Architectural Engineering BEng (Hons)

Study level: Undergraduate
Table filled with technical drawings and hands pointing at elements on the papers

This course is designed to provide you with the knowledge and skills needed by society to design buildings and structures that provide sustainable, low-energy built environments for the future.

Course option

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time
Sandwich

Duration

3 years full-time
4 years sandwich

UCAS codes

H221

Start date

September 2025


Course overview

Architectural engineering bonds engineering principles with architecture to design safe, functional and sustainable buildings, meeting aesthetic and regulatory standards.

You will gain practical interdisciplinary design and management skills and start shaping your personal development as an architectural engineer in practice. You will have the chance to learn disciplines such as:

  • architectural design and technology
  • building surveying
  • construction project management
  • quantity surveying
  • building services engineering
  • civil engineering.
A star in the centre of a rosette.

Rated Gold Overall

Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) 2023

Five stars in a speech bubble.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

City buildings next to a tree.

Top 5 Student City in England (Coventry)

QS Best Student Cities Index 2025

Why you should study this course

  • Combining architectural design with a thorough understanding of technological and engineering developments, we aim to make successful graduates of this course highly sought after in industry nationally and internationally.
  • Teaching from current fully qualified and experienced staff who have a high level of design and technical experience in the construction industry, some of whom are still involved in research projects (staff may be subject to change).
  • We aim to maintain collaborative links with universities around the world, that currently include Spain, USA, Denmark, Italy and France, giving you the chance to spend part of your studies abroad2.
  • Studios and laboratories equipped with the latest versions of computer-aided design (CAD) software including 2D, 3D and visualisation software, building information management software and building performance analysis programmes4.
  • The opportunity to take part in events where you could meet members of the local design and building community, and attend professional development meetings held by the professional institutions on campus2 (subject to availability).

School of Art and Design Showcase

Engage with and explore the talents and achievements of our art and design Foundation Year course and final-year students.

Find out more
art_design_showcase_banner

What you'll study

In the first year, common to other building and engineering disciplines, you will be introduced to the fundamental topics of building design, engineering and the construction process. These learnings are essential to practitioners in all construction professions, such as what constitutes good building design and what causes damage to buildings.

Modules

In your second year, you will be introduced to more complex issues surrounding the profession such as adaptation of buildings, urban planning and structural design which aims to further explore your design and engineering knowledge from the previous year.

Modules

There’s no better way to find out what you love doing than trying it out for yourself, which is why a work placement2 can often be beneficial. Work placements usually occur between your second and final year of study. They’re a great way to help you explore your potential career path and gain valuable work experience, whilst developing transferable skills for the future.

If you choose to do a work placement year, you will pay a reduced tuition fee3 of £1,250. For more information, please go to the Fees and Funding section. During this time you will receive guidance from your employer or participating institution, along with your assigned academic mentor who will ensure you have the support you need to complete your placement.

Modules

In your final study year, you should deepen your knowledge of the role of professional practitioners in the architectural engineering industry as a practitioner or as an employee in a design office. You will cover professionalism and codes of behaviour, as well as skills relating to low carbon, engineering and comprehensive architectural design.

The course culminates in a research-informed design project and an integrated design and construction planning project, in collaboration with other students from our construction courses.

Modules

We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.


How you'll learn

The highly practical nature of the course should enable you to work with staff and students on real-world problems from industry, commerce and research groups.

This means that while we cover the technical content of your degree, these projects aim to develop the professional skills required including problem analysis and design; project, task and time management; risk assessment; team work and leadership; technical report and bench assessment; troubleshooting and more.


Teaching contact hours

As a full-time undergraduate student, you will study modules totalling 120 credits each academic year. A typical 20 credit module requires a total of 200 hours study. This is made up of teaching contact hours, guided and independent study.

Teaching hours:

Teaching hours vary each semester, year of study and due to module selection. During your first year you can expect 15-18 teaching hours each week. You will also have the option to attend optional sessions including time with a progress coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback. As you progress through your studies, teaching hours may reduce.

Guided and independent study:

Throughout your studies, you will be expected to spend time in guided and independent study to make up the required study hours per module. You'll be digging deeper into topics, review what you've learnt and complete assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress through your studies, you'll spend more time in independent study.

Online learning:

As an innovative university, we use different teaching methods including online tools and emerging technologies. So, some of your teaching hours and assessments may be delivered online.


Assessment

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will vary depending upon the module.

Assessment methods may include:

  • design portfolio
  • modelling
  • coursework
  • reports
  • projects
  • phase tests
  • group work
  • presentations
  • laboratories
  • posters.

The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards achieving the intended learning outcomes.


International experience opportunities

Construction is a global industry with the demand for building professionals overseas set to rise dramatically. In its 'World Populations Prospects Report' (2019), the United Nations identified nine countries, which will account for half the world’s population growth between now and 2050: India, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Tanzania, the US, Indonesia and Uganda.

The content of the course continuously refers to the international context in which architectural engineering takes place, which aims to give an international perspective to your studies and future career. For example, we draw on case studies such as the ancient and modern architecture of Rome or Gaudi in Barcelona.

Consequently, this course gives you the opportunity to go on a mandatory field trip overseas at no extra cost to you. This field trip forms a part of your final year's 'interdisciplinary project' and enables you to explore and investigate architecture and engineering design outside the UK. Previous destinations have included Rome in Italy and Barcelona in Spain2.

Please note that all international experience opportunities may be subject to additional costs, competitive application, availability, and meeting applicable visa and travel requirements, and are therefore not guaranteed2.


Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

Requirement What we're looking for
UCAS points 112
A level BBC to include Mathematics. Excludes General Studies
GCSE 5 GCSEs at grade 4 / C or above to include English and Mathematics
BTEC DMM in an Engineering or Construction (has to be Civil Engineering Pathway) subject
IB Diploma 29 points to include Mathematics at Higher level
Access to HE Considered on an individual basis

Other qualifications and experience

Our students come from a variety of backgrounds, each with a unique story. We recognise a breadth of qualifications. If your qualifications differ from the above, contact our Admissions Team who will be happy to discuss your qualifications and routes into your chosen course.

Contextual offers and Fair Access Scheme

If you meet the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme, you could automatically receive a contextual offer that may be up to 24 UCAS points lower than our standard entry requirements. View the criteria for our Fair Access Scheme.

Select your region to find detailed information about entry requirements:


You can view our full list of country specific entry requirements on our Entry requirements page.

Alternatively, visit our International hub for further advice and guidance on finding in-country agents and representatives, joining our in-country events and how to apply.

English language requirements

  • IELTS: 6.0 overall, with no component lower than 5.5

If you don't meet the English language requirements, you can achieve the level you need by successfully completing a pre-sessional English programme before you start your course.

For more information on our approved English language tests visit our English language requirements page.

Not got the required grades? We offer this degree with an integrated foundation year.


Fees and funding

Student Full-time Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year
Not available
EU 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £9,250 per year with EU Support Bursary**
2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £19,850 per year without EU Support Bursary**
Not available
International 2025/26 fees TBC
2024/25 fees - £19,850 per year
Not available

If you choose to study this course with a professional placement2 or study abroad year, you will need to pay a tuition fee3 of £1,250 to cover your academic support throughout your placement year.

For advice and guidance on tuition fees and student loans visit our Undergraduate Finance page and see the university’s Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

The University will charge the tuition fees that are stated in the above table for the first Academic Year of study. The University will review tuition fees each year. For UK (home) students, if Parliament permits an increase in tuition fees, the University may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation.

For international students, we may increase fees each year, but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation. If you defer your course start date or have to extend your studies beyond the normal duration of the course (e.g. to repeat a year or resit examinations) the University reserves the right to charge you fees at a higher rate and/or in accordance with any legislative changes during the additional period of study.

We offer a range of international scholarships to students all over the world. For more information, visit our International Scholarships page.

Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessments, facilities and support services. There may be additional costs not covered by this fee such as accommodation and living costs, recommended reading books, stationery, printing and re-assessments should you need them.

The following are additional costs not included in the tuition fees:

  • any optional overseas field trips or visits: £400+ per trip
  • any costs associated with securing, attending or completing a placement (whether in the UK or abroad).

Find out what's included in your tuition costs.

*Irish student fees

The rights of Irish residents to study in the UK are preserved under the Common Travel Area arrangement. If you are an Irish student and meet the residency criteria, you can study in England, pay the same level of tuition fees as English students and utilise the Tuition Fee Loan.

**EU Support Bursary

Following the UK's exit from the European Union, we are offering financial support to all eligible EU students who wish to study an undergraduate or a postgraduate degree with us full-time. This bursary will be used to offset the cost of your tuition fees to bring them in line with that of UK students. Students studying a degree with a foundation year with us are not eligible for the bursary.


Facilities

Your studies will be centred in high-specification learning environments that benefit from extensive social learning facilities, well-appointed laboratories, industry-standard equipment, lecturing facilities and classrooms, facilitating our innovative teaching methods across a diverse suite of courses.

student working in Architectural technical studio

Architectural Studio

The multi-functional Architectural Technology Studio space acts both as a teaching and tutorial room. It houses 40 high spec computers which include Revit, Sketchup and AutoCAD. An informal area is available for group discussions, tutorials and making models.

 

 

students using the virtual wall in the simulation centre

Simulation Centre

You will have access to our Simulation Centre, which incorporates best practice building information modelling (BIM). Using a 3D model, the centre is designed so that you can view and walk through your project to add value, realise efficiencies and ensure every member of the construction team understands what is required of them and when.

Student working with materials in lab

Materials Laboratory

Includes industrial standard timber and steel workshops, a concrete mixing area with 3 pan mixers, programmable environmental chambers, a range of ovens and curing tanks and various materials testing apparatus.

 

 

 

Facilities are subject to availability. Access to some facilities (including some teaching and learning spaces) may vary from those advertised and/or may have reduced availability or restrictions where the university is following public authority guidance, decisions or orders.


Careers and opportunities

Upon successful completion of the course, you can expect to have knowledge of:

  • building technology and construction processes
  • management processes and systems associated with construction
  • building science with respect to materials, structure, services and internal environment
  • the legal and regulatory framework within which buildings are constructed
  • economics of construction
  • design processes used in construction
  • current innovations relating to the construction of buildings
  • procurement and contract administration procedures
  • how quality is achieved in construction processes and products
  • health and safety in building design and construction
  • structural engineering
  • material science.

You should be able to:

  • analyse data and information sources in construction
  • adpply techniques used for the analysis and surveying of existing buildings
  • apply CAD, manual drawing techniques and other tools to construction design
  • apply technical data to specification and production information
  • apply structural engineering solutions to architectural problems
  • create and present design proposals
  • identify the aims and objectives of research
  • analyse, interpolate and present information
  • analyse and solve construction problems of a technical and managerial nature
  • reflect on the interdisciplinary and team working nature of the construction industry in order to undertake and manage construction design and the construction process.

Our Talent Team will help you in searching for work experience while you study and employment on graduation. Professional placements could significantly enhance your employability and many of our previous students have found their first graduate job through the organisation they worked for on placement2.

Coventry University is committed to preparing you for your future career and giving you a competitive edge in the graduate job market. The university’s Talent Team provide a wide range of support services to help you plan and prepare for your career.

Further study

You can choose to continue your studies at Coventry University with:

You may be entitled to an alumni discount on your fees if you decide to extend your time with us by progressing from undergraduate to postgraduate study.

Two students sat at a desk working on a laptop

Discover Phoenix+

Phoenix+ brings you together with other students to learn, experience and develop essential knowledge and skills. Whatever destination you choose, it's about preparing you for life after university.

Learn more about Phoenix+

How to apply


Discover Uni stats