MArch Architecture
Overview
Encouraging debate
Our programme encourages debate and enquiry about contemporary culture, the postmodern city, and relationships between urban and landscape conditions. You’ll consider these through diverse responses to the architectural design projects, and critical research expressed in extended, structured writing.
This course will see you build on analytical design skills and professional competences established at undergraduate level, with a focus on innovation in design, construction, and resource efficient technology. Working in vertical design studios, students will develop an understanding of, and methods relevant to contemporary professional practice, together with an ability to produce complex and diverse design proposals.
Why Architecture at LSBU?
- Ranked 3rd for graduate prospects in London (Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020).
- Professional accreditation – the course is fully validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects and prescribed by the Architects Registration Board. The course satisfies the criteria held jointly by the RIBA and ARB for part 2 courses in architecture.
- Experience – with roots in London Council School of Building (1904) and Brixton School of Building (1940), LSBU has been offering architectural education for over 100 years.
- We have some of the best workshops in the UK, recently been augmented by the DARLAB (Digital Architecture and Robotics Laboratory).
- No.2 for satisfaction with teaching in London (Guardian League Tables 2020).
Modules
This is a two year full-time or three year part-time programme leading to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) part 2 professional award. The course emphasises design as a central activity underpinned by research, with complementary lecture based studies in History and Theory, Technology, Arts and Media, and Professional Management.
Year 1
- Design 401 (20 credits)
- Design 402: Arts, media and digital design (20 credits)
- Design 403 (20 credits)
- History and theory: critical thinking (20 credits)
- Energy and resource efficiency in design (20 credits)
- Professional practice and design economics (20 credits)
Year 2
- Design 501 (20 credits)
- Design 502: Arts, media and digital design (20 credits)
- Design 503 (40 credits)
- Architecture and theory: dissertation (20 credits)
- Technology 5: technical thesis (20 credits)
Entry requirements
This course is usually intended for graduates of architecture courses where students hold a university degree and part 1 professional qualification recognised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Applicants to the course should have a first degree in architecture (2:2 or better); however, the University recognises that individuals may develop additional skills outside university, and will interview such applicants who have developed a high quality portfolio of relevant academic and practice work.
Applicants for this course must also meet the following additional entry requirements:
- Students holding overseas degrees in architecture should, desirably, demonstrate that their work has RIBA part 1 equivalence by contacting the Architects Registration Board regarding the ARB Prescribing Examination.
- Applicants for the part-time course should be working in practice.
- All students considered for admission will be required to attend an interview with a portfolio of work; if located overseas, applicants will be required to send a portfolio of work to the admissions tutor.
- We will also consider applications from those who have gained skills through a wide range of vocational qualifications, or relevant responsible experience.