Our architectural technology degree combines architecture, civil engineering, services engineering, environmental science and building information modelling to give you the insight, skills and experience to succeed in the most heavily demanded areas of construction.
Gaining first-hand experience of transforming conceptual designs and drawings into practical building projects, you’ll get to grips with the latest technologies, industry software and Building Information Modelling (BIM) techniques. Access to on-campus facilities will be dependent on any Covid-19 restrictions in place at the time.
You’ll also learn new methodologies, develop your creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, and communication skills, and have the chance to work on real-life projects – in the UK and abroad – to gain a broad understanding of the full project management process. Opportunities will be dependent on access arrangements taking into account any Covid-19 related restrictions at the time.
You’ll graduate with the skills to enter a diverse range of roles in both the private and public sectors of construction. Our graduates have gone on to become BIM managers, lead designers, information managers, project managers and consultants – and some have even set up their own architectural design practices.
You’ll have the opportunity to build your professional portfolio by taking part in some of the industry’s most prestigious events and competitions – both in the UK and internationally (taking into account any Covid-19 related restrictions). You’ll also get to showcase your work to industry professionals in our final year degree show.
You’ll get one-on-one support throughout your studies, and our series of guest lecturers also gives you access to some of the industry’s most influential professionals.
You’ll collaborate with us to put your new skills into practice through real-world construction and infrastructure projects. Our students are currently leading the way on our MDX Pavilion: a major new project to create a sustainably-designed learning, event, community and well-being space on our campus.
We’ll give you the flexibility to study over three years (full-time), four years (with a paid, year-long work placement), or six years (part-time). You’ll also be able to get a bursary worth up to 50% if you decide to continue your studies with our MSc BIMM course.
While you’re learning, you’ll be matched with a Personal Tutor directly related to your course. You’ll also get support from our Student Learning and Graduate Academic Assistants, who have experience in your subject area.
This course was runner-up in The Guardian University Awards for Teaching Excellence.
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This is a three or four year degree, depending on an optional industry placement year. It can also be studied part-time over six years. The work placement year takes place between the second and third years of the degree. Placements will be dependent on employer availability taking into account any Covid-19 related restrictions.
If the course is studied part-time only two modules are studied per year, following the same order of the full-time course.
The module aims to identify what architectural technology is and provides in relation to practice and employment, by displaying an awareness of the design and technological theories that inform and influence the practice of architectural technology. The module also aims to develop your ability to generate design ideas based on available information and data; and present a coherent and engaging representation of design ideas.
This module will cover the basics of how structural systems and material selections of a building related to the fundamental aspects of architectural design. You will explore and develop an intuitive understanding of how heating, cooling, and lighting affect people and the technical design of buildings.
This module aims to provide a detailed understanding of how technological theories and innovations influence architecture throughout history by gathering relevant information. It provides an awareness of the context and the political, economic, environmental, social, and technological aspect that inform and influence architectural technology.
This module aims to provide a detailed understanding of BIM technologies that are used by individuals, businesses, and government agencies during planning, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of diverse buildings. It provides foundational knowledge by first exploring the principles of BIM and the role it plays in modern architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) projects. Then, learn about the benefits of BIM through showcasing real-world examples.
This module builds on the Design Communication & Architectural Technology module. You will extend your understanding of architectural design and technology and apply all knowledge and skills acquired during your first year. You'll apply BIM workflows and sustainable design principles to a medium-level complexity project evaluating environmental impact of their design decisions. This will allow you to evaluate issues associated with detailing and construction assembly in relation to building regulations and fire safety.
This module will cover evaluate, determine and integrate appropriate technologies and advanced building systems. Students will utilise existing technologies to create market-feasible high-performance green buildings through effective communication and interaction with multi-disciplinary professionals.
This module aims to unpack the role of an architectural technologist from professional practice and management point of view. It focuses on what professionalism mean and the importance of ethical practice and code of conduct in architectural technology. It provides an understanding of the business processes influencing practice including political, economic, societal, technological, environmental, and legal. It further introduces the fundamental building blocks of relationship between parties through appointments and administration of construction contracts.
The module aims for provide a detailed understanding of how building information modelling (BIM) can be used to design and collaborate in a Common Data Environment (CDE). It focuses on application of the ISO 19650 standards in a project and enables you to define a Pre and Post - Appointment BIM Execution Plan (BEP) central to using BIM technologies and tools to collaborate across disciplines.
This module builds on knowledge and skills gained in modules Design Communication & Architectural Technology and Design Evaluation & Architectural Technology. It aims to provide a platform for integration of all learning into a project culminating all aspects design, technology, management and practice. You will advance your understanding of architectural design and technology by applying all knowledge and skills acquired during your first and second year. You'll utilise BIM workflows, innovative technologies and sustainable and inclusive design principles to a high-level complexity project evaluating environmental and social impact of your design decisions. This will allow you to integrate solutions associated with detailing and construction systems, services and assembly in relation to building regulations and fire safety.
The module aims to teach you how to criticise design and construction process and systems efficiency, effectiveness for economic environmental sustainability and impact. Also create, complete and evaluate sustainable and inclusive design projects, systematic reviews of case studies, informed by current understandings in the discipline and using sustainability analysis tools, concepts and software. Furthermore, this module aims to perform appraisal of different building types and propose solutions to perform alterations, adaptations and refurbishments to monitor, enhance or transform an existing condition or conditions.
The module will link theoretical research with real-life applications or in-depth industry case-studies. You will develop further on their problem analysis skills and planning strategies for articulating an innovative research topic related to Architectural Technology. Meanwhile, enhancing your ability to monitor, evaluate and improve own effective time and research project management skills.
See the course specification for more information about typical course content outside of the coronavirus outbreak:
Optional modules are usually available at levels 5 and 6, although optional modules are not offered on every course. Where optional modules are available, you will be asked to make your choice during the previous academic year. If we have insufficient numbers of students interested in an optional module, or there are staffing changes which affect the teaching, it may not be offered. If an optional module will not run, we will advise you after the module selection period when numbers are confirmed, or at the earliest time that the programme team make the decision not to run the module, and help you choose an alternative module.
We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we have learnt during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.
We aim to model a wide range of teaching strategies and approaches on the course which you can adapt to your own setting.
The course is taught through a range of seminars, tutorials, workshops, studio sessions (delivered online or on-campus) and collaboration with other students. The university's virtual learning environment provides online access to assignments, case studies, notes and a suggested reading list.
You will be exposed to a wealth of over 30 visiting speakers and industry specialists from all fields of the construction industry, as well as organised field trips to current construction and infrastructure projects under development (dependent on any Covid-19 restrictions in place at the time).
The programme team of staff includes several working practitioners in the industry in architecture, engineering disciplines and sustainability.
This module covers the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
We’ve made changes to how we assess our courses due to the restrictions which were in place during the pandemic. We’re reviewing what aspects of these changes to take forwards into 2021/22 and you’ll be provided information on this by your academic department.
Assessment is entirely through coursework, models and prototypes. This includes exhibitions of products you have designed, individual and team projects, portfolios, essays, critical analysis reports, presentations, group reviews and your dissertation.
Students will assess each other's work in some modules, while industry practitioners and leaders help develop and assess projects.
We are regularly reviewing and updating our programmes to ensure you have the best learning experience. We are taking what we have learnt during the pandemic and enhancing our teaching methods with new and innovative ways of learning.
We are currently reviewing our approach to teaching and learning for 2023 entry and beyond. We've learned a lot about how to give you a quality education - we aim to combine the best of our pre-pandemic teaching and learning with access to online learning and digital resources which put you more in charge of when and how you study. We will keep you updated on this throughout the application process.
Your timetable will be built around on campus sessions using our professional facilities, with online sessions for some activities where we know being virtual will add value. We’ll use technology to enhance all of your learning and give you access to online resources to use in your own time.
The table below gives you an idea of what learning looks like across a typical week. Some weeks are different due to how we schedule classes and arrange on campus sessions.
This information is likely to change slightly for 2023 entry as our plans evolve. You'll receive full information on your teaching before you start your course.
Learning structure: typical hourly breakdown in 2021/22 | ||
Live in-person on campus learning | Contact hours per week, per level: |
Year 1: 6 hours Year 2: 6 hours Year 3: 6 hours |
Live online learning | Average hours per week, per level: | Year 1: 6 hours |
Tutor set learning activities | Average time per level: | Year 1: 1 week per term |
This information is likely to change slightly for 2024/25 entry as our plans evolve. You'll receive full information on your teaching before you start your course.
Definitions of terms
Support
You have a strong support network available to you to make sure you develop all the necessary academic skills you need to do well on your course.
Our support services will be delivered online and on campus and you have access to a range of different resources so you can get the help you need, whether you’re studying at home or have the opportunity to come to campus.
You have access to one to one and group sessions for personal learning and academic support from our library and IT teams, and our network of learning experts. Our teams will also be here to offer financial advice, and personal wellbeing, mental health and disability support.
The course will provide you with opportunities to test your knowledge and understanding informally through ‘formative’ assessment. This will be completed before your formal ‘summative’ assessment which will count towards your final marks. Each module normally contains at least one piece of formative assessment from which you will receive feedback from your tutor. Formative assessments are developmental and any grade you receive from formative assessment does not count towards your final marks.
There is formal ‘summative’ assessment as part of the module, usually towards the end of the module. The grades from the summative assessments count towards your module mark. Assessments are reviewed annually and may be updated based on student feedback, to suit content or based on feedback from an external examiner.
The balance of assessment will depend on the modules that you complete throughout your course. The approximate percentage of the course which is assessed by coursework is outlined below:
| Level 4 | 90% coursework | 10% practical exams |
| Level 5 | 84% coursework | 16% practical exams |
| Level 6 | 84% coursework | 16% practical exams |
You will receive feedback on the formative assessment, and written summative assessments. Feedback on examination performance can be requested from the module leader. Feedback is intended to help you learn and progress, and you are encouraged to review and discuss your feedback with your module or personal tutor.
We will aim to provide you with feedback within 15 working days of submission.
Details of progression and pass marks for assessment can be found in the university regulations.
Our students recently took a field trip to the Centre for Alternative Technology in Wales to get hands-on experience with renewable energy sources and eco-friendly building materials.
This course prepares you to work in diverse positions in the construction sector, both public and private, as architectural technologists, architectural designers, architectural engineers, BIM modellers, BIM coordinators and site coordinators.
Graduates may go on to become BIM managers, lead designers, information managers, project managers, consultants or set up their own architectural design practices.
Career options also include work within architectural practices, construction organisations, housing associations, local authorities, legislation and building authorities, central and local government, with property developers, processing and manufacturing industries, research and academia, energy sectors, conservation, conversion, maintenance, management, new build, restoration, retrofit or re-use projects.
We will support your career ambitions by helping you develop a professional portfolio, CV and career entry plan through one-on-one supervision. You will also have access to our Employability Service during and after your degree. Our course has been accredited by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technology; studying on a CIAT Accredited Programme will support you in becoming a Chartered Architectural Technologist, MCIAT.
As a student you will have access to a wide range of industry-standard equipment, including:
The Architectural Technology degree is taught in our Grove building, the cutting edge £80 million home to our Art, Design and Media subjects.
Dr Shayesteh joined Middlesex University in March 2017 and is currently part of the academic team for BIM Management MSc, and Architectural Technology BSc programmes. She is also an Honorary Research Fellow at the Bartlett, UCL where she studied and worked prior to joining Middlesex from 2001 to 2017. She was part of the delivery team of Building Information Modelling (BIM) Level 3 strategy with the UK Government Department of Business Innovation and Skills, contributing to the Digital Built Britain government strategy document. Her research interest lies in applied data-driven approaches to sustainable architecture, urbanism and from the users' point of view.
Dr Yang joined the academic team for BIM Management MSc, and Architectural Technology BSc programmes in June 2016. As a Chartered Engineer and Committee member for the CIBSE Intelligent Buildings Group, she is engaged in effective communication between academics and practical professionals, and promoting state-of-art building science and technology through international collaboration.
We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
Start: September 2023
Duration: 3 years full-time
Code: K120
Start: October 2023
Duration: 3 years full-time
Code: H150
