Sustainable Community Design MSc/Diploma

  • Delivery: Full Time, Part Time, Distance Learning
  • Programme type: Taught Programme
  • Study location:
  • Edinburgh
  • Entry date:
  • January, September

Overview

Society’s growing understanding of the need for an energy efficient and non-polluting lifestyle is pushing for an increasingly sustainable approach to development and management of the built environment. 

The interconnections between society, technology and the environment call for professionals who have a grounding in traditional engineering and architectural knowledge and skills and a holistic understanding of built environment systems based on a multidisciplinary approach. They are also required to develop specialist knowledge in areas which are now fast developing and becoming ‘green businesses’.

This programme provides solid theoretical and practical foundations to deal with classical services engineering issues, combined with the necessary holistic understanding of the range of issues that sustainable community design involves. In addition, a suite of optional courses from a range of built environment disciplines allows each student to tailor their programme to suit their future professional plans.

The aim of the programme is to provide graduates from a wide range of backgrounds and educational experience with multidisciplinary knowledge and skills in aspects of ecologically sound settlement design. This will vary from planning and community themes to construction and building performance issues. There will be specific focus on tailoring the programme for an individual’s interests through a framework of optional courses within a wider worldview approach.

Programme content

The programme is offered via full-time (one year), part time (two years) and attendance free distance learning (two to three years). All students (full-time, part time and distance learning students) take part in a three week residential course in an established eco-village: Findhorn in the north of Scotland, where they gain hands-on experience in sustainable community design and ecovillage practice.

The list below shows which courses are available on this programme. Four courses are taken in each semester by full time students: this reduces to a maximum of two for part time or distance learning students. Four courses in total are required for the PG Certificate and eight for the MSc and Diploma routes. MSc students will also go on to submit a dissertation. All courses are 150 effort hours long.

Course choice

The programme consists of the following courses:

Semester 1 (September - December)

Mandatory

  • Climate Change & Sustainability
  • Sustainable Design & Development
  • Low Carbon Buildings

Optional (one from the following)

  • Building Electrical and Lighting Services
  • Environmental Hydrology and Water Resources
  • Spatial Planning
  • Ventilation and Air Conditioning

Semester 2 (January - April)

Mandatory (delivered via 3-week residential at Findhorn ecovillage)

  • Ecovillage Practice
  • Community Design Practice

Optional (two from the following)

  • Energy Systems and Buildings
  • Environmental Impact Assessment
  • Human Factors of the Built Environment
  • Real Estate Development
  • Space Planning and Management (distance learning only)
  • Urban Drainage and Water Supply
  • Urban Infrastructure and Resource Management

Semester 3 (May - September)

  • MSc dissertation.

Dissertation

Students choose a topic for their dissertation which aligns with the research interests of the staff in the School and/or relates to aspects of their employer; or interests that they wish to develop further.

The programme is delivered in partnership with Findhorn Foundation College, which through the Findhorn Foundation has links into global networks related to integrated sustainable development such as the Global Ecovillage Network.

Programme leader

This programme is delivered by a multidisciplinary team, mainly based in the Architectural Engineering Programme, but including staff from other built environment disciplines which offer relevant courses.

Key Findhorn Foundation College staff who will be providing the two residential courses at Findhorn ecovillage include:

Entry requirements

For MSc level entry applicants must have:

  • Minimum of 2:2 honours degree or equivalent academic qualification in cognate and semi-cognate subject area. For PG conversion programmes, non-cognate degrees will be considered. Corporate (or chartered) membership of relevant professional institutions will also be considered.

 

For PG Diploma level entry applicants must have:

  • Third class honours degree in a cognate or semi-cognate subject area PLUS 2 years of relevant experience at an appropriate level completed post qualification.
  • Cognate or semi-cognate ordinary degree PLUS 3-4 years of relevant experience at an appropriate level following graduation. 
  • Candidates who do not meet the above entry requirements or have no formal academic qualifications will be considered individually based on their CV and interview.  Admission via this route will be at the discretion of the Director of Admissions and the number of successful applicants will be restricted. 

 

There is no entry at PG Certificate level except through exceptional agreement with approved learning partners.

 

Non-graduating study at masters level:

  • Entry is based on CV or on formal academic qualifications or graduate (or incorporated) membership of a relevant professional institution. 

English language requirements

 

If English is not the applicant’s first language a minimum of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent is required with all elements passed at 6.0 or above. 

Applicants who have previously successfully completed programmes delivered in the medium of English language will be required to provide documentary evidence of this.  Examples would be secondary school education or undergraduate degree programme.   A minimum of one year of full time study (or equivalent) in the medium of English language will be required.

Distance learning students

Please note that independent distance learning students who access their studies online will be expected to have access to a PC/laptop and internet.

Tuition fees

Fees for this programme can be found on our Tuition fees page.

Scholarships & bursaries