Careers in environmental design and engineering
Do you want a job in sustainable building design and operation as an environmental engineer, sustainability consultant, or sustainable architect? A master's degree could kick start your career.
Heightened awareness of global environmental challenges, along with new policies and regulations demanding more efficient building performance, has created a demand for highly skilled professionals specializing in health, energy efficiency, and net-zero carbon emissions in both buildings and cities. A master’s degree in provides an excellent opportunity to access these promising career prospects, giving you the competitive edge in the job market. By showcasing the skills and knowledge gathered during your degree, you demonstrate readiness to apply them in the industry. Additionally, having received rigorous training from a renowned university further enhances your qualifications for top roles.
Following graduation from Environmental Design and Engineering MSc, Antonia previously worked as a Sustainable Design Assistant at Hawkins Brown, and now works as a Senior Sustainability Consultant at Ramboll.
Nowadays the job market is extremely competitive; however, having an MSc degree from UCL distinguishes you from other candidates and shows your ability to commit to an intense period of work. In my role as a Sustainable Design Assistant, I applied skills and specialised knowledge I gained from my master's degree, these include Embodied and Whole Life Carbon Analysis, Low Carbon Materials and Design Methodologies.”
What sectors could I work in?
There is an array of sectors you could work in, depending on your ambitions. Most Environmental Design and Engineering graduates tend to move into, or continue in, building-related professions in the private sector such as architecture firms, low energy/carbon and sustainable design consultancies, or building services engineering firms. However, working in the private sector isn’t the only career path. Some graduates use their degrees as a foundation for a career in academia, whilst others go one to work for local and national governments.
Some people undertake a master’s degree as a stepping stone to get them into a particular industry, specialising further into sustainability following their undergraduate degree in architecture, engineering, physics, or other disciplines. Others may start a masters to pivot from their current career, or take it to the next level, by gaining specialist knowledge and skills.
Graduate Ricardo Moireira, Managing Director of XCO2 Energy said:
The environmental design and engineering course supports students to move onto a variety of career paths backed by sound technical knowledge. In my case, it was a crucial career moment, which enabled my transition from architecture into environmental design and engineering."
What could my future job title be?
There are many possible job titles graduates with a degree in environmental design and engineering may be suited for. These include:
- Architect
- Building Physicist
- Chartered Surveyor
- Energy Engineer
- Environmental Engineer
- Low carbon building consultant
- Net zero building engineer
- Sustainability Analyst
- Sustainability Designer
- Sustainability consultant
Most jobs concerned with sustainability in the built environment are suitable for graduates with an environmental design and engineering degree.
Where do UCL’s Environment Design and Engineering graduates work?
94.3% of UCL’s Environmental Design and Engineering MSc graduates were in work or further study within 15 months of finishing their degree.
Many of our global network of alumni now work in architecture firms, engineering firms and environmental consultancies around this world. These include Arup, WSP Group, Delloitte, Carbon Trust, AECOM, Aroura Energy Research, Baringa, Allford Gall Monaghan Morris, Smart Power India, and more. Some now work in government and state-owned organisations such as the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, at the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and in the Public Sector Government in China.
UCL’s team of experienced careers professionals are dedicated to helping you find the right path to ensure success in your future career. UCL Careers provide support to help you find graduate jobs or further study positions and advise you on the opportunities you have during your time at UCL. From your first day at UCL and up to three years after you graduate, you can access bespoke one-to-one appointments, career events and activities programme featuring employers and alumni, confidence-boosting insights, online resources, and opportunities to increase your employability.
TL;DR
A masters degree in Environmental Design and Engineering can open up jobs across architecture, low energy/carbon and sustainable design consultancies, academia or building services engineering. Your career path will depend on your personal aspirations. Think about where you want to go in your future career and how a master’s in environmental design and engineering can help you achieve it.
Are you interested in studying Environmental Design and Engineering MSc at UCL?
Discover more about the course, the skills you'll learn and how they could kickstart your future career.
Learn more about Environmental Design and Engineering MSc
Sources: Careers information and data from HESA Graduate Outcomes 2017-2021