4 ways an Advanced Building Performance Engineering MSc will make you more employable

Sponsored by University of Nottingham 

A master’s in advanced building performance engineering is aimed at graduates with a background in engineering or science who are looking to gain engineering and technical expertise in energy conversion processes, alongside practical management skills.  

The programme opens up a wide range of job roles, with many graduates working in mechanical engineering or building performance engineering.  

However, some graduates choose to work in less typical roles such as property portfolio management, public health, environmental or sustainability consulting. The numerical and analytical aspects of the programme can also prepare you for roles in banking and finance. 

Read on to discover how a master’s in advanced building performance engineering could make you an attractive candidate for these types of roles.  

Gain a high level of engineering and technical expertise 

A building performance engineering master’s will provide you with a high level of engineering and technical expertise in energy conversion processes. These technical modules will be complemented by management, regulations and auditing skills.  

The 12-month Advanced Building Performance Engineering MSc at the University of Nottingham offers science and engineering graduates the chance to study a practical postgraduate degree in a world-leading centre of architecture and sustainable design technology. 

The programme places an emphasis on renewable and sustainable energy technologies and the built environment, combining this knowledge with practical management skills. This unique combination makes graduates on this programme extremely attractive to graduate employers. 

You will be taught by academics who are experts in their field and have extensive industry experience. The teaching will be underpinned by the university’s research strengths in architecture, urban design, sustainable energy technologies and innovative work in green issues and sustainability. 

You’ll gain an accredited, internationally recognised qualification  

Postgraduate advanced building performance engineering degrees will sometimes be accredited by an internationally recognised professional body, meaning that they will be taught to an industry recognised standard.  

By ensuring your degree is accredited by a professional body, you can be sure you are getting the highest quality teaching. 

For example, the University of Nottingham’s Advanced Building Performance Engineering MSc is accredited by the Engineering Council through the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).  

The programme will give you the training required to enable you to qualify as a BREEAM environmental assessor or as a Passivhaus designer.  

Graduates will gain the skills and knowledge that leading companies want and need, such as the ability to use dynamic thermal modelling software or computational fluid dynamic (CFD) tools.  

Study at a reputable university in a world-leading centre of architecture and sustainable design technology   

If you have a strong background in science or engineering and decide to pursue a master’s degree in building performance engineering, you will have the opportunity to study at some of the world’s leading architectural schools.  

The University of Nottingham is a highly recognised higher education institution with a prestigious department for architecture and built environment which places in the UK top four for building in the UK Complete University Guide 2023. This year, the university ranks 18th in the UK according to the QS World University Rankings. 

The school’s centre of architecture and sustainable design technology incorporates the latest knowledge and practices in the industry into its programmes.  

The master’s in building performance engineering will teach you to consider each building as a whole – working directly with architects to optimise building performance and energy efficiency, while retaining the building’s comfort. 

The programme’s focus on sustainability is reflected in its stunning University Park Campus – one of the UK’s most green and sustainable university campuses. Covering 300 acres with green spaces, wildlife, period buildings and modern facilities, it has won a national Green Flag award every year since 2003.  

You’ll take advantage of collaborative links with industry  

While studying a building performance engineering master’s at a reputable university, you can take advantage of your university’s connections with industry.  

For example, the University of Nottingham’s centre of architecture and sustainable design technology has strong collaborative links with businesses around the world.  

The careers department helps students network by: 

• Hosting careers fairs, with specialist fairs for different sectors.
• Supporting students with an online job vacancy platform where employers will advertise graduate jobs and internships, to help students build up their industry contacts and find relevant roles.  
• Offering students advice to help secure internships and placements in their chosen industry.

The programme boasts a high graduate employment rate, with more than 87 percent of graduates securing graduate level employment or further study within 15 months of graduation.  

Graduates have gone on to work for a range of companies including global engineering and construction, such as Arup and Laing O’Rourke, and smaller national and regional consultancies, such as Long and Partners.  

The University of Nottingham’s building performance engineering master’s graduates have won awards for their contributions to energy projects. For example, one of the programme’s graduates has gone on to win the prestigious National Energy Award for their work on a large-scale solar project in Mexico. 

It is hardly surprising then, that the university performs so well in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2022, appearing in the UK top 10 and global top 70. 

Dr Benjamin Jones, associate professor at the University of Nottingham’s department of Architecture and Built Environment said: “This is a really good time to be a built performance engineer because there are currently more positions available than there are trained engineers.  

“Also, because buildings are responsible for a significant proportion of global carbon emissions, you will be at the forefront of the technological advancement in a sector that will play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions.”