Study Details: MSc 1 year (Full Time)
An innovative and personalised Master’s programme for enthusiastic students with an undergraduate degree in architecture who wish to explore future opportunities in architecture, urbanism, design and creative industries
COURSE CONTENT
This is an intensive Master’s programme for engaged students who would like to make the most of their time at Queen’s. The work produced throughout the year will be a collaborative effort between you, your year group, our award-winning academics and practicing architects. Because this year long course does not require you to meet prescription for qualification, it encourages you to work both within and beyond the realm of conventional architectural practice. We would like you to push the boundaries of your imagination and the limits of architectural media.
You will work on modules including design, humanities and technology, questioning norms in architecture throughout. You will complete a major thesis project, the topic and methodology of which will be self-directed. You will be able to use the thesis as a means to experiment with new ideas, technologies and media, and as a gateway to your future career goals.
The course encourages lateral thinking, problem solving, creativity and engagement with design in a self-critical process. It will address issues as diverse as our survival on the planet and alternative ways of thinking about what architecture can be and do.
WHAT WILL EXCITE YOU?
You will spend the year designing, collaborating and producing with people from around the world on our university campus that has recently celebrated its 175th year. Queen’s clubs and facilities including the Student Union, Queen’s Sport and Queen’s Film Theatre will also provide excellent opportunities to make friends outside of your discipline.
THE ENVIRONMENT
You will be based in Belfast, a growing city known for its industrial design heritage on one hand and its vibrant arts culture and creative industries on the other. You will enjoy a healthy staff to student ratio, good studios where you will have your own space and excellent workshops for physical and digital manufacturing.
ADDITIONAL COURSE INFORMATION:
Now, more than ever, our societies demand innovative designers and creative problem solvers to propose solutions to the challenges we face in a complex contemporary world – health and well-being, climate change, forced migration, public safety and increasing urbanisation, among others. Our school is renowned for award-winning, innovative research and teaching that is academically rigorous, critically informed, design-led and interdisciplinary. In all of this endeavour we seek to develop architecture’s voice in addressing these challenges.
The MSc Architecture programme provides a scaffold for our students to develop their own personal position within the broad culture of architecture, and in doing so, contribute to the ongoing debate that shapes the profession and our world. Our concerns range from the scale of craft and construction, material intelligences and sustainable prototyping to the mapping and analysis of urban, territorial and global conditions. In all of this architectural media play a crucial role as does developing a self-critical understanding of how each individual works as a designer.
The MSc Architecture is a studio based programme, underscoring design and design processes as the core concerns, challenging our students to be experimental both in their design methodologies/analyses and their architectural proposals. The one year programme comprises of three semesters. The staff cohort is composed of a diverse spectrum of esteemed practitioners and innovative academics supported by external consultants beyond Queen’s, providing a further dimension to a rich learning environment. In this context, the students are encouraged to push the limits of the profession as well as their personal capabilities.
GraduateApplicants whose primary degree was/will be awarded in the UK:
1. Normally a 2.1 Honours degree in Architecture from an approved RIBA/ARB Part 1 course in a recognised institution. A 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University may be considered alongside a very strong design portfolio and relevant professional experience.
2. Normally an assessment of 60% or above in the final year major design project of their approved RIBA/ARB Part 1 course.
3. A demonstration of a critical awareness of the applicant’s position relative to the profession and discipline of architecture. Such demonstration is typically (but not exclusively) achieved through experience in architectural practice in accordance with RIBA/ARB regulations for practical training.
4. Applicants must submit an architectural design portfolio. A three minute video may also be submitted to support their application (submission of the video is optional). Applicants may also be invited for interview.
Applicants whose primary degree was/will be awarded outside the UK:
1. A recognised qualification acceptable to the University which is equivalent to a UK 2.1 Honours degree in Architecture. A 2.2 Honours degree or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University may be considered alongside a very strong design portfolio and relevant professional experience.
2. Normally an assessment equivalent to 60% or above in their (first degree) final year major design project.
3. A demonstration of a critical awareness of the applicant’s position relative to the profession and discipline of architecture. Such demonstration is typically in the form of a personal statement.
4. International applicants must submit an architectural design portfolio. A three minute video may also be submitted to support their application (submission of the video is optional). Applicants may also be invited for interview.
Portfolio and Video Requirement for Application
As part of the application process you must upload a single pdf portfolio of your best architectural design (personal, non-group) work to date. The pdf should be no more than 5MBIn addition, you may prepare a three minute optional video in relation to one of the following questions: What is architecture for you? As a designer, what are you curious or ambitious about? What would be your dream project? Please upload your video on Vimeo or YouTube, adjust your privacy settings, and provide the link on the cover page of your portfolio. The purpose of the portfolio/video submission is to:
i. Identify indicators of commitment, excellence and achievement within the applicant’s academic or professional portfolio of experience.
ii. Evaluate the applicant’s critical awareness of the discipline and profession of architecture.
The deadline for applications is normally 30th June 2022. However, we encourage applicants to apply as early as possible. In the event that any programme receives a high number of applications, the University reserves the right to close the application portal earlier than 30th June deadline. Notifications to this effect will appear on the Direct Application Portal against the programme application page.
A deposit is required to secure a place.
For fees and funding options, please visit website to find out more
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