MArch Architecture

Southwark Campus

Mode: Full-time; Part-time; Day release

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Overview

Encouraging debate in Architecture

The Master of Architecture (MArch) RIBA Part 2 course at LSBU promotes a studio-based culture which encourages debate and enquiry about contemporary societies, the postmodern city, and relationships between urban and landscape conditions. These are considered through a range of innovative and personal responses to architectural design projects; environmental and constructional technologies; critical research expressed in extended, dissertation writing, and the skills needed to operate as a progressive professional practitioner.

Our various design studios offer their own scholarly programmes and positions appealing to a wide and diverse range of interests. The design modules offered are underpinned by taught modules in: History and Theory; Energy and Resource Efficiency in Architecture; Professional Practice and Technology.

This course will see you build on analytical design skills and professional competences established at undergraduate level, with a focus on innovation in design, construction, and resource efficient technology. Our dedicated studio spaces and digital workshops are designed to support peer group conversation, thus enabling students to develop an understanding of and methods relevant to contemporary professional practice, together with an ability to produce complex and diverse design proposals.

Overall, the Master of Architecture course is intended to engage critical thinking through design, by helping students develop their problem-solving skills, on prescient issues of environment, politics, society, economics, and culture. This plethora of challenges all form our studio conversations.

When you graduate, you’ll be ready to start your second stage of professional practical experience in an architect’s office before progressing to the RIBA Part 3 professional practice course and examination.

The MArch course nurtures a good understanding of the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion. We are a strong enabler of a fair, balanced, equal opportunity environment for all students. We believe that the transformational opportunities the MArch course affords should be opened to all people of different backgrounds, race, age, class or creed.

Why Architecture at LSBU?

: Ranked 3rd amongst London Modern competitors for Overall Score in Architecture (Complete University Guide 2021).
: Professional accreditation – the course is fully validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects and prescribed by the Architects Registration Board. The course satisfies the criteria held jointly by the RIBA and ARB for part 2 courses in architecture.
: Experience - with roots in London Council School of Building (1904) and Brixton School of Building (1940), LSBU has been offering architectural education for over 100 years.
: We have some of the best workshops in the UK and a lead research group DARLAB (Digital Architecture and Robotics Lab).
: No.2 for satisfaction with teaching in London (Guardian League Tables 2020).

Accreditations

Key course information - ordered by mode
Mode	Duration	Start date	Location
Mode Full-time	Duration 2 years	Start Date September	Location Southwark Campus
Mode Part-time	Duration 3 years	Start Date September	Location Southwark Campus

Modules

This is a two year full-time or three year part-time programme leading to the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) part 2 professional award. The course emphasises design as a central activity underpinned by research, with complementary lecture based studies in History and Theory, Technology, Arts and Media, and Professional Management.

Year 1

Design 401 (20 credits)
Design 402: Arts, media and digital design (20 credits)
Design 403 (20 credits)
History and theory: critical thinking (20 credits)
Energy and resource efficiency in design (20 credits)
Professional practice and design economics (20 credits)

Year 2

Design 501 (20 credits)
Design 502: Arts, media and digital design (20 credits)
Design 503 (40 credits)
Architecture and theory: dissertation (20 credits)
Technology 5: technical thesis (20 credits)

Assessment

Design modules are assessed through interim and final design reviews of a design portfolio. Lecture based or taught modules are assessed through written and/or drawn coursework submissions.

Employability

The course is well connected to key practices in London. Many LSBU graduates also choose to work abroad. You may also use your qualifications outside architecture to enter careers such as journalism, project management, writing, teaching, research, or software and gaming design.

In addition to offering the university award of MArch: Master of Architecture (and RIBA part 2), the course is also a preparation for the second period of practical training. The first period of practical training is usually, but not exclusively, undertaken following completion of the first degree in architecture (RIBA part 1).

To be eligible for admission to the RIBA part 3 Professional Practice Examination, you must have successfully undertaken a recognised RIBA part 1 and part 2 qualification – and have completed a minimum of 24 months eligible practical training.

The Professional Practice and Design Economics module explains the need for a business-oriented and professional attitude to work, and emphasises the need for forward planning of projects.

Graduates from the Postgraduate Diploma in Architecture are employed at Foster and Partners, Niall McLaughlin Architects, Stanton Williams, Wilkinson Eyre, and Zaha Hadid Architects among many other globally recognised practices.

Employability Service

We are University of the Year for Graduate Employment - The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018.

At LSBU, we want to set you up for a successful career. During your studies – and for two years after you graduate – you’ll have access to our Employability Service, which includes:

An online board where you can see a wide range of placements: part-time, full-time or voluntary. You can also drop in to see our Job Shop advisers, who are always available to help you take the next step in your search.
Our Careers Gym offering group workshops on CVs, interview techniques and finding work experience, as well as regular presentations from employers across a range of sectors.

Our Student Enterprise team can also help you start your own business and develop valuable entrepreneurial skills.

Professional links

Guest lectures, Exhibitions, Competitions, Accolades & Mentoring

The MArch course is very dedicated to a research centered education. Over the years, we have worked diligently to build up the recognition of our division externally through series of Open Lectures by visiting lecturers, Student exhibitions, Student competitions, accolades, and Mentoring. Our Level 7 Part 2 Architecture Apprenticeship course gives us strong links with industry and so the MArch course at LSBU prepares you to work in architectural practice.

Recent guest lecturers include:

Roz Barr (principal of Roz Barr Architects, and recipient of the 2012 AJ Retrofit Award)
Professor David Gloster (RIBA Director of Education)
Michael Pawlyn (project architect for the Eden Project)
Professor Peter Salter (architect of the acclaimed Walmer Road housing scheme, and professor of architecture at the Welsh School of Architecture)
Alex de Rijke, founding partner of dRMM, former Dean of the Royal College of Art
Carolyn Steel (author of The Hungry City)
Carl Turner (RIBA Manser award winner for the Slip House, Brixton)
Mike Weinstock (Director of Research at the Architectural Association, and Director of the Emergent Technology Master of Architecture programme)

Field trips

There is emphasis on the first-hand observation and generation of alternative models for the city. This is developed through field trips to destinations such as Beijing, Berlin, Delhi, Dubai, Havana, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Jaipur, Las Vegas, Marrakech, Moscow, Paris, Seoul, St Petersburg, Tokyo, and Yokohama. All field trips are organised following the current government guidelines on international travel.

Placements

Although architecture graduates make their own arrangements for placements, the school is very often able to direct students to practices who are actively seeking staff.

Accreditation

The course is unconditionally validated by RIBA and offers the professional award of RIBA part 2 on successful completion. The regular validation cycle ensures that your work is carefully sampled by peer reviewers to ensure course content and outputs retain close relevance to professional practice. The course and qualification is also prescribed by the Architects Registration Board.

: The Architects Registration Board (ARB) is the UK's statutory body for architects.
: The professional membership body, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), champions better buildings, communities, and the environment through architecture. They provide guidance on professional standards, training, support, and recognition that puts their members around the world at the peak of their profession.

Teaching and learning

At LSBU there are comprehensive on-campus workshops capable of transforming a broad range of materials. You'll be taught by staff who are experienced industry professionals, having worked for some of the top architectural practices. The studio structure allows you to specialise in an area that matches their research interests and explore highly topical themes around architecture, urban design, social theory and politics.

Personal Tutoring

As a BEA (Built Environment and Architecture) student, you will be allocated a named tutor during your first three weeks at LSBU. The role of your tutor is to be your primary contact for academic and professional development support.

Your tutor will support you to get the most of your time at LSBU, providing advice and signposting to other sources of support in the University.

Your tutor should be the first person at the university that you speak to if you are having any difficulties that are affecting your work. These could be academic, financial, health-related or another type of problem.

You will have appointments with your personal tutor once a semester for 30 minutes throughout your course. You can contact your tutor for additional support by email or in person.

Studio structure

Central to the LSBU concept of postgraduate architecture education is the studio system, operating across part and full-time courses. The studios provide a framework for a range of relevant intellectual and practical specialisms to inform design work, underpinning and contributing to the academic rigour of the architecture programme.

View the School of the Built Environment and Architecture Catalogue 2021/22.