Aims and Characteristics

Programme Aims & Learning Outcomes

We nurture graduates with the technical and academic competence needed to excel in building sciences and engineering/building services engineering.

This programme meets the demand for locally trained building/building services engineers with expertise in the fields of consultancy, contracting, building management, and research and development.

Our graduates also have a broad range of personal skills, such as the ability to communicate effectively, think critically, learn independently, and address new problems innovatively.

Programme Characteristics

Students learn the art and science of providing safe, healthy, and energy-efficient built environments with minimal adverse environmental impacts. They also have the chance to tackle intellectual challenges that prepare them to become future managers in the industry.

Students have the opportunity to work in teams, lead small projects, work independently and interact with highly qualified and professional staff. They also have access to a variety of design software and laboratory facilities for the latest building sciences and engineering applications, such as artificial intelligence and big data for smart buildings.

Local and offshore summer placement opportunities are offered.

Students who join the Student Exchange Programme can study at universities in the United States, Europe, Australia, Russia, Southeast Asia, or the Chinese mainland for a semester.

Students are regularly awarded scholarships by professional bodies and major organisations in Hong Kong.

Curriculum

Students begin by learning the fundamentals of indoor built environments, building information modelling and programming, data science, architecture and buildings, thermal science, fluid and electrical engineering, and mathematics.

In Year 3, students apply their foundational knowledge to the design and operation of major building service engineering systems.

In the final year, students opt for electives from a pool addressing the latest developments and technology in the fields of building sciences and engineering, and undertake a major project.

Recognition and Prospects

Professional Recognition

The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) has granted full accreditation to the BEng (Hons) in Building Services Engineering. The accredited BEng (Hons) in Building Services Engineering programme will be renamed the BEng (Hons) in Building Sciences and Engineering from 2022/23. The Department has informed the HKIE of the change in the programme name. Academic programmes in the building services discipline that are accredited by the HKIE are reciprocally recognised by the UK's Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE).

Career Prospects

Graduates have good career prospects in the building construction and real estate sectors.

The rapid construction of new and state-of-the-art buildings in Hong Kong provides numerous attractive local employment opportunities. As the programme is widely recognised, these opportunities also extend to the Chinese mainland and overseas.

Graduates often begin their careers as trainee engineers in government departments, consulting firms, contracting companies, property management companies, or utility companies.

First Class Honours graduates may consider research an attractive alternative, especially because building development in Hong Kong embraces advanced technology.