Architecture and Urban Design - MA

This is an archived course for 2021 entry
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The MA in Architecture and Urban Design (MAUD) is a wide-ranging mainstream Master's programme in architecture that gives you an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspective on contemporary architecture and urban design. The programme informs you about the latest knowledge of architecture and urban design in order to prepare you to become a successful professionals working on a global scale.

Overview

You are taught how to combine academic analysis with the development of creative and intellectual skills. We regard theory and practice of architecture as equally important, and believe that joint effort and excellence in both areas are necessary for communicating architecture and urban design competently and successfully. You are encouraged to develop your creative and imaginative abilities; to produce ideas and undertake work that conveys your understanding of architecture and cities in fresh and effective ways.

You learn how to approach contemporary architecture and cities and their relation to the society, culture and arts including film and theatre. Through the analysis of wider social and environmental aspects and through modeling of cities’ life and its dynamic forces, programme considers the ways in which both the heritage buildings and the new design proposals can facilitate in the sustainable development of cities in the future.

Kent School of Architecture and Planning (KSAP) has developed a unique partnership with Farrells, the internationally renowned architects and urban planners. John Letherland, former Head of Master Planning, currently leads a design module for all students on this programme.

This is a versatile Master’s qualification for architects, urban designers, surveyors, historians, landscape architects, theorists, engineers and other related professionals involved with planning and design of contemporary cities, as well as graduates interested in pursuing further postgraduate studies and an academic career.

This programme is taught at our Canterbury campus. There is also a version of this programme which allows you to spend a term in Paris.


About Kent School of Architecture and Planning

Research at Kent School of Architecture and Planning achieves excellence in both the history and theory of architecture and in sustainable urban, peri-urban and environmental design. School staff have design expertise and specialist knowledge; they are at the forefront of current architectural issues, including sustainability, technology, professional practice and research. Our staff are active at academic and professional conferences, both nationally and internationally, and appear and publish in local and national media. The School promotes innovative and interdisciplinary research, emphasising sustainable design.

Much of the project work involved in the Kent School of Architecture and Planning is located on 'live' sites in the local region, using real clients and engaging challenging issues. Students in all stages of the school have been introduced to real urban and architectural design challenges in Lille, Margate, Folkestone, Dover, Rye, Chatham and, of course, Canterbury. Much of this work involves liaising with external bodies, such as architects, planners, council and development groups.

Entry requirements

A second class honours degree (2.2 or above) or equivalent in architecture or another related discipline in humanities, planning or similar. Those without a degree will be considered for entry on an individual basis but must be able to show a considerable period of experience at an appropriate level.

As part of your application, we require a portfolio of recent work. The portfolio is an important part of the application and will be used to assess the potential you have to benefit from, and thrive within, the programme.

Portfolio advice

There are no strict rules and portfolios can be diverse in style, content and format. We value variety and exploration and therefore we try not to prescribe the format of your portfolio. If you have a diverse educational or professional background, you should include work that would best show the wider scope and development of your career.

Your portfolio should contain your best and most recent work demonstrating your ability in design, spatial awareness and in academic accomplishment. It should include examples of work undertaken as part of a formal programme of study. Typically, we look for you to demonstrate knowledge about urban design and show an interest in cities and city-making and how cities function. 

Portfolios should also demonstrate your range of skills in graphic communication and drawing, and therefore include computer drawings and renderings, freehand drawings, technical drawings and three-dimensional modelling. You might include examples from your own design sketchbooks, competition work or speculative projects undertaken outside formal studies.

If you have had a period in professional practice, you could include architectural design drawings or urban design drawings, working drawings or photographs of any built projects. Your portfolio should include your own original work.

The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. Students offering alternative qualifications should contact us for further advice.

If you are an international student, visit our International Student website for further information about entry requirements for your country, including details of the International Foundation Programmes.

English language entry requirements

The University requires all non-native speakers of English to reach a minimum standard of proficiency in written and spoken English before beginning a postgraduate degree. Certain subjects require a higher level.

For detailed information see our English language requirements web pages. 

Need help with English?

Please note that if you are required to meet an English language condition, we offer a number of pre-sessional courses in English for Academic Purposes through Kent International Pathways.

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Course structure

Duration: 2 years part-time

The MA is composed of four taught modules (one module per term) and a dissertation on the topic of your own choice. The programme leads to an MA but may be taken as a Postgraduate Diploma without the dissertation.

Graduates have worked at the cutting edge of the architectural profession on a global level and progressed to work in academia.

Modules

The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This list is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.  Most programmes will require you to study a combination of compulsory and optional modules. You may also have the option to take modules from other programmes so that you may customise your programme and explore other subject areas that interest you.

Teaching

Teaching and assessment

Assessment is by coursework and the dissertation.

Programme aims

This programme aims to:

  • ensure that you achieve excellence in your knowledge of architecture and cities through the development of your understanding, research, design and other related abilities
  • promote creativity and excellence in architecture and urban design; from understanding concepts to thoughtful project development and the integration of research, strategically and in detail
  • develop your knowledge of the theoretical, historical and professional contexts of architecture and urban design and ensure that you are aware of your responsibilities
  • develop your understanding of architecture, cities and urban design within a broader cultural context that would include studies of arts and humanities
  • promote and support independent research and high-quality skills
  • accommodate a wide range of views and develop your specialised original interests
  • develop understanding of how the boundaries of knowledge are advanced through research and promote originality in applying knowledge in architecture and urban design
  • develop initiative, responsibility and sound critical judgement in making decisions about complex architectural and urban design issues
  • enable you to develop strategies for self-improvement and commitment to research and learning
  • support you in achieving your full potential in all parts of the programme.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You will gain knowledge and understanding of:

  • the ways in which human activities shape and influence the environment and how the physical environment in turn affects and influences humans
  • the complexity of circumstances and constraints to which architecture and urban design has to respond
  • the histories and theories of urban design, architecture, the history of ideas, and the related disciplines of art, cultural studies and landscape studies and their application in critical debate
  • a critical awareness of the nature of architecture, cities, and conditions of emergence of urban space, in all its manifestations, including buildings, infrastructure, open spaces and landscape
  • a conceptual understanding that enables you to develop strategies and/or sound urban design proposals for new architecture and urban areas and the improvement of existing ones, in ways that are socially and culturally agreeable, economically viable and environmentally sustainable.

Intellectual skills

You develop intellectual skills in:

  • the ability to develop analytical and critical skills in the understanding of architecture and urban transformation applied to urban areas in relation to social, historical, organisational and political processes
  • the ability to independently define and appraise ideas in architecture and urban design and form considered judgements about spatial, aesthetic, technical and the social qualities of an urban context within the scope and scale of a wider environment
  • the ability to question and critically evaluate past and current design methods and tools
  • the ability to refer to, and analyse, case studies competently
  • the ability to speculate and apply relevant research to the proposed design ideas, development and tasks
  • the ability to formulate a research proposal with its appropriate methodology
  • the ability to develop strategic proposals/masterplans that deal with the built environment in a culturally sensitive, socially just, and environmentally and economically sustainable manner.

Subject-specific skills

You gain subject-specific skills in:

  • the ability to produce documentation and clear, analytical reports covering a range of issues in relation to culture theory and urban design
  • the ability to use visual, verbal and written communication and appropriate media (including sketching, digital and audiovisual) to present critical appraisal and analysis of design proposals to professional and general audiences
  • the ability to formulate viable, original and well-supported design proposals and advice aimed at dealing with the complexity of urban contexts
  • the ability to acquire advanced negotiation skills and professional attitudes in dealing with stakeholders
  • the ability to acquire research skills including the formulation of a conceptual framework and use of a range of information sources
  • the ability to develop excellent graphic and other visual presentation skills to be applied to the design projects or the submission of written reports.

Transferable skills

You will gain the following transferable skills:

  • the ability to prepare and manage well-supported critical analyses (written, visual and oral) based on theory and empirical evidence
  • the ability to challenge conventional wisdom and provide advice
  • the ability to reflect critically on your own ideas by becoming more open and acquainted with unfamiliar ideas and practices
  • the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary, multicultural environment
  • the ability to negotiate and work as part of a team
  • the ability to systematically plan, carry through and manage a project programme in a given time
  • the ability to be self-critical about your own work and constructive in how to address and progress it.

Fees

The 2021/22 annual tuition fees for this programme are:

For details of when and how to pay fees and charges, please see our Student Finance Guide.

For students continuing on this programme fees will increase year on year by no more than RPI + 3% in each academic year of study except where regulated.* If you are uncertain about your fee status please contact information@kent.ac.uk.

Your fee status

The University will assess your fee status as part of the application process. If you are uncertain about your fee status you may wish to seek advice from UKCISA before applying.

Additional costs

General additional costs

Find out more about general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent. 

Funding

Search our scholarships finder for possible funding opportunities. You may find it helpful to look at both:

We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.

Search scholarships

The Complete University Guide

In The Complete University Guide 2021, the University of Kent was ranked in the top 10 for research intensity. This is a measure of the proportion of staff involved in high-quality research in the university.

Please see the University League Tables 2021 for more information.

Complete University Guide Research Intensity

Independent rankings

In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014, research by the School of Architecture and Planning was ranked 8th for research intensity and 8th for research output in the UK.

An impressive 100% of our research-active staff submitted to the REF and 88% of our research was judged to be of international quality. The School’s environment was judged to be conducive to supporting the development of research of international quality.

Research

Research areas

Research centres

KSAP incorporates the Centre for Research in European Architecture (CREAte), which focuses on research in architectural humanities and design, the Centre for Architecture and Sustainable Environment (CASE), which promotes research in the field of sustainable architecture, and the new Digital Architecture Research Centre (DARC), which researches
the use of digital technologies in architecture and the built environment.

CREAte

The Centre provides a focus for research in architecture in the European context. Its emphasis is on the role and contribution of humanities to architecture and urban design in the context of urban and regional regeneration, nationally and internationally.

CREAte provides a platform for evening lectures by contemporary architects and scholars; hosting debates and events that are at the heart of architectural agenda of today.

The Centre builds upon its staff specialisms, interests and skills in the following areas: regional studies, contemporary architectural and urban theory and design, architectural history and theory (ranging from antiquity to contemporary European cities), sustainability, European topographies (landscape, urban, suburban and metropolitan) etc. Staff participate in the activities of AHRA – Architecture Humanities Research Association and are internationally published authors.

CASE

The Centre promotes research in the field of sustainable environment regionally, nationally and internationally.

Its research focus encompasses different aspects and scales of the sustainable built environment from the individual building to the urban block, promoting the wider environmental agenda and keeping the School at the forefront of research and development in the field. CASE also pursues research into the historical and cultural dimension of environmental design to foster links between the sciences, arts and humanities. There is a strong interest in understanding the environmental behaviour of historic buildings and the strategies originally deployed to manage the internal environment.

The Centre has already secured funding from various sources. This includes three EPSRC projects on climate change weather data for a sustainable built environment, sustainability of airport terminal buildings and design interventions in the public realm for affecting human behaviour, and two TSB-funded projects on Building Performance Evaluation. CASE is also involved with the recent EPSRC large-scale network on Digital Economy Communities and Culture.

DARC

The Centre is the newest research centre at Kent School of Architecture and Planning (KSAP) in the application of digital technology in architecture. The focus of the Digital Architecture Research Centre (DARC) will be the creative use of digital technologies to enhance design and fabrication possibilities for architecture and the built environment.

The centre will have three streams headed by members: 1) Generative design and computational creativity, 2) Digital fabrication and robotics and 3) Digital visualisation and mixed reality.

DARC will promote an innovative interdisciplinary research environment exploring intersections between architecture and digital technologies, to open up and expand the schools research agenda and funding possibilities. The new research centre will promote a fundamental shift in architecture and design thinking to develop design methods for the utilisation of computational technologies in architectural design, fabrication and assembly.

The centre is a new interdisciplinary direction for KSAP, founded on members' expertise and international research profiles to open up new avenues of research activity. The centre draws on university-wide contacts and expertise, and attracts additional expertise, knowledge and research in the field of digital architecture through existing and future collaborations, adding to its high quality research output, and looks to enhance the faculty's Digital Humanities theme, principally in the areas of Digital Creative Arts and Digital Heritage.


Careers

Our Master’s programmes have been devised to enhance your prospects in a competitive world. Professionals in the architectural, planning, environmental design and conservation fields who develop higher-level skills, accredited by relevant bodies, will find themselves well-placed to progress in their field. Our students have gone on to work for major public agencies and universities, as well as leading practitioners in the private sector.

Study support

Postgraduate resources

The School of Architecture and Planning studios include a dedicated computing suite with a range of environmental construction software, and a Digital Crit Space. There is a fully equipped architectural model-making workshop for constructing models and large-scale prototypes.

Professional links

The School has excellent contacts with businesses and culture in the local area, including regional organisations such as the Kent Architecture Centre, Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), Kent County Council and European Association of Architectural Education (EAAE). The Sustainable Communities Plan is particularly strong in south-east England, making the region the ideal place in which to debate innovative solutions to architectural issues.

Kent also has excellent links with schools of architecture in Lille, Istanbul, Rome, Tokyo, and in the USA, Virginia.

Academic study is complemented by a mentoring scheme organised in collaboration with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and involving students in events with local practices.

Dynamic publishing culture

Staff publish regularly and widely in journals, conference proceedings and books. Among others, they have recently contributed to: Architectural Research Quarterly; The Architectural Review; Building and Environment; The Journal of Architecture; and The World of Interiors.

Global Skills Award

All students registered for a taught Master's programme are eligible to apply for a place on our Global Skills Award Programme. The programme is designed to broaden your understanding of global issues and current affairs as well as to develop personal skills which will enhance your employability.  

Apply now

This course page is for the 2021/22 academic year. Please visit the current online prospectus for a list of postgraduate courses we offer.

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United Kingdom/EU enquiries

Admissions enquiries

T: +44 (0)1227 768896

E: information@kent.ac.uk

Subject enquiries

T: +44 (0)1227 824689

E: ksapadmissions@kent.ac.uk

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International student enquiries

Enquire online

T: +44 (0)1227 823254
E: internationalstudent@kent.ac.uk