MSc Sustainable Architecture & Healthy Buildings

Course Overview

The MSc in Sustainable Architecture & Healthy Buildings is a groundbreaking programme that uniquely combines Sustainable Architecture with Healthy Building technologies. This course is certified by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologies (CIAT) and is offered by the University of Derby, known for its standing as one of the top institutions in the UK.

Key Features

• Accreditation: Recognized by CIAT, a leading global membership body for Architectural Technology.
• Practical Experience: Engage in live sustainable design projects, ensuring a hands-on learning approach.
• Interdisciplinary Approach: Explores sustainability within a broader context, including socio-cultural, economic, and technological aspects.

Course Content

The programme includes a comprehensive study of the theory and practice associated with sustainable urban and building design, emphasizing the health impacts of design decisions. Students will:

• Analyze current sustainable architecture principles and low energy design technologies.
• Assess government legislation and codes of practice relevant to sustainable design.
• Conduct research aimed at identifying and proposing solutions to health-related issues concerning building occupants.

Learning Methods

The learning experience incorporates various pedagogical strategies, including:

• Live projects and field trips.
• Collaborations with industry professionals.
• A combination of coursework and practical assignments, including exhibitions and presentations.

Modules

1. Research Methods: Application & Evaluation: Development of skills for selecting appropriate research methods.
2. Health in Buildings: Comparative Approaches: Examining health and safety considerations in building design.
3. Sustainable Architecture & Low Energy Design: Evaluation of energy-efficient architectural design methodologies.
4. Environmental Risk & Responsibility: Exploration of the responsibility of professionals towards environmental sustainability.
5. CPD & Strategic Management: Focus on global industry management and predictive analysis.
6. Sustainable Design Simulation & Analysis: Theoretical and practical study of sustainable building analysis.
7. Sustainable Construction Methods & Materials (Elective): Evaluation of principles for sustainable construction practices.
8. Designing Environments (Elective): Analysis of sustainability issues linked to architectural design.
9. Independent Scholarship: Opportunity to undertake extensive research or creative projects related to course material.

Admission Requirements

Candidates for the MSc are expected to hold a university degree in fields such as Architecture, Interior Architecture & Design, Civil or Mechanical Engineering, or possess qualifications recognized in the Built Environment sector. Professional certifications and relevant experience are also considered.

English Proficiency

A minimum English language level of IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required. Applicants without a language proficiency certificate will undertake an English Language Test.

Application Documents

Applicants must provide:

• A CV.
• Recommendations from employers or academic professionals.
• Completion of an academic interview with the Programme Leader.

Career Opportunities

Graduates of this programme can pursue diverse career paths, including:

• Sustainability Consultant Architect.
• Project Coordinator/Manager.
• Sustainable Energy Consultant.
• BREEAM Consultant.

This degree positions graduates for impactful roles in architectural practice, consultancy, government, and further academic pursuits such as PhD opportunities.

This formal outline provides a structured overview of the MSc Sustainable Architecture & Healthy Buildings, showcasing its unique approach to sustainable design and the broad spectrum of career opportunities available to its graduates.

MSc Sustainable Architecture & Healthy Buildings

Degree Overview:

This program, offered by the University of Derby and delivered in Greece by Mediterranean College, delves into the concepts and practices of sustainable urban and building design, exploring their impact on user health. It aims to equip students with the knowledge and skills to understand the environmental consequences of design decisions and to utilize holistic approaches to sustainable design analysis within the BIM environment.

Program Objectives:

• To analyze and critically evaluate current sustainable architecture and low energy design principles, technologies, government legislation, and relevant professional, industrial, and commercial drivers.
• To investigate issues that could negatively affect building user health and develop proactive, preventive, and people-centered solutions.
• To broaden understanding of sustainability beyond the environmental context, encompassing social, economic, managerial, and technological advancements.

Key Features:

• Integration of BIM technologies as a standard skill for architects and engineers.
• Flexible study options and project-based assessments cater to working professionals.
• Instruction by experienced professors, active professionals, and subject-specific researchers.
• Active learning through guest lectures, seminars, and industry expert workshops.
• Collaboration on real-world sustainable architectural projects with partner companies.
• Enhancement of knowledge and design/technology skills related to building energy efficiency.

Outline:

• Semester 1:
• Research Methods: Application & Evaluation
• Health in Buildings: Comparative Approaches
• Sustainable Architecture & Low Energy Design
• Environmental Risk & Responsibility
• Semester 2:
• CPD & Strategic Management
• Sustainable Design Simulation & Analysis (elective)
• Sustainable Construction Methods & Materials (elective)
• Designing Environments (elective)
• Independent Scholarship

Assessment:

• Combination of coursework and live project work, assignments, exhibitions, degree show, peer group reviews, graphic and oral presentations, and portfolios.

Teaching:

• Experienced professors, active professionals, and researchers with expertise in the field.
• Active and experiential learning through guest lectures, seminars, and workshops delivered by industry experts.
• Work on real-world sustainable architectural projects in collaboration with partner companies.

Careers:

• Senior sustainable design roles in architectural practice, consultancy, or design management.
• Environmental design assessment, central and local government, housing associations, retail enterprises, and manufacturing companies.
• Further study towards a PhD and/or an academic career.

Other:

• Developed by the University of Derby, ranked among the top 50 UK universities by the Guardian University Guide 2023.
• Accredited by the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologies (CIAT).
• The University of Derby is one of only four CIAT Centres of Excellence in the UK.
• Multiple tuition payment plans and scholarships available.
• Possibility of corporate financing through LAEK – OAED (0.24) and special discounts for cooperating companies or multiple employees.

Mediterranean College is the first independent Anglophone college to be founded in Greece, established in 1977. For nearly five decades it has operated continuously according to the standards of countries with a long tradition in higher education, principally the United Kingdom and the United States. It holds the distinction of being the first college in Greece to introduce franchise degree programmes from a British state university, a model it pioneered in 1992 and which has since become the standard framework for private higher education across Greece and the wider European Union.

Today, Mediterranean College operates campuses in Athens (two locations), Glyfada and Thessaloniki, all centrally located and accessible by public transport. Across these campuses it delivers a portfolio of over 80 undergraduate, postgraduate and Continuing Professional Development courses through 10 academic schools, serving students from Greece and internationally.

Our mission

Mediterranean College has evolved into a higher education institution with a leading role in Greece across the study fields of Economics, Business, Computing, Social Sciences, Tourism, Health Professions and Engineering. Its mission rests on four pillars: academic excellence, student success, academic and technological innovation, and social contribution. The College's aim is to become a renowned international learning centre in Greece, delivering high-quality programmes within an educational environment where quality consistently meets student needs.

To realise that mission, the College is guided by the following commitments:

• Providing thorough preparation in each chosen field to support graduates' successful entry into the job market
• Creating a learning environment that challenges students while promoting ethics, responsibility and integrity
• Developing transferable skills including critical thinking, creativity, analysis and communication, applicable in any professional, academic or social context
• Enhancing employability through active industry connections and support for gaining practical experience
• Preparing students for leading positions in national and international economies through broad and varied academic exposure.
• Offering flexible delivery patterns and scholarships to make higher education accessible to all qualified students
• Broadening research relations with national and international institutions and academics of international reputation
• Participating actively in the social and cultural life of the community

Academic partnership: University of Derby

Mediterranean College's primary and longest-standing academic partner is the University of Derby, a British university with a 180-year history and a student-centred philosophy. The College has held a strategic franchise partnership with Derby since 2010, under which franchised programmes delivered at Mediterranean College are identical to those delivered on Derby's own campuses in the UK. The university retains full responsibility for curriculum content, teaching and assessment methods, and quality assurance mechanisms.

As a result of this partnership, Mediterranean College ranks first in Greece in the study fields of Business, Marketing, Education, Hospitality and Mechanical Engineering, according to the Guardian University Guide. The University of Derby itself holds a TEF Gold rating for teaching excellence, is ranked in the top 5 in the UK for Marketing and PR and for Civil Engineering (Guardian 2026), and 96.3% of its graduates move into employment within six months of graduating.

A Mediterranean College student enrolled under this partnership is simultaneously a University of Derby student, studying the same curriculum delivered on Derby's home campus. They hold the same rights and responsibilities as Derby students in the UK, may participate in exchange schemes, fieldtrips and university-organised projects, and are eligible for postgraduate scholarships at the University of Derby. Their degree is professionally equivalent to degrees awarded by other Greek and international universities, and enables registration with UK professional bodies and the right to practise in the UK, Greece and abroad.

Additional academic partnerships

• European International University (EIU), Paris: a private institution licensed by the French Ministry of Higher Education, accredited by ASIC and recognised by the Business Graduates Association (BGA), ATHEA and the European Council for Business Education (ECBE). Through this partnership, Mediterranean Professional Studies offers internationally recognised Advanced Professional Diploma, Professional Diploma and Executive Diploma certifications across a broad CPD portfolio.
• Pearson: the world's leading certification organisation, supervised by UK Ofqual, SQA Accreditation and CCEA Accreditation. Mediterranean Professional Studies has been a Pearson Approved Training Centre (formerly Edexcel) since 1997, delivering CPD courses under Pearson's Quality Assurance Scheme.
• ABC Awards and Certa Awards: Mediterranean Professional Studies offers Level 5 Higher Professional Diplomas under the European Qualifications Framework through the ABC/Certa Quality License Scheme.

Quality assurance and accreditation

Mediterranean College is subject to quality controls from four distinct bodies, an unusually rigorous multi-layered oversight structure:

• Greek Ministry of Education: the College holds a licence to operate in Athens and Thessaloniki under Law 4093/2012 (License Number: 120863/2-9-13, Government's Gazette 2278/B/12-9-13)
• British Accreditation Council (BAC): a founding member of ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education), established in 1984 by the British Council, the QAA, the Council of Validating Universities and the British Universities' Council of Vice-Chancellors. Since 2000, Mediterranean College has been continuously reviewed and accredited by the BAC as an institution providing higher education.
• Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA): the UK body responsible for auditing academic standards at universities and colleges. In the most recent QAA audit of transnational education provision in Greece (2015), Mediterranean College and its partner the University of Derby received an outstanding report, commending the two institutions' performance on quality assurance.
• Collaborating universities: under franchise agreements, the partner universities maintain complete control over and responsibility for programme content, teaching, assessment and quality. The degrees awarded to Mediterranean College graduates are recognised in Greece, across the EU and in the broader international academic community.

Degree recognition

Degrees awarded to Mediterranean College graduates by partner universities are fully recognised internationally and professionally equivalent to degrees awarded by Greek state universities. They are also recognised by UK NARIC (now ENIC-NARIC), the national agency for the recognition of international qualifications in the UK. This recognition enables graduates to pursue professional registration in the UK and Greece, and to continue to postgraduate study worldwide.

Schools and academic areas

Mediterranean College delivers programmes across 10 academic schools, covering a wide range of disciplines at both undergraduate and postgraduate level:

• School of Economics and Business
• School of Computing
• School of Engineering
• School of Psychology
• School of Education
• School of Health and Sport Sciences
• School of Shipping
• School of Tourism and Hospitality
• School of Arts and Design
• School of Law and Governance

Leading institutional initiatives

Mediterranean College has established a series of distinctive initiatives that set it apart from other higher education providers in Greece:

• MC Employability Scheme: a holistic programme designed to enhance graduates' readiness for the job market, developed in collaboration with a wide network of industry partners across Greece
• Board of Visitors: an advisory body connecting the College with senior professionals and industry leaders who contribute to the strategic direction of academic programmes
• Annual Learning and Teaching Conference: a forum for academic staff, researchers and education professionals to share best practice and drive pedagogical innovation
• Education Festival: a public event that positions Mediterranean College as an active participant in Greece's broader educational and cultural landscape
• Greece as an International Education Hub initiative: a strategic effort to position Greece and Mediterranean College as a destination for international students
• Sports and Education initiative: linking athletic development with academic achievement
• The Education Awards and Student Excellence Conference: exclusive events recognising outstanding student performance and contribution

Research

Mediterranean College maintains an active research agenda, with academic staff engaged in applied research across business, computing, psychology, engineering, health sciences and education. The College actively develops research relations with national and international academics and institutions, and supports staff development through conference participation, publications and collaborative research projects.

Student support and welfare

Mediterranean College is explicitly student-centred in its approach. A comprehensive suite of support services is available at all campuses to help every student succeed:

• Personal Tutoring: each student is assigned a personal tutor for academic guidance and pastoral support throughout their studies
• Academic Skills Centre: targeted support for study skills, academic writing and research methods
• Counselling Centre: professional psychological support and mental health services
• Language Centre: English language and additional language support for all students
• Learning Support Centre: specialist support for students with learning differences or disabilities
• Career Services: internship placement, career planning and employer connections
• Bursaries and Scholarships: academic and social scholarships to ensure accessibility for students from diverse backgrounds
• International Office: dedicated support for international students, including visa guidance and accommodation assistance
• Alumni Club: a network connecting graduates with each other and with the institution for lifelong professional benefit

Student life

Mediterranean College offers an active student experience beyond the classroom. The Students' Union leads a broad programme of clubs, societies, volunteer opportunities and sporting activities. Students can participate in intercollegiate and recreational sports, community service projects, and a range of cultural and academic events organised throughout the year. Facilities across campuses include libraries with digital and physical resources, IT labs, specialist workshops and laboratories tailored to each school's discipline, and digital learning platforms supporting blended study.

Why Mediterranean College

1. The first Anglophone college in Greece, with nearly 50 years of uninterrupted operation to the standards of UK and US higher education
2. Over 80 programmes across 10 schools, from undergraduate to postgraduate and CPD levels
3. Internationally recognised, UK-awarded degrees that are professionally equivalent to Greek state university degrees and recognised by UK NARIC
4. A multi-layered quality assurance framework including Greek Ministry of Education licensing, BAC accreditation, QAA review and franchise university oversight
5. A primary partnership with the University of Derby, ranked No.1 in Greece across Business, Marketing, Education, Hospitality and Mechanical Engineering
6. A dedicated Employability Scheme backed by an active industry network, supporting students' transition from education to employment
7. Campuses in Athens, Glyfada and Thessaloniki, centrally located and accessible across Greece
8. Comprehensive student welfare services including personal tutoring, counselling, learning support and career services