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Solent Unviersity Southampton logo

MScSustainable Building Design

Apply direct
Starting in2024
Entry requirements: 2:2
Or higher
Up to: 20% alumni discountFind out more
Campus: Southampton City CentreView on Google Maps

Why study a sustainable building design master's degree at Solent University

Develop your theory and practical skills to graduate from this course as a specialist designer with the education and vision required to help create a sustainable future for the construction industry.

  • 0th
    university in the UK for low carbon emissions (THE 2023)
  • £0m
    invested in our campus estate and facilities in the past five years
  • Study on a course that prepares you for roles including sustainable building designer, sustainable building assessor, BREEAM Accredited Professional (AP), Passivhaus designer, carbon impact analyser, sustainability champion, environmental impact assessor.
  • Study in specialist studio spaces with industry-standard software. University-wide services include excellent learning resources, campus-wide wireless networking, extensive library services and dedicated student working spaces.
  • Benefit from our strong industry links, offering our students a range of employment opportunities after graduation.
  • You'll be taught by industry experts. And practitioners from the built environment industry regularly provide real-world projects, guest lectures, site visits, and mentoring sessions.
  • You'll have the opportunity to work towards becoming a BREEAM-accredited professional.
  • Sustainability is embedded in this degree. Understanding of the design principles of sustainable building will be developed through a live design project. Learn how to assess environmental impact using assessment methods like BREEAM and LEED
  • This course also has a work experience placement option, forming the second year of study. Placements can be 12 weeks, 24 weeks, or a full year.
  • This course has high rates of graduate employability. Most of our graduates have leveraged their newly-acquired knowledge to secure top-level roles in the sustainable construction industry.
  • Study on a course with high student satisfaction. Previous students on this course have rated it 100% for overall student satisfaction (PTES).
  • Receive free architecture career consultation for life. Our careers advice service, Solent Futures is available to all Solent students and graduates for life, helping you to progress in your current career or discuss options for a change in career.
  • This course is eligible for the Postgraduate Master's student loan. The loan is from Student Finance England and can be used to cover costs (ie, accommodation, tuition fees) associated with postgraduate studies (it was up to £12,167 for 2023 entry).

Course overview

This MSc Sustainable Building Design course is the ideal way for students from a wide range of academic and professional backgrounds to pursue a career in this exciting and important sector. By providing you with a thorough understanding of both theory based and practical skills, you’ll graduate from this course as a specialist designer with the education and vision required to help create a sustainable future for the construction industry.

Throughout the CIAT accredited course, you’ll be encouraged to develop a holistic approach to designing sustainable and intelligent buildings. Learning is centred around social, economic, and environmental aspects of design, otherwise known as the three pillars of sustainability. The curriculum introduces the essential academic theory that underpins each of these areas and explores the technical tools required to successfully plan performance-based building projects.

You’ll also be introduced to Building Information Modelling (BIM), working with an expert course team on a range of live projects in a design environment that simulates real workplace practices. These projects will help you to build a portfolio of practical work and equip you with the essential tools and software packages used by the industry. You’ll also develop an understanding of globally renowned energy assessment methods such as BREEAM, LEED and Passivhaus.

The course benefits from extensive links with industry, formed over many years of delivering accredited courses with professional organisations (eg, CIAT, CIOB, and SBID). Practitioners from a cross-section of the built environment industry contribute regularly to the academic process by providing real-world projects, guest lectures, site visits and informal mentoring sessions.

The course also has a placement option, allowing you to put your studies into practice in the workplace. The placement takes place after you've finished your MSc studies.

Our suite of sustainable construction management, architecture and refurbishment courses have an international focus. Not only in the industry-led course content, but also in the student body. Our students are of many different nationalities, bringing with them a wealth of experience, meaning you'll study in a diverse, multicultural environment that reflects the truly global nature of the sustainable construction industry.

Kickstart your career in sustainable building design by enrolling in this comprehensive program that combines theory, practical experience, and exposure to industry-leading trends and technologies. Join a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to making the world a better place through sustainable design.

Any questions?

Contact UK admissions

Email: admissions@solent.ac.ukCall: 023 8201 5066

Contact international admissions

Email: admissions.international@solent.ac.ukCall: +44 (0)23 8201 5066

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Accredited by:

Image reads CIAT accredited programme

Student work

Our creative degrees allow our students to develop a critical eye for design with a knowledge of different design approaches and problem solving techniques. Take a look at some of the great work they produce.

Course features

  • Specialist facilities

    This course has access to specialist facilities

  • Placement year

    If you apply for this course with a placement year, you have the opportunity to undertake a year in industry for your second year.

  • Apply direct

    You can apply direct to Solent University for this course

  • Part-time option

    You can study this course part-time

This course is for

MSc Sustainable Building Design is ideally suited to architects, building technologists, interior architects, building designers, structural engineers, and other construction professionals who aim to specialise in designing, analysing and assessing the performances of sustainable buildings.

What this course leads to

Graduates from MSc Sustainable Building Design have successfully gained employment in companies across the UK and overseas. For example, our graduates have secured employment with companies such as Brightspace Architects, Ridge and Partners, Architecture PLB, EP Projects, Raft Architecture, Kier, Barratt Homes, Arup, and more.

We work with our industry partners to facilitate employment opportunities for students, and we continue to develop new relationships with the industry. We use our contacts to provide students with real-world employability skills such as guest lectures, site visits, and live briefs. 

  • Sustainable building designer
  • Sustainability champion in design or construction companies
  • Sustainable building assessor
  • Sustainability consultant
  • Passivhaus Designer
  • BREEAM Accredited Practitioner

Meet the team

The University cannot guarantee any particular members of staff will teach specific aspects of the course in the future, but will endeavour to ensure the teaching team maintains their balance of experience and qualifications.

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