Course Overview

The MArch is a lively student centred environment, where peer-to-peer learning, practice based research and live events projects connect students, expert academics, design professionals and wider communities. During the MArch, you will develop, expand and refine your design and theoretical skills whilst creating a portfolio that will enable you to find employment in a leading architecture practice.

Features

As a Master of Architecture student at Manchester School of Architecture, you will study a degree that is delivered jointly by The University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University. You will therefore benefit from the facilities and resources of both institutions such as libraries, computer suites, making and media workshops and much more. Upon successful completion of your studies, you will receive one degree certificate. The joint award certificate includes each institution’s crest and awarding body title.
Consistently ranked as one of the best schools of Architecture in the UK.
Engaged and responsive design teaching, working with expert, research-active academic staff and leading design professionals.

Duration

2 years full-time

4 years part-time

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Teaching and Learning

The MArch is your final stage of formal academic architecture education leading towards professional registration as an architect. It is a professionally recognised award (prescribed at Part 2 level by the Architects Registration Board and validated at Part 2 level by the Royal Institute of British Architects) and developed for students who have completed RIBA Part 1 for example a BA (Hons) Architecture course and, typically, one year in practice.

The studio element of the course is delivered through research-driven, outwardly focussed clusters called ateliers that align strong areas of research activity and mutual interests of groups of staff. This will enable you to develop ideological positions that are critically underpinned by seminars, workshops and symposiums.

The first year of study will enables you to locate yourself within a broad range of perspectives in relation to contemporary architecture and urbanism. The studio units (Professional Studies 1 + 2) are deliberately professionally directed with developed discussions about custom and use, structures and materials, principles, and regulations. The first semester project is focussed upon occupation, while the second semester is dedicated to approach. Enquiry based Dissertation and Research Methods units including the highly innovative Events Programme support these two studio projects.

The second year will build upon this knowledge and developing skillset to orientate you towards a suitable role within the vast parameters of the profession. The studio units are consciously loose, so you, the prospective architect have the opportunity to pursue your own interests and develop your own trajectory. These are supported by an intensive and focussed unit dedicated to professional law and practice.

Study tours and international collaborations with other leading schools and organisations take place each year and there is the possibility for exchange under the Erasmus programme.

All students will be required to make a number of different submissions, including detailed examinations of building proposals, 10,000-word dissertation, annotated reports, methods exploration and a design thesis.

Full Time Year 1 120 credits
Architect As Researcher 30 credits
Professional Studies 2 30 credits
Research 1: Methods 30 credits
Research 2: Dissertation 30 credits
Full Time Year 2 120 credits
Studio 1 30 credits
Studio 2 30 credits
Studio 3 30 credits
Professional Studies 3 30 credits

Architect As Researcher 30 credits

Architect As Researcher

This unit enhances your awareness of the broader context in which architects work. It positions architecture as contested practices, which extend to address intersections between economy, society, politics, history, culture, media, environment, and more.

It requires you to develop and utilise appropriate methodological tools to investigate and analyse architects’ practices. Through working on research-based projects, you will develop and articulate your own critical perspectives based on informed analysis.

Professional Studies 2 30 credits

Professional Studies 2

Professional Studies engages students in building design in a contemporary societal setting and the associated expectations for the operational competence of "the architect" in a professional context. Structured design activities connect with a broad range of parameters related to the construction, use and operation of buildings and the function of "the architect" as a professional within this setting.

Professional Studies 1 and 2 are designed to complement each other in respect of the design challenge set for students. This could typically contrast "new build" design in one unit with "adaptive re use" of existing buildings in another and/or focussing on different typologies (e.g. housing and public buildings).

Research 1: Methods 30 credits

Research 1: Methods

Methods is an opportunity for students to explore techniques and processes that inform design as a spatial practice. The research methods unit introduces techniques that directly inform design as a spatial practice.

Research 1 and Research 2 encourage students to develop the subject of their enquiry in dissertations in parallel with their interests, career aspirations and the content of studio units. The subject chosen will reflect the symbiosis between design practice and theory, and allow for scholarship within individual specialisms to be placed within a deeper understanding of architecture as a whole.

Research 2: Dissertation 30 credits

Research 2: Dissertation

This unit provides an opportunity for students to explore a research topic that may relate to their personal interests in design through the media of an extended piece of disciplined academic writing (8000 12000 words).

Studio 1 30 credits

Studio 1

Studios engage with problem-based learning in their approach. This unit is the first in a series that form a design thesis project. It typically establishes the programme or content of the final design thesis and may include an investigation of the setting or context of the project. Research led teaching is undertaken in MArch ateliers where students critically engage with the development of programme in real world settings that reflect contemporary discourse in academic and professional practice.

Studio 2 30 credits

Studio 2

Studios engage with problem-based learning in their approach. This unit is the second in a series that form a design thesis project. It typically establishes formal and operational aspects of the proposition and includes an investigation of significant technological strategies that are critical to the thesis.

Studio 3 30 credits

Studio 3

Studios engage with problem-based learning in their approach. This unit is the third and final in a series that form a design thesis project. It typically communicates final resolution to professional presentation standards and includes a critical study in a significant aspect of the realisation for the project.

Professional Studies 3 30 credits

Professional Studies 3

This unit prepares students for employment in respect of the knowledge and understanding of the profession and related procedures, industries and organisations in the contemporary setting of architectural design.

The unit consists of an extensive series of lectures delivered by experts and authoritative figures who are engaged in contemporary design, development and construction practice. The course is coordinated by the school in conjunction with the northwest regional office of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA NW) who additionally deliver the final part (part 3) of the recognised qualification leading to the use of title 'architect'.

Ateliers

Master of Architecture has continued to maintain a diverse range of ateliers and expertise, which enables us to provide a series of distinct and significant areas of focus with respect to the future of architecture and urbanism in a wider cultural context. At the beginning of each academic year you will choose from a range of the School's ateliers. You would normally expect to spend a year studying with a particular atelier.