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Student dissertation research

What kinds of dissertation research do our student undertake? Explore our student's dissertation research from Built Environment: Environmental Design and Engineering MSc, Health Wellbeing and Sustainable Buildings MSc and Light and Lighting MSc.

Our master's students conduct impressive dissertation research during their degrees. From sustainable building design and energy efficiency to environmental health and neurodivergent-friendly spaces, these studies demonstrate the innovative work shaping environmental design, wellbeing, and sustainability. Discover how our students are tackling real-world challenges through published works, presentation videos, and detailed insights into their groundbreaking research.

On this page you can: Read published dissertations | Watch dissertation presentations 


Published dissertations

Many of our graduates have had their dissertations published in renowned journals. Discover the diverse topics they explored.

A quiet area with plants, beanbags and large windows

Exploring the design preferences of neurodivergent populations for quiet spaces

Health, Wellbeing and Sustainable Buildings MSc alumna Toar Sadia’s dissertation explored neurodivergent design preferences for quiet spaces, focusing on sound and lighting in educational settings. The study recommends neutral environments for hypersensitive users, optional stimulation for hyposensitive individuals, and flexible, user-controlled spaces to meet diverse sensory needs.

Workers in office building

Self-rated health implications of noise for open-plan office workers: An overview of the literature

Sofia Felipe Contin de Oliveira's Health, Wellbeing and Sustainable Buildings MSc dissertation explored the impact of noise on health in open-plan offices, highlighting speech, chatting, and phone ringing as key distractions. The study recommends using acoustic absorbers, task-specific zones, and headphones to address these issues.

A person installing insulation

Retrofit solutions for solid wall dwellings in England: The impact of uncertainty upon the energy performance gap

Constantinos Loucari’s Built Environment: Environmental Design and Engineering MSc dissertation assessed how uncertainties in pre-retrofit thermal performance of solid walls impact post-retrofit energy use. The study found that while insulation reduces heating demand, uncertain U-values can cause a gap between predicted and actual energy savings, lowering carbon reduction.

People sitting outside in a historic urban area at sunset

An overview of recent findings on the effect of light on circadian rhythms

Ben Ransley used his Light and Lighting MSc dissertation research for a paper examining the psychological effects of unemployment on individuals, highlighting feelings of worthlessness, lack of identity, and increased stress. It also notes that experiences vary, with some individuals not unhappy with their unemployment situation.

A design of a building on a computer screen

Life cycle assessment of energy conservation measures during early stage office building design: A case study in London, UK

Afaf Azzouz from Built Environment: Environmental Design and Engineering MSc conducted a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) of energy measures for a London office building, highlighting higher operational than embodied impacts over 60 years. Optimisation strategies cut life cycle carbon and energy by up to 16% and 13%, stressing LCA’s role in early design.

Watch dissertation presentations

Graduates have returned to present their dissertations to current students, staff, alumni, and the wider public. Watch their presentations on YouTube.

Vegetation and cool materials on building envelopes: impacts on indoor temperature and energy use in Indonesian tropical residential buildings

Salsabila Adela Purti, Built Environment: Environmental Design and Engineering MSc

YouTube Widget Placeholderhttps://youtu.be/jjT0wJ5ITo8

 

The impact of non inclusive built environments on people with disabilities in natural disasters

Thais Hayashi Alves, Health, Wellbeing and Sustainable Buildings MSc

YouTube Widget Placeholderhttps://youtu.be/vYj_v1pmZfc

 

To what extent are there light sensation differences between neurotypical and neurodivergent populations using LED in an office environment

Beatrice Yuen, Light and Lighting MSc

YouTube Widget Placeholderhttps://youtu.be/2Nrmc4fztOU

 

Assessing the effectiveness of passive cooling design strategies to reduce overheating in epilepsy care homes in the UK

Varsha Kakuturu, Health, Wellbeing and Sustainable Buildings MSc

YouTube Widget Placeholderhttps://youtu.be/pTKc5VYqWxM

 

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