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Master of Engineering in Building Envelopes and Structures 

The Master of Engineering in Building Envelopes and Structures (BEST) is a pioneering program designed to address the evolving challenges in the construction industry, with a focus on building envelope design and structural engineering. Launching in September 2025, this one-year program integrates advanced engineering principles with real-world applications, particularly in the context of climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Key Learning Outcomes: 

• Specialization in building envelope design and structural engineering.
• Addressing critical challenges in construction, including sustainability and climate resilience.
• Applying advanced techniques in materials science, steel, timber, and concrete structures.
• Conducting independent engineering projects, utilizing cutting-edge case studies and technologies.
• Collaborating with industry leaders through optional co-op opportunities and experiential learning.

Curriculum: The program consists of six core courses, two elective courses, and a mandatory 8-month technical project. Core courses include topics like advanced building envelope design, the behavior of steel and timber structures, and concrete technology. Elective options allow students to tailor their studies to their interests, including areas such as green building design, earthquake engineering, and sustainable infrastructure. The project, conducted under faculty supervision, provides hands-on experience in solving real-world challenges in building envelopes and structures.

Co-op Option: An optional co-op placement of one or two work terms allows students to gain practical experience in the industry, enhancing their career prospects.

The BEST program equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to lead in the construction industry, providing a pathway to careers focused on the future of building design and structural engineering.

Program details

The BEST program is one year in duration (3 academic terms of 4 months each). You may choose to pursue an optional co-op placement of one or two terms after the completion of the program.

The program requires 15 course credits to be completed, and consists of:

7 compulsory courses, one of which is a capstone project course:

• CIVE524 - Building Science Case Studies (1.5)
• CIVE551 - Advanced Building Envelope Design (1.5)
• CIVE556 - Advanced Concrete Technology (1.5)
• CIVE557 - Behaviour and Design of Steel Structures (1.5)
• CIVE558 - Timber Structures (1.5)
• CIVE571 - Engineering Engagement in Projects and Communities (1.5)
• CIVE598 - MEng Project in Civil Engineering (3.0)

 And 3 units from a list of electives, options of which may include:

• CIVE412 - Infrastructure Engineering for Indigenous Communities (1.5)
• CIVE420 - Advanced Mechanics of Solids (1.5)
• CIVE421 - Advanced Structural Analysis (1.5)
• CIVE450 - Green Building Design (1.5)
• CIVE453 - Building and District Energy Simulation (1.5)
• CIVE470 - Case Studies in Construction Management (1.5)
• CIVE485 - Foundation Engineering (1.5)
• CIVE522 - Finite Element Method (1.5)
• CIVE523 - Composite Structures (1.5)
• CIVE553 - Advanced Mechanics of Materials (1.5)
• CIVE554 - Sustainable Infrastructure and Non-Destructive Health Monitoring (1.5)
• CIVE555 - Dynamics of Structures and Earthquake Engineering (1.5)
• CIVE580 - Selected Topics (1.5)
• CIVE586 - Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering (1.5)
• CIVE587 - Numerical Modelling in Geotechnical Engineering (1.5)
• CIVE590 - Directed Studies (1.5)

Full program information can be found in the graduate calendar.

Admissions information

 Please ensure that you meet the minimum graduate school admission requirements.

Application deadlines

September program start:

International students—apply by April 30

Domestic students—apply by June 30th

January program start:

International students—apply by August 31

Domestic students—apply by October 31

Visa processing times for international students may vary, and it is important to apply as soon as you are able to ensure that you can receive a student visa in time to attend. Applications are processed on a rolling basis as they are received, so you do not have to wait until after the deadline for a response.

Tuition and fees

Program fee

You can a view the tuition fee estimator or you can find a per-term breakdown of tuition and related program fees in the academic calendar.

Application fee

Acceptance deposit

Upon receiving an offer of admission a $2,000 (CAD) acceptance deposit will be applied to your first term tuition. If you are an international student and your study permit is denied, we will address the potential of deferring your acceptance to a later term or refunding your deposit on a case-by-case basis.

Co-op

Students in the Building Envelopes and Structures program may apply for up to two terms of co-op after completion of the program (up to 8 months total). 

Please see the Engineering and Computer Science Co-op site for further details.

How to apply

You can apply through the graduation admissions application portal.

Please note that you do not need to find a supervisor to apply for the Master of Engineering, Building Envelopes and Structures program.

FAQs

 My undergraduate degree isn’t in Engineering. Can I still apply?

Your undergraduate degree should be in Civil/Mechanical Engineering, or other related areas of engineering or science (e.g., Architecture, Aerospace, Applied Mechanics, Environmental, Physics etc.). Students from other disciplines such as City Planning, Forestry/Timber Engineering etc. may also be eligible if they have suitable work experience and technical /mathematical skills.

Can you please review my transcript and let me know if I am eligible to apply?

We can only evaluate completed applications once they have been submitted. Please refer to Graduate Admissions for admission requirements to Faculty of Graduate Studies and to the MEng in Building Envelopes and Structures. 

Can my employer write a reference?

Yes. We require two assessment reports from professional or academic contacts. We strongly recommend that your referees attach a reference letter to the assessment report. Reference letters must be on official letterhead and signed by the referee.

 Can I apply before finishing my undergraduate degree?

You can apply before finishing your undergraduate or another graduate degree if the degree is completed before the entry point for which you are applying. You will be required to submit unofficial transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended including the in-progress degree.

Applicants who receive a provisional offer of admission will need to submit all official documentation before being granted full admission and being allowed to register in courses.

Can I write a statement of intent?

Yes, you are welcome to include a statement of intent as part of your application if you wish. Please keep this to one page (normally 200-250 words double-spaced on size 12 font).

What happens after I submit my application?

Graduate Admissions and Records will review your application. If it meets the minimum requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, your application will be forwarded to the program for review and a decision.

How can I defer my start date?

You must have provisional, conditional or full offer of admission to request a deferral. Please contact the Graduate Secretary with your request for an entry point change. Deferrals are only granted once per student. If you need to change a second time, you will have to pay the application fee again.

What scholarships are available to me?

While UVic offers some  and  to students in professional graduate programs, there are many more external sources of funding that you may be eligible to apply for and receive. Some further opportunities are listed on the Professional Programs site and we encourage you to seek other funding that may be available to you. 

Contact us

 For questions pertaining to this program, please contact the graduate secretary at best_meng@uvic.ca.