Building Services Engineering

Building services engineering is the discipline concerned with designing, installing, and maintaining the systems that make buildings work: heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical supply, lighting, water, fire safety, and increasingly the smart controls and renewable energy systems that determine how sustainable a building really is. It is a field that sits at the intersection of engineering, architecture, and environmental science, and its importance has grown sharply as the built environment becomes central to national efforts to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy performance.

This three-year full-time programme at London South Bank University is available with a foundation year for students who want to build their technical and mathematical foundations before entering the main degree, making it accessible to a wider range of entry points. The typical entry tariff of 72 points reflects this inclusive approach. A sandwich year gives you the opportunity to gain a full year of professional experience within the industry before completing your studies, and work placement options are built into the programme, meaning that practical, employer-facing experience is integral rather than optional.

You will study the principles of thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, electrical systems, and environmental engineering as they apply to buildings, learning how to design systems that are safe, efficient, and comfortable for occupants. Building services engineering covers the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of all the things that make a building safe, comfortable, energy efficient, and functional, and the programme prepares you to contribute across that whole life cycle. The sector is always in demand and is set to grow as buildings are redesigned to become more sustainable, making the skills you develop increasingly valuable.

You will also engage with the regulatory and professional frameworks within which building services engineers operate, including health and safety legislation and sustainability standards.

Graduates move into roles as building services engineers, energy consultants, facilities managers, and sustainability advisors in construction firms, engineering consultancies, local authorities, and major property developers. Many pursue professional chartership with relevant engineering institutions, and some continue into postgraduate study in sustainable design or energy systems.