Architecture - MArch

Course structure

Duration: 2 years full-time

The following modules are indicative of those offered on this programme. This listing is based on the current curriculum and may change year to year in response to new curriculum developments and innovation.

• Stage 4
• Stage 5

Teaching and assessment

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.

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.

Contact hours

For a student studying full time, each academic year of the programme will comprise 1200 learning hours which include both direct contact hours and private study hours.  The precise breakdown of hours will be subject dependent and will vary according to modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Methods of assessment will vary according to subject specialism and individual modules.  Please refer to the individual module details under Course Structure.

Programme aims

This programme aims to:

• ensure that you achieve the standard of Part 2 of the professional qualifications through development of your knowledge, understanding and abilities
• promote creativity and excellence in architectural design; from imaginative concepts to thoughtful project development and the integration of technology strategically and in detail
• develop your knowledge of the professional context of architecture and ensure that you are aware of your professional responsibilities
• develop your understanding of architecture within a broader cultural context
• promote and support your independent self-learning and communication skills
• accommodate a wide range of views and develop your specialised architectural interests
• develop your understanding of how the boundaries of knowledge are advanced through research and promote originality in applying your knowledge
• develop your initiative, responsibility and sound critical judgement in making decisions about complex architectural issues.
• enable you to develop strategies for self-improvement and commitment to life skills and learning
• support you in achieving your potential in all parts of the programme. 

Learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

You will gain knowledge and understanding of:

• the application of academic discipline and a professional approach to MArch work
• an appropriate philosophical approach which reveals an understanding of theory in a cultural context
• the influences on the contemporary built environment of individual buildings, the design of cities, past and present societies and wider global issues
• the histories and theories of architecture and urban design, the history of ideas, and the related disciplines of art, cultural studies and landscape studies and its application in critical debate
• briefs and how to critically appraise them to ensure that the design response is appropriate to the site and context, and for reasons such as sustainability and budget
• inter-relationships between people, buildings and the environment and an understanding of the need to relate buildings and the spaces between them to human needs and scales
• regulatory requirements, including the needs of the disabled, health and safety legislation and building regulations and developmental control, that guide building construction
• the contribution of other professionals in the design process showing an appropriate use of team working skills, recognising the importance of current methods in the construction industry
• building technologies, environmental design, construction methods in relation to human well-being, welfare of future generations, the natural world and the consideration of a sustainable environment 
• the impact on design of legislation, codes of practices and health and safety both during the construction and occupation of a project
• how cost control mechanisms operate within the development of an architectural project
• the basic principles of business management and factors related to running a design practice and how architects organise, administer and manage an architectural project, recognising current and emerging trends in the construction industry such as partnering, integrated project process, value engineering and risk management
• the inter-relationships of individuals and organisations involved in the procurement and delivery of architectural projects, and how these are defined and effected through a variety of contractual organisational structures
• the fundamental legal, professional and statutory requirements as they are relevant to building design and practice, with particular reference to matters relating to health and safety and universal design for access
• the professional duties and responsibilities of architects, as defined and described in the Codes and Standards relating to their professional practice.

 

Intellectual skills

You develop intellectual skills in:

• generating and systematically testing, analysing and appraising design options, and drawing conclusions which display methodological and theoretical rigour
• independently defining and appraising ideas in relation to a design and to the work of others
• critically appraising and forming considered judgements about spatial, aesthetic, technical and social qualities of a design within the scope and scale of a wider environment
• identifying and managing individual learning needs so as to prepare for and maintain professional standards commensurate with qualification
• applying relevant research to the ideas, development and quality of the task
• formulating a research proposal with its appropriate methodology.

Subject-specific skills

You gain subject-specific skills in:

• integrating knowledge of the social, political, economic and professional context that guides building construction
• devising structural and constructional strategies for a complex building or group of buildings employing integrative knowledge of structural theories, constructional techniques and processes, the physical properties and characteristics of building materials and components and the environmental impact of specification choices, and the provision of building services
• integrating knowledge of the principles and theories associated with visual, thermal and acoustic environments
• integrating knowledge of climatic design and the relationship between climate, built form, construction, lifestyle, energy consumption and human well-being
• using architectural representations having critically appraised the most appropriate techniques available.

Transferable skills

You will gain the following transferable skills:

• using visual, verbal and written communication and appropriate media (including sketching, digital and electronic techniques) to represent analysis and critical appraisal of proposals of complex designs to professional and lay audiences
• producing documentation and reports which are clear, analytical and logical covering a range of architectural issues of culture, theory and design
• working as part of a team 
• researching, speculating, appraising and drawing conclusions about a range of architectural issues
• learning skills including the ability to plan and carry through a project programme
• ability to be self-critical about the work and constructive in how to address and progress it
• putting forward rational arguments and form independent views based on a critical approach to the field of study
• reflecting on work progress and develop enhancement strategies.

Careers

Career path into architecture

Qualifying as a professional architect involves a specific route of study and work experience.

• This MArch degree programme provides exemption from the RIBA/ARB Part 2 examinations.
• Following the MArch, you continue to work in an architectural practice until you have a total of 24 months of professional experience (including the period of professional experience gained before entering the MArch programme).
• You are then eligible to take Part 3 of the ARB/RIBA examinations, which lead to full professional registration as an architect.

Many of our graduates go on to work in well-known architectural practices, such as:

• Grimshaw Architects
• Farrells
• HLM Architects
• HOK
• Jestico + Whiles
• Herzog & de Meuron

Our graduates have also followed careers in professions related to design, graphics and visualisation.

Help finding a job

Kent School of Architecture and Planning has links to professional practices and this network is very useful to students when looking for work in an architectural practice. You are encouraged to network at our events, and we run special sessions to help you with writing your CV.

The University also has a friendly Careers and Employability Service, which can give you advice on how to:

• apply for jobs
• write a good CV
• perform well in interviews.

Career-enhancing skills

You graduate with an excellent grounding in architectural knowledge and a range of professional skills in:

• visual and verbal presentations
• digital media
• model-making
• freehand drawing.

  To help you to appeal to employers, you also develop key transferable skills in:

• computing
• analysing data
• writing well.

You can also gain extra skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.

Professional recognition

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.