BEng Architectural Engineering

Our new Architectural Engineering degree combines the art of design with the construction of buildings. The programme is designed to produce tomorrow’s engineers, able to work in multidisciplinary teams to design, construct, maintain and operate our infrastructure utilising the latest technological tools and techniques.

The programme embraces the Conceiving-Designing-Implementing-Operating (CDIO) educational framework for producing the next generation of “work-ready” engineers. This will provide a learning experience that stresses the engineering fundamentals set within the context of CDIO real-world systems and products.

Studying Architectural Engineering will empower you as a graduate engineer to liaise and communicate effectively and efficiently with architects to ensure both functional and aesthetic design. You will gain a solid technical ground in structural engineering, and appreciation and understanding of contemporary global architectural design. UN Sustainable Development Goals are embedded throughout the programme and practiced in the design projects to achieve a sustainable and resilient built environment.

The programme will give you the educational base to work at the intersection of structural engineering and architecture, and to successfully gain chartered engineering status after graduation.

A sandwich placement year, taken in year three of the programme, enables you to develop your skills and professional confidence - and boosts your employability on graduation.

The programme embraces the Conceiving-Designing-Implementing-Operating (CDIO) educational framework for producing the next generation of “work-ready” engineers. This will provide a learning experience that stresses the engineering fundamentals set within the context of CDIO real-world systems and products.

Studying Architectural Engineering will empower you as a graduate engineer to liaise and communicate effectively and efficiently with Architects to ensure both functional and aesthetic design. You will gain solid technical ground in structural engineering, and an appreciation and understanding of contemporary global architectural design. UN Sustainable Development Goals are embedded throughout the programme and practised in the design projects to achieve a sustainable and resilient built environment.

The programme will give you the educational base to work at the intersection of structural engineering and architecture and to successfully gain chartered engineering status after graduation.

A sandwich placement year, taken in year three of the programme, enables you to develop your skills and professional confidence - and boosts your employability on graduation.

While studying with us you will:

• Learn in dedicated design studios that are fully equipped with the latest equipment and technology;
• Be taught by research-active staff and industry-experienced tutors – our tutors have extensive track records of project design and delivery;
• Develop programming skills and use artificial intelligence to inform the design of complex structures;
• Work on authentic projects which are varied in terms of complexity, context, scale, and material use.

Architectural Engineering at the University of Bradford

Interdisciplinary

You won’t just work with engineers; you’ll be at the forefront of innovative collaborations with AI programmers, material scientists, business leaders, structural designers, circular economists, and international development professionals.

Putting people first

At Bradford, you’ll learn how to create inclusive spaces that meet the needs of families, gender diversity, disability and neurodiversity.

Conscious creation

Your creativity will be a force for good. From the start, you will be working with the UN and within the UN’s principles of sustainable development, goals to create a portfolio with a global outlook on 21st-century challenges.

Going beyond the textbook

You’ll study architectural heritage beyond the western world, as well as contemporary projects from across the world as well as on your doorstep.

Study support

Our comprehensive support services will help you to achieve your full potential – both academically and personally.

We provide all you need to make the very best of your time with us, and successfully progress through your studies and on into the world of graduate employment.

Our support services include:

• Personal tutors
• Peer Assisted Learning
• Disability services
• Counselling services
• MyBradford student support centres
• The Students’ Union
• Chaplaincy and faith advisers
• An on-campus nursery
• Halls wardens

We have well-stocked libraries and excellent IT facilities across campus. These facilities are open 24 hours a day during term time, meaning you’ll always find a place to get things done on campus.

Our Academic Skills Advice Service will work with you to develop your academic, interpersonal and transferable skills.

Research

You will have several opportunities to conduct research and to develop innovative designs through the yearly design projects and final year projects. These will assist you in developing, consolidating and managing your own continuous professional development needs and creativity.

Career support

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes, there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

Why the world needs more architectural engineers

The sector is growing.

The architectural engineering and construction solutions (AECS) market is poised to grow by USD 2.87 billion between 2020-2024 (source: Technavio).

How we live will change

70% of the global population will live in cities by 2050​.

To reduce carbon emissions* we need a new generation of engineers with a holistic approach to design aesthetically considered buildings incorporating efficient use of space and resources whilst maintaining the health and wellbeing of occupants.

Architectural engineers are at the forefront of finding new ways to design sustainable buildings that reduce energy and water consumption, and that also utilise more environmentally friendly materials.

*The UK has made a commitment that by 2050 carbon emissions will be reduced to Net-Zero.

Space is not infinite, and adapting is key

It is expected that in the UK alone 3.5M non-domestic buildings and 26M residential buildings will need to be reshaped and reconfigured to meet future needs and be energy efficient over the next few decades (Source: RIBA 2014).

About half of the construction is refurbishing and improving the existing buildings (source: UK Government Construction 2025 Strategy). There is also an increasing demand to design and construct new buildings.