MArch Architecture and Urbanism

MArch Architecture & Urbanism is a Masters of Architecture award within the Design programme at the School of Creative Arts. Within the programme there is strong emphasis on professional practice and the real-world applications of design. You will develop key research skills and gain a good understanding of the work of other practitioners in your field.

The aim of the postgraduate programme is to equip you with the skills, knowledge and understanding required to practice at an advanced level, to foster your creativity and enhance your employment opportunities. You will work alongside artists and designers who are involved with a wide variety of media and forms and will benefit from visiting architects and design professionals. Induction, seminars and social events for students and staff mean that you will be part of a friendly and supportive postgraduate community, which also includes film makers, musicians and professionals working in new media. Senior research staff and internationally renowned artists work with postgraduate students, helping you to develop original and challenging work.

To access this Programme, applicants are normally expected to hold a minimum of a second-class Bachelor's degree in Architecture or related discipline from a UK university or an overseas qualification in Architecture or related discipline of an equivalent standard. Related disciplines include degrees in spatial design practices, history and theory, social and cultural studies, geography, human centre-design and building, construction and engineering.

It is advised that applicants hold a BA(Hons) in Architecture or equivalent, ARB prescribed Part I, but this is not compulsory.

All international students are required to demonstrate suitable levels of English language competence. This can be through previous study in English, but we often require specific performance in English tests. All applicants must be able to prove a minimum of IELTS 6.5 or equivalent.

This course provides students with knowledge and skills to understand, analyse and transform the built environment. This includes buildings, cities, and people in consideration of cultural values, societal aspects and communities both at the local and global scales. The skillset acquired by our students allows graduates not only to be aware of international and global questions regarding cities and people, but also to be able to design professionally in any context from local to international.

The curriculum of this course has been developed with the support of regional and international architectural practices and consultancy agencies ensuring a high-level business-facing approach to all activities and projects. This, and the continuous collaboration and input from our industry partners (through live projects, design competitions and projects reviews), ensures a high level of employability for our graduates.

Our students are trained in an ambitious working environment, where every project represents a positive challenge to respond creatively and professionally. The nature of the curriculum is highly enterprising, stimulating students to find and create new ways of changing cities and architecture, and establishing professional businesses working on a global market.