points achieved from the Advanced Skills Baccalaureate Wales in conjunction with other Level 3 qualifications. This qualification cannot be used to satisfy any subject specific entry requirements.
- Cambridge Technical: You must be studying one of the following: Mechanical, Electrical and Electronic Systems Design and Engineering; Engineering Automation Control and Manufacturing Processes; Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Mechanical Engineering and Design; Automation, Systems and Control; Manufacturing
To include Merit in the following (optional) unit: Applied Mathematics for Engineering. - T Levels: Grade C in A-Level Mathematics or Physics, in addition to your T Level qualification. If you have or are looking to partially complete your T-Level, you are still required to have the equivalent to 2 full A-Levels as part of our minimum entry requirements. As a result, if you are applying with only the core or occupational specialism, this may be insufficient as a stand-alone qualification.
Entry requirements
If you don't meet the entry requirements, you may be eligible for BEng(Hons) Architecture and Environmental Engineering (with Foundation Year).
International applicants
For country specific entry requirements please find your country on the country information pages. If you are an international student and do not meet the academic requirements to study this course, you can qualify by completing preparatory study at our International College.
If you are applying to study at UWE Bristol and require additional support to meet our English language requirements, you may be able to attend one of our pre-sessional English courses. Read more about our Pre-Sessional English Programme.
Read more about entry requirements.
How to apply
Read more about undergraduate applications.
Read more about international applications and key international deadline dates.
For further information
- Email:
UK applicants
Admissions@uwe.ac.ukInternational/EU applicants
International@uwe.ac.uk - Telephone:
UK applicants
+44 (0)117 32 83333International/EU applicants
+44 (0)117 32 86644
Structure
Content
You'll study:
Studio 1.1 - Form and Context
You'll explore foundational architectural design through analogue techniques like hand-drawing and physical model-making, emphasising iterative processes, spatial awareness, materiality, and contextual responsiveness for design development.
Studio 1.2 - People and Environment
You'll be challenged to design a small building that engages meaningfully with its environment, users, and community. Integrating analogue and digital techniques to develop human-centric architectural proposals.
Contexts of Architecture 1 - Cities and Society
You'll examine the foundational principles of architectural history and cultural contexts that shape our built environment, exploring the interplay between architecture, events, society, and diverse cultural perspectives.
Professional Principles and Digital Practice
You'll learn the foundation principles of architectural practice and digital representation, exploring professional responsibilities, ethics, and software for effective architectural communication.
Materials and Environmental Physics
You'll explore construction materials and internal building environments. Through practical experiments, you'll assess environmental factors like light, acoustics, air quality, ventilation, thermal comfort and heat flow.
You'll study:
Studio 2.1 - Living
You'll explore housing design principles and practices, addressing socio-political, environmental, and cultural contexts through typological variety, spatial adaptability, and user-centred approaches.
Passive Design Studio
You'll explore passive design principles to reduce energy consumption and enhance the comfort and sustainability of buildings, learning to build climate-responsive strategies into architectural design.
Architectural Acoustics
You'll develop a comprehensive understanding of sound principles, room acoustics, noise control and acoustic design in buildings, gaining the skills and know-how needed to design acoustically efficient buildings.
Collaboration and Coordination
This module emphasises the development of technical proficiency alongside teamwork and real-world application. You'll explore professional standards, including sustainability, health and safety, and regulatory compliance, aligning your learning with industry workflows and the RIBA Plan of Work.
Contexts of Architecture 2 - Histories and Theories
Building on the foundational principles introduced in earlier years, this module extends your knowledge of architectural history and theory while emphasising the cultural, political, and technological forces that have shaped contemporary practice.
Building Services Applications
You'll explore the design, analysis and sizing of mechanical and electrical building services, integrating engineering principles, mathematics and physical systems understanding to meet environmental performance requirements.
You'll study:
Employability, Ethics, and Enterprise
You'll prepare for architectural practice by exploring ethical principles, statutory requirements, and practice management strategies, developing your professional identity and vital employability skills.
AEE Studio 3.1
You'll develop your architectural design skills through a principal project set in an international context, exploring design practices across diverse cultures, climates and collaborative settings.
AEE Studio 3.2
You'll integrate architectural design, building services and environmental considerations to develop and strengthen your professional and academic competencies, exploring how to critically evaluate and apply complex architectural and engineering theories.
Zero Carbon Buildings
You'll cover the key areas of zero carbon building design, from lifecycle assessment techniques to reduce the industry's footprint, to dynamic energy simulation and emerging energy technologies.
Interactive Systems and Comfort Controls
You'll focus on how we interact with buildings, exploring design principles - including the cognitive and physical aspects of user movement - that improve a building's functionality and its user experience.
Critical Contexts
You'll carry out an independent research project into a subject that combines your individual interests with your professional ambitions. You'll connect theory with practice, exploring architectural, cultural and technological challenges.
Energy Performance and Retrofit
You'll explore energy management in buildings, with a focus on industry structure, safety regulations and market dynamics. You'll also look at energy improvement retrofits, emphasising energy efficiency and renewable integration.
AEE Studio 4
By integrating architectural design and environmental engineering, you'll respond to a thematic brief, addressing global and local issues. This final project fosters and showcases creativity, innovative design and technical expertise.
Building Services Innovations
You'll explore advanced concepts in building services engineering, with a practical focus on innovative heating, cooling and refrigeration systems, applying mathematical techniques for energy-efficient design and performance analysis.
Year one
You'll study:
- Contexts of Architecture 1 - Cities and Society
- Studio 1.2 - People and Environment
- Studio 1.1 - Form and Context
- Professional Principles and Digital Practice
- Materials and Environmental Physics.
Year two
You'll study:
- Passive Design Studio
- Studio 2.1 - Living
- Architectural Acoustics
- Building Services Applications
- Collaboration and Coordination
- Contexts of Architecture 2 - Histories and Theories.
Year three
You'll study:
- AEE Studio 3.2
- AEE Studio 3.1
- Energy Performance and Retrofit
- Critical Contexts
- Zero Carbon Buildings.
Final year
You'll study:
- AEE Studio 4
- Building Services Innovations
- Interactive Systems and Comfort Controls
- Employability, Ethics, and Enterprise.
The University continually enhances our offer by responding to feedback from our students and other stakeholders, ensuring the curriculum is kept up to date and our graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills they need for the real world. This may result in changes to the course. If changes to your course are approved, we'll inform you.
Learning and Teaching
Our experienced teaching staff are active in research and professional practice, ensuring you learn about the latest ideas and trends in the industry.
You'll spend 12-16 hours a week engaging in face-to-face activities, including studio work, lectures, seminars and field visits, supplemented by independent learning. Through this mix of scheduled teaching and self-guided study, you'll explore themes like sustainability, urban design, and building technology. With an emphasis on hands-on learning and real-world application, the course blends studio-based teaching, technical workshops and labs and live design projects, allowing you to apply theory to practical contexts.
Your fieldwork offers exposure to diverse built environments, enriching your understanding of architecture and engineering. You'll also gain practical experience through site visits, internships, and community-based collaborations with local employers.
See our full glossary of learning and teaching terms.
Assessment
Our assessment strategy combines architectural creativity with engineering precision, focusing on real-world application and critical thinking.
You'll create portfolios showcasing your creative, technical, and analytical work using industry-standard software like CAD, BIM, and energy modelling tools.
Assessments include interdisciplinary projects, technical and laboratory reports, oral presentations, and poster sessions. You'll engage in live projects and case studies, working directly with community and industry stakeholders.
Through group work and collaborative assessments, you'll hone your group and project management skills.
Exams and computer-based tests evaluate your foundational knowledge of architectural theory, engineering principles, and maths skills.
Your final-year capstone design studio project will combine your accumulated learning, requiring you to deliver a comprehensive architectural and engineering solution to a real-world practical challenge.
Learn more about assessments.
Fees
Full time course
Indicative Additional Costs
Supplementary fee information
The UK Government has announced that the Undergraduate tuition fee cap for home students (including offshore) will increase every year in line with inflation. Legislation still needs to be passed for this increase to happen so the above home and offshore fees for 2026/27 are likely to increase should legislation be passed. Any tuition fee which is impacted by this change will be updated following Government approval.
Please see this page for further information.
Additional costs
Additional costs are for items you could need during your studies that aren't covered by the standard tuition fee. These could be materials, textbooks, travel, clothing, software or printing.
Features
Professional accreditation
Our BEng(Hons) Architecture and Environmental Engineering course offers you accreditation, meeting the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) standards for Incorporated Engineer status. The course is also accredited by the Board of Architects Malaysia.
We're currently seeking reaccreditation from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Part 1 requirements.
This course also prepares you for master's courses validated by the Architects Registration Board (ARB), ensuring you're well-equipped for professional recognition and further study.
Placements
There's no compulsory work placement on this degree, but we strongly encourage you to get experience through work or internships during vacations.
Experience also hones your skills, industry knowledge, and professional network - making you a more attractive graduate - and we're here to support you throughout that journey.
Fieldwork
We arrange day trips so you can visit study locations and meet people that can inform your work. We also arrange residential field trips locally, nationally and internationally.
Stonewater design project trip
A group of our Year two students had an exciting opportunity to showcase their dwelling projects to Stonewater Housing Association. The project brief asked students to design collective housing for Black, Asian, or Minority Ethnic groups in Bristol. Students were asked to take a progressive approach in their design demonstrating an understanding of how different cultures live. Eight finalist students presented to staff at Stonewater and the winning student, Leandro, was offered 2-weeks' paid work experience as a prize. Due to the success of this partnership, we're working with Stonewater and hope to collaborate with them on an ongoing basis.
Study facilities
Learn in modern facilities, including design studios and dedicated project rooms.
From day one, you'll get hands on with immersive technologies in labs dedicated to low carbon design and construction materials .
Develop CAD, model-making, design, and drawing skills in integrated studios. Create architectural models using laser cutters, computerised routers, and wind tunnels, or in wood, metal, and concrete workshops.
Conduct spatial enquiries and analyse data with industry-standard GIS and statistical software.
Learn more about UWE Bristol's facilities and resources.
Take a personalised virtual tour of the Architecture facilities and experience what a typical day could look like here for you.
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Careers / Further study
Graduates of our BEng(Hons) Architecture and Environmental Engineering are well-prepared for a broad range of careers. You'll gain professional qualifications, meeting the requirements for RIBA Part 1 (subject to validation) and CIBSE standards for Incorporated Engineer status, which as well as accreditation by the Board of Architects Malaysia, will set you on the path to becoming a registered architect or building services engineer.
Studying sustainability, inclusivity, and innovation will make you an asset to employers who are addressing global challenges like climate change and urban resilience. You'll develop design skills that you'll be able to apply to broader environmental, social, and economic contexts, enabling you to think critically and creatively.
Hands-on learning through studio work, live projects, and community collaborations ensures you graduate with practical experience and professional readiness. You'll engage with real-world issues, working directly with planning agencies, industry stakeholders, and local communities to develop critical professional skills.
Whether you choose to specialise in architecture, engineering, or a combination of both, you'll have the foundation to pursue an impactful career. Our course prepares you to address the needs of society, clients, users, and the environment, drawing on the interdisciplinary strengths of our School of Architecture and Environment.
Our graduates are known for their ability to integrate architecture and engineering seamlessly, creating context-sensitive solutions. You'll be prepared to design inclusive, healthy, and sustainable places for future societies, making meaningful contributions to the built environment.
As an architect, you could go on to work in private practices, design firms, or government agencies, creating innovative and sustainable buildings. Your engineering skills will open doors to roles in building services, environmental consultancy, and renewable energy sectors, where you'll design systems that enhance building performance and sustainability.
Get inspired
Our award-winning careers service will develop your employment potential through career coaching and help you to find graduate jobs, summer placements and global opportunities.
We can also help you to find local volunteering and community opportunities, provide support for entrepreneurial activity and get you access to employer events.
Visit our employability pages to learn more about careers, employers and what our students are doing six months after graduating.
Start your dream career at UWE Bristol
Life
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An excellent range of options for all of the Bristol campuses and the city centre.
Bristol
A stunning city for student living with all the qualities to make you want to stay.
Sports, societies and activities
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Health and Wellbeing
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Campus and facilities
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