Kent’s Master of Architecture (MArch) programme is a two-year (known as Stage 4 and Stage 5) full-time undergraduate professional programme focused on architectural design. It forms the second part of the UK’s traditional five-year continuum of professional undergraduate education in architecture leading, for graduates with the required exemptions from professional examinations, toward registration in the UK as an ‘Architect’.
Kent’s MArch architecture programme is validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), and the award is prescribed by the Architects' Registration Board (ARB) as giving exemption from Part 2 of their professional examinations. The MArch well-positions its graduates to continue after the degree to a Part 3 programme in architecture and professional practice.
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.
To be eligible to study on the MArch programme, you will need an undergraduate degree in architecture, with a demonstrated strength in design. All applications are reviewed on merit, and interviews may be required.
Conventionally applicants also need a minimum of six months' experience in architectural practice following completion of first degree, however for September 2020 entry, this condition will be waived in light of the current economic situation. Students admitted to the programme without the usual year-out experience may intermit their studies between the two years of the March programme to gain practical experience. However, this will not be mandatory. If you currently finishing an undergraduate degree and applying without any year-out practical experience, your application can only be made once you know the outcome of your degree.
All students graduating from the MArch programme receive their award with ARB and RIBA Part 2 exemption.
Entrants without ARB/RIBA Part 1 exemption (or with RIBA but not ARB Part 1 exemption) will also qualify for the same award.
Any student already following the MArch, without ARB Part 1, or without a first degree giving exemption from ARB Part 1, may apply directly to the ARB to take ARB Part 1 as an external candidate. This would involve paying a fee, submitting a portfolio, and attending an interview in London. Procedures are explained at the ARB website www.arb.org.uk/student Please note: we do not arrange this, and cannot guarantee success but will offer advice to students enrolled on the MArch in advance of their direct approach to ARB.
This may be of advantage to students specifically seeking an MArch award with RIBA Pt 2 exemption, as successfully obtaining ARB Part 1 directly from ARB before graduation would graduate with the award of MArch (with ARB & RIBA Part 2 exemption).
MArch graduates without ARB Pt 1 or a qualification giving exemption, will need to obtain both a recognised ARB Part 1 and Part 3 before they can apply to the ARB to be registered in the UK as ‘Architect’.
Please contact the School for further information, email: ksapadmissions@kent.ac.uk
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.
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.
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.
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.
Duration: Two years full-time
All students within a particular unit follow the same design project brief, while additional lecture and seminar modules support design through the teaching of technology, culture, dissertation and employability.
Graduates from the MArch are able to take the ARB/RIBA Part 3 examination after amassing a minimum of 24 months recorded office-based work experience, 12 months of which must be in the UK.
Assessment is by a variety of methods, including a portfolio of drawings, models and artefacts, written case study, essay, reflective blogs, oral presentation and dissertation.
This programme aims to:
You will gain knowledge and understanding of:
You develop intellectual skills in:
You gain subject-specific skills in:
You will gain the following transferable skills:
The School of Architecture and Planning studios include a dedicated computing suite with a range of environmental construction software, and a new digital crit studio. There is a fully equipped architectural model-making workshop for constructing models and large-scale prototypes.
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 Kent Design Initiative. 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.
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.
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.
KSAP has two research centres: the Centre for Research in European Architecture (CREAte), which focuses on research in architectural humanities and design, and the Centre for Architecture and Sustainable Environment (CASE), which promotes research in the field of sustainable architecture.
CREAte 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 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.
Full details of staff research interests can be found on the School's website.
Our Master’s programmes have been devised to enhance your prospects in a competitive world. KSAP enjoys a high employment rate for recent MArch graduates, with large percentages securing jobs in major London design practices, among them Grimshaw Architects and Terry Farrell and Partners. Practices are attracted to our graduates due to the portfolio of diverse modules that consider a range of issues. Other students have gone on to work for major public agencies and universities.
95% of Kent Architecture students found employment or went onto further study within 6 months of graduating in 2013. Additionally, Kent was ranked 5th in the UK for Architecture graduating students' employment prospects in the 2015 Complete University Guide.
Studying at KSAP will equip you for a successful career in architecture. In addition to your professional skills, you will also develop a wide range of transferable skills in areas such as communication, team-working, problem-solving and computer literacy.
Kent’s MArch architecture programme is validated by RIBA, and the award is prescribed by the ARB as giving exemption from Part 2 of their professional examinations.
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.
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.
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.*
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.
Find out more about general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
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