dissertation
This is your opportunity to research and reflect on any topic within the field of architecture and sustainability that interests you. It could be based on your design project work or related to your own professional background and experiences. The result will be a substantial work that will demonstrate not only knowledge of the topic you’ve researched, but practical skills in the assembly of a complex yet coherent narrative. You can choose to study this course either on campus or through distance learning.

studio
Where theory is very much put into practice with a design project based in a UK city. This creative process will address complex issues of site and programme from a sustainable perspective. It will delve into such questions as how we design for a less mobile society, the difficult relationship between the urban and the environmental and the role of technology in sustainable design. Visiting tutors and critics give breadth and depth to the projects. You have the opportunity to undertake a design elaboration course to reflect in greater depth on your design work and use environmental modelling software. Both distance learners and on campus students study in Edinburgh together.

principles
You'll learn why sustainability is important in the built environment and some of the key ways in which it is measured. We look at sustainable cities, neighbourhoods and how to design responsibly for a variety of different building types. We examine architectural design and discuss different and often competing approaches to making sustainable buildings. The contradictions, that are often encountered in environmental agendas are debated using seminars, weblogs and discussion boards. This segment is delivered either at Edinburgh or through distance learning.