Program Overview

Architecture

Overview

Architecture at Queen’s addresses the issues of architecture and urbanism in an increasingly globalised world, where factors such as sustainability and climate change, identity and heritage, and notions of craft and form create a complex context that architecture has to mediate.

Mode of Study / Duration

Registration is on a full-time or part-time basis, under the direction of a supervisory team appointed by the University. You will be expected to submit your PhD thesis at the end of three years of full-time or six years of part-time registration.

Subject Summary

Architecture at Queens is in the Top 200 in the World QS Rankings. In the island of Ireland, we are the leaders in Architectural research and indeed we have world-class expertise in Architectural Design, Sustainable Cities, Heritage, and Architectural Humanities.

Architecture Highlights

• Industry Links: Architecture has collaborations with numerous universities and other organisations around the globe.
• World Class Facilities: Architecture at Queen's boasts modern, state of the art design studios and review/exhibition spaces.
• Internationally Renowned Experts: In the island of Ireland, we are the leaders in Architectural research and indeed we have world-class expertise in Architectural Design, Sustainable Cities, Heritage, and Architectural Humanities.
• Student Experience: Working closely with their chosen supervisors, PhD students are also connected to the School of Natural and Built Environment’s research themes, benefitting from the cross-disciplinary context of research in the school.

Key Facts

• As a Russell Group university and ranked in the UK top 10 (Guardian League Tables 2025), Queen’s is one of the best places in the UK to study architecture.
• In terms of research quality, Queen’s is ranked 12th in the UK for Architecture, Built Environment and Planning (REF 2021/Times Higher Education).

Course Content

• You will carry out original research under the guidance of your supervisory team. There is no specific course content as such. This independent research is complemented by postgraduate skills training organised by Queen’s Graduate School, and other internal and external training courses organised through your supervisor.

Research Information

• Associated Research: Architecture at Queen’s offers the opportunity to make an original contribution to the discipline of architecture through a PhD or MPhil within the department’s accomplished, academic environment.
• Research Impact: Architecture has collaborations with numerous universities and other organisations around the globe.

Career Prospects

• Many of our PhD graduates have moved into academic and research roles in Higher Education while others go on to play leading roles in educational practice, the public sector or within NGO’s.

People Teaching You

• Dr Agustina Martire, Senior Lecturer, Natural and Built Environment
• Dr Chantelle Niblock, Lecturer, Natural and Built Environment
• Dr Gul Kacmaz Erk, Senior Lecturer, Natural and Built Environment
• Dr Jasna Mariotti, Senior Lecturer, Natural and Built Environment
• Dr Niek Turner, Lecturer, Natural and Built Environment
• Dr Nuala Flood, Senior Lecturer, Natural and Built Environment
• Dr Sarah Lappin, Senior Lecturer, Natural & Built Environment
• Dr Sean Cullen, Lecturer, Natural and Built Environment
• Mr Keith McAllister, Senior Lecturer, Natural and Built Environment
• Professor Gary Boyd, Professor, Natural and Built Environment
• Professor Tom Jefferies, Director of Research, Natural and Built Environment

Learning Outcomes

• A research degree offers students an opportunity to foster their capacity for independent research and critical thought.
• Undertaking a research degree also enhances a student’s written and oral communication skills, and a PhD is almost always a formal requirement for an academic post.

Course Structure

• You will normally register, in the first instance, as an ‘undifferentiated PhD student’ which means that you have satisfied staff that you are capable of undertaking a research degree.
• Differentiation takes place about 9-12 months after registration for full-time students and about 18-30 months for part-time students.

Assessment

• Assessment processes for the research degree differ from taught degrees.
• Students will be expected to present drafts of their work at regular intervals to their supervisor who will provide written and oral feedback.

Feedback

• Supervisors will offer feedback on draft work at regular intervals throughout the period of registration on the degree.

Entrance Requirements

• The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

International Students

• For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

• Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.0 in Speaking and Listening and a minimum of 5.5 in Reading and Writing, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University, is required.

Tuition Fees

• Northern Ireland (NI): £5,006
• Republic of Ireland (ROI): £5,006
• England, Scotland or Wales (GB): £5,006
• EU Other: £25,600
• International: £25,600

Additional Course Costs

• There are no specific additional course costs associated with this programme.

Funding and Scholarships

• The Funding & Scholarship Finder helps prospective and current students find funding to help cover costs towards a whole range of study-related expenses.