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Student work: composite photo of buildings by Brighton seafront

Architectural and Urban Design MA (PGCert PGDip)

  • Intro
  • Course
    content
  • Careers
  • Entry
    criteria
  • Fees
  • Location
  • Stay in
    touch
  • Related

Intro

On this experimental and collaborative masters course you will acquire the skills required to creatively shape our future urban environments – whether that’s the design of buildings, larger developments or landscapes.

You will work across the disciplines of architecture, art and cultural geography, combining critical debate and artistic practice to aid your development as a designer of physical settings.

The course is highly experimental and we aim to stretch your imagination and critical ability. You will engage with research on the analysis of city spaces and explore the current issues of global urbanism. You will lead your own projects, speculating as to how urban environments will evolve, and graduate with a significant portfolio of work.

Against Brighton’s vibrant backdrop we offer a supportive studio environment, field trips and diverse workshops and seminars taught by architects and urban designers.

Key facts

Location Brighton: Moulsecoomb

Full-time 12 months 
Part-time 2 years

Book onto our online event

See all our other online events

Apply online

Please review the entry requirements carefully and if you have any questions do get in touch with us.

Apply now for your place

My 18 months at Brighton was a breakpoint in my career. I developed my own visual and academic skills in terms of understanding, questioning and addressing contemporary issues, and managed to clarify my professional profile.

Laura Ferrarello, Architectural and Urban Design MA

Course content

How this course is delivered

We've made some changes to the way our courses are taught to keep everyone safe, connected and involved in university life.

At the moment, students have a blend of on-campus and digitally enabled remote learning that provides lots of opportunities to interact and engage with lecturers and other students.

Find out what these changes mean for this course

Why study with us?

  • Experimental course that stretches your imagination and critical ability and helps you to become a leader in your field
  • Based in the creative and vibrant city environment of Brighton and Hove, and with close proximity to London

  • Past field trips to cities have included London, Berlin, Marseille, Lisbon, Glasgow and Edinburgh
  • Teaching staff who are also practitioners in architecture and urban design
  • Workshops and guest lectures from leading figures such as Robert Mull and Publica, Ed Parham of Space Syntax, artist Anthony McCall, Stefano Rabolli Pansera of Beyond Entropy

  • A thriving alumni network of professional architects, academics and urban designers

Making sure that what you learn with us is relevant, up to date and what employers are looking for is our priority, so courses are reviewed and enhanced on an ongoing basis. When you have applied to us, you’ll be told about any new developments through Student View.

Students on field trip

Students on a field trip at the Unite d’Habitation designed by le Corbusier, built between 1947 and 1952

Areas of study

The course is taught over three semesters over 12 months.

Design 1: Urban Strategies

This module introduces you to design strategies, methods and issues pertinent to your design studio, helping you to explore the potential of different approaches to design. There is a strong emphasis on the development of conceptual ideas and their correlation with the development of design strategy, helping you to articulate your individual position as a design practitioner.

Design 2

Design 2 aims to consolidate and extend the priorities, ideas and strategies established in Design 1. You will explore architectural and urban ideas in more depth and complexity. The emphasis here is on curiosity and speculation, supporting the development of methods to help with enquiry, reflection and debate.

Independent Project

The independent project runs concurrently and is concerned with your identification of places of ‘conflict’ and negotiations of space. The module encourages experimentation in a specific field of study. Students have developed projects in fields of architectural and artistic practice, creative design, techniques of communication or new technologies.

Critical Readings

The Critical Readings module will develop your skills in critical practice through an analysis of cultural, historical, theoretical and practical issues in architecture. It provides the opportunity to carry out initial investigations into the ideas that will drive your masterwork project.

Research Practices

Research Practices introduces you to the challenges involved in designing, implementing and disseminating a research project. You will develop a written proposal that can inform the development of your masterwork project, encouraging you to consider how your investigations contribute to the academic knowledge in your field.

Masterwork

The masterwork is the final stage of study, requiring you to perform as a self-reflective critical researcher and lay down the foundations for innovation in your future practice. You will develop your project from an agreed research proposal, which may be either a text-based dissertation or a design-led research project with critical reflection. You will be asked to focus the areas of interest that have developed in your previous practice and studies, identify research questions and develop research methods, bringing critical investigation and creative responses together.

The entrance

Entrance to the Kings Cross Historic Game by Ekaterina Novikova

Evelina layers

Examining the permeability of the boundary to the Kings Cross site by Evelina Klimaite

Facilities

  • You will benefit from a new masters centre including studio space, tutorial areas and shared creative spaces.
  • Modelling and construction workshops: timber and metal, dedicated 'wet' modelling bay, plastic dying facility, drill press, spray booth, vacuum former, strip bender, plastics oven, hot wire cutter and spot welder; further workshops available by arrangement with rapid prototyping and laser cutter.
  • IT facilities include 3D paper and printer, plotters, scanners and a reprographics suite.
  • Software includes Adobe suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat Professional), VW2010, Cinema 4D, Premiere, Blender, AutoCAD, Maya and Rhino.
  • Library facilities include additional computing equipment, digital and hard copy specialist library facilities, and specialist collections.
Architecture student model making

Meet the team

Sarah Stevens, course leader

Sarah’s research interests focus on architectural engagement with temporality, ambiguity and uncertainty explored through agendas of sustainability and architectural experience. This work directly informs her teaching and design studio agendas and was informed by her PhD in responsive architecture, focusing on kinetic facades, sponsored by Arup.

Previously a senior architect in practice, Sarah’s experience included design research into zero carbon housing prototypes and the development of adaptive portable structures. As a freelance consultant her work has included contributions to the BRE Green Guide to Specification for Housing and Green Guide to Specification for Offices. Read Sarah's full profile.

Other staff who teach on the course include:

Sue Robertson, Alex Fitch, Sam Lynch, Ben Sweeting, Sally Sutherland, Peter Clash, Ed Parham and Judit Pusztaszeri.

Student views 

Francesca Visione


What I most enjoyed about the MAAUD course was its investigative nature and the space that gave us. The course is structured to better balance theoretical modules, thought to stimulate research, reflection and investigations, and practical design modules, which give the chance of applying the acquired knowledge at a more practical level with the development of projects and designs.

When I decided to apply for the MAAUD I was attending an Architectural University in Netherlands, but I wanted to understand what was my identity as a designer. I had a clear idea of the thesis that I wanted to develop, partly research based and partly designed, and the themes I wanted to explore. I needed an environment that could give me the tools and the freedom I needed and MAAUD was offering what I was looking for.

The whole experience was so enjoyable and formative, not only from a design prospective, but also from a personal point of view.

Through my university journey in Brighton I have been able to understand my core values as Designer, to refresh my passion for the discipline and to understand where and why I fit into the design industry. This represented a fundamental aspect for starting my career and for succeeding in joining the company I wanted to work for.

It is now one year and half that I work for a global award-winning firm that works across the disciplines of Urban Design, Landscape Architecture and Environmental Design with the main goal of developing progressive designs for creating better cities and improving the quality of people's life. I have been exposed to a variety of projects and challenges, that I have been able to handle due to the passion, the methods and skills the MAAUD helped me to develop

Francesca Visione

Birute Raglyte 

This course helped me to develop my skills as an urban designer, as the course leader encouraged me to form my own critical thinking and apply it to the development of different projects. Looking at the various approaches of the conceptual ideas and discussing some stimulating examples of physical and conceptual urban interventions, I discovered that the urban knowledge as a whole is highly layered and complex. Thanks to this course I learned how to approach and address the urban experience.

Birute Raglyte

Studio work

Our studio produces an astonishing variety of work, but the core values remain the same: critical engagement and creative response.

  • Birute Raglyte: e-Bike hub
  • Emily Bowles: The emotive autonomy of tourists
  • Brighton beach structure
  • Brighton underground section
  • envisioning cinema in evening
  • site model
  • Terrasse Brighton
  • Brush design painting
‹ ›

Our latest news

Seeking Participants: A Two Day Design Workshop to Re-imagine Birth Space, March 2021.

Seeking Participants: A Two Day Design Workshop to Re-imagine Birth Space, March 2021.

Calling Student Designers in the SoAD!

SoAd New Public Lecture Series: OMMX

SoAd New Public Lecture Series: OMMX

We are delighted to kick off our Spring Lecture Series at 6pm on Thursday 28th January with a talk from OMMX.

Two New Lecture Series for 2021.

Two New Lecture Series for 2021.

To kick off  2021 the School of Architecture and Design are delighted to announced two fantastic new lecture series.

First of our new Lunchtime Lecture Series: Alex Zambelli, How to Build an Architectural Commons.

First of our new Lunchtime Lecture Series: Alex Zambelli, How to Build an Architectural Commons.

In this first lunchtime talk Alex Zambelli will describe how the twin projects of the AHRC-funded Wastes and Strays: the past present and future of English urban commons, and an upcoming Special Issue of the Journal of Architecture he is guest editing called Architectural Commons between them build towards a notion of the commons which is simultaneously, participatory […] The post First of our new Lunchtime Lecture Series: Alex Zambelli, How to Build an Architectural Commons.

Read more from our blog

Careers

The Architectural and Urban Design MA gives you a deep understanding of the issues involved in contemporary practice. As you evolve your own specialist work, you will discover ways to reimagine and reshape the contemporary urban environment.

Our graduates have gone on to be professional architects, academics and urban designers in the UK, Vietnam, Russia, Palestine, Japan, Taiwan, Kenya, Turkey, Lithuania and other countries. Among our alumni are award-winning architects Wei Jiang and Quang Nguyen, who are based in Shanghai and London respectively.

Cuts through buildings

Entry criteria

Entry requirements

Degree and experience
Normally a 2:2 honours degree in a design-related subject. In exceptional circumstances, applicants may have several years of experience working in the design industry. You will need:

  • two references (one of which must be academic for recent graduates)
  • personal statement
  • portfolio (hard copy or suitable digital alternative).

English language requirements
IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each element. Find out more about the other English qualifications that we accept.

International students whose language skills do not match the IELTS scores set out here should consider applying for this course through the Extended Masters programme at the university's Language Institute.

International requirements and visas

International requirements by country
Country name
Albania
Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bermuda
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burma (Myanmar)
Cameroon
Canada
Chile
China
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Guyana
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Kosovo
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Libya
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malawi
Malta
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Morocco
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palestinian National Authority
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russian Federation
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sri Lanka
Syria
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tanzania
Thailand
Tunisia
Turkey
Uganda
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United States
Uzbekistan
Venezuela
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
Zimbabwe

We can help you meet our English language or academic entry requirements.

Visit our language centre

For English language preparation courses.

Visit our International College

For degree preparation courses.

Visas and immigration advice

Applying for a student visa

Check out our step-by-step guidance.

Fees

Course fees

UK (full-time) 12 months7,704 GBP

International (full-time) 12 months 15,300 GBP 


Scholarships, bursaries and loans

We offer a range of scholarships for postgraduate students. Bursaries and loans may also be available to you.

Find out more about postgraduate fees and funding.

What's included

You may have to pay additional costs during your studies, although we have tried to keep this to a minimum. The cost of optional activities is not included in your tuition fee and you will need to meet this cost in addition to your fees. A summary of the costs that you may be expected to pay, and what is included, whilst studying a course in the School of Architecture and Design are listed below:

  • In your first year of studies, you will need to buy a drawing and modelling toolkit. Each course will suggest a list of items of which some will be essential, and others optional. You should budget around £100–£250 for these.
  • For most courses you will need to budget between £100 to £300 per year for printing and portfolio costs. Costs will vary depending on type of printer and type and size of paper used. Some students tend to work digitally, spending more on printing and some by hand, spending more on materials so these costs vary widely between students.
  • Most essay and report submissions can be made online however, you should budget around £25 for printing and binding dissertations in your final year.
  • For most courses you will need to budget between £10 and £100 for material costs per design project. Costs will vary depending on how and what you use to make models. You are encouraged to recycle used materials where possible.
  • Course books are available from the university but you may wish to budget from £15 to £100 per year to buy your own copies and subscribe to design magazines.
  • You will have access to computers and necessary software, however many students choose to buy their own hardware, software and accessories. The amount spent will depend on your individual choices but this expenditure is not essential to pass any of our courses. Find out what free software is available from the university.
  • You will need to budget between £5–£50 to exhibit work for the end-of-year show. Fundraising by the student society, BIAAS, normally helps towards this cost.
  • Most courses include mandatory site visits and travel expenses are included in the fees.
  • There will be opportunities to attend additional study trips throughout the course but these are not required to pass your course. The cost of travel to them will be covered by the course but there may be additional costs varying from a packed lunch to entrance to a museum.
  • International field trips are offered in each year which are optional and are not required to pass your course. You should expect to budget approximately £150–£350 for these, to cover flight, accommodation, food and entrance to museums. The total amount spent would be based on location and number of trips taken.

You can chat with our enquiries team through the Stay in touch panel at the end of this page if you require further information. Or check our finance pages for advice about funding and scholarships as well as more information about fees and advice on international and island fee-paying status

Info

The fees listed here are for full-time courses beginning in the academic year 2021–22.

Further tuition fees are payable for each subsequent year of study and are subject to an annual increase of no more than 5% or RPI (whichever is the greater). The annual increase for UK students, who are subject to regulated fees, will increase no more than the statutory maximum fee.

You can find out more about our fees in the university's student contract and tuition fee policy (pdf).

The tuition fee you have to pay depends on a number of factors including the kind of course you take, and whether you study full-time or part-time. If you are studying part-time you will normally be charged on a pro rata basis depending on the number of modules you take.

Location

Local area

About Brighton

The city of Brighton & Hove is a forward-thinking place which leads the way in the arts, technology, sustainability and creativity. You'll find living here plays a key role in your learning experience.

Brighton is a leading centre for creative media technology, recently named the startup capital of the UK.

The city is home to a national 5G testbed and over 1,000 tech businesses. The digital sector is worth over £1bn a year to the local economy - as much as tourism.

All of our full-time undergraduate courses involve work-based learning - this could be through placements, live briefs and guest lectures. Many of these opportunities are provided by local businesses and organisations.

It's only 50 minutes by train from Brighton to central London and less than 40 minutes to Eastbourne. There are also daily direct trains to Bristol, Bedford, Cambridge, Gatwick Airport, Portsmouth and Southampton.

Map showing distance to London from Brighton
Brighton Beach sunset

Campus where this course is taught

Moulsecoomb campus

Two miles north of Brighton seafront, Moulsecoomb is our largest campus. Subjects taught here include architecture, business, computing, construction, engineering, geography, product design, law and pharmacy.

On campus you will find professional-standard facilities including a flight simulator, trading room, design and digital media suites and specialist research laboratories, alongside the library, student centre, a nursery, fitness facilities and Students’ Union. There are excellent public transport links.

The Big Build
A major transformation of our Moulsecoomb campus began in summer 2018. By the time the Big Build is complete, there’ll be new halls of residence, academic building, and Students’ Union and fitness facilities – all created with sustainability, inclusivity and community in mind.

As the development grows it will provide many exciting learning opportunities for our students, ranging from live projects, placements and internships with the companies involved to guest lectures and site visits.

The Big Build

Accommodation

Brighton: Moulsecoomb

We guarantee an offer of a place in halls of residence to all eligible students.

Halls of residence
We have halls of residence across Brighton in the city centre, Moulsecoomb, Varley Park and Falmer.

  • You'll be prioritised for accommodation in the halls that are linked to your teaching base, subject to availability.
  • Moulsecoomb campus is linked to Varley Park and Moulsecoomb Place halls. All halls are self catered, but if you prefer you can add in a food and drink plan.
    • Varley Park offers a mix of rooms. It is around two miles from Moulsecoomb campus and four miles from the city centre. Public transport in the city is excellent, and there’s a shuttle bus between our Brighton campuses during term time.
    • Moulsecoomb Place halls are all self-catered and are located right on campus.

Want to live independently or in a university-managed house? We can help – find out more about unihomes and unilets or private renting.

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Halls

Modern accommodation at nearby Varley Park

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Relaxing in halls near the campus

Students eating at the Hub

Students eating at the Hub

Maps

Moulsecoomb campus map

Stay in touch

Book onto our online event

See all our other online events

Ask a question about this course

If you have a question about this course, our enquiries team will be happy to help.

01273 644644

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‹ ›

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