UNIVERSITY OF BATH
Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering
Lecturer /Senior Lecturer / Reader in Civil Engineering
Further Particulars
The University
The University, which received its Charter in 1966, is situated on a campus of 200 acres,
surrounded by open countryside one and a half miles from the centre of Bath.
Communications are rapid and easy, with London being less than one and a half hours away
by train. The University is structured around 15 Departments which are organised into three
Faculties, with the Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering in the Faculty of
Engineering and Design. The University has around 13,000 students and competition for
places is keen, resulting in an intake of exceptionally high quality. The University’s research
is similarly highly regarded internationally, with citations in civil and structural engineering
research at the University of Bath being ranked fifth worldwide in the 2013 QS University
World Rankings. The University of Bath is also presently ranked third in The Sunday Times,
in recognition of excellence in research, teaching and industrial links.
The Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering
The Department has a unique character with its particular combination of architecture and
civil engineering. Periods of joint teaching are spread throughout the first degree courses.
The first semester of the first year is common to both groups of students, and in subsequent
years there are periods of group design project work. This interdisciplinary approach has
been commended by accreditation bodies across the professions, as well as being
recognised by the award of many external prizes to graduates in both disciplines. The
Department has been rated as excellent for its teaching of both Architecture and Civil
Engineering, and in national league tables we are ranked in the top three year in and year
out. The student standards are among the highest in the country for both disciplines, both at
entry and at graduation. Graduates are actively sought by the very best employers, with the
vast majority going on to careers in their chosen discipline, either in research or in practice,
many doing so after gap periods doing voluntary work overseas.
In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise 70% of staff entered (23.30 Full Time
Equivalent) were graded either at the top 4* or at 3* (which means that they were either
internationally leading or internationally excellent in their field). This translates as 6th place
nationally in the Built Environment Unit of Assessment, and builds on our 5 rating achieved
in the 2001 RAE.
The Department occupies purpose-built accommodation on the campus, completed in 1989.
This houses a range of laboratories and workshops on the ground floor, lecture theatres and
exhibition spaces on the first floor, and offices and design studios on the two upper floors,
which extend into the adjoining building. There are currently about 600 undergraduate
students, about 100 MSc students, over 50 research students and staff, and around 45
teaching and research academics. The intake standard is high, being a minimum of A*AA
for both disciplines. The undergraduate architecture courses are the BSc in Architecture
(RIBA Part 1) and the Master of Architecture (RIBA Part 2). The undergraduate engineering
courses are the MEng in Civil and Architectural Engineering, the MEng in Civil Engineering,
and the BEng in Civil Engineering. All can be taken as sandwich courses with supervised
industrial placements. The flagship course is the five year sandwich MEng in Civil and
Architectural Engineering, which epitomises the aim of the department to produce graduate
engineers with knowledge and design ability in building environmental engineering as well as
civil and structural engineering, so that they are able to integrate all aspects of building
design. The Department also offers a PG Certificate in Professional Practice (RIBA Part 3).
The Department has laboratories for Structures, Geotechnics, Materials, Timber
Engineering, Hydraulics, Acoustics and Lighting. These cater for laboratory-based teaching
of all undergraduates, and for all laboratory-based research conducted by staff, as well as
augmenting a substantial timber workshop with three laser-cutters for model-making. They
are headed by the Chief Technician, with a further five technicians working across all the
laboratories. The Department also has a dedicated Computer Technician.
In addition to the undergraduate courses, the Department also offers the following
postgraduate programmes:
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MSc in Façade Engineering
MSc in Architectural Engineering: Environmental Design
MSc in Civil Engineering: Innovative Structural Materials
MSc in International Construction Management
MSc in the Conservation of Historic Buildings
MSc in the Conservation of Historical Gardens
MPhil in Innovative Structural Engineering
MPhil in Computational Architectonics
MPhil in Architectural History & Theory
MPhil and PhD by research
Research is organised around two research centres and one research unit:
BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials
This Centre receives financial backing from the BRE Trust, and is hosted jointly by the
Departments of Architecture & Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. Its focus lies
in research leading to the appropriate use of innovative and sustainable construction
materials from an holistic standpoint of structural and environmental performance. Links
with the other research centres in the department are a very important part of the centre’s
work, especially in the field of building physics.
Centre for Advanced Studies in Architecture (CASA)
CASA is concerned with the integration of two apparently diverse fields, namely architectural
history and computer modelling. This work has resulted in CASA being involved in the
design of major exhibitions on the work of the architects Leon Battista Alberti and Sir John
Soane. The work on computer modelling has also developed with the construction of a
detailed 3D model of the City of Bath which is used for planning and urban design.
Energy and Design of Environments (EDEn) Research Unit
EDEn focuses on research issues associated with climate change, sustainable development
and environmental modelling. In particular, research is conducted into building physics,
façade engineering, sustainable design, environmental modelling and coastal engineering.
These are major areas for future staff collaboration at both Department and at University
level. EDEn draws on the Department’s considerable links with industry and the professions
in its promotion of energy efficient and climate awareness design. CFD is used for research
into hydraulics-related research, fluid-structure interaction, ventilation and urban-scale air
flow. EDEn also houses an Armfield Hydraulic Flume, which is used for teaching and
research.
In addition to these three Departmentally-based Research Centres, a fourth centre, CWCT,
is sponsored by industry and has strong links with the Department:
Centre for Window and Cladding Technology (CWCT)
CWCT is concerned with the design, manufacture, construction and maintenance of building
envelopes.
The Centre is supported by clients, developers, architects, engineers,
consultants, main and specialist contractors, manufacturers, suppliers and other research
and testing organisations. Research includes work on the design and installation of façade
systems, and the environmental performance of building envelopes.
General Information for Candidates for Appointment
The academic structure of the University is as follows:
Faculty of Engineering and Design
Architecture and Civil Engineering; Chemical Engineering;
Electronic and Electrical Engineering; Mechanical Engineering
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
Economics and International Development; Education
European Studies and Modern Languages; Psychology
Social and Policy Sciences; Health.
Faculty of Science
Biology and Biochemistry; Chemistry;
Computer Science; Mathematical Sciences;
Pharmacy and Pharmacology; Physics
School of Management
Several departments have developed their own self-financing centres for research and short
courses. The University has an enviable reputation for the standard of its intake, its
graduate employment record, its research, and its location in a World Heritage City.
As presently established, the University employs about 2,500 staff, and has an annual
turnover exceeding £170 million. Considerable use is made of computerised systems
covering many administrative procedures including financial reporting and budgetary control,
student records, human resources, and the planning and resourcing processes.
Location and Facilities
The University is based on a fine downland site of about 200 acres at Claverton Down, less
than two miles south-east of the city centre. The University has been developed on this site
over the last 45 years, so that all the buildings are relatively new and have been designed or
refurbished to modern standards. Physical working conditions are generally pleasant, with
many buildings commanding attractive views. The facilities on campus include a grocery
shop, newsagent, post office and bookshop, and sub-branches of three banks. There is also
a medical centre and dental practice, while those with sporting and other social interests will
find a variety of clubs and societies open to them. The University has extensively revamped
its Creative Arts provision and the English Institute of Sport in the south west is now based
at the University in extensive new facilities.
In addition to those buildings used for teaching and for administration, there are residential
buildings on campus in which approximately 2150 students reside. Around five hundred
residential places are located in the city. Full-time members of staff may apply to become
resident Tutors within the on- or off-campus residences – further details are available from
the Department of Human Resources.
Westwood Nursery, which is on site at Claverton Down, offers competitively priced nursery
care for babies and children of staff and students from the age of 6 months until they start
school. The nursery is open throughout the year and children may attend on a full or part
time basis. Places are of course subject to availability and there are long waiting lists for
some age groups – you are encouraged to contact the Nursery for up to date information.
For children of primary school age the University play-scheme aims to organise provision
during some half terms and other holidays.
Appointments in the University are offered subject to the University receiving a satisfactory
report on your health from the University Medical Officer. This is normally undertaken on the
basis of a review of a confidential medical questionnaire. Smoking of any kind is prohibited
in all University buildings, with the exception of some bar and residential areas.
The City of Bath is recognised as being architecturally one of the finest in Europe and is a
very pleasant place in which to live. The communications network is good. Trains run at
least every hour to London and the fastest journey time is about 1 hour 15 minutes. The M4
motorway runs 10 miles north of Bath and provides a convenient road network to London,
the Midlands, Wales and South West England.
Further information: please visit our website at www.bath.ac.uk.