About the course

Reasons to study

1. You'll learn in the state of the art £30m Barbara Hepworth Building with collaborative studios, photography studios and exhibition space.
2. This course is prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB) and validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).
3. Award winning graduates: Our graduates have gone on to win prestigous awards within the industry, such as the RIBA Dissertation medal.

Successful completion of this RIBA validated course provides exemption from Part 2 of the ARB prescribed Examination in Architecture.

As part of the process of becoming a professionally-qualified Architect in the UK, graduates are required to complete a period of supervised ‘practical training’, 12 months of which (commonly referred-to as the ‘Year Out’) is normally undertaken before commencing full-time academic study at Master’s level. This period of practical training constitutes Year 1 of the University of Huddersfield MArch course.

Therefore, students who have not previously completed a satisfactory period of practical training are urged to join the course in Year 1, but may also apply to join Year 2 after a portfolio interview. Students who have already completed a satisfactory period of practical training should apply to join the course in Year 2.

Years 2 and Year 3 of the course are design-centred and intended to enable you to thoughtfully and creatively explore the architectural and urban implications of environmental change and technological developments, as well as architecture's own inherent complexities and transformations. It is also important that students should develop a critical appreciation of the context - both physical and cultural - within which design work is undertaken. All this enables you to establish your own theoretical position, through which you will be expected to develop a high degree of sensitivity to the contexts and transformations within which design work is undertaken in geographical, cultural, social and technical terms.

All design projects explore applications of sustainability and encourage a wide and plural outlook appropriate for both developed and developing countries. In this global worldview, understanding of progressive theories of design and the application of advanced construction methods co-exist with concern for the implementation of appropriate sustainable technologies, awareness of regional development issues and respect for appropriate building practices as well as advanced construction technologies.

The rationale and definition of ‘International’ both builds upon the studies undertaken as part of the Architecture (International) BA(Hons) degree awarded by the University of Huddersfield and acknowledges the reality of rapidly changing architectural practice in a fast moving, global context. Our course aims to prepare you for new and emerging forms of practice through the development of your personal learning skills and a deep understanding of the need for flexibility, adaptability, innovation and enterprise in your career.

Entry requirements

There are two entry points into the Master of Architecture / Master of Architecture (International) programme:

Entry to Year 1: You should possess an undergraduate degree in Architecture. You will have normally passed, or be exempt from, Part I of the RIBA examination in Architecture, but have not yet completed a period of practical experience. If you are progressing from University of Huddersfield’s BA(Hons) Architecture/Architecture (International) programme you should be ready to join the programme at this point. Should you be progressing from other institutions, you will be asked to attend a portfolio interview to determine your readiness to join this programme.

Entry to Year 2: You should possess an undergraduate degree in Architecture. You will have normally passed, or be exempt from, Part I of the RIBA examination in Architecture, and will normally have completed a period of practical experience. If you are progressing from University of Huddersfield’s BA(Hons) Architecture/Architecture (International) programme but have not undertaken year one or you are progressing from another institution, you will be asked to attend a portfolio interview to determine your readiness to join the programme at this level.

Direct entry to year 3 will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

You may be admitted to the M.Arch course with accreditation for prior learning (APL) and/or accreditation for prior experiential learning (APEL).

If your first language is not English, you will need to meet the minimum requirements of an English Language qualification. The minimum for IELTS is 6.0 overall with no element lower than 5.5, (a minimum of TOEFL 550 (Computer Based Toefl 213) score) or equivalent. Read more about the University’s entry requirements for students outside of the UK on our Where are you from information pages.