ARCHImaster

Society needs many different kinds of architect. This course will enable you to engage with current public expectations of architectural practice and with the adaptive and increasingly complex demands of design. The course aims to produce graduates who are intellectually and professionally equipped to serve society as creative architects. In particular, it combines a rigorous design-based education with the opportunity for developing skills within a chosen specialist field. You will be encouraged to make focused choices concerning your own education and you will be able to select an individual programme of work depending upon your own particular insights, interests and experience. Teaching staff within the University have a wide spectrum of expertise and, together with visiting staff and critics, will introduce you to the circumstances and trends of contemporary architectural design and practice. Architects rarely work alone and need a clear understanding of how their role interacts with others to bring about good buildings. There is, therefore, considerable interdisciplinary activity with research areas within architecture, with other disciplines in the University and with external organisations. Course content The course is modular in structure and has four components: Design Projects - carried out either individually or in small groups within studios of approximately 20 students. The projects vary from two-week exercises to complex integrated designs over longer periods of time. Each studio has a different emphasis including: Civic Architecture Housing Interior Architecture Responsive Environments Urban Architecture Sustainable Architecture Study Abroad Programme: Washington, Chile, Australia, Europe. Requisite Studies - lecture courses and associated project related coursework which all students attend, comprising: Construction Economics of Design Energy and Environmental Design Professional Practice Research and Writing Structures Urban Design Computing Specialist Routes -you will select one specialist route as part of the required programme. Each of these occupies at least one semester full-time and some can be taken part-time. The seven specialist routes are: Architecture and Cultural Studies Built Resource Studies Development Practice Energy-Efficient Building International Studies in Vernacular Architecture Major Study Urban Design With the exception of the major study, each of the other six specialist routes leads to a postgraduate diploma in the specialist route subject, for example a postgraduate diploma in built resource studies. Students electing to follow one of these routes, if successful, will graduate with both a Graduate Diploma in Architecture and a postgraduate diploma in the specialist route. Further master's level study is also available in each of the special areas after completion of the Graduate Diploma in Architecture. Options - a broad range of optional seminars are offered. You may attend these seminars and, by submitting coursework, may be able to gain modular credits. The seminars include: Architecture and the City Architectural Psychology Connections (the interface between structures and construction) Anatomy of Oxford Landscape and Architecture Interventions in Urban Housing Leading Edge Urban Architecture Learning, teaching and assessment The course is structured around project-based learning in which the integration of both practical and theoretical considerations is a central preoccupation. The studio provides the core of learning and enquiry and design teaching extends across a wide spectrum of subject matter, providing a high degree of choice. Each design studio is co-ordinated by a member of the architecture staff, supported by other staff as appropriate. Staff act as subject tutors for the design projects and major studies, and conduct seminars and field courses. In addition, you will attend lectures and seminars. Part-time students attend one day per week. Assessment is based on creative work, dissertation and coursework, and a viva voce examination with external examiners at the end of the course. Professional recognition The course leads to exemption from the RIBA/ARB Part 2 examination in architecture (only if you have already gained RIBA/ARB Part 1). After gaining the Graduate Diploma in Architecture, students spend at least one further year in practical training and may enrol on the school's RIBA/ARB Part 3 course. This includes two seminar courses to prepare candidates for the examination in Professional Practice, normally in November, which qualifies students to apply for admission to the Register of Architects and for membership of RIBA. Funding Students who are eligible for a Further Education Award should apply to their LEA for at least a six-year award when commencing the undergraduate course, in order to complete the degree, the year out and the diploma course. Failure to do this will result in termination of the award on completion of the undergraduate course. Entry requirements A good first degree, or equivalent qualification in architecture, and exemption from the RIBA/ARB Part 1 examination, if they wish to gain exemption from the RIBA/ARB Part 2 examination. Applications from architectural graduates with specialist master's degrees under the Accreditation of Prior Learning (APL) scheme are also welcome. Conditions of acceptance When you accept our offer you agree to the conditions of acceptance. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.