British University in Dubai
British University in Dubai

British University in Dubai

Master of Science in Sustainable Design of Built Environment

The University offers three graduate degree programmes in Sustainable Design of Built Environment in collaboration with Welsh School of Architecture at Cardiff. The degrees offered are: Master of Science (MSc), Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) and Post Graduate Certificate (PGCert). Welcome to MSc in Sustainable Design of Built Environment Programme Degrees are awarded by BUiD in association with Cardiff University. The programme is also accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Private and public sector partnerships will be exploited to meet senior management requirements for modern and relevant training. Innovation and Enterprise will be central themes running through programme delivery, programme content and industrially relevant research. Why Study Sustainable Design of the Built Environment (SDBE) at BUiD? Throughout the world, there is an immediate environmental concern over the current and future consequences of climate change and depletion of resources. The built environment is a major contributor to carbon emissions and depletion of resources; of particular concern is the energy used to cool, ventilate and light buildings as well as the embodied energy in the material used. In addition, the indoor environment within buildings has a major impact on the health, well-being and productivity of occupants. Rapid building development rates places enormous pressures on future energy use. A more sustainable approach to the design of the built environment can be achieved using a combination of passive and active strategies utilizing the latest knowledge and use of advanced energy and BIM modelling software within a modern architectural context. This will reduce the energy needs, which in turn will reduce both local and global pollution in addition to providing more comfortable and healthy indoor and outdoor living environments. The SDBE programme contains concentrations covering Architectural Design, Interior Design, Smart Buildings and Urban Design. The main aim of the SDBE MSc programme is to provide the design team members with the knowledge, skills and tools to enable them to undertake innovative approaches to sustainable design, integrating architectural and engineering solutions. Degrees offered The University offers three graduate degree programmes in Sustainable Design of Built Environment in collaboration with Welsh School of Architecture at Cardiff. The degrees offered are: Master of Science (MSc), Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) and Post Graduate Certificate (PGCert). The MSc degree is offered via two tracks: Dissertation or Research Project. All degrees are awarded by BUiD in association with Cardiff University. The programme is also accredited by the UAE Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The PGDip and both MSc degree tracks can be awarded with concentration or general without concentration. There are four concentrations available:
  • Architectural Design (AD)
  • Interior Design (ID)
  • Smart Buildings (SB)
  • Urban Design (UD)
Private and public sector partnerships will be exploited to meet senior management requirements for modern and relevant training.  Innovation and Enterprise will be central themes running through programme delivery, programme content and industrially relevant research. What can I do with a graduate degree in Sustainable Design of the Built Environment?  The role of the environmental designer in the building team is growing in importance as sustainable policies are increasingly supported by the public and by governments. This graduate programme prepares students to take their place in this expanding field. Depending on the degree sought, students acquire different levels of knowledge and skills needed to specialise in the sustainable design of the built environment. Project work is an important component of the programme and is intended to emphasise practicalities and develop the necessary working skills. The programme is suitable for junior to mid-career professionals in fields related to the built environment such as architecture, building services, landscaping, urban design, interior design, civil engineering building technology or environmental studies and will appeal to professionals from private consultancy business, construction firms and governmental regulatory institutions. Structure of the Programme The programme is available in both full-time and part-time formats to provide maximum flexibility for those who want to work and study. The duration of the programme varies depending on the degree sought and mode of study and range from as little as 3 months for a fulltime PGCert to 24 months for a part-time MSc. The programme consists of 3 (PGCert) or 6 (PGDip & MSc) modules (20 credits each). For the MSc students are also required to submit a dissertation (dissertation-track) or take an additional two modules plus a research project (research project-track). Students seeking one of the four concentrations must take the two concentration core modules and their Dissertation/Research Project must be relevant to the concentration selected. Each academic year consists of 3 semesters. Required Credit Hours: minimum hours