Our MArch programme - a Royal Institute of British Architects and ARB-accredited Part 2 architecture qualification - within the Kent School of Architecture provides a world class education in design. Building on your undergraduate learning, the programme deepens your knowledge of key areas such as design thinking, urban analysis, theoretical complexity, professional expertise and historical knowledge.
You'll benefit from studying and working in our unique and spacious design studios, located at the heart of the University campus. Our programme advances collaboration and interdisciplinary opportunities and enables you to develop skills and knowledge through design events, cross-school collaborative learning, seminars and lectures, and sustainability-led tech and environmental design workshops.
As a Kent graduate, you can go on to successful careers in architecture and the wider creative industries. Your imaginative and creative skills in analysis, engagement and design thinking, will give you the capacity to work in a diverse and varied range of industries, disciplines and roles, so you can effect change in the places you want to see it.
Our programme is organised around a core curriculum of Design, built over four semesters, and delivered through four unique units. The main design modules are complemented by weekly technical and environmental design lectures, seminars and tutorials delivered by world-leading researchers.
Design is the heart of our programme, and in Stage 4 this is complimented by history and theory lectures and seminars as part of the school's Cultural Context programme. In Stage 5, this module is delivered as personal research in the form of a written dissertation or artefact, on a subject of student’s own choice.
To prepare you for practice, the Employability module will deepen your understanding of life in practice and the professional practices, regulations and processes of the business of architecture.
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.
I love the University and I found the School to be a very close community. So, coming back for the MArch was a no-brainer really.
Jasmine Davey - Master of Architecture
The University will consider applications from students offering a wide range of qualifications. All applications are assessed on an individual basis but some of our typical requirements are listed below. Students offering qualifications not listed are welcome to contact our Admissions Team for further advice. Please also see our general entry requirements.
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The University will consider applicants holding T level qualifications in subjects closely aligned to the course.
A minimum of a second class honours degree in architecture - with a demonstrated strength in design portfolio - from a UK university, or an overseas qualification with a grade or GPA of an equivalent standard.
Applicants will be asked to submit a portfolio of their design work once their application has been received. Although it is not a requirement, professional work experience taken after completing your undergraduate degree is also expected.
The University will consider applications from students with a wide range of qualifications. Prospective applicants with alternative qualifications should contact ArtsHumsAdmissions@kent.ac.uk for advice prior to application. Note that it is not possible to offer places to all students who meet our typical offer/minimum requirement.
All students graduating from the MArch programme receive their award with ARB and RIBA Part 2 exemption. Further information is available from the Architects Registration Board (ARB).
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. Please note that international fee-paying students who require a Student visa cannot undertake a part-time programme due to visa restrictions.
Please note that meeting the typical offer/minimum requirement does not guarantee that you will receive an offer.
Please see our English language entry requirements web page.
Please note that if you do not meet our English language requirements, we offer a number of 'pre-sessional' courses in English for Academic Purposes. You attend these courses before starting your degree programme.
The 2023/24 annual tuition fees for this course 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.*
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 accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.
We have a range of subject-specific awards and scholarships for academic, sporting and musical achievement.
Search scholarshipsRIBA offers a hardship fund for eligible students.
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.
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.
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:
In the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, the School of Architecture has been recognised by an expert panel as part of the Research Excellence Framework, with 100% of the School’s research environment judged to be ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. The results place Architecture at Kent 6th in the UK in the Times Higher Education rankings.
An impressive 100% of our research-active staff submitted to the REF and Over 90% of the School’s research outputs and 88% of the School’s research has also been ranked ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent'.
Qualifying as a professional architect involves a specific route of study and work experience.
Many of our graduates go on to work in well-known architectural practices, such as:
Our graduates have also followed careers in professions related to design, graphics and visualisation.
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:
You graduate with an excellent grounding in architectural knowledge and a range of professional skills in:
To help you to appeal to employers, you also develop key transferable skills in:
You can also gain extra skills by signing up for one of our Kent Extra activities, such as learning a language or volunteering.
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.
Our application system (Kent Vision) allows you to save and return to your application at any time.
T: +44 (0)1227 768896
T: +44 (0)1227 823254
E: internationalstudent@kent.ac.uk
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