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Master of Architecture

MArch (NFQ Level 9)
Sustainable Development Goals

This course is available through the following application route(s)

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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.

Application & portfolio guidelines

 

Master of Architecture interview timetable for applicants:

Completed applications (All required documents) must be submitted by the relevant submission deadline in order to be considered for the below interview dates.

Interview Dates: 

Applicants are encouraged to submit their application as early as possible; all published interview rounds will only proceed subject to the availability of places.

Dates for September 2024 Start (these will be updated in due course for 2025)

  • Thursday, 8 December 2023 (Submission Deadline: Monday, 20 November 2023)
  • Thursday, 8 February 2024 (Submission Deadline: Monday, 22 January 2024)
  • Thursday, 21 March 2024 (Submission Deadline: Monday, 4 March 2024)
  • Thursday, 9 May 2024 (Submission Deadline: Monday, 15 April 2024)
  • Thursday, 6 June 2024

Please note that candidates who are moved to 'interview' status will be contacted one week in advance of the above interview dates, e.g. For interviews on March 21st students will receive details w/c 11th March

About This Course

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.

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.

Below is a list of all modules offered for this degree in the current academic year. Click on the module to discover what you will learn in the module, how you will learn and assessment feedback profile amongst other information.

Incoming Stage 1 undergraduates can usually select an Elective in the Spring Trimester. Most continuing undergraduate students can select up to two Elective modules (10 Credits) per stage. There is also the possibility to take up to 10 extra Elective credits.

Module Type Module   Trimester Credits
Stage 1 Core Modules
ARCT40010 Design Technologies I Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
ARCT40020 Research & Innovation in the Designed Environment Autumn  5
Stage 1 Core Modules
ARCT41120 Architectural Design VII - Comprehensive Design Studio Autumn  15
Stage 1 Core Modules
ARCT40050 Architectural Design VIII Spring  15
Stage 1 Core Modules
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
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.
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
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:
ARCT40170 Conservation History, Theory and Policy Autumn  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:
ARCT40660 Street Life: Urban Design, an Introduction Autumn  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:
ARCT41210 Architecture in a Climate Emergency Autumn  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:
PLAN40030 Planning, Society and Diversity Autumn  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:
ARCT41240 Urban Resilience and Ethics Spring  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
ARCT41130 Reflective Portfolio Module 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
ARCT41300 Major Research Essay 2 Trimester duration (Aut-Spr)  10
Stage 2 Core Modules
ARCT40190 Professional Studies II Autumn  5
Stage 2 Core Modules
ARCT41190 Design Thesis 1 Autumn  15
Stage 2 Core Modules
ARCT41180 Design Thesis 2 Spring  25

UCD ranks 1st in Ireland and in the top 50 worldwide in the QS Sustainability rankings 2023, which focus on what institutions are doing to tackle the world’s greatest environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges

MArch (Hons) is the only programme that is accredited by both the professional institute in Ireland (RIAI), and by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).


Graduate Profile - Chloe Loh

"After completing my three year undergraduate in the UK I spent three years working for different architectural practices in London before deciding to do my masters. An important element distinguishing UCD from other universities is its research based approach to most modules. These modules allow students to investigate their own interests and develop them into written arguments or effective design proposals; students at UCD are thus encouraged to be self-directed. This is something that has allowed me to project my personal interests into every project and to develop my own style and design method – an important characteristic distinguishing UCD from many other schools. It is a great time to be part of the Irish architectural scene. I will be graduating into the professional world at a time where Ireland is very much at the forefront of the international stage. It is a small course quietly producing talented and careful architects, where staff are open to nurturing the ideas of students, both in and outside of the studio environment."

Master of Architecture (T273) Full Time
EU          Year 1 - € 9530
nonEU    Year 1 - € 29100
EU          Year 2 - € 9050 aa
nonEU    Year 2 - € 29100 aa

aaSecond Year Fee applies to Students in 2nd Year in 2025 and who were a 1st Year Student on the programme in 2024/25
***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 https://www.ucd.ie/global/scholarships/

  • Portfolio Submission is essential (guidelines)
  • 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.

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes
International (Non EU) applicants: Yes


General application route(s) for Irish/UK/EU applicants* for International (non-EU) applicants* to Master of Architecture:

ROWCLASS Apply to   Application Type  
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt T273
Master of Architecture
Master of Architecture
Full-Time
Commencing September 2024
Graduate Taught Closed
showAudience-audienceEU showAudience-audienceInt T273
Master of Architecture
Master of Architecture
Full-Time
Commencing September 2025
Graduate Taught Apply
* you can change options at the top of the page