Our MArch Programme provides an environment for intellectual discussion about current architectural and cultural discourses. We promote creativity, innovation, imagination and experimentation in our studios, where we integrate research by design methods, hands-on seminars and the inclusion of various new technologies, media and formats in the design process.
Introduction
Our tutors have strong research and professional backgrounds, which grants our students competence and confidence in all areas of the profession and scales of intervention, from urban design to the technical development of the building.
Our design schemes explore both local and international issues. Working with real projects in the UK context allows input from national stakeholders to the briefing and review process; by tackling international issues, we reinforce global citizenship, acknowledge the international nature of our cohorts, and develop the skills to work in different contexts on site and remotely. You will have the opportunity to take semester one of year two abroad at one of our approved exchange Schools of Architecture in China, Australia or Europe.
Our successful international field trips, design competitions, collaborations with different universities and the diverse range of our exchange programme further support this vision, and we’ve a very generous offering of prizes for students performing strongly in areas of our MArch degree. Our graduates have an excellent record of employment in both internationally renowned offices and small-scale specialist practices.
The ability to conceive and develop an investigative and critical approach to architecture
The ability to create architectural designs that integrate social, aesthetic and technical requirements
The ability to analyse problems and to develop a brief for a building or an urban design
The ability to produce designs demonstrating an understanding of climate, passive and active servicing systems
Informed judgement in the development of sustainable design
The ability to present work orally and visually, using drawings, models, and digital presentation techniques.
Accreditation
The Master of Architecture (MArch) programme is accredited as a RIBA Part 2 and a LAM Part 2 award, and is a professional/undergraduate Masters qualification available to students with a BA/BSc in Architecture and RIBA Part 1 or LAM Part 1. This degree is validated by the RIBA and LAM, and prescribed by ARB as a Part 2 qualification towards access to the Architectural Profession in the UK.
Candidates should be aware that those who do not have RIBA Part 1 on joining the MArch here at Liverpool, may apply to the Architects Registration Board (ARB) upon MArch course completion to be considered for RIBA Part 1 (for a fee payable to ARB). The University of Liverpool has no say in this process, which is undertaken independently by the candidate.
Course content
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
Year one
Year one focuses on the relationship between architecture and the contemporary city. Architectural design is supported by lectures, seminars and carefully planned individual and group work. Taught modules on urban design, professional practice, research methods and contemporary approaches to technology also complement the work in the studio.
Compulsory modules
DESIGN A (ARCH401)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
Architectural Design Studio – Critical Position
DESIGN B (ARCH402)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
Architectural Design Studio – Urban Response
DESIGN C (ARCH403)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 2
Architectural Design Studio
DESIGN D (ARCH404)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 2
Architectural Design Studio – Detail
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT & CONTRACT LAW (ARCH405)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
Students are encouraged to participate and discuss their experience of the relevant issues in relation to architectural practice, from which feedback is also sought as a contribution to original data utilised for scholarship purposes (which is then incorporated into next years syllabus). The message of the module is that running an efficient office provides more design time.
Sustainability in Practice (ARCH410)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 2
For this module students will evaluate the implications of construction and management in sustainable design. More specifically they will be taught how construction and management now form an essential element of sustainable design for real world scenarios. In this module students will be required to attend a weekly 2-hour lecture . Each lecture will be held in lecture theatres and will be a mixture of formal presentations and group based exercises.
Humanities and Research Methods (ARCH480)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 2
Research methods training for M.Arch dissertation
URBAN DESIGN: THEORY AND PRACTICE (ARCH406)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
This module aims to help students develop in-depth knowledge on urban design and enhance their design skills to address the complex urban challenges of our age. It intends to prepare students to become creative and problem-solving professionals. To do so, this module will introduce students to a wide range of urban design theories, design principles and processes which underpin the discipline of urban design. Students will have the opportunity to study and debate key issues in urban design, the disciplinary foundations of urban design, various topics about public spaces, the application of urban analytical techniques and methods for practice, as well as urban design governance in relation to the planning system. The module will draw examples or case studies from both the local and international contexts and encourage students to think critically about possible design interventions in different urban environments towards sustainable development and place-making.
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
Year two
You will begin the second year with a design project led by your own interests, with brief-making and a personal exploration of a wide range of media and resources as part of the design process, strongly supported by seminars and guest lectures delivered by world-class tutors, academics, practitioners and Honorary Professors. These included Ian Ritchie and Hans Van De Heijden in 2020/21.
Compulsory modules
Dissertation (ARCH521)
Credits: 30 /
Semester: semester 1
The dissertation module follows on from ARCH480 Research Methods, requiring students to select (with guidance) a suitable architecture related research topic and prepare a significant illustrated written document based on their investigations and analysis.
Thesis Design (ARCH522)
Credits: 45 /
Semester: semester 2
The Thesis Design Project is an individual or group project resulting in a detailed urban or building design that is an exposition of the skills they have acquired during their architectural education. The project begins at the end of semester 1 when students select their topic, though it begins in earnest in semester 2. Students attend formal critiques and meet regularly with an assigned tutor throughout the duration of the module.
Thesis Sustainability and Equity Report (ARCH524)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 2
The Thesis Sustainability and Equity Report is prepared in conjunction with a major piece of design or research work (which is the Thesis Design project for all RIBA Part II route students) and aims to present the architectural and intellectual content of the design project with a particular focus on its sustainability and equity strategies. The report is meant to be a self-contained piece of work that also acts as supporting material to the design project, covering aspects of it that cannot easily be presented in the design submission. It is intended to have a reflective element, where students should articulate their position and decision-making process in writing. Strategies employed in order to address sustainability (environmental, social, economic) and equity issues, as well as other issues that are relevant to each project are meant to be explored in this module.
Optional modules
Research by Design Studies (ARCH520)
Credits: 30 /
Semester: semester 1
The module explores in detail a changing current issue in architecture by investigating and designing a building design project led by visiting tutors engaged in innovative professional practice or academia.
Exchange Studies (Overseas) 3 (ARCH523)
Credits: 30 /
Semester: semester 1
Exchange studio module
Programme details and modules listed are illustrative only and subject to change.
How you're assessed
You’ll be examined and assessed by studio presentations and coursework submissions.
Liverpool Hallmarks
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
Course options
Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.
Day-to-day teaching takes place in the School of the Arts, an ornate Georgian property located on the historic Abercromby Square. Students will also have the chance to thrive in our Royal Institute of British Architexts (RIBA) award-winning studio spaces that stimulate creativity and reflect the working environment of architects in practice.
Support for students with differing needs from the Disability advice and guidance team. They can identify and recommend appropriate support provisions for you.
Why study Architecture at Liverpool?
Established in 1894, the Liverpool School of Architecture was the first university in the UK to award a RIBA-accredited degree in Architecture
As one of the UK’s premier centres for architectural research and education, the Liverpool School of Architecture is the ideal place to pursue your architecture studies
We are ranked 9th in the UK for Architecture (The Guardian University Guide 2023) and 5th in the sector for overall research classified as world leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*) (REF 2021)
We are strongly focused on research, and have many leading architectural experts based amongst our teaching staff
Our membership of the School of the Arts and wider University presents intriguing specialist opportunities, in fields such as autonomous building systems, arts and building design, and climate change risk mitigation
Work is underway on a major refurbishment of our premises, which will comprise a new-build addition of more than 2,000M. The £23 million scheme has been designed by Dublin-based architects O’Donnell + Tuomey, and is expected to be completed by 2024.
What students say...
The ambition the school of architecture has is unmatched by any other in the U.K – and it shows.
Our graduates have an excellent record of employment in both internationally renowned offices and small-scale specialist practices.
95% of architecture students agree their main activity after graduation is meaningful.
Graduate Outcomes, 2018-19.
Recent employers
Arup
BDP
Foster + Partners
Hampshire County Council
Hodder + Partners
Rosenbergs Arkitekter, Stockholm
Shedkm
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Union North
Wilkinson Eyre.
Preparing you for future success
At Liverpool, our goal is to support you to build your intellectual, social, and cultural capital so that you graduate as a socially-conscious global citizen who is prepared for future success. We achieve this by:
Embedding employability within your , through the modules you take and the opportunities to gain real-world experience offered by many of our courses.
Providing you with opportunities to gain experience and develop connections with people and organisations, including student and graduate employers as well as our global alumni.
Providing you with the latest tools and skills to thrive in a competitive world, including access to Handshake, a platform which allows you to create your personalised job shortlist and apply with ease.
Supporting you through our peer-to-peer led Careers Studio, where our career coaches provide you with tailored advice and support.
Fees and funding
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
Tuition fees
UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)
We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This includes costs for model making, printing and materials. From year two in our BA programme to year five in our MArch programme, there are also optional international fieldtrips that incur additional costs ranging between £100-400.
You will normally need to have a BA or BSc degree (with Honours) in Architecture at 2.1 level or above, plus 2.1 in final year Design Studio (65 or above, or explicit indication of further development in design skills in practice), and must have RIBA Part 1 or LAM Part 1. We also welcome applications from non-RIBA/LAM validated Architecture or Interior Design, Landscape Design or Architectural Engineering courses, but applicants must have a 1st Class degree classification as a pre-requisite and submit a portfolio consisting of 10 pages of images from their final year project. Applications will be assessed based on folio and experience.
Candidates who do not meet these requirements will be considered on their individual merits and should discuss their particular circumstances with the Programme Director and the Admissions Officer.
International qualifications
A Pre-Master’s course, which prepares international students for postgraduate study with us, is offered by the University of Liverpool International College. Although there’s no direct Pre-Master’s route to this Master of Architecture, completing a Pre-Master’s pathway can guarantee you a place on many other postgraduate courses which may interest you.
Alternative entry requirements
If your qualification isn't listed here, or you're taking a combination of qualifications, contact us for advice
