Building Services Engineering

Building services engineering addresses the systems that make buildings inhabitable, safe, and efficient. Heating, ventilation, air conditioning, electrical distribution, lighting, fire safety, water supply, and increasingly the integration of renewable energy and smart building management systems all fall within its scope. Without building services engineers, even the most architecturally distinguished structure would be unusable.

As the built environment faces growing pressure to reduce carbon emissions and adapt to climate change, the role of building services engineering has never been more important.

At London South Bank University you will study part-time on a programme that includes a foundation year, a sandwich year, and work placement activity. This structure is particularly suited to students who are already working in or around the construction industry and wish to formalise and deepen their knowledge while continuing to develop professionally. The foundation year provides the scientific and mathematical grounding needed for the engineering content that follows.

Through the programme you will study thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, electrical systems, sustainable energy, environmental control, and building information modelling, alongside project management and design practice. The part-time mode means your studies and your professional experience develop in parallel, and work placement activity provides structured industry engagement. London South Bank's strong connections to the built environment and construction sectors, and its location in a city where large-scale building and retrofit projects are constantly under way, enrich both teaching and placement opportunities.

Building services engineering graduates are in consistent demand from consulting engineers, mechanical and electrical contractors, facilities management companies, and public sector bodies responsible for building design and maintenance. Roles in design, project management, commissioning, and energy management are all common directions. The drive towards net zero carbon and sustainable retrofit is creating growing demand for engineers who can specify, design, and optimise low-carbon building systems.

Progression towards chartered engineer status with a relevant professional body is a widely shared career goal, and further study at postgraduate level in building services, sustainable energy, or construction management supports this ambition.