Architecture

In 2011, the UCD School of Architecture, Planning & Environmental Policy celebrated its centenary. The School has long led the way in architectural study and practice in Ireland. Its undergraduate, graduate and research programmes cover all aspects of the practice of architecture and landscape architecture, as well as advanced areas of conservation, sustainability, urbanism and history and theory.



This programme is aimed at students who wish to develop a career in architecture. It is a national and international professionally accredited academic programme that will equip graduates to work worldwide in architectural design and in creative and research practice.



The MArch programme equips students to deal with complex design problems in a challenging context. Through studio projects, academic writing and practical experiments, it develops professional capacities while placing equal emphasis on research and critical enquiry. It embraces intensive small-group teaching from faculty which includes many leading figures in architectural practice as well as internationally-recognised researchers. The programme equips graduates to work in the field of Architecture anywhere across the world in architectural practice and in other forms of creative practice as well as in the areas of policy, consultancy and academia. This Masters is accredited by both the professional institute in Ireland (RIAI), and by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), it also has International Certification status with the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB) in the USA.



What Will I Learn?

The programme uses teaching, learning and assessment approaches such as individual and group design projects, live-projects, case students, scenario-based learning and written research and dissertations. Each has a focus on individual development and reflective learning, while developing effective group-work, written, verbal and visual communication and presentation skills.



- Act competently and independently and have the ability to integrate knowledge and handle complexity, formulate judgments with incomplete or limited information, and to reflect on wider professional issues.



- Apply their knowledge and problem solving abilities to the design of an architectural project in response to functional brief and site conditions, including an understanding of social and physical contexts and show this in visual and written documents.



- Articulate their knowledge of local and global architectural history and precedent and have explicit in their work the ability to use such knowledge to inform future design and research work.



- Communicate and present their design and research questions and the knowledge and rationale underpinning their conclusions at public fora to professional and non-professional audiences, clearly and unambiguously



- Embed in their own work their knowledge of the regulatory and building control policy framework that underpins and influences practice and, be aware of the impact of such frameworks on current and future practice.



- Evidence an informed and independent view of the role of the architect and the value of architecture to society, communicate and articulate the potential of architecture with regard to quality of life, environmental performance and climate change, health and well-being, economy etc



- Integrate their knowledge of specialized research methods in architecture into their work and be capable of using such methods with rigour, depth and precision to understand, evaluate, and analyse scenarios in architectural theory, design and assembly.



- On successful completion of the programme students should be able to: Embed in their visual and written work evidence of their ability to use conceptual and critical thinking and know the appropriate use of both.



- Understand structural, environmental, envelope, services and life-saving systems to the extent that the student can clearly evidence their ability to synthesise these within a comprehensive building design programme.



- Use analogue and digital methods of visual communication, drawing, presentation, model making, and show judgment in utilising such methods appropriately in order to achieve their design intentions and ambitions



- Utilise a range of investigative and design skills, showing in their work their ability to use the appropriate skill at the appropriate stage and an ability to synthesise knowledge to achieve original and excellent design outcomes.

Stage 1 Core Modules

ARCT40010 Design Technologies I Autumn 5

ARCT40020 Research & Innovation in the Designed Environment Autumn 5

ARCT41120 Architectural Design VII - Comprehensive Design Studio Autumn 15

ARCT40050 Architectural Design VIII Spring 15

ARCT40080 Research and Innovation in the Designed Environment II Spring 5



Stage 1 Options - A)1 of:

TECHNOLOGY OPTIONS: Important - All students must select 1x TECHNOLOGY OPTION Module. HOWEVER, Students going out on Exchange programmes in the Autumn Trimester MUST take ARCT40870 Agency: Design / Build as their Technology Option in the Spring Trimester.

ARCT40870 Agency: Design / Build Spring 5

ARCT40970 Irish Timber & Sustainability Spring 5



Stage 1 Options - B)2 of:

GENERAL OPTIONS: Students must select 2x GENERAL OPTION Modules, ONE in EACH Trimester, from the list of General Options below:

ARCT40030 Realising Built Projects Autumn 5

ARCT40170 Conservation History, Theory and Policy Autumn 5

ARCT40660 Street Life: Urban Design, an Introduction Autumn 5

ARCT41210 Architecture in a Climate Emergency Autumn 5

PLAN40030 Planning, Society and Diversity Autumn 5

ARCT41240 Urban Resilience and Ethics Spring 5



Stage 2 Core Modules

ARCT41130 Reflective Portfolio Module 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 5

ARCT41300 Major Research Essay 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr) 10

ARCT40190 Professional Studies II Autumn 5

ARCT41190 Design Thesis 1 Autumn 15

ARCT41180 Design Thesis 2 Spring 25

- Portfolio Submission is essential



- A bachelor’s degree in architecture or another approved equivalent degree (NFQ Level 8) with a minimum upper second class honours or international equivalence (2.1 or UCD GPA 3.08 or equivalent) is required .



- Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent



- These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes.



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage. https://tinyurl.com/2ae2ffax

120

2 years full-time. Delivery: On Campus.

MArch Architecture (T273) Full Time

EU Year 1 - €7830

EU Year 2 - €7830 aa

nonEU Year 1 - €24800

nonEU Year 2 - €24200 aa


Second Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2019 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2018/19


***Fees are subject to change


Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see www.ucd.ie/international/scholarships.


The College of Engineering & Architecture also offer scholarships for non-EU students, for more information see: www.ucd.ie/eacollege/study/noneuscholarships

Next Intake: September 2025.

Career & Graduate Study Opportunities

The MArch qualification is RIAI (and European Union), and RIBA accredited. It will equip graduates to work in architecture anywhere across the world, whether in major global centres or in particular regional contexts. Graduates are involved in architectural practice and in other forms of professional creative practice, as well as in areas of policy and consultancy. Many graduates also go on to further postgraduate study, in UCD and elsewhere. Past students in the course’s connected programmes have gone on to become international or national experts in their selected fields.