Program Overview

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Overview

The Advanced Architectural Design MSc provides the resources for international designers to gain further skills in architectural design. This post-professional degree helps you consolidate your own identity as a designer. You'll develop your own distinctive specialisms through research-led design, with an emphasis on sophisticated representational techniques. Our aim is to help you become a leading architect in the profession.

What You'll Learn

The emphasis of our programmes is on learning and mastering sophisticated representational techniques that help you to communicate your interests and ideas.

Semester 1

The semester 1 design project is an intensive, iterative site-specific project that introduces you to creative and critical ways of designing through different tools and media. On this project, you’ll engage with a complex urban site to develop ways of thinking critically about the city, its past and future. The project is supported with ‘Design Translation Workshops’ looking at techniques of composition, modelling and visualisation, photogrammetry, and more. These workshops directly inform the design project work. Alongside your design project, you’ll also undertake the module Architecture and Landscape Studies: Critical and Comparative. This module will introduce you to theories and methods for investigating architecture as a multidisciplinary, multicultural form of practice.

Semester 2 and 3

In semester 2 you'll frame your own Thesis Project, which you continue developing in semester 3 (for 1-year programme students). This project can be speculative, large-scale and centred on your own research and interests. The Thesis Project should confidently utilise advanced representational techniques to demonstrate your thinking and ask critical questions relevant to the discipline. You’ll also take a module, Reading Theory, Thinking Architecture designed to stimulate your thinking and ground your thesis through understanding key contemporary texts on issues related to architecture today.

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. Course content changes 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. To find out more please see our terms and conditions.

How You'll Learn

Assessment methods 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

Additional assessment information You'll complete a Design Thesis that:

• provides you with experience in design thesis processes and methodology by defining and studying a subject related to your own interests
• develops an ability to frame a subject through carefully chosen representational techniques
• develops a sophisticated architectural response to the issues raised by your design thesis
• is exhibited in a large-scale exhibition of work at the end of the year

Your Future

Graduate destinations

Graduates 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.

Quality and Ranking

• 42% of our research is classified as 4* world-leading research – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• 65% increase in research power since 2014 – Research Excellence Framework 2021
• Global Top 140 University - QS World University Rankings 2026
• Global Top 160 University - Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025
• Top 100 for Architecture/Built Environment - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• Top 100 for Performing Arts - QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• Top 125 for Arts and Humanities – Times Higher Education World University Rankings by Subject 2025
• Top 25 in the UK and Top 100 in the world for sustainable development – Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

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. 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

Fees and Funding

Tuition fees for 2026 entry (per year)

Qualification: MSc (1 year) Full time

• Home students: Full time: 12 months, Tuition fees (per year) £11,400
• International students: Full time: 12 months, Tuition fees (per year) £26,500 Qualification: MSc (2 years) Full time
• Home students: Full time: 24 months, Tuition fees (per year) £7,600
• International students: Full time: 24 months, Tuition fees (per year) £17,650

Entry Requirements

Academic entry requirements

A minimum of a 2:1 honours degree, or international equivalent, in an appropriate discipline. You also need to submit a portfolio. We will also consider applicants on an individual basis with a 2:2 honours degree, or nonstandard qualifications, who can demonstrate a high level of design ability and relevant knowledge from work experience.

English Language requirements

Select your qualification IELTSPearsonsDuolingo English TestTOEFLOtherPre-Sessional Entry - 6 weeksPre-Sessional Entry - 10 weeks

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. University Admissions Policy and related policies and procedures

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

Pre-Master’s and English Language courses

Need an alternative route to study this course? Our International Study Centre offers Pre-Master’s degrees and English language courses to prepare you for study.

How to Apply

Before you start

Start Dates The course starts in September. Closing Dates There is no application closing date for this course. We suggest international students apply at least two months before the course starts. This is so that you have enough time to make the necessary arrangements. Specialised application information You need to submit a portfolio demonstrating your design ability and creative flair. The portfolio should contain images from a variety of projects using a range of different media. It is important to provide some explanatory text alongside images but please keep this to a minimum.

Design portfolio guidance

• all portfolios should be submitted as one PDF document, containing a maximum of 20 pages
• structure your portfolio with a correct and clear sequence of pages and include a contents page, information sheets for every project, and explanatory text to give context
• include 4-6 projects you have worked on, from small scale (room or dwelling) to larger scale (larger non-domestic building, urban scale, infrastructure etc)
• projects can be both from previous or current education, and from practice. You can also add any other artistic or written work where appropriate
• your portfolio should be chronological with the most recent work at the end
• include a variety of representation techniques and types of work such as sketches, diagrams, hand drawings, 3D physical models, 3D visualisations, photographs and graphic-design work
• you should state examples of group work

Here is some additional guidance for what each of the pathways are looking for in a design portfolio.

Architecture and Cities (1 and 2 year routes)

• an interest in contextual design issues, whether at the urban or building scale
• you should show photographed examples of physical models that explain your projects
• you should include highlights from sketch books or exploratory work that shows project development

You can attach your portfolio to your online application. Alternatively, you can email your portfolio to . We do not accept hard copy portfolios, only electronic submissions will be accepted.

Programme codes

Qualification: MSc (1 year) Full time

• Full time: 12 months, Programme Code: 5383F Qualification: MSc (2 years) Full time
• Full time: 24 months, Programme Code: 5384F

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

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Get in touch

Questions about this course?

If you have specific questions about this course you can contact: Jack Blenkinsopp
Learning and Teaching Assistant
School of Architecture Planning and Landscape
Telephone: +44 (0)
Email:

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