Architectural Design (MA) 12 months Postgraduate Program By Cardiff University |Top Universities
Subject Ranking

# 51-100QS Subject Rankings

Program Duration

12 monthsProgram duration

Scholarship

YesScholarships

Main Subject Area

Architecture and Built EnvironmentMain Subject Area

Program overview

Main Subject

Architecture and Built Environment

Degree

MA

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

This one year full-time MA in Architectural Design is aimed at students who are looking for a rich, advanced and engaging post-graduate programme which focuses on the multiple facets and relationships between design and research. By pursuing the MA in Architectural Design, the students will get the necessary skills for becoming sophisticated design-research thinkers and practitioners.

It shares many of the design elements of our established MArch (Master of Architecture/ RIBA Part 2 programme, but provides greater flexibility in terms of study choices, allowing you to engage with the interests of our research staff. 

The programme focuses on design-led research techniques and methods to inform your learning process and research explorations. You will develop your existing design skills by focussing on how design thinking might address current global challenges. This approach offers an intense and lively forum for the exploration and discussion of design issues. This is why we place particular emphasis on using design as a means to conduct research. Researching through design is a creative activity that closely integrates the process of designing with the act of researching, so that they can mutually inform each other.  You will explore problems by making and testing design propositions, introducing and developing established knowledge as and when required. Through project work, you will draw on knowledge from many disciplines.

Students will have the options to develop their design thinking in a range of topics related to the School’s diverse topics of research and scholarship.

You will work in small groups called ‘Design Units’ under the guidance of a Unit Leader, who will be an experienced tutor in research and architectural design. You will also work independently to develop a design-research approach to your studies. This will require you to question and evaluate evidence and think creatively, experimentally and iteratively. Emphasis will be on individual discovery and personal reflection as a learning process. The description of Design Units is provided in the MA AD Handbook

Program overview

Main Subject

Architecture and Built Environment

Degree

MA

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

This one year full-time MA in Architectural Design is aimed at students who are looking for a rich, advanced and engaging post-graduate programme which focuses on the multiple facets and relationships between design and research. By pursuing the MA in Architectural Design, the students will get the necessary skills for becoming sophisticated design-research thinkers and practitioners.

It shares many of the design elements of our established MArch (Master of Architecture/ RIBA Part 2 programme, but provides greater flexibility in terms of study choices, allowing you to engage with the interests of our research staff. 

The programme focuses on design-led research techniques and methods to inform your learning process and research explorations. You will develop your existing design skills by focussing on how design thinking might address current global challenges. This approach offers an intense and lively forum for the exploration and discussion of design issues. This is why we place particular emphasis on using design as a means to conduct research. Researching through design is a creative activity that closely integrates the process of designing with the act of researching, so that they can mutually inform each other.  You will explore problems by making and testing design propositions, introducing and developing established knowledge as and when required. Through project work, you will draw on knowledge from many disciplines.

Students will have the options to develop their design thinking in a range of topics related to the School’s diverse topics of research and scholarship.

You will work in small groups called ‘Design Units’ under the guidance of a Unit Leader, who will be an experienced tutor in research and architectural design. You will also work independently to develop a design-research approach to your studies. This will require you to question and evaluate evidence and think creatively, experimentally and iteratively. Emphasis will be on individual discovery and personal reflection as a learning process. The description of Design Units is provided in the MA AD Handbook

Admission requirements

1 Year
Sep

Tuition fee and scholarships

One of the important factors when considering a master's degree is the cost of study. Luckily, there are many options available to help students fund their master's programme. Download your copy of the Scholarship Guide to find out which scholarships from around the world could be available to you, and how to apply for them.

In this guide you will find:
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Where to look for scholarship opportunities

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How to apply to scholarships relevant to you

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A list of available scholarships around the world

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A scholarship application checklist

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More programs from the university

Cardiff University offers 350 degree programmes offering choice and flexibility. Our range of modules mean that you can effectively tailor your degree programme to suit your particular interests and career ambitions.

Our courses rank #40 in the world for Communication & Media Studies, #43 for Dentistry, in addition to Architecture/Built Environment, English Language & Literature, Psychology, GeographyNursing and Pharmacy & Pharmacology all ranking in the top 100 according to the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025. 

Cardiff University’s undergraduate teaching has been recognised as excellent in the UK, with Electrical & Electronic Engineering as #1, Architecture recognised as #2, Midwifery as #3, Physics as #10, and Psychology as #12 by the The Guardian University Guide 2024. Cardiff's Optometry, Ophthalmics & Orthoptics ranked #3, Dentistry as #4 and Pharmacology & Pharmacy ranked #5 in The Complete University Guide 2024, and Nursing as #4, Communication & Media Studies as #9 by The Times University Guide 2024. Many of the University’s degree schemes are accredited by professional bodies and provide partial or complete exemption from relevant professional examinations.

Cardiff offers unique opportunities for its students during their undergraduate studies. Students can undertake international study, volunteering and work placements through the Global Opportunities Team. Students can also learn a language for free as part of the Languages for All initiative – Welsh lessons are also offered to help students get a flavour for the unique cultural environment Cardiff provides. These extra services, as well as a dedicated Students’ Union (voted 2nd best in the UK two years in a row), ensure that students at Cardiff University thoroughly enjoy their experience. In the National Student Survey 2023, 72% of final-year undergraduate students reported that they were satisfied with their course.

Undergraduate students at Cardiff University are supported throughout their courses, right from day one up until graduation. In addition to having access to facilities supporting student wellbeing, such as the dedicated International Student Support team, Cardiff University students also have access to excellent careers and employability services. 95% of our graduates were in employment and/or further study, due to start a new job or course, 15 months after the end of their course.

A place in one of the University’s 5,543 student rooms is guaranteed to all first-year undergraduates entering the normal admissions cycle. The vast majority of student residences are single en-suite study bedrooms in self-catered flats. Students enjoy some of the lowest rents in the UK as Cardiff is the most affordable university city in the UK.

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Study with us at Cardiff University and you’ll join a thriving community of 10,000 postgraduate students from more than 115 countries. We have more than 300 postgraduate study options for you to choose from, including full-time, part-time, blended learning and distance learning courses for balancing study with professional, financial or family commitments.. 

90% of research at Cardiff University is officially world-leading or internationally excellent according to the latest independent assessment of research quality across UK higher education institutions (REF 2021). 

We have a long history of providing outstanding research-led teaching. Our staff are experts in their fields, working at the forefront of their academic discipline – which means that you will too.

Bursting with culture, cuisine, architecture, entertainment and history, where beyond the buzz of the city, you will find incredible beaches, countryside and mountains. Cardiff was ranked the best city in the UK by Condé Nast Traveller in 2023. The city is also budget-friendly: Cardiff was recently ranked as the second UK’s most affordable university city (Natwest Student Living Index 2023).

We have a number of funding opportunities available, including our Master’s Excellence Scholarship scheme. Many courses are also eligible for government postgraduate loans for master’s programmes for UK and EU students. We want to help you make the most of your postgraduate experience, by ensuring you can access any additional help you may need. From money advice and confidential counselling to disability services and award-winning childcare, we’re here to support you every step of the way. Our Students' Union is the 2nd best in the UK (Whatuni Choice Awards 2024). Home to over 200 student societies and 60 sports clubs, a free employment service and a number of social spaces, the Students' Union caters to every student's needs.

Our Languages for All programme gives you the chance to improve your language skills alongside your studies – for free. Our flexible choice of study options allows you to learn in a way that suits you, through weekly classes, intensive sessions or independent learning.


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