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Digital Craft in Architecture

MA

Overview

Digital technology continues to disrupt and transform how we design and build with sustainable materials. Our Digital Craft in Architecture MA is a unique transdisciplinary course that will equip you to engage with an evolving industry, as part of a vibrant community of practice. You will learn to craft designs with advanced digital tools, drawing on traditional knowledge of building to innovate with sustainable materials.

Course Details

Course Structure

Working both individually and collaboratively, you will develop a unique body of design research, while considering advancements in the design and construction industry.

You will develop methods of exploration, significantly between the digital and the physical, which include:

• Digital prototyping
• Computational design
• 1:1 making with digital fabrication
• 3D visualisation
• Technical drawing for manufacture and assembly.

Learning and Teaching

The modules you will study combine a ratio of taught to self-led study.

As an example, a module of 20 credits approximates to 200 hours of student effort. Up to 36 hours of which usually consists of:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Individual tutorials
• Hands on digital and making workshops.

The remaining time is devoted to student-led study and assessment.

Assessment

Your assessments will be diverse, and will support different learning styles - you’ll have a real opportunity to showcase your strengths. Your learning may be assessed by a combination of individual or group coursework, examinations, and presentations. The assessment methods chosen will be based on your learning needs, individual aims and the academic standards expected for the course.

Field Trips

There is no official field trip on the course. We will encourage you to visit areas of interest that are relevant to your thesis, and to visit exhibitions and galleries. We recommend you should budget about £300 for trips such as these for your thesis.

Study Modules

Taught Modules

• Advanced Digital Practice (30 credits)
• Design for Digital Manufacture and Assembly (30 credits)
• Contextual Theory (30 credits)
• Collaborative Project (30 credits)

Final Project

• Final project (60 credits)

Your final project will represent a culmination of your research and skills learned throughout the programme. It's your opportunity to show your:

• Research skills
• Technical skills
• Design skills.

Contextualised as an architectural project.

Research

Oxford Brookes is renowned for its world-class research into how architecture has evolved in different cultures around the world, notably the Paul Oliver Vernacular Architecture Library and the network of hundreds of researchers connected to this body of work. This unique collection of traditional or vernacular architectures represent an extensive and detailed knowledge database, expressed as an architectural language specific to the spirit and ecology of a place. It also represents an extensive body of research into the way economies and cultures relate to, and utilise, sustainable materials in the construction of architecture.

Careers

In the rapidly evolving design and construction industry, there is an increasing demand for specialist knowledge of digital manufacturing. Robotics, augmented reality and 3D printing technologies continue to play a more significant role in how we design and build.

Greater value is placed on first-hand experience and knowledge that can harness these processes in the design and making of our built environment. As a graduate of this course there are many opportunities to find work in the many sectors of design, architecture and the building industry, which includes:

• Architectural and engineering practices
• Industrial designers, designer-makers
• Digital design and manufacture consultancies
• Building contractors.

Entry Requirements

Specific Entry Requirements

Admission to the programme will be open to applicants who hold a minimum of a second class honours degree (2:2), or an equivalent overseas qualification, from courses covering skills in design, making, graphic communication, architecture, industrial design or fashion.

Alternatively, applicants will be considered with an appropriate background working in a design practice, with a portfolio demonstrating 3 years of experience.

Selection Process

All applicants will be invited to submit a portfolio for review. You can make your submission via Google Drive or similar and then share the link as part of your admission. Matt Gaskin talks about what we're looking for in this video about what to include in your portfolio.

Information on portfolio specifications & how to submit it, will be emailed separately upon initial processing of an application.

English Language Requirements

Please see the University's standard English language requirements.

Tuition Fees

2025 / 26

• Home (UK) full time: £10,200
• Home (UK) part time: £5,100
• International full time: £17,950

2026 / 27

• Home (UK) full time: £10,450
• Home (UK) part time: £5,225
• International full time: £18,500

Additional Costs

• Materials: £300 to £400 for model making materials
• Printing and binding: £100 for printing costs over the year