Mechanical Engineering

Study type:Part-time Languages: English
Local:$ 9.7 k / Year(s) Foreign:$ 20 k / Year(s)  
StudyQA ranking:3604 Duration:60 months

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Building services engineering is an interdisciplinary profession. It involves the specification, design, installation and management of all the engineering services associated with the built environment. With the growing complexity of engineering services in modern buildings and the significance of energy conservation and pollution control, the role of the building services engineer is becoming increasingly important. In addition, the need to provide an internal environment that balances the comfort needs of the occupants with the functional requirements of the building calls for engineers with a wide range of knowledge and skills.

The aim of this programme is to respond to the worldwide demand for building services engineering managers who have a sound knowledge of engineering and management principles and the ability to apply this knowledge to the complex situations prevailing within the building services industry.

The Building Services Engineering Management course is aimed at professional engineers aspiring to increased management responsibility in the building services sector or who have reached a stage in their careers when they are carrying increasing management responsibility, perhaps in a senior role. Alternatively, the Building Services Engineering course is of particular relevance to engineers who want to develop technical understanding and expertise across the multi-disciplines of Building Services Engineering.

Who is this course suitable for?

* Managers and designers, who need to broaden their experience and require updating.
* Lecturers in higher education, moving into or requiring updating in Building Services Engineering.
* Others with engineering and technology backgrounds, perhaps working in advisory or consultancy roles, who wish to familiarise themselves with Building Services Engineering. However, choice of course will be dependent upon the type and extent of knowledge and skills required.

The MSc Building Services Engineering is of particular relevance to engineers who want to develop technical understanding and expertise across the multi-disciplines of Building Services Engineering.

This is a course delivered by distance learning and the students are already in relevant employment. Anecdotal evidence suggests immediate promotion and/or salary increase on completion of the course.

The course is approved by the Chartered Institute of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the Energy Institute (EI) as appropriate additional academic study (further learning) for those seeking to become qualified to register as Chartered Engineers (CEng).

Typical Modules

The course comprises four core modules, four management modules and a dissertation. The taught modules are:

Core Modules

Building Heat Transfer and Air Conditioning

* Building Heat Transfer analyses the various mechanisms of heat transfer appropriate to buildings and the principles of heating and cooling load calculations. Areas covered include solar gains, fabric heat transmission, infiltration, effects of moisture content, methods of heating and cooling load calculations, CIBSE admittance procedure, condensation and finite difference techniques.
* Air Conditioning covers the principles of psychometrics and the design of air conditioning systems. Emphasis is placed on the properties of humid air, thermal comfort, inside and outside design conditions. Air Conditioning design includes air and water, all water systems and unitary equipment.

Electrical Services and Lighting Design

* Electrical Services covers aspects of electrical energy supply, electricity tariffs, switchgear and the design of electrical installations to satisfy lEE Wiring Regulations. Also covered are the principles of electrical machines and power electronic devices used in building services applications.
* Lighting Design considers the human visual system, the nature and control of light, photometric units, lighting calculations, interior lighting design, daylighting, lamps and luminaires and energy efficiency aspects of lighting systems.

Acoustics, Fire, Drainage and Lifts

* Acoustics covers the basic terms and physical principles, sound power and intensity, the ear and hearing, propagation of noise, legal requirements and noise standards, room acoustics, sound generation in services systems, and vibration isolation.
* Fire, Drainage and Lifts considers fire and smoke control, sanitation and waste disposal, industrial ventilation and exhaust requirements, lift and escalator design, space allowance for building services, commissioning and testing.

Energy Conversion Technologies

* This element provides a broad introduction to the principles of energy conversion and thermodynamic machines and demonstrates their application to energy conversion and management in buildings. Emphasis is placed on refrigeration plant, energy conversion plant and energy management.
* Refrigeration covers the basic principles and components of vapour compression systems, heat pumps and absorption systems.
* Energy Conversion considers power cycles, combined heat and power, combustion processes, boiler plant, thermal energy storage and environmental impacts of plant operation.

Management Modules

Engineering Finance and Accounting

* Financial Accounting: basic terminology, legal requirements and structures of financial accounting statements, analysis of financial performance.
* Management Accounting - in the Building Services Sector: working capital management, cash-flow analysis, insolvency, cost accounting, budgeting, cost databases.
* Strategic Financial Management: capital investment (asset acquisition and disposal), decision making and appraisal, sources of investment capital, factors in the external business environment (inflation, exchange rates, interest rates).

Management of People in Engineering Activities

* Personality and behaviour: motivating people and raising commitment (incentives and rewards), dealing with change, relationships (managing conflict, internal and external relationships).
* Team Working: building multi-disciplinary teams, group dynamics (setting goals and harnessing creativity).
* Leadership: functional approach, developing leadership skills.
* Employment Issues: choosing and developing staff (performance appraisal), employment law, equal opportunities (race relations, sex discrimination and equal pay), staff records (data protection).

Organisation of Engineering Business

* Structure: the organisation of business functions (examples drawn from engineering manufacturers, contractors, consultancies, local authorities), permanent and temporary organisational structures, span of control.
* Operation and culture: corporate strategy, ethics, styles of management, factors affecting organisational culture (competitive tendering, partnering).
* Environment: stakeholders, PEEST analysis, supply chain management.
* Development: the need for change (technological, market, financial and economic forces in the construction industry), planning as part of an engineering organisation's business, choosing a change strategy, implementing change, analysing change.
* Planning Tools: project management techniques, operational research (reliability, linear programming), risk management and value engineering.

Management of Facilities and Engineering Contracts

* Marketing: the importance of identifying those who influence the selection of building services products and services (including contractors, installers, consultants and end-users), competition and competitive advantage, the role of market research and advertising, liability issues (eg customer protection).
* Introduction to legal framework: criminal and civil law, outline of legal systems, the town-planning and building control framework.
* Management of Engineering Contracts: definitions, procurement options, types of specification, tendering, claims, negotiation and dispute resolution (litigation, adjudication and arbitration).
* Facilities Management: property law (including leases and conveyancing), management of physical assets, maintenance information management (cost-feedback), maintenance standards (planned and responsive maintenance), health and safety risk assessment, environmental legislation (local and national, control of effluent, emission and noise).

Dissertation

The dissertation is a stimulating and challenging part of each MSc course. Dissertations may be carried out on any approved topic related to the building services industry. Essentially the dissertation gives the student the opportunity to apply the techniques and disciplines covered in the taught course to a topic of their own interest, of interest to a sponsoring or industrial organisation, or of research interest. Some recent dissertations include:

* Energy conservation through the use of ground source heat pumps
* An improved management methodology for BS implementation in an aerospace environment
* Assessment of thermal performance of Portomaso Business Centre with implications on other major projects in Malta.

A UK first or second class Honours degree or equivalent internationally recognised qualification usually in engineering or other appropriate science and technology subject areas.Other qualifications and relevant experience will be assessed on an individual basis. English Language Requirements IELTS band: 6 IMPORTANT NOTE: Since April 2014 the ETS tests (including TOEFL and TOEIC) are no longer accepted for Tier 4 visa applications to the United Kingdom. The university might still accept these tests to admit you to the university, but if you require a Tier 4 visa to enter the UK and begin your degree programme, these tests will not be sufficient to obtain your Visa. The IELTS test is most widely accepted by universities and is also accepted for Tier 4 visas to the UK- learn more.

Want to improve your English level for admission?

Prepare for the program requirements with English Online by the British Council.

  • ✔️ Flexible study schedule
  • ✔️ Experienced teachers
  • ✔️ Certificate upon completion

📘 Recommended for students with an IELTS level of 6.0 or below.

Enroll in the course

The Brunel International Scholarship

The Brunel International Scholarship is an annual award scheme designed to promote talent and encourage excellence in scholars coming to Brunel from around the globe. For 2010/11, 35 awards of either £3,000 or £2,000 are available to both undergraduate and postgraduate students who have been offered a place on a full-time course at Brunel.

All applications must be submitted online before 26 May 2010.

Bursaries

Bursaries may be available from your School, and your course director once you have secured and accepted a place on a course for information on any funding opportunities.

* A limited number of part-scholarships of £1,500 are available for the MA programmes in Music and Drama. Details will be sent to candidates who have confirmed their intention to study at Brunel in the 2010/11 academic year.
* The Leaders of Tomorrow PhD Bursary in Human Centred Design is supported by a donation from Brunel graduate and philanthropist Peter Ilori. The bursary provides £5,000 of financial support towards the study fees of high-achieving graduates who wish to pursue a PhD in Human Centred Design. Selection is based on the quality of applicants´ PhD study proposal.

Extra-curricular scholarships

Extra-curricular scholarships do not cover living costs or tuition fees. They are available to both taught and research students.

A number of Music Awards to help cover music tuition costs are made each year to students who are not studying music performance as part of their academic course.

The Brunel Sports Scholarship helps elite performance athletes by supporting their academic study and sporting needs simultaneously.

Accreditation

This programme is accredited by CIBSE, the IMechE and the Energy Institute and this will provide a route to Chartered Engineer status in the UK.

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