Master of Architecture

What is this course about?
Around the world, the role of the architect is increasingly to move seamlessly, and with agility and expertise, between different environmental and design disciplines in different cultural and climatic contexts, and to make sense of, and create the contemporary world. It is with this in mind that our Master of Architecture program has been developed.

The Master of Architecture is a 2-year full-time program, consisting of 96 credit points or 24 credit points per semester. The program centres on design studios, with students completing one per semester in the areas of:
- Urban Architecture;
- Sustainable Architecture;
- Digital Architecture; and a
- Graduation Studio.

The studios are structured to respond to the critical issues facing contemporary architectural design and draw on the extensive areas of expertise across a range of design disciplines. Each studio is supported by taught units in history and theory, advanced architectural technologies and practice.

Between them, the studios and core support units make up 78 credit points within the program, leaving 18 credit points (usually three units of study) for you choose from a wide range of elective units in order to extend your knowledge and skills into other related areas.

Program Coordinator: Dr Lee Stickells

Admission Requirements

Students must have completed the Bachelor of Design in Architecture or such other equivalent degree as determined by the Faculty.

Students who have completed the Bachelor of Design in Architecture at the University of Sydney must have completed the Master of Architecture prerequisite units of study and have a Weighted Average Mark (WAM) of 65.

Students who have completed the degree of Bachelor of Design in Architecture or such other equivalent degree at another university shall have a credit average and submit a portfolio representative of their years of study (A4 photocopies and CD are acceptable).

All students are required to completed the Architectural Experience Requirement. Exception applies to international students who have completed their undergraduate architecture degree overseas.

Architectural Experience Requirement – at least 18 weeks of documented work experience or equivalent:

Completing the Bachelor of Design in Architecture with Honours;
Completing professional work experience as an employee in architecture (minimum of 630 hours recorded in the Architects’ Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA) log book or signed letter from supervising architect detailing duties and number of hours worked);
Completing professional work experience in a related industry (minimum of 630 hours appropriately recorded, e.g. signed letter from supervising staff member detailing hours worked and duties performed). To count towards the AER the work undertaken should be relevant to architectural practice (e.g. experience in construction project management);
Completing field study in relation to architecture (local and/or international), appropriately documented to the satisfaction of the faculty. The study should be relevant to architectural practice (e.g. an investigation of the specific construction innovations of a project, a comparative study of space planning in a number of new school buildings). Various research methods may be used (e.g. interviews, detailed comparative analysis of drawings). The final study should be produced as an illustrated report of approximately 20 A4 pages (this may take the form of a diary or logbook);
Undertaking an approved University of Sydney international exchange in the first semester of enrolment;
Completing a postgraduate qualification in a related discipline.

All applications must be accompanied by original transcripts (exception for University of Sydney students) and evidence of residency status (ie. Justice of the Peace or solicitor/barrister certified birth certificate or passport). For further information please visit the Admissions page.

Professional recognition
Graduates of the Master of Architecture program are entitled to register as architects with the NSW Architects Registration Board, subject to obtaining approved practical experience and passing an architectural practice examination. The combined program of Bachelor of Design in Architecture/Master of Architecture is recognised by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA) and the Commonwealth Association of Architects.

Commencing in July semester
Students may begin their studies in the March or July semester.

Student Exchange
Student exchange is available for one semester within the first 3 semesters, however all students must complete the fourth semester at the University of Sydney.

Core Units of Study

Full time, 2 years: 96 Credit Points
Core 78, Options 0, Electives 18

Urban Architecture Research Studio
MARC 4001, 12 credit points, semester 1 & 2, classes: weekly

Sustainable Architecture Research Studio
MARC 4002, 12 credit points, semester 1 & 2, classes: weekly

Digital Architecture Research Studio
MARC 4003, 12 credit points, semester 1 & 2, classes: weekly

Graduation Studio
MARC 5001, 12 credit points, semester 1 & 2, classes: weekly

Advanced Technologies 1
MARC 4101, 6 credit points, semester 1, classes: weekly

Advanced Technologies 2
MARC 5101, 6 credit points, semester 1, classes: weekly

Modern Architectural History
MARC 4201, 6 credit points, semester 1, classes: weekly

Modern Architectural Theory
MARC 4102, 6 credit points, semester 2, classes: weekly

Contract Documentation
MARC 5102, 6 credit points, semester 2, classes: weekly

Electives

Elective units of study
Students can choose electives from any postgraduate program from the Faculty and also from our graduate Art Workshops.

Art Workshops/Tin Sheds Gallery
We offer Graduate Art Workshops as electives. These creative units give you the opportunity to work in various allied arts media under the direction of professional artists. The Tin Sheds Gallery is also housed within the Faculty of Architecture, Design & Planning. It is a beautiful space with regular exhibitions by practicing artists.

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Timetables
Timetables for the subjects can be accessed online.

Students commencing in July semester should note that some units have prerequisite units offered in March semester. This may affect enrolment choice. Students should consult the student admissions coordinator () to ensure their length of candidature will not be affected.

Honours

All Master students must have a WAM of at least 75 to be admitted to the Honour program.

Applications

Local

* CSP places are limited.
March semester - local applications received before 30 November will receive first preference, applications received by 14 December will receive second preference.
July semester – local applications received before 31 May will receive first preference, applications received by 14 June will receive second preference.

International

Application deadline: 31 October (March semester), 30 April (July semester)

Complete the Postgraduate Coursework Application Form

If you have completed the Bachelor of Design in Architecture or equivalent bachelor’s degree in Australia, then you will also need to complete the Architecture Experience Requirement form.

Architectural Experience Requirement form

Fees

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSP) HECS Band 2
CSP places are limited and will be allocated on the basis of date of application and Weighted Average Mark.

2010 International fees - $27,840 (per annum)

More information for postgraduate coursework fees

Student Work

Architecture and Sustainable Design
Semester 1, 2007
Design Studio ARCH4101 and ARCH 5101
Eco-Extremes
Experimental Eco-Precinct @ Marrickville
For more information: Sustainable Project Gallery

ESCape 2007 - graduation exhibition
ESCape was the exhibition of graduates works from the University of Sydney Faculty of Architecture, Design and Planning for 2007. The exhibition included three groups of students from the Bachelor of Design Computing, the Bachelor of Design in Architecture and the Bachelor of Architecture degree programs. This represented sum 200 students whose presentations cover a diverse range of design projects, approaches and media installations.
For more information: escape 2007 website.
View more photos at our photo gallery.

Emerging City - Visions for Parramatta

At the end of last year, on 6 - 19 December, the Emerging City - Visions for Parramatta exhibition was held.

Coordinated by Marc Aurel Schnabel, the exhibition showcased architecture’s next generation of designers, exploring novel techniques to expand the horizons of human habitation.

Graduate students of the Faculty presented us with an architectural vision for Parramatta – the emerging city within the Greater Sydney Area. Exploring digital possibilities in architectural form, media and philosophy, they present a fresh and young city that allows life, culture, work and community to find a confident identity beyond its borders.

The above image is a proposal for Parramatta Cultural Centre (from education to exhibition), by Andrew Davis: 'the design was also a social statement about sustainability and the importance of longevity of life in what we build today through flexibility and adopting change. Views light, social interaction, flexibility and ambiguity of program are key factors'.

Here, in a proposal called 'Digitalics', Theodora Bowering examines a dialogue between the digital and the analogue.

Paul De Sailly's 'New Urbanism' attempts to instigate a new urbanism for the city of Parramatta that will incorporate a level of infrastructure to accommodate an increasingly urban population. It attempts to break down the hierarchy between city, building and people, and facilitate a future emergence of architecture designed at a personal scale.

Precast Reality Studio

In the Precast Reality Studio for students in the Master of Architectural Design degree, investigated science fiction movies (Minority Report, The Matrix, Blade Runner) in search for a visionary capacity of future architecture, society, and media.

The studio aimed at integrating knowledge from selected specialists areas: psychology (medicine), virtual/animation (computer), biomechanics (medicine), robotics (engineering), laser (physics), etc.