Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

• Architecture

You will normally have at least an upper second-class undergraduate UK honours degree (or international equivalent) in a related field including Architecture, Landscape, Environment Design, Urban Design.

Candidates are required to provide a digital portfolio and a written personal statement (approximately 450 words) as part of the application process to evidence designing/architectural practice and research.

Other professional qualifications or degree disciplines will be considered on merit and/or with relevant professional experience, on a case-by-case basis. As part of this process, the internal programme and university admissions teams may review applicant’s portfolios to determine suitability based upon drawing and communication of related skills, and the relevance of experience. Applicants may be invited to attend additional pre-start study skills support.

Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English qualification.

Fees for entry in 2027 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2026 were as follows:

• MA (full-time)
  UK students (per annum): £12,400 p/a collected by MMU
  International, including EU, students (per annum): £28,500 p/a collected by MMU

Specialist costs

Compulsory: Not set

Optional: 1,000

Students should have a laptop for research, submissions, and presentations. CAD software is required; student discounts apply. We would suggest students wait to purchase software until your studies commence to avoid paying for a software which may be provided for free.

Laptop spec guide available from programme team.

• Midrange Laptop: £700
• High-End Laptop: £2000
• Wireless Mouse: £10
• External HDD: £70
• Cloud storage: £7–£9/month
• Revit, AutoCAD, Adobe Suite: Free (student copies)
• SketchUp Pro: £46/year
• Rhinoceros: £160 one-off

Software and IT equipment available on campus; remote access provided. There are laptops available on short term loan within the department which meet the high specification description, and within Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø Metropolitan University.

Other costs

Compulsory: Not set

Optional: 1,000

• Printing – mostly digital, but print may be needed for reviews. Indicative cost: £500.
• Model making/workshop – facilities free; materials for inductions provided. Extra materials depend on project size/detail. Indicative: £250.
• Graduate Degree Show – printing/exhibition/models: up to £200.
• Trips – curriculum fieldwork supported; optional tours £100–£1000. UK alternative offered for international trips.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's (PDF document, 91KB).

International Postgraduate Scholarship

International students who have been accepted onto this course may be eleigible for a £3,000 scholarship in first year of study. We will assess your eligibility when you apply to this course. You do not need to apply to this scholarship seperately. apply.

A masters qualification typically comprises 180 credits, a PGDip 120 credits, a PGCert 60 credits, and an MFA 300 credits.

MA Architecture and Urbanism comprises of 180 credits, made up of six core modules. You will develop a strong foundation in the principles of architecture and urbanism, begin to establish your own position through research and design-based inquiry, and finally conduct original research to formulate an advanced architectural and urban design proposition.

Core modules

• Urban Strategies
• Cities and Urbanism
• Research Skills
• Architectural Tactics
• Research Project

• Design Synthesis

Optional modules

The course is designed for students who want to understand and shape the future of cities. Combining architectural design, urban research and critical thinking, the course explores how social, cultural, economic and environmental forces influence urban environments, equipping you to respond to today's most pressing urban challenges through creative and strategic design solutions.

Over the course of this one-year master's programme, you will develop advanced knowledge of architecture and urbanism through six core modules that progressively build in depth and complexity. In the first semester, you will establish a strong foundation in urban design principles, urban theory and research methodologies, learning how cities evolve and how architecture can influence urban development. Modules such as Urban Strategies and Urban Histories and Theories introduce key concepts, design approaches and critical perspectives on city-making.

In the second semester, you will begin to define your own position through research and design-led inquiry. Working across multiple scales, you will investigate contemporary urban conditions and develop design responses informed by evidence, analysis and creative experimentation. Student projects may explore topics such as sustainable housing, urban regeneration, landscape-led development, public space design or innovative strategies for addressing environmental and social challenges within cities.

The final stage of the course culminates in an independent Design Synthesis Project, where you will conduct original research, analyse complex urban issues and develop an advanced architectural and urban design proposition aligned with your professional interests and career ambitions. Opportunities to participate in live projects, site visits and urban living laboratories allow you to test ideas in real-world settings.

As part of the globally renowned Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø School of Architecture, ranked among the world's leading architecture schools, you will learn from research-active academics, practising architects, urban designers and industry specialists whose expertise shapes teaching and studio culture.

Students benefit from specialist facilities across both Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø Metropolitan University and The University of Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø, including making and media workshops, fabrication facilities, computer suites, libraries and industry-standard software. The programme will support students to develop specialist digital skills by exploring project themes and representational techniques through traditional, innovative, and novel media. MSA’s Advanced Digital Design offer delivers constructively aligned ‘essential’ digital literacy to all students across the school to provide a deep understanding of graphic principles, technical drawing production, 3D modelling, visualisation and fabrication. Optional ‘advanced’ digital literacy content engages with emerging methodologies, exploring BIM, Computation, Simulation, IoT, Digital Twins, Game engines, and Immersive technologies (AR/VR).

Critical engagement with AI tools is encouraged during a student’s learning journey. Programme resources will integrate interactive digital content (Miro, Padlet, etc), be provided digitally, and be accessible asynchronously across all modules, alongside enhanced Employability, Advanced Digital Design, and International resources in the Virtual Learning Environment.

The course draws on Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø's rich history of regeneration and its strong connections with leading architecture, planning and urban design consultancies. Supported by an extensive professional network, you will graduate with the research, design and analytical skills needed to influence policy, shape development, contribute to academic research or pursue careers in architecture, urban design and consultancy - helping create more sustainable, inclusive and resilient cities for future generations.

As a student at Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø School of Architecture (MSA), you will study a degree that is delivered jointly by The University of Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø and Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø Metropolitan University.

You will benefit from the facilities and resources of both institutions including libraries, computer suites, and making and media workshops.

Upon successful completion of your studies, you will receive one degree certificate that includes each institution's crest and awarding body title.

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service.

For more information, email  dass@manchester.ac.uk