Overview
Building services engineers are involved with virtually every aspect of a building’s interior environment. They design, install and maintain electrical and mechanical services - heating, cooling, lighting, water, lifts, and telecoms - and advise on issues of health and safety, security, sustainability and energy efficiency.
In short, they help buildings work, whether for residential, educational, commercial, industrial or cultural purposes.
Brunel's Building Services Engineering MSc gives graduates with engineering or technology backgrounds the technical, design and management skills they need to excel in this lucrative and multi-faceted profession.
You'll get a solid grounding in core subjects of heat transfer, energy conversion, acoustics, electrical services and lighting design as well as in the practicalities of building management, fire and smoke control, waste disposal and lifts and escalators.
Additionally, as there is a growing demand for a new generation of environmentally responsible buildings, you’ll also examine energy efficiency and sustainable design.
You can choose to study 1 year full-time at Brunel or the distance learning programme over 3 years.
This course is accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) and the Energy Institute (EI), which means your degree will put you on course to gain Chartered Engineer (CEng) status in the UK.
Throughout your studies you’ll have use of our state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and 24-hour access to industry standard specialist software for engineering design at dedicated computer clusters on campus, so you’ll have the opportunity and equipment to explore ideas and tackle problems.
With the growing complexity of engineering services in modern buildings and the significance of energy conservation and emissions control, the role of the building services engineer is becoming increasingly important. Your Brunel engineering master’s will give you the technical, creative and managerial expertise that lead to excellent career opportunities.
"As an international student, it was really important for me to study in a secure and comfortable place. My professors were always open to answer questions and guide me through my learning process." - Santiago Chaglla
"I got my current job based on my Master's degree with Brunel - it gave me an edge over the other candidates" - Arun Kumar Raghunathan
"I choose Brunel as I wanted to study in the London area. it was near to place that I like. I would recommend it to others for it connected environment. " - Bhupinder Brar
"My passion for robotics and sustainable technology really came to life during my PhD at Brunel, where I focused on the intersection of advancing 3D printing and sustainable construction materials." - Dr Abdulrahman Albar
"As an international student, it was really important for me to study in a secure and comfortable place. My professors were always open to answer questions and guide me through my learning process." - Santiago Chaglla
"I got my current job based on my Master's degree with Brunel - it gave me an edge over the other candidates" - Arun Kumar Raghunathan
You can explore our campus and facilities for yourself by taking our virtual tour.
Course content
The course is design to give graduates the technical and managerial training they need to pursue careers in building services engineering.
Work for your Building Services Engineering MSc degree consists of compulsory modules and a 15,000-word dissertation.
Compulsory
- ME5506 - Energy Conversion Technologies
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the advanced principles and practice of modern energy conversion technologies
- Demonstrate comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the processes for local energy conversion and utilisation in buildings.
- Systematically evaluate the appropriate techniques for the solution of engineering problems in this field, analyse, apply complex mathematical or technical solutions and physical principles.
- Electrical Services and Lighting DesignThis module aims to provide the essential appreciation and understanding of electrical services design in building services applications, with particular reference to safety requirements, and to explain and illustrate the principles of lighting design in building services applications.
- Building Heat Transfer and Air ConditioningThis module aims to familiarise the students with principles of heat transfer, to develop the principles of building heat transfer, to examine the dynamic thermal behaviour of buildings, to reinforce and apply the principles of psychrometrics, and to provide an overview of the characteristics of air conditioning systems, design requirements and criteria for system selection.
- Acoustics, Fire, Lifts and DrainageThis module aims to introduce the design principles of noise control, fire safety, public health and vertical transportation in buildings.
- Building Management and Control SystemsThis module aims to provide an appreciation of the theoretical basis of control and communication systems and their application to building services plant, in particular through the use of building management systems.
- Design of Fluid Services and Heat Transfer EquipmentThis module aims to introduce the principles and concepts underpinning the movement of fluids and the transfer of heat in building service equipment, and to develop and apply principles to typical and practical design problems in building services.
- Building Services Design and ManagementThis module aims to provide experience in the evaluation of building internal environment and the effect of building services design solutions, to introduce the principles and expose students to the practice of engineering services design for buildings, and to develop an understanding of the way in which assets are managed within business.
- DissertationThe dissertation aims for students to complete and report on a soundly executed and constructed programme of investigation, analysis and research containing original work.
This course can be studied undefined undefined, starting in undefined.
Please note that all modules are subject to change.
Read more about the structure of postgraduate degrees at Brunel
Careers and your future
Our graduates work in building services and construction-related consultancies such as Hoare Lea, Arup, BuroHappold, AECOM, Cundall, BRE, ChapmanBDSP, Atkins, WSP Group, Faber Maunsell and Hilson Moran.
Other employers include county councils within their building management and environmental departments, EDF Energy, Skanska, Trend Control Systems and Honeywell Control Systems.
You can also progress to academic research.
UK entry requirements
A 2:2 (or above) UK Honours degree or equivalent internationally recognised qualification in Mechanical, Building Services or technology subject. Other qualifications and relevant experience will be assessed on an individual basis.
Entry to this programme requires all students who are not nationals of the European Economic Area (EEA) and have temporary immigration permission to remain in the UK to obtain an ATAS certificate. If you are made an offer to join this course and you are not an EEA national, you will be required to obtain an ATAS certificate as a condition of your offer.
Applicants who will need an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) Certificate. To find out if you will need an ATAS certificate, please visit this webpage: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-out-if-you-require-an-atas-certificate#when-you-need-an-atas-certificate.
The deadline for Admissions to make offers to applicants who will require an ATAS certificate is 31st July 2026.
EU and International entry requirements
If you require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK, you must prove knowledge of the English language so that we can issue you a Certificate of Acceptance for Study (CAS). To do this, you will need an IELTS for UKVI or Trinity SELT test pass gained from a test centre approved by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and on the Secure English Language Testing (SELT) list. This must have been taken and passed within two years from the date the CAS is made.
English language requirements
- IELTS: 6 (min 5.5 in all areas)
- Pearson: 59 (59 in all sub scores)
- BrunELT: 58% (min 55% in all areas)
- TOEFL: 77 (min R18, L17, S20, W17)
You can find out more about the qualifications we accept on our English Language Requirements page.
Should you wish to take a pre-sessional English course to improve your English prior to starting your degree course, you must sit the test at an approved SELT provider for the same reason. We offer our own BrunELT English test and have pre-sessional English language courses for students who do not meet requirements or who wish to improve their English. You can find out more information on English courses and test options through our Brunel Language Centre.
Please check our Admissions pages for more information on other factors we use to assess applicants. This information is for guidance only and each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Entry requirements are subject to review, and may change.
Fees and funding
2026/27 entry
UK
£14,435 full-time
International
£24,795 full-time
If you are a Distance Learning student, costs for 2025/6 are:
- £1200 per 15 credit module
More information on any additional course-related costs.
Fees quoted are per year and are subject to an annual increase.
See our fees and funding page for full details of postgraduate scholarships available to Brunel applicants.
Scholarships and bursaries
Teaching and learning
Assessment and feedback
Modules are assessed by combinations of formal examination and written assignments. Examinations are normally sat in May.
Successful completion of the taught modules allows you to proceed to the dissertation stage. To qualify for the award of the MSc degree, you must submit a satisfactory dissertation.
MSc dissertation projects are normally carried out over four months for full-time students or one year for distance learning students.
Read our guide on how to avoid plagiarism in your assessments at Brunel.