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Course overview
Built for design
Architectural technologists are the experts that translate a modern architect’s vision into reality. With innovative techniques and digital tools, they bridge the gap between architectural aesthetics and practicality, taking into consideration safety, sustainability, functionality and efficiency.
As digitisation and regulations such as the Building Safety Act reshape this field, there’s a growing demand for technical expertise and knowledge. On UCEM’s part-time, online BSc (Hons) Architectural Design Technology programme, you’ll explore the dynamic intersection between design, technology and construction and become a valuable contributor to the evolving landscape of architecture and built environment sustainability.
The programme has been designed to align with the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT) standards and UCEM plans to seek CIAT accreditation.
Job outcomes
- Architectural Technologist
- BIM Technician
- Construction Site Technician
- Design and Build Co-ordinator
Study method
- Online
- Blended
- In-class
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Duration study load
- 4.5 years – part-time
Studying two modules per semester requires an expected time commitment of 15-20 hours per week. If you study only one module per semester, the weekly time commitment will be less, depending on the module’s credit size. Most modules are typically 20 credits.
Entry requirements
You are required to be 18 years or over at the start of your programme.
Academic requirements
- Entrants must have obtained 96 UCAS tariff points (or an equivalent level of attainment through recognised qualifications not included in the UCAS tariff)
OR
- Completed an Advanced Apprenticeship in Surveying or an Advanced Apprenticeship in Construction Technical through which a Construction and Built Environment Diploma with a minimum DD profile was obtained or through which a Construction and Built Environment Extended Diploma with a minimum MMM profile was obtained, or an equivalent qualification
OR
- Have a current Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Associate qualification (AssocRICS) and be in relevant employment
OR
- Successfully completed the UCEM BSc Access module programme
Course features
- Flexible study: Balance your study, work and home commitments, all while working towards your career goals
- e-Library access: Full access to a comprehensive and valuable e-library with a wealth of resources to support your studies
- Interactive: Study using a diverse range of interactive, modern and dynamic learning resources
- Expert-led: Learning activities that have been designed by UCEM tutors and subject matter experts
- Stay connected: Learn alongside a diverse community of students from all over the world
Who's it for?
This part-time online programme is a gateway to a professional career as an architectural technologist, or design-related work within the construction industry.
You’ll explore in detail the stages of the briefing, design and construction, and learn to contextualise law, manage information and consider the resulting impact on sustainability throughout the process.
You’ll also be exposed to new technological innovations, including building information modelling (BIM), and have the opportunity to apply these to your own projects and design proposals.
Delivery
When you study at UCEM, you’ll be using our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), a specialised platform which provides you with everything you need to keep on top of your studies and succeed.
You’ll be guided through your learning with weekly study schedules and course guides, which you can adapt to suit your needs, pace and lifestyle. Studying online doesn’t mean studying alone, as you’ll also be fully supported by tutors and other students throughout your studies.
The VLE is at the heart of your studies. Here you will find all the learning resources you need for your studies, along with specially designed learning activities to help you develop the skills and knowledge that you need. You can participate in discussion with your tutor and other students, attend timetabled webinars or watch recordings. As you study, you will be supported with guidance from a highly experienced module team.
Subjects
If you choose the part-time route, you will study 18 modules across 4.5 years.
Introduction to the Built Environment 1
Appreciate how legal, political and social issues shape our sector and its role in the economy. Understand the project lifecycle and the RIBA Plan of Work. Identify the industry’s stakeholders and professions and your chosen profession’s key responsibilities in meeting client objectives.
Introduction to Sustainability
Explore the causes of climate change and the challenges of sustainable development, with particular focus on the construction and property sector. Examine the relationship between property and the environment along with the criteria used to measure sustainability in relation to finished construction projects.
Professional and Business Practice
Gain an understanding of the organisational structures within the sector. Appreciate the role of business planning and the accounting concepts that support decision making. Consider the importance and benefits of client management, professionalism, ethical practice and diversity in the workforce.
Construction Technology 1
Establish a foundation knowledge of buildings, the environment and technology, also considering them from a sustainability perspective. Develop your communication skills and construction literacy with real-world examples of construction projects, including traditional masonry and roof construction.
Introduction to Regulatory and Built Environment Law
Dive into the legal and regulatory requirements that relate to the construction and property sector, along with the legal environment in the context of planning, design and occupation and health and safety as it relates to both design and construction activity.
Design Development and Production Coordination
Develop a holistic understanding of the architectural design process against the backdrop of compliance with industry standards for effective coordination and communication. Combine your manual and digital skills through the use of software, media and information technology.
Construction Technology 2
The relationship between a building’s design, environment and occupants is complex. With the overarching theme of human comfort, break down the individual factors – heat, air moisture sound and light within these aspects of a building, and how each of these factors affect one another, in the context of domestic or office environments.
Retrofit Concept and Practice
Retrofit is a crucial function for keeping existing buildings in use and fit for purpose. Explore the range of different retrofitting project types and associated issues while developing the knowledge and skills required to appraise and develop retrofit and refurbishment solutions.
Building Control
Explore the core competencies of building control you’ll need to become a member of relevant professional bodies. Examine requirements for site inspections of building work, with reference to legislation like the Building Safety Act 2022, and apply these standards to different scenarios.
Building Pathology and Conservation Principles
Build an understanding of building pathology – the study of building decay, defects and performance failure. Develop your ability to effectively diagnose and evaluate a range of common building defects through inspection, testing, survey and analysis.
Design and Environmental Science
The relationship between a building’s design, environment and occupants is complex. With the overarching theme of human comfort, break down the individual factors – heat, air moisture sound and light within these aspects of a building, and how each of these factors affect one another, in the context of domestic or office environments.
Technology and Design 1 – Contemporary Domestic
Use sustainable and environmental design strategies to create holistic and technically designed solutions that are responsive to client’s needs. Generate design solutions to the level of detail in Stage 4 of RIBA Plan of Works using architectural modelling software.
Modelling Information Management; Theory and Practice
Learn the theory and practical application of information management standards, protocols and responsibilities, and showcase your expertise by operating in a common data environment and applying information exchange protocols to support collaborative working.
Technology and Design 2 – Data Informed Design for Commercial Buildings
Create a holistic, responsive solution to client and design brief requirements that is predicated on data. Through the use of digital design tools, this will culminate in a final design proposal evolving from 3D computer-generated concepts informed by energy performance simulation and analysis.
Integrated Design Project
Consolidate your knowledge and skills by working in multi-disciplinary groups in a project scenario. This project will help you identify the procedures required for the adaptation and refurbishment of a building based on a client’s brief.
Technology and Design 3 – Design for Manufacture and Assembly
Utilise 2D and 3D design tools to prepare a proposal for manufacture and assembly. By selecting either a building component or a volumetric element and using modelling, further develop your understanding of the design and manufacturing process and knowledge of logistics, planning and quality.
Project Management in the Built Environment
Gain an understanding of the project management services provided by a building surveyor, including management, procurement, planning and programming, risk management and conflict avoidance.
Architectural Design Thesis
Develop independent design-based research skills and demonstrate your ability to apply theoretical concepts to propose a holistic or localised design solution against the backdrop of a defined physical, cultural, social or economic project context.
About University College of Estate Management
University College of Estate Management is the leading university for supported online education for the built environment, with over 100 years’ experience of providing the highest quality learning opportunities. At any one time, we have more than 4,000 students from more than 100 countries benefiting from our qualifications taught by tutors with extensive industry experience.
We provide flexible and accessible postgraduate and undergraduate degree and apprenticeship programmes that fit your life and career goals at every stage, creating a better-built environment that is shaped with people in mind.
