Why study this course with LJMU?
- LJMU ranked 16th in the UK for construction, surveying and planning courses (The Guardian University Guide 2025)
- LJMU ranked 8th university in the UK for building degrees (The Times UK University Rankings 2025)
- Course developed in partnership with practising architectural engineers
- Degree covers both the domestic sector and commercial buildings, new and refurbished
- Opportunity to undertake a years industrial work placement
- Dedicated Industry Unit to identify both placement opportunities and potential employers, both in the UK and overseas
- Annual employers day event helps students find placements and make useful industry contacts
About your course
The BEng (Hons) Architectural Engineering at Liverpool John Moores University is informed by internationally-acclaimed research plus extensive links with employers, who also offer exciting paid placement opportunities.
Modern living depends upon the engineering services that are an integral part of buildings, and these systems consume a significant percentage of the energy used in the UK.
Architectural Engineers operate as part of a professional team alongside architects, structural engineers, quantity surveyors and other construction professionals to ensure that buildings continue to function efficiently while de-carbonising the energy supply. They need to be technically competent and practical in outlook, but also good communicators as they give advice to a wide range of people.
This programme, which has been developed in partnership with practising professionals, helps you gain the skills required to design complicated building engineering systems that can control internal environmental conditions and minimise energy use, such as the heating, lighting, power, lifts, ventilation, water and utilities, as well as managing their installation, commissioning and maintenance.
Projects are integrated at all levels of the degree, with materials and supervision provided by employers so you can replicate real-life scenarios in your work. After your second year, you will be encouraged to take up a year's paid work placement with a building services engineering consultant or contractor (subject to finding suitable placement).
Additional course costs
There are no travel costs for day site visits. Optional residential study visits in the UK and abroad will have costs involved. Locations of such visits may be subject to change.
Course modules
What you will study on this degree
This programme, which has been developed in partnership with practising professionals, helps you gain the skills required to design and integrate complex building engineering systems within an aesthetically pleasing building envelope, such that internal environmental conditions can be closely controlled and energy use is minimised. Building services engineering areas considered throughout the programme include energy efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, alongside electrical installations and lighting design.
In your first year you will be introduced to the basic underpinning engineering, scientific and mathematical principles, plus architectural and design philosophies. The technology focus at this point applies mainly to the domestic sector.
In the second year the knowledge attained in the first year is extended to encompass commercial buildings, both new and refurbished, and is applied to the design of systems for complex buildings.
The third year is an optional placement year and students will be able to complete a period of work experience with a suitable employer.
The final year of the BEng course extends students' learning on to the modelling and design of buildings, and the simulation of building services systems within complex buildings. In addition you will be exposed to real, vocationally relevant project work with a focus on the promotion of sustainability. Students are also given the opportunity to carry out research in an area that they find particularly interesting.
Projects are integrated at all levels of the degree, with materials and supervision provided by employers so you can replicate real-life scenarios in your work.
Further guidance on modules
Modules are designated core or optional in accordance with professional body requirements, as applicable, and LJMU’s Academic Framework Regulations. Whilst you are required to study core modules, optional modules provide you with an element of choice. Their availability may vary and will be subject to meeting minimum student numbers.
Where changes to modules are necessary these will be communicated as appropriate.
Core modules
Core modules
Optional Modules
Core modules
Professional accreditation/links
In principle Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE)
This programme is designed to provide the academic requirement for ACIBSE and IEng.
Your Learning Experience
Excellent facilities and learning resources
You can expect to spend on average 14-16 hours in the classroom which may be in the form of lectures, tutorials and workshops, combined with your own research using our library and the web. You should spend around 35 hours per week in private study.
Work-based Learning
Projects supported by employers in the field are an important element of this degree course as they allow you to apply what you have learnt to real-life situations. However, the best way to put your skills and knowledge into practice is to undertake a years work placement between Levels 5 and 6.
We strongly recommend that you take up this opportunity, as professional work experience and references, together with your degree, will significantly boost your career prospects.
In fact some of our students have been offered employment before the end of their final year. However, we should point out that although we may be able to find a suitable post for you, we cannot guarantee this, nor can we guarantee employment in a particular company or geographical area.
Dedicated personal tutor, plus study skills support
There is a high level of support for students on this course and we have a robust personal tutor system so that all students are guided by a skilled and knowledgeable academic throughout their studies.
If you choose to undertake a work placement, the Department's Industry Liaison Unit will help you to identify potential employers, both in the UK and overseas (though overseas placements are less common), and will support you during your placement, with occasional visits from a tutor to check on your progress. The Unit acts as a link between you and a large number of organisations that take part in our annual employers' day and get involved in employer interest/support groups. Activities like these give you the best possible chance of securing a placement and making useful contacts for your future employment.
Assessment varies depending on the modules you choose, but will usually include a combination of exams and coursework.
All students perform differently depending on how they are assessed which is why we use a combination of assessment methods. These include exams (open and closed book), coursework (projects, laboratory and technical reports) and oral presentations. Your tutors will give prompt and constructive feedback via Canvas (our virtual learning environment), face-to-face or in writing. This will help you to identify your strengths as well as the areas where you may need to put in more work.
Where you will study
This programme is delivered in the Byrom Street complex of LJMUs City Campus. Here you'll find high quality lecture theatres, meeting and seminar rooms plus social spaces and a large cafe. The Avril Robarts Library is just minutes away on Tithebarn Street.
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Gain the skills required to design and integrate complex building engineering systems within an aesthetically pleasing building envelope.
Career paths
Architectural Engineering is closely allied to Building Services Engineering and is all about the design, installation and maintenance of sustainable systems that bring buildings to life. You will enjoy varied career opportunities both in the UK and overseas.
Graduates work alongside other professionals such as architects, construction managers, quantity surveyors and building services engineers in the design of new buildings and the maintenance and refurbishment of existing buildings.
Architectural Engineering graduates are employed around the world with consulting engineers, architectural practices, contractors, public authorities and manufacturers.
Student Futures - Careers, Employability and Enterprise Service
A wide range of opportunities and support is available to you, within and beyond your course, to ensure our students experience a transformation in their career trajectory. Every undergraduate curriculum includes Future Focus during Level 4, an e-learning resource and workshop designed to help you to develop your talents, passion and purpose.
Every student has access to Careers Zone 24/7, LJMU's suite of online Apps, resources and jobs board via the LJMU Student Futures website.
Tuition fees and funding
- Full-time per year:
- £9,535
- Placement year:
- £1,905
The University reserves the right to increase tuition fees in accordance with any changes to the maximum allowable fees set by the UK Parliament. In the event of such a change, any fee increase will be subject to a maximum cap of 10% of the total course cost as originally stated at the time of your offer.
The fees quoted above cover registration, tuition, supervision, assessment and examinations as well as:
- library membership with access to printed, multimedia and digital resources
- access to programme-appropriate software
- library and student IT support
- free on-campus wifi via eduroam
Additional costs
Although not all of the following are compulsory/relevant, you should keep in mind the costs of:
- accommodation and living expenditure
- books (should you wish to have your own copies)
- printing, photocopying and stationery
- PC/laptop (should you prefer to purchase your own for independent study and online learning activities)
- mobile phone/tablet (to access online services)
- field trips (travel and activity costs)
- placements (travel expenses and living costs)
- student visas (international students only)
- study abroad opportunities (travel costs, accommodation, visas and immunisations)
- academic conferences (travel costs)
- professional-body membership
- graduation (gown hire etc)
Funding
There are many ways to fund study for home and international students. From loans to International Scholarships and subject-specific funding, you'll find all of the information you need on our specialist funding pages.
Entry requirements
Please choose your qualifications below to view requirements
Grades/points required from qualifications: BBC - BBB (112 - 120)
Work out how many UCAS points your qualifications are worth by visiting the UCAS Tariff Calculator.
Qualification requirements
How to apply
Securing your place at LJMU
UCAS is the official application route for our full-time undergraduate courses. Further information on the UCAS application process can be found here https://www.ljmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-students/how-to-apply.
We are looking for students who are keen to learn new skills and develop those they already possess. We want students with the ability to: be creative with ideas and concepts, moderate their creativity with logic, be enthusiastic and thirsty for knowledge, communicate effectively and confidently and understand and adapt to a wide range of issues connected with the subject.
It is also important that students are able to manage time and tasks effectively as an individual and as part of a team, use appropriate sources to find and organise information and select and critically evaluate information in order to analyse problems.
If you would like to develop these skills further, have a strong interest in this subject area and want to work effectively within it, then this is the course for you. International applications will be considered in line with UK qualifications.
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The university reserves the right to withdraw or make alterations to a course and facilities if necessary; this may be because such changes are deemed to be beneficial to students, are minor in nature and unlikely to impact negatively upon students or become necessary due to circumstances beyond the control of the university. Where this does happen, the university operates a policy of consultation, advice and support to all enrolled students affected by the proposed change to their course or module.
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