Advanced Architectural Design MSc
The Advanced Architectural Design MSc provides the resources for international designers to gain further skills in architectural design.
You are currently viewing course information for entry year:
Start date(s):
- September 2024
Overview
Our MSc Advanced Architectural Design is aimed at international designers who want to enhance their design and research skills.
This architectural design course helps you consolidate your own identity as a designer. You'll develop your own distinctive specialisms through research-led design. We'll prepare you for a world where successful architects increasingly have to be specialists as well as generalists. Our aim is to help you become a leading architect in the profession.
The course offers an innovative, absorbing, research-led pathway in advanced architectural design.
This pathway focuses on the dialogue and interconnection between architecture and the fabric of cities. It helps you appreciate architectural design in the broader social, cultural, and economic contexts of cities. The pathway focuses on how architecture can be derived from detailed studies of particular urban communities, and determining what is appropriate in the strategic and detailed development of specific urban sites.
In all three semesters of the course, projects use community-based design frameworks which work with the surrounding context. Key themes of the projects are:
- holistic design frameworks
- notions of identity, community and culture in an urban context
- public space in an increasingly privatised built environment
This two year programme extends the first year of the Architecture and Cities programme into a deeper advanced understanding of the mutual interrelationship between architecture and urban form.
Our School’s leading academics in Architecture, Planning, and Landscape will support you. You'll also work with leading practitioners.
You'll benefit from the School’s strong culture of integrating design theory and practice. Designers must be able to deliver their speculations. This architectural design course helps you to design at the highest level, and implement your designs.
For achievements of the School’s architecture and design students please read our Design Yearbook
The city of Newcastle has a legacy of global design innovation from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This legacy is matched by its world-renowned culture-led regeneration in the twenty-first century. The city boasts both elegant historic architecture and urbanism, and contemporary design. It is a stimulating place to spend time, engaging with advanced design thinking.
The following pathways are currently available:
- Architecture and Cities (1 year)
- Architecture and Cities (2 years)
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Important information
We've highlighted important information about your course. Please take note of any deadlines.
Please rest assured we make all reasonable efforts to provide you with the programmes, services and facilities described. However, it may be necessary to make changes due to significant disruption, for example in response to Covid-19.
View our Academic experience page, which gives information about your Newcastle University study experience for the academic year 2023-24.
See our terms and conditions and student complaints information, which gives details of circumstances that may lead to changes to programmes, modules or University services.
Qualifications explained
Find out about the different qualification options for this course.
An MSc is a taught Master’s degree. It usually involves the study of a science-related subject. It typically includes:
- subject-specific taught modules
- a dissertation or research project of approximately 15,000 – 18,000 words
You'll usually study an MSc full-time over 12 months.
A Master of Science is awarded for the successful completion of 120 credits of taught modules and a 60-credit dissertation or research project.
Find out about different types of postgraduate qualifications.
What you'll learn
Architecture and Cities pathway
The semester 1 design project uses the city as a laboratory for exploring ideas and design strategies to develop a masterplan for a significant city centre site. You'll also take a module to develop appropriate research strategies for your chosen area of research in your design thesis.
The second semester design project returns to a more conventional architectural scale, exploring:
- ideas of meaning and identity in the urban environment
- the role that public space and buildings play in articulating notions of citizenship and community
You'll also take a course which focuses on a series of seminal theoretical readings that relate directly to architecture and the city.
Modules
You will study modules on this course. A module is a unit of a course with its own approved aims and outcomes and assessment methods.
Module information is intended to provide an example of what you will study.
Our teaching is informed by research. Course content changes periodically to reflect developments in the discipline, the requirements of external bodies and partners, and student feedback.
Full details of the modules on offer will be published through the Programme Regulations and Specifications ahead of each academic year. This usually happens in May.
Optional modules availability
Some courses have optional modules. Student demand for optional modules may affect availability.
To find out more please see our terms and conditions.
Optional Modules | Credits |
---|---|
Dissertation in Architecture A | 20 |
Linked Research Project A | 20 |
You'll select one of the above optional modules.
How you'll learn
Depending on your modules, you'll be assessed through a combination of:
- Design or creative project
- Dissertation
- Essay
- Oral presentation
- Portfolio
- Research proposal
- Written exercise
Architecture and Cities pathway
You'll complete a Design Thesis that:
- provides you with experience in design thesis processes and methodology by defining and studying a problem related to your own interests
- develops an ability to evaluate and analyse design thesis findings according to explicit criteria
- develops a response to the issues raised by your design thesis
Your teaching and learning is also supported by Canvas. Canvas is a Virtual Learning Environment. You'll use Canvas to submit your assignments and access your:
- module handbooks
- course materials
- groups
- course announcements and notifications
- written feedback
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to support from:
- peers
- academics
- personal tutors
- our University Student Services Team
- student representatives
You'll also be assigned an academic member of staff. They will be your personal tutor throughout your time with us. They can help with academic and personal issues.
This architectural design course's current association (2018-19) is with Visiting Professor Sir Terry Farrell, a Newcastle graduate. His world-respected practice Farrells has offices in Shanghai, Hong Kong, London and Manchester. His projects include:
- Beijing South Station
- KK100 Building in Shenzhen
- the MI6 Building in London
- various other projects in Newcastle
Your future
Graduate destinations
Graduate have pursued careers both in architectural practice and academia.
We foster an entrepreneurial environment that ensures you'll be well prepared to continue to make active contributions within your chosen career.
Our Careers Service
Our award-winning Careers Service is one of the largest and best in the country, and we have strong links with employers. We provide an extensive range of opportunities to all students through our ncl+ initiative.
Quality and ranking
All professional accreditations are reviewed regularly by their professional body
From 1 January 2021 there is an update to the way professional qualifications are recognised by countries outside of the UK
Facilities
You'll be based in one of the UK’s leading Schools of Architecture. We aim to provide a lively design studio culture across our professional courses making the School a thriving and creative place to be. Our well-equipped workshop includes some of the latest digital and biological manufacturing tools.
The School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape has excellent studio teaching facilities. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, access to our facilities may be limited to allow social distancing and follow government guidance. Our facilities include:
- lively design studios
- exhibition spaces
- well-equipped workshop including the latest digital manufacturing technology
- wet fabrication lab including 3D printers
- molecular biology lab (one of the first in the world to be administered by a school of architecture)
- print media suite
- IT suites
Find out more about the School facilities, including virtual tours of some teaching spaces.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for 2024 entry (per year)
If your studies last longer than one year, your tuition fee may increase in line with inflation.
Depending on your residency history, if you’re a student from the EU, other EEA or a Swiss national, with settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme, you’ll normally pay the ‘Home’ tuition fee rate and may be eligible for Student Finance England support.
EU students without settled or pre-settled status will normally be charged fees at the ‘International’ rate and will not be eligible for Student Finance England support.
If you are unsure of your fee status, check out the latest guidance here.
Scholarships
We support our EU and international students by providing a generous range of Vice-Chancellor's automatic and merit-based scholarships. See our searchable postgraduate funding page for more information.
What you're paying for
Tuition fees include the costs of:
- matriculation
- registration
- tuition (or supervision)
- library access
- examination
- re-examination
- graduation
Find out more about:
If you are an international student or a student from the EU, EEA or Switzerland and you need a visa to study in the UK, you may have to pay a deposit.
You can check this in the How to apply section.
If you're applying for funding, always check the funding application deadline. This deadline may be earlier than the application deadline for your course.
For some funding schemes, you need to have received an offer of a place on a course before you can apply for the funding.
Search for funding
Find funding available for your course
Entry requirements
The entrance requirements below apply to 2024 entry.
Qualifications from outside the UK
English Language requirements
Admissions policy
This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate admissions at Newcastle University. It is intended to provide information about our admissions policies and procedures to applicants and potential applicants, to their advisors and family members, and to staff of the University.
Download our admissions policy (PDF: 201KB)
Other policies related to admissions
Credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) can allow you to convert existing relevant university-level knowledge, skills and experience into credits towards a qualification. Find out more about the RPL policy which may apply to this course
INTO International Graduate Diploma - Pathway courses
Our Architecture and Landscape Architecture Graduate Diplomas will prepare you for Master's study at Newcastle. If you're successful then you're guaranteed a place on this Master's course. Depending on your level of English, you can choose from:
- Architecture and Landscape Architecture Graduate Diploma
- Architecture and Landscape Architecture Graduate Diploma with Pre-sessional English
How to apply
Using the application portal
The application portal has instructions to guide you through your application. It will tell you what documents you need and how to upload them.
You can choose to start your application, save your details and come back to complete it later.
If you’re ready, you can select Apply Online and you’ll be taken directly to the application portal.
Alternatively you can find out more about applying on our applications and offers pages.
Apply Online
Open days and events
You'll have a number of opportunities to meet us throughout the year including:
- campus tours
- on-campus open days
- virtual open days
- webinars
Find out about how you can visit Newcastle in person and virtually
Overseas events
We regularly travel overseas to meet with students interested in studying at Newcastle University.
Get in touch
Questions about this course?
If you have specific questions about this course you can contact:
Lecturer in Architecture
School of Architecture Planning and Landscape
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6019
Email: matthew.ozga-lawn@ncl.ac.uk
Lecturer in Architecture
School of Architecture Planning and Landscape
Telephone: +44 (0) 191 208 6019
Email: james.craig@ncl.ac.uk
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