Architecture - MArch

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.

Overview

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.

Reasons to study Architecture at Kent

  • Study your way: Our MArch programme gives you the opportunity to choose your design learning journey in line with your personal motivations, inspirations and aspirations.
  • Fantastic facilities: with large workshops equipped with 3D modelling and laser-cutting technology and tools, staffed by specialist technicians, providing space and resources to explore design ideas through modelling, prototyping and testing in state-of-the-art facilities.
  • Get career ready: You will gain a Royal Institute of British Architects and ARB-accredited Part 2 architecture qualification, the penultimate step in your journey to becoming a registered architect.
  • Postgraduate Loyalty Award for MArch: Available for Kent undergraduate Architecture alumni who did not directly progress on to study the MArch. Fixed award of £1,000 for home students and £3,000 for overseas students.

What you'll learn

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.

About Kent School of Architecture (KSAP)

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

Entry requirements

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.

  • medal-empty Access to HE Diploma

    N/A

  • medal-empty BTEC Nationals

    N/A

  • medal-empty International Foundation Programme

    N/A

  • medal-empty T level

    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).

International students

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.

English Language Requirements

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.

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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.

Fees

The 2023/24 annual tuition fees for this course are:

  • Home full-time £9,250
  • EU full-time £16,400
  • International full-time £21,900

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.* 

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

Find out more about accommodation and living costs, plus general additional costs that you may pay when studying at Kent.

Funding

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

Search scholarships

RIBA offers a hardship fund for eligible students. 

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.

Independent rankings

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'.

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.

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Contact us

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United Kingdom/EU enquiries

T: +44 (0)1227 768896

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International student enquiries

Enquire online

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

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