Architectural Engineering with International Foundation Year
Architectural engineering brings together the creative ambition of architecture and the rigorous technical discipline of engineering to produce professionals who can design buildings that are not merely beautiful but structurally sound, energy-efficient and safe. Where architects focus primarily on the spatial and aesthetic dimensions of buildings, architectural engineers are concerned with how structures behave, how they are heated, cooled, lit and ventilated, and how they can be built and maintained in ways that are sustainable and practical. The discipline is increasingly central to a construction industry under pressure to deliver higher-performing, lower-carbon buildings.
At the University of Reading, this four-year full-time programme begins with an international foundation year, providing a thorough grounding in the subject before you progress into the main degree. You will study structural engineering, building physics, environmental systems, construction technology, project management and architectural design, developing both analytical and creative capabilities. You will learn to use professional design and analysis tools and to work collaboratively in the multidisciplinary teams that characterise the built environment professions.
The programme develops both the technical depth expected of an engineer and the design sensitivity expected of someone working in the built environment.
Graduates move into careers in structural engineering, building services engineering, environmental engineering, construction management, project management and sustainability consulting. They work in architectural practices, engineering consultancies, contractors and public sector organisations, and many work towards professional registration with bodies such as the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers or the Institution of Structural Engineers. Postgraduate study, including conversion to architecture or specialist engineering degrees, is also an option for those who want to deepen their expertise.