Architecture - Practice-Based - Research

Overview

Architecture at Queen’s addresses 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, coalesce to create a complex context that architecture has to mediate.



Architecture at Queen’s offers a part-time, practice-based PhD (by Practice) for those involved in venturous design practice and interested in the articulation and dissemination of the underlying motivations and potentials in their work: venturous practice is taken to mean those interested in expanding the boundaries of contemporary design practice. Candidates may be at an early, middle or late stage of their design careers and will have either a body of significant peer reviewed/celebrated work, or alternatively have a evidently significant creative trajectory in their academic or speculative outputs (projects and competitions) such as would support this level of enquiry.



Tacit knowledge figures prominently as a concern in this form of PhD (ie by Practice) and the assumption is that candidates remain in practice for the duration of their part-time enrolment (minimum of four years, maximum of six). The evolution of the candidate’s practice and outputs over the term of the PhD is of itself significant and clearly implies the modification of how that candidate practices, this forms an essential component of the research.



Recurrent themes within this PhD by Practice include public behaviours (what choices implicit or explicit does the practitioner make, how she/he positions themselves within the profession and the canon), community of practice (to whom does the practitioner relate), and the particular tropes and techniques deployed in the production/delivery of designs outputs. Research methodologies are focused on the devices of practice itself rather than traditional text-grounded epistemologies - non-textual media will typically form the majority of the thesis.



The programme encourages interaction with other platforms focused on design practise research and design-driven research, notably RMIT University biannual Practice Research Symposia based in Barcelona, and the pan-European Community of Artistic and Architectural Research (CA2RE) under the auspices of the EAAE.



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. Head of Architecture, Dr Sarah Lappin, was Chair of the Architectural Humanities Research Association for six years, and we were co-founders of the All-Ireland Architecture Research Group. You’ll conduct research that addresses the issues of architecture within an increasingly globalised world, focusing on an area of research strength such as materiality (developing new technologies); urbanism (sustainability and heritage); sustainability (developing urban resilience by adaptation); heritage (documenting the architectural past), and cultural context (gaining a real-time understanding of motion in the city). We value both traditional academic and practice-based research, particularly research-by-design, which we use to make new knowledge through not only the analysis of the existing, but also the documentation of new processes and situations created by new design thinking.



Course structure

A PhD is awarded for original research in a topic chosen by the student. This programme may be undertaken on a part-time (6 year) basis. To complete with a PhD qualification you will be required to submit a thesis of no more than 80,000 words. Research students are appointed a primary and secondary supervisor who will guide them through their research, supported by an independent panel reviewing students’ progress.



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.



If you meet the Entry Requirements, the next step is to check whether we can supervise research in your chosen area. We only take students to whom we can offer expert research supervision from one of our academic staff. Therefore, your research question needs to engage with the research interests of one of our staff.

Graduate

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. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School.

How to Apply

Apply using our online Postgraduate Applications Portal and follow the step-by-step instructions on how to apply.

6 Academic Years (Part-time).



Mode of study / duration

This programme is intended for those in design practice and who would remain in practice for the duration of the PhD while enrolled on part-time basis at Queen’s. Registration is on a part-time basis only, under the direction of a supervisory team appointed by the University. You will be expected to submit your thesis at the end of six years.

Entry Year: Academic Year 2025/26.

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. Queen's postgraduates reap exceptional benefits. Unique initiatives, such as Degree Plus and Researcher Plus bolster our commitment to employability. For further information on career opportunities at PhD level please contact the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences Student Recruitment Team on askEPS@qub.ac.uk. Our advisors - in consultation with the School - will be happy to provide further information on your research area, possible career prospects and your research application.