Environmental Building Performance Engineering MSc

Postgraduate

Learn the skills and knowledge to design and implement high performance, energy efficient buildings focused on safety and occupant wellbeing.

Year of entry

2025-26

Location

Coventry University (Coventry)

Study mode

Full-time

Duration

1 year full-time

Course code

EEST042

Start date

September 2025
November 2025
January 2026
March 2026
May 2026
June 2026

How to apply

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Course overview

Advance your expertise in sustainable design and help meet the growing demand for low-energy, net-zero buildings.
Develop environmental design, energy management and performance assessment skills using advanced software tools.
Prepare for high-demand roles in sustainability, consultancy, and engineering sectors.
We’ll help you increase your digital skills so you can design and analyse innovative solutions to real-world problems related to passive and active design.

5 QS Stars for Teaching and Facilities

QS Stars University Ratings

Ranked 9th Modern University in UK by the Times

The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2025

Ranked 8th for Overall Satisfaction in PTES

Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) 2024

Why you should study this course

Course content provides you with opportunities to develop the industry-required skills needed to design and operate energy-efficient and zero-carbon buildings.
Gain skills in data analysis, project management and technical writing, supported by specialist software.
Learn to implement modelling and simulation techniques in a range of situations.
Develop an in-depth understanding of environmental challenges like climate change and limited energy resources so you can recommend effective solutions.
Learn from guest lectures by practicing building services engineers to gain valuable industry insights (subject to availability).

What you'll study

Study core areas such as environmental design of buildings, energy management, low carbon building design and energy analysis.

Modules

Environmental Design of Buildings – 30 credits

Learn to design comfortable, healthy, and sustainable environments in and around buildings. Consider factors such as climate, material choice, system selection and occupant comfort. Module content covers the technical and analytical skills needed for optimising the efficiency, sustainability, and comfort of both new buildings and retrofitting projects.

Compulsory

Energy Management and Energy Use in Buildings – 30 credits

This module focuses on developing expertise in energy management for efficient strategy development, carbon management, metering, and energy certification compliance for both new and existing buildings. You’ll cover energy use optimisation, retrofitting and refurbishment using industry-standard guides and tools.

The module also covers zero-carbon strategies, climate literacy, and digital tools like Building Energy Software Tools (BEST) for enhanced operational performance.

Compulsory

Strategic Management and Stakeholder Integration – 30 credits

This module provides an in-depth exploration of project processes, combining critical thinking with practical application. It will cover key areas such as scope, time, cost, quality, risk management and soft systems methodology, teaching you to navigate real-world construction scenarios effectively. The module aims to enhance your technical capabilities and understanding of project dynamics, preparing you to lead and deliver in this complex field.

Compulsory

Building Performance Assessment and Net-Zero Buildings – 30 credits

Explore key areas of building performance and sustainable design, including energy efficiency, building modelling, and environmental impact assessment. Gain essential skills in low-energy building design, renewable energy integration, and data analysis for optimising indoor environment quality. Learn to use industry-standard software and develop practical expertise for sustainable retrofitting and new building projects. These in-demand skills aim to prepare you to contribute effectively to sustainable development within the building services industry.

Compulsory

Research Project – 60 credits

Develop your research and investigative skills by designing and conducting an independent research project in a technical area with guidance from an academic staff member. This module will help you strengthen your ability to identify problems, review relevant literature, and design research methods. You will also learn how to manage and evaluate research within industrial, commercial or academic settings.

Throughout the project, you will gain experience in research design, data collection, analysis and report writing. You will have access to specialist labs to support your research and build your technical and research skills.

Compulsory

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

Teaching and learning methods may include:

lectures
seminars
tutorials
presentations
group projects
workshops
practical laboratory sessions.

Teaching contact hours

As a full-time postgraduate student, you will study modules totalling 180 credits each academic year. A typical 30-credit module requires a total of 300 hours of study. Study hours are made up of teaching contact hours, and guided and independent study.

Teaching hours

Teaching hours may vary, depending on where you are in your studies, but on average you will have between 8 and 12 teaching and learning hours each week. You will also have the opportunity to attend optional sessions including time with a Success Coach or to meet with staff for advice and feedback.

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 will be digging deeper into topics, reviewing what you’ve learnt and completing assignments. This can be completed around your personal commitments. As you progress to the end of your studies, you’ll spend more time on independent learning.

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.

Assessments

This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which could vary depending on the module. Assessment methods may include:

reports
tests
essays
exams
practical coursework
assignments
vivas
presentations.

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

Entry requirements

Typical entry requirements:

An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in building services engineering or a related discipline.

We recognise a breadth of qualifications; speak to one of our advisers today to find out how we can help you.

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.

Typical entry requirements

An honours degree 2:2 or above (or international equivalent) in building services engineering or a related discipline.

English language requirements

IELTS: 6.5 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.

Fees and funding

Student	Full-time	Part-time
UK, Ireland*, Channel Islands or Isle of Man	£11,200	Not available
EU	£11,200 per year with EU Support Bursary £18,600 per year without EU Support Bursary	Not available
International	£18,600	Not available

For advice and guidance on tuition fees³and student loans visit our Postgraduate Finance page and see the university's Tuition Fee and Refund Terms and Conditions.

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).

*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.

How do you know if you need to pay UK or international tuition fees?

We carry out an initial fee status assessment based on the information you provide in your application. Your fee status determines your tuition fees, and what financial support and scholarships may be available to you. The rules about who pays UK (home) or international (overseas) fees for higher education courses in England are set by the Department for Education. The regulations identify all the different categories of student who can insist on paying the home rate. The regulations can be difficult to understand, so the UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) has provided fee status guidance to help you identify whether you are eligible to pay the home or overseas rate.

If you meet all the criteria required by any one category, including any residence requirements, your institution must charge you the home rate. You only need to find one category that you fit into.

Facilities

You will have access to:

Environmental Physics lab
Thermo-Fluid and Renewable Energy Systems lab
project management and construction project simulation facilities that use digital models to simulate real-life construction processes.

People walking in front of a building which has a big library sign

Lanchester Library

The library is usually open 24/7, in term-time. It’s where you can access your course’s specialist Academic Liaison Librarian. It’s also home to specialist teams which can support you with your academic writing and maths and statistics questions.

Glass modern building with a spire in the background

The Hub

The Hub is the centre of student life on campus. Facilities include a food court, convenience store, multi-faith centre, medical centre, hairdresser, coffee shops and the Your SU offices. It has fully licensed function spaces and a bar.

Two people working together with a laptop in front of them

Careers and employability

Get one-on-one career and employability guidance lasting up to 36 months from the end of your course. We’ll help you find placements and graduate roles, offer CV and application checks, mentoring, skills workshops, employer events and more.

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

Successful graduates may seek positions as:

Building Services Design Engineers
Building Services Consultants
Low Carbon Consultants
Sustainability Consultant
Facilities Manager
MEP Engineers
Environmental Engineers
Energy Manager
Renewable Energy Specialist
Low Carbon Retrofit Specialist
Local Authority Engineer
Environmental Design Consultant
Lecturer / Researcher
Project Manager

Where our graduates work

Although this Environmental Building Performance Engineering MSc course is new, graduates from our Building Services Engineering BEng (Hons) course have gone on to occupy key roles such as electrical and mechanical design engineers and consultants in major design and contracting organisations such as:

Couch Perry Wilkes
Derry Building Services
Cundall
Ridge and partners
Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB)
WSP
CPW
Hydrock
Atkins Réalis.

How to apply

UK students

Express your interest now, and we'll notify you when applications open for this new course!

Coventry University continuously innovates to create courses that prepare our students to be at the forefront of their chosen careers. The course you've selected is new, and we anticipate opening it for applications from April 2025. Please register your interest, and we'll let you know as soon as you can apply.

For further support or more information about your course get in touch with us today.

+44 (0)24 7765 2222

ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

International students

Express your interest now, and we'll notify you when applications open for this new course!

View our International hub

For further support for international applicants applying for postgraduate degree view our International hub.

You can also download our international mini guide for an overview of study options and why you should study with us.

Get in touch with us today for further advice and guidance.

+44 (0)24 7765 2152

applications.io@coventry.ac.uk

Complete our contact form.

Disclaimers

Coventry University together with Coventry University London, Coventry University Wrocław, CU Coventry, CU London, CU Scarborough, and Coventry University Online come together to form part of the Coventry University Group (the University) with all degrees awarded by Coventry University.

¹Accreditations

The majority of our courses have been formally recognised by professional bodies, which means the courses have been reviewed and tested to ensure they reach a set standard. In some instances, studying on an accredited course can give you additional benefits such as exemptions from professional exams (subject to availability, fees may apply). Accreditations, partnerships, exemptions and memberships shall be renewed in accordance with the relevant bodies’ standard review process and subject to the university maintaining the same high standards of course delivery.

²UK and international opportunities

Please note that we are unable to guarantee any UK or international opportunities (whether required or optional) such as internships, work experience, field trips, conferences, placements or study abroad opportunities and that all such opportunities may be unpaid and/or subject to additional costs (which could include, but is not limited to, equipment, materials, bench fees, studio or facilities hire, travel, accommodation and visas), competitive application, availability and/or meeting any applicable travel, public authority guidance, decisions or orders and visa requirements. To ensure that you fully understand any visa requirements, please contact the International Office.

³Tuition fees

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 permit 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.

⁴Facilities

Student Contract

By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the current 2024/2025 contract is available on the website for information purposes however the 2025/2026 contract will apply for the 2025/2026 intake. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the university will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.