IES for Education

Empowering the Next Generation of Building Performance Experts

A Global Standard for Building Performance Education

IES supports students and educators worldwide with free and discounted access to industry-leading building performance modelling tools and training. Working with over 100 leading academic institutions worldwide, we support teaching and learning across architecture, engineering, sustainability, and building physics. With experience in IESVE increasingly sought after by employers, we help learners build practical, career-ready skills before they enter the workplace.

Career-Ready Skills

Building Physics Foundations

Industry-Standard Software

Global Academic Adoption

Trusted by 100+ Leading Universities Worldwide

Free IESVE Software Supporting Students and Educators at Every Stage

Free for Educators & Enrolled VE Students

Equip students with hands-on experience using industry-standard building performance software — at no cost to your institution or learners. We support educators with:

Complimentary IESVE licences for teaching and curriculum use
Free guest lectures from IES Experts
Support integrating IESVE into your curriculum
Free on-demand training library and learning resources
Additional training hours can be purchased from our team

Contact Our Education Team

Free Resources

Discounted IESVE Licences for Non-Enrolled Students

Build career-ready building performance skills with affordable access to industry-standard software and professional training.

Annual student licence available for just $70
Learn through free on-demand courses, live training, and webinars
Develop skills recognised and valued by employers

Apply for a Student Licence

Free Resources

Free Education Resource Hub

IES provides students and educators with free learning resources designed to support studies and build confidence with the IES software. Whether you’re just getting started or deepening your technical understanding, these resources are available to support you at every stage of your learning journey.

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Fundamentals of Building Performance Modeling Handbook

At IES we believe that the students of today will have the biggest impact in the Architectural, Engineering & Construction industry of tomorrow. With guidance from the academic industry, we created this handbook to act as a lifelong technical aid to help portray the technical fundamental concepts of building science with the art of Building Performance Modeling.

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Free IES Guest Lectures

Our expert trainers can deliver complimentary guest lectures online, covering the key capabilities of the IES Virtual Environment and its real-world applications. Sessions can be tailored to your department and course requirements. In-person lectures may also be available for selected institutions, subject to availability.

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What Educators Say About Teaching with IESVE

The students are really enjoying the design and analysis process in IESVE. In contrast to prior years, when this course was based on alternative software tools, many students would struggle with getting a somewhat functional analysis model running until late into the semester. Now, with IESVE they are able to easily test various scenarios for comparison and decision making. Testing different iterations no longer means staring into a complicated vortex of wires to make changes and simply hope you’ve got everything connected correctly, making for a much more efficient and intuitive workflow.

Matt Gindlesparger

Thomas Jefferson University

Students in the College of the Canyons Bachelor of Science in Building Performance degree program are now iteratively developing and analyzing the performance of their proposed zero-carbon building designs through the use of VE in the design workflow. Since expanding BEM expertise in the architecture profession is critical for improving meaningful collaboration between Architects and Engineers, we're really excited about the tools IES has developed to support building performance simulation and PRM code compliance, which help address the effects of climate change on the built environment.

Jason Oliver

College of the Canyons

VE User Awards

Each year, this award recognises the most innovative application of the VE on a project - commercial or academic. A prize of USD $1,000 is awarded to the winning entry.

We strongly encourage academic submissions and have received outstanding work from students around the world. Explore two recent examples below to see the quality and creativity of past academic entries.

VE User Award – Academic Winner

Stephanie Perez-Ocaranza & Belina Nguyen - Cal Poly Pomona

Cal Poly Pomona (CPP) developed a new building design for Griffith Steam Magnet Middle School in East LA, centred on a biophilic concept that connects occupants with nature. IESVE was used to perform detailed daylighting and energy simulations.

VE User Award – Academic Winner

Osama Hasan - San Francisco State University.

Osama’s entry focused on a Rare Document Storage and Archives Facility in Mumbai, India. Using IESVE, he carried out detailed energy simulations, applying targeted Energy Conservation Measures to reduce cooling loads and optimise HVAC performance with ApacheHVAC.

How Universities Are Using IES Software

University College London

University College London has been teaching IESVE as part of its MSC Environmental Design and Engineering course for 10 years with designing and operating energy efficient buildings being its key teaching focus.

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Eindhoven University

Eindhoven University of Technology use IESVE as a primary teaching tool for its Master of Science programs. Students are taught to use IESVE to design for Net-Zero.

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Project Selected for Student Excellence Award

Samia Mhenni of the British University in Dubai was shortlisted for the Dr. Owainati Student Excellence Award in 2016 for her project 'Visual Comfort & Energy Saving Due to Internal Shading in an Office Building in UAE.'

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Glasgow Caledonian University

Glasgow Caledonian University has been teaching IESVE to its Building Service Engineer students for around 14 years. Being the leading tool used in industry and its constant development to stay up to date with industry requirements, makes IESVE the preferred teaching tool for the university.

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London South Bank University

London South Bank University has been teaching the IES Virtual Environment as part of its Built Environment and Architecture and Civil and Building Services Engineering courses for around 20 years.

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Make an Enquiry

Find out more about IES for Education, software access, training, or arranging a guest lecture.

Capella Building, 7th Floor, 60 York Street, Glasgow, G2 8JX, UK

Tel: +44 (0) 141 945 8500 Email: enquiries@iesve.com