MSc Architecture Advanced

Environmental and Energy

Studies by Distance Learning

MSc Architecture: AEES by Distance Learning:

Details and structure

“There is a global skills shortage in urban design and green architecture”

(The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment)

“We face serious shortages in many sustainable communities professions,

which we need to address if we are to continue delivering better places
across the country.”
(Dr Gill Taylor, Chief Executive, UK Academy for
Sustainable Communities)

The Graduate School of the Environment (GSE) offers a range of inspirational

post-graduate programmes. A unique combination of leading professionals,
academics and authors create innovative solutions at Europe’s leading
Environmental centre.
The Architecture: Advanced Environmental and Energy Studies MSc covers
building design, energy and wider environmental issues. It is intended to be
accessible for all those with an interest in contemporary environmental issues. The
entry requirement is a degree or appropriate professional experience.
The flexibility of Distance Learning means you can explore your interests and gain
the skills, knowledge and qualifications that the MSc AEES course provides, from
your own location, in your own time. Lecture material is provided both in printed
form and through an interactive virtual learning environment, giving you access
to the outstanding Graduate School staff and student expertise, insights and
support: wherever you are in the world.
This course is undertaken completely at distance: no attendance is required at CAT,
or elsewhere in UK, at any time.

Course Content
This advanced environmental and energy studies MSc covers a range of
issues including:
•• Global Energy Demand: Resources and Environmental issues.
•• Renewable Energy Technologies
•• Urban Sustainability
•• Sustainability in Architecture: Light, Heat, Materials, Design
approaches
In collaboration with •• Environmental assessment: Methods, Case Studies and Intelligent
Buildings
•• Energy Distribution; Low Environmental Impact Housing, Carbon
trading

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 Centre for Alternative Technology ● Graduate school of the environmenT ● MSc Architecture: AEES/DL

The foundation module will be either:

Module CEM158: September Module CEM150: March
The Political/Legal context: International Environmental Evaluation and Assessment;
Agreements on Environmental Protection; World
Energy Resources; Limits to Growth; Measuring
OR Embodied energy and Life Cycle Analysis; Energy
and Nuclear power; Low Carbon housing;
Sustainability; Sustainability in Architecture; Intelligent Building.
Climate change; Responses to climate change;
Renewable Energy introduction.

You can also choose to do either CEM158 or CEM150 if not taken as the foundation module.

Other modules include:

Climate and micro climate; Thermal Comfort; Climatic influences in design.
CEM159: October Heat transfer; energy conservation; thermal capacity; thermal performance
of buildings; Principles Hydro Power

Principles of ventilation and cooling; condensation; Building services: an

CEM160: November environmental perspective; Water provision and sew age disposal; Waste
disposal; Brown fields and contaminated land; Principles of Solar water

Principles of light: artificial and natural; Daylight factor; Sunlight and solar
CEM161: January
gain in buildings; Principles of Solar PV and Biomass

Occupant health and well being; Noise; Hazardous building materials;

CEM162: February
Eco Refurbishment, Indoor Air Quality. Principles of Wind power

CEM166: April Society and Environment; Land use Planning, Environmental Impact
Assessment and Management; Transport issues. Post Occupancy Evaluation.

Specialist lectures on environmentally responsive materials such as

Strawbale,
CEM152: May
Contained composite structures, Timber, Rammed Earth; Criteria for
choosing materials.

Sustainable design principles; Urban Design; Aesthetics and Green Design;

CEM154: June Design Exercise: Working in groups students will collaboratively resolve the
requirements of a design brief to a strategic level, with consideration given
to materials, site layout and environmental constraints.

Photovoltaics, solar hot water, wind power, small scale biomass. Design
exercise: Students will collaborate on research and discussion of ideas,
CEM169: July and then, individually, produce a design of a renewable energy system for
a building, with discussion and justification of the decisions made in the
design.
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 MSc Architecture: AEES/DL ● Graduate school of the environmenT ● Centre for Alternative Technology
Structure
You can start in September or March, and do
eight ‘taught modules’ plus a thesis.
You do one compulsory foundation module,
plus any seven other modules. If you start in
September, the foundation module is CEM158;
if you start in March it will be CEM150. We
recommend that you do both September and
March.
The eight taught modules in total are taken over
1 year ‘full time’ or 2 years ‘part time’, and followed
by the thesis (5-6 months).
Each module consists, broadly, of reading lectures
and papers; interactive participation in practicals,
seminars and discussions on the Virtual Learning
Environment; coursework: an essay or report and
a presentation.
Planning your route through
Planning your time will be crucial. The course
structure and the module action timeline below
should help you to think through your one or two
years on the course.
After your first module (either CEM158 or
CEM150), you are free to choose, within the
constraints of the timetable and your total period
allocated (1 year or 2), when to do your other 7
modules.
Doing the course over 1 year (‘full time’) means
you must do your 8 modules over 10 calendar
months maximum. Doing it over 2 years (‘part
time’) means that you must do your 8 modules
over 22 calendar months maximum.
After your period of taught modules, you have
until the date given to complete your thesis.
Some students plan to do their 8th module before
the last month possible (the July or February at
the end of their one year or two years). This is so
as to have more time to plan and research the
thesis, but this should not be the deciding factor
in your choice of modules.
Thesis
Students are free – indeed encouraged - to
choose thesis topics relevant and useful to their
professional lives. Many choose topics which will
facilitate later moves into other fields within their
jobs, and/or into consulting work.
Stopping the clock
There is provision for ‘intermission’, ie stopping the
clock, for six months at a time, up to a total of two
years. There is also provision for adding extra months,
on payment of a small sum. The maximum time from
registration to the end of your studies is 6 years.
Time implications
The official tariff of a module is 150 hours. The actual
time required by an individual varies widely according
to many circumstances, including existing familiarity
with certain aspects of the content, the vagaries of
personal and work life, the efficiency with which
one approaches the work, enthusiasm, and level of
ambition to obtain a distinction.
Seminars
The seminars are an important part of the learning
process, providing the opportunity to ask questions,
debate issues and interact on course content with
the tutor and with fellow students. They are held in
an online chat room and the dates are posted on the
electronic calendar in UEL Plus. Seminars are usually
spread over the second and third week following the
start of the module. You should aim to attend two
seminars per module, one with each of two tutors.
Usually the seminars will be based at least in part on
particular ‘seminar questions’ in the course material.
The conversations are recorded and then archived for
future reference.
Tutorials
Tutorials are by e-mail, telephone or chat room.
Students and tutors together decide on which type
will be best. When you’d like a tutorial, or you have
a specific query, you just email your tutor to arrange
one. Do this before a problem becomes a crisis!
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 Centre for Alternative Technology ● Graduate school of the environmenT ● MSc Architecture: AEES/DL

Module action timeline

Date Action Notes

Respond to the Student Support Officers’

Before module Register for a place on the module invitation to register, at least two weeks
before.

In UEL Plus, check in the module folder

Module start date Check module details for details of the work required, additional
materials etc.

•• Consider what reading and thinking to

do for particular seminars - see (ii) below.
During module Read lecture notes and associated
i) From start material •• Consider your reactions to the discussion
questions posed Join in discussion
boards

Use interactive calendar on website to book

ii) Early on Choose seminar time for two seminars – usually one with each of
the two tutors

iii) When needed Tutorials as required Email or telephone tutor to arrange

By deadline, below.
Complete coursework required Submit following guidance given.

Completion of a module means that you submit the coursework for that module.
The submission date for each module’s coursework is as follows:

Work from module Hand-in date

CEM158 (September) Start date of CEM160 (November)

CEM159 (October),
Start date of CEM161 (January)
CEM160 (November)

CEM161 (January) Start date of CEM150 (March)

CEM162 (February) Start date of CEM166 (April)

CEM150 (March) Start date of CEM152 (May)

CEM166: April Start date of CEM154 (June)

CEM152 (May) Start date of CEM169 (July)

CEM154 (June),
Start date of CEM158 (September)
CEM169 (July)
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 MSc Architecture: AEES/DL ● Graduate school of the environmenT ● Centre for Alternative Technology

Course timeline
The tables below show the period over which you will be doing the taught modules, and the start dates. You do
the module at the
Period over whichstart
youof your
will course
be doing the- CEM158 for September
taught modules, starts
and the start or CEM150
dates. formodule
You do the Marchatstarts - plus seven
the start
others.
of your course, A1 for September starts or C1 for March starts, plus seven others.

16th MARCH 2010

STARTING 17 2011

CEM150
C1 CEM166
C2 CEM152
C3 CEM154
A4 CEM169
A9 CEM158
A1 CEM159
A2 CEM160
A3 CEM161
B1 ENDS
16th
17th 13
14thth 11
12thth 15
16thth 13
14thth 14
15thth 12
13thth 16th
17th 11 th
16th CEM162
AT B2
1 YEAR

MAR
MAR APR
APR MAY
MAY JUN
JUN JUL
JUL SEP
SEP OCT
OCT NOV
NOV JAN
JAN 15
14thFEB
th
FEB
2011 2011
2009 2011
2009 2011
2009 2011
2009 2011
2011
2010 2011
2011
2010 2011
2011
2010 2012
2012
2011 2012
2011
2010
2012)
(Thesis submitted by end of July 2011)

CEM150
C1 CEM166
C2 CEM152
C3 CEM154
A4 CEM169
A9 CEM158
A1 CEM159
A2 CEM160
A3 CEM161
B1 CEM162
B2
16th
17th 13th
14th 11th
12th 15th
16th 13th
14th 14th
15th 12thth
13 16th
17th 11th
16th 15th
14th
MAR APR
APR MAY
MAY JUN
JUN JUL
JUL SEP
SEP OCT
OCT NOV
NOV JAN
JAN FEB
FEB
MAR
2 YEARS

2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2011 2012 2012
2010 2009 2009 2009 2009 2010 2010 2010 2010 2012
2011
CEM150
C1 CEM166
C2 CEM152
C3 CEM154
A4 CEM169
A9 CEM158
A1 CEM159
A2 CEM160
A3 CEM161
B1 ENDS
ENDS
MAR
MAR APR
APR MAY
MAY JUN
JUN JUL
JUL SEP
SEP OCT
OCT NOV
NOV JAN
JAN CEM162
AT B2
2012
2011 2012
2011 2012
2011 2012
2011 2012
2011 2012
2011 2012
2011 2012
2011 2013
2012 FEB
FEB
2013
2013
2012
2013)
(Thesis submitted by end of July 2012)

14th SEPTEMBER 2010

STARTING 15 2011

A1
CEM158 CEM159
A2 CEM160
A3 CEM161
B1 CEM162
B2 CEM150
C1 CEM166
C2 CEM152
C3 CEM154
A4 ENDS
ENDS
14
15thth 12th
13th 16th
17th 11 th
16th 15th
14th MAR
MAR APR
APR MAY
MAY JUN
JUN CEM169
AT A9
1 YEAR

SEP OCT
OCT NOV
NOV JAN
JAN FEB
FEB 2012
MAR
2011 2012
2011
APR 2012
2011
MAY 2012
2011 JUL
JUL
SEP JAN FEB
2011 2011 2011 2012 2012 2012 2012
2010 2010 2010 2011
2012 2011
2012 2011 2011 2011 2012
2011

2013)
(Thesis submitted by end of Jan 2012)

A1
CEM158 A2
CEM159 CEM160
A3 B1
CEM161 B2
CEM162 CEM150
C1 CEM166
C2 CEM152
C3 CEM154
A4 CEM169
A9
14
15thth 12
13thth 16th
17th 11
16thth JAN 15
14thth FEB MAR
MAR APR
APR MAY
MAY JUN
JUN JUL
JUL
SEP
SEP OCT
OCT NOV
NOV JAN
JAN
2011 FEB
2011 2012
2011
MAR 2012
APR
2011 2012
MAY
2011 2012
JUN
2011 2012
JUL
2011
2 YEARS

2011 2011
2010 2011
2010 2012
2011 2012 2011 2011 2011 2011
2010 2011
A1
CEM158 CEM159
A2 CEM160
A3 CEM161
B1 CEM162
B2 CEM150
C1 CEM166
C2 CEM152
C3 CEM154
A4 ENDS
ENDS
SEP
SEP OCT
OCT NOV
NOV JAN
JAN FEB
FEB MAR
MAR APR
APR MAY
MAY JUN
JUN CEM169
AT A9
SEP
2012
2011 OCT
2012
2011 NOV
2012
2011 JAN
2013
2012 2013
2012 2013
2012 2013
2012 2013
2012 2013
2012 JUL
JUL
2012 2012 2012 2013 2013
2012
2014)
(Thesis submitted by end of Jan 2013)

Exact
Exactdates
datesinin2012
2011onwards
2012 onwardsaretostill
beto be confirmed,
confirmed: butat
will be will
thebesame
at thetime
same
oftime of the month.
the month.
Pleasenote
Please notemodules
modulescan
canonly
onlybebe taken
taken according
according to the
to the timetable.
timetable.

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 Centre for Alternative Technology ● Graduate school of the environmenT ● MSc Architecture: AEES/DL

Other benefits of the Library access

course With your UEL student card, you
will of course have reference and
•• access to the UEL Plus virtual borrowing access from UEL libraries.
learning environment, including We can also register you for the
on-line copies of all the lecture SCONUL scheme, which gives
notes reference and borrowing access
•• printed copies of each module’s to around 150 other UK university
notes delivered to your door, for libraries and some in Ireland.
study away from the computer To check which ones apply, go to http://
•• a memory stick on which you can www.access.sconul.ac.uk/members/
keep your coursework, notes, and search/setuser?usertype=ptpg&home_
id=39&checksccess=Go/ and specify
copies of lectures notes;
‘University of East London’. For students
•• CAT membership: see http:// outside the UK/Ireland we can provide
www.cat.org.uk/membership/ official confirmation of your status if
memindex2.tmpl?sku=MEM_ needed.
BENEFITS for details of benefits
•• invitation to two ‘MSc DL Workshop
Days’ per year, normally in May and
Electronic resources
October, when students and staff You will have access to thousands
meet for tutorial and presentation of academic journals, E-books and
sessions. other resources via the ‘Athens’
scheme. Your ‘Athens’ account will
•• a voucher worth £100 to use in be arranged upon enrolment.
CAT’s specialist on-line bookshop,
where the prices are discounted for
our MSc students.
UEL Plus
UEL Plus is a website used to
Books deliver some of the lecture material
and provide extra resources and
You’ll also receive a copy of the key text Environmental Science in activities, such as audio recordings
Building by Randall McMullan, and The Whole House Book by Cindy of lectures at CAT and PowerPoint
Harris and Pat Borer. presentations on lecture topics.
The Whole House Book is the definitive guide to green building, The website also helps facilitate
and is written by two of the most experienced practitioners in the interactive informal assessments,
UK. Pat and Cindy were on the CAT staff for a long time and were and provides an environment for
responsible for the many excellent ‘green buildings’ on site. Pat has students to exchange ideas using
his own architecture practice and currently teaches on the REBE MSc. discussion forums and chatrooms,
Cindy is Head of design review for the Design Commission for Wales and on-line seminars and tutorials.
and a GSE visiting lecturer. You are provided with your log-in
details at enrolment.

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 MSc Architecture: AEES/DL ● Graduate school of the environmenT ● Centre for Alternative Technology

The MSc: what the

students say
“Already recommended the course to other
potential students!”

“The staff at CAT manage to provide an intimacy

to my engagement as a student with a level of
academic support which is the envy of my sister
doing a MA at another university. The expectations
on you as a student are clear and they provide a well
Future jobs: what the signposted route throughout the course.”

experts say “Stimulating and challenging, I will continue to

recommend the course.”
“The journey to the sustainable city is not yet
mapped and the exploration will have its ups and
down. Without doubt though it will be an exciting “Again my big gratitude to you and all the tutors
journey, one that we can travel hopefully in the spirit in the MSc DL programme at CAT: the course was
of learning.” excellent and challenges conventional thinking
(Chair of the Lead Expert Group for the UK government’s
across all the subject areas. I greatly expanded my
Foresight Project on Sustainable Energy Management knowledge. Thanks to you and all involved.”
and the Built Environment. In Perspective http://www.
ucl.ac.uk/sustainable-cities/perspectives/rydin.pdf ) “I do miss the seminars, they had real value and the
modules were very well written.”
“The fact that the built environment has seen
burgeoning development over the last decade and “I’m happy with the course, the people, the
its relevance and importance in the nation building challenge and the support.”
process is enormous, establishes the need for
improved education and training within the sector.”
“Fascinating course, delivered with depth and
(Sachin Sandir, RICS India managing Director, 2010)
enthusiasm. All staff seem to have a wealth of
knowledge and a willingness to share it.”
“The jobs of today will not be the jobs of tomorrow,
and we need to ensure the nation is equipped to
“Really enjoying the course so far, and have learned
respond to emerging strategic challenges such as
a massive amount.“
globalisation and climate change”
(Building a Low Carbon Economy, Defra 2008)

“In the UK, science, engineering, technology and

built environment employers and organisations face
alarming skills shortages at professional, technical
and craft level.”
(WISET – Women in Science Engineering and
Technology)

“Most importantly, we need people with the right

knowledge and skills to research, produce and use
those technologies and solutions that can make
Britain’s global low carbon ambitions a reality.
(Meeting the Low Carbon Skills Challenge, DECC 2010) MSc Architecture: AEES graduation ceremony, 2010.
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 Centre for Alternative Technology ● Graduate school of the environmenT ● MSc Architecture: AEES/DL

Support
You will be assigned a dedicated Distance Learning tutor at the start of the course who will provide academic
guidance and feedback on your work. For the thesis, you will have a thesis supervisor selected from the wider pool
of the Graduate School staff.
There are also two student support officers on hand to give advice on your routes through the course and to
deal with any administrative queries, ensuring a smooth path through the whole of the MSc from enrolment to
graduation.

Fees
Resident in UK/EU: £5900 from March 2011
A 5% discount is given if the total is paid in full at enrolment, by credit card
or draft on a UK bank.
There is also the possibility of arranging to pay quarterly, by Direct Debit
[i.e. £5900 / 4 or /8, one year / two years]; in this case the first payment is by
credit card or UK cheque, or other draft on a UK bank.

Resident Overseas: £7900 from March 2011

A substantial discount is already built into this fee, compared with equivalent
UK MSc courses.
Half (i.e. £3950) is payable on enrolment, in the month before you start the
course, by credit card or draft on a UK bank. The other half can be paid in
quarters (i.e. 4 x £987.50), by the same methods.
If you have registered to do the course over one year, the first half of the fee
would cover the first 6 months, and the instalments, of £987.50 each, would
begin at 7.5 months, and continue at 9, 10.5 and 12 months.
If you have registered to do the course over two years, the first half of the fee
would cover the first year, and the instalments, of £987.50 each, would begin at
the start of the second year.

English language
(Applies if your education was not in UK, or conducted in English)
The basic English language requirement is that you must be able to understand and express
yourself in both written and spoken English. Some evidence, e.g. TOEFL at 550 or an IELTS
score of 6.0, may be required, but will be taken as read for the time being.

To find out more, and to apply online: www.cat.org.uk/gsep

(Assuming that you wish to do the DL-only MSc, ensure that that’s the one you apply for!)
Will Bryson and Sarah Johnson
Student Support Officers
distance.learning@cat.org.uk
Tel +44 (0)1654 703065 Ext 27.
Unit 7, Dyfi EcoParc, Machynlleth SY20 8AX, UK.
Damian Randle, Programme Leader, damian.randle@cat.org.uk