Sustainable Architecture: Evaluation and Design
MSc or PGDip
Start dates: September 2024 / January 2025 / September 2025
Full time: September Start: MSc: 12 months, PGDip: 9 months. January Start: MSc 18 months, PGDip: 13 months.
Part time: September Start: MSc: 24 months, PGDip: 18 months/ January Start: MSc 30 months, PGDip: 24 months
Location: Headington
Department(s): School of Architecture
Overview
The buildings we inhabit say a lot about our society. With climate emergency being the pressing issue of our time, sustainable architecture is more important than ever to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Here at Oxford Brookes, you will take a broad view of what it takes to design and operate low-carbon energy efficient buildings. You’ll explore everything from heating and ventilation systems to the behaviour of users. You’ll keep up to date with developments in policy and construction techniques. And you’ll examine the industry’s biggest challenges so you can work to solve them and contribute to a sustainable future.
We use our industry links and research connections to give you the latest insights and the greatest opportunities – whether you want to learn more about new technologies or network with the biggest players in the consultancy business. You’ll find plenty of ways to personalise the course to your own interests and career goals too.
With accreditation by the Energy Institute, you can access a huge range of resources and training to boost your career.
Why Oxford Brookes University?
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Be ahead of the curve
We started the course in 1994 and we’ve gained a lot of experience in that time. Join us and always be up to date with the latest developments.
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Flexibility to follow your interests
We’ve designed the course to allow you to personalise your studies based on your skills and interests.
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Discuss and debate
Our collaborative environment allows you to explore subjects with your peers and staff, learning from each other’s insights and experiences.
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Broaden your skills
The course is equally suitable for architects looking to specialise or others looking to add new skills to their CV.
Course details
Study modules
The modules listed below are for the master's award. For the PGDip award your module choices may be different. Please contact us for more details.
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Research
We are a major player in international research in the fields of architecture and the built environment and town and country planning. You are encouraged where possible to take part in staff research projects.
The course benefits from direct links to one of the best research groups in the university, recognised nationally and internationally:
The course also has direct input from:
- Professor Rajat Gupta, Professor of Sustainable Architecture and Climate Change, Director of Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD), Director of OISD: Low Carbon Building Group.
Careers
If you have an architectural background, you’ll probably be joining the course to specialise and learn more about how to make your practice more sustainable. You could open up new opportunities and become an expert in this important field.
But the course isn’t just for architects – we welcome engineers, physicists, and more. You could change your career or add specialist knowledge to your current role. Your skills will be valuable in areas like sustainability consultancy or policy making.
You’ll have up-to-date knowledge of everything from building regulations to environmental models. You’ll have practical experience and critical thinking skills that will allow you to adapt to new technologies we can’t yet predict.
Careers include:
- architectural and engineering practices
- research or sustainability consultancies
- development work
- utilities
- carbon trading
- academia.
Related courses
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
Candidates are required to fulfil one of the following:
- hold an approved undergraduate honours degree minimum 2.2, or equivalent overseas qualification, in a relevant discipline ie architecture, engineering or physics and other subjects related to the built and natural environments.
- possess an appropriate professional background and experience in architecture, building or building servicing design.
Applications are also considered from potential candidates who wish to seek accreditation for their prior experiential learning or earlier qualifications, particularly those who have worked on projects in related fields.
A number of our applicants use the programme as a means of facilitating a career change or progression.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English you will require a minimum academic IELTS score of 6.5 overall with 6.0 in all components.
OR
An equivalent English language qualification acceptable to the University.
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Terms and Conditions of Enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
International qualifications and equivalences
How to apply
Application process
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
Financial support and scholarships
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.