Architecture (ARB/RIBA PART 2) MArch

This course is in clearing

Overview

Course modules

Architecture postgraduate core modules aim to develop intelligent, spatial, and contextual design skills through a critical understanding of theoretical, societal, and ethical positions within the built environment. Year 1 focuses on establishing these intentions in the design process, preparing you for future academic and professional growth. The curriculum incorporates technical, environmental, professional, and theoretical studies, fostering critical reflection and exploration within an open studio environment with peer mentorship.

Building upon Year 1, these Architecture postgraduate modules emphasise working with complex design tasks, requiring a critical application of theoretical, societal, and ethical positions. The focus shifts towards synthesising these intentions into a coherent final architectural thesis proposal, directly preparing you for career progression.

NOTE: Modules are subject to change. For those studying part time courses the modules may vary.

Download course specification

Entry requirements

MArch:

What makes this course different

Recognised by industry

The Architects Journal praised our end of year show in 2021, saying we have a unique appreciation of beauty.

Award-winning department

Our Sustainability Research Institute and the School of Architecture have developed a multi-award-winning carbon-neutral material, Sugarcrete®.

Explore Sugarcrete

Fully accredited

This is your next step towards becoming a fully qualified architect. UEL’s Master's degree in architecture is fully accredited and grants you Part 2 exemption from the ARB/RIBA professional examinations.

Accreditation

Our architecture course has the unconditional recognition of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and Architects Registration Board (ARB), giving exemption from Part 2 of the ARB/RIBA Examination – one of the three parts required to register as an architect in the UK. In order for a qualification to be accredited by ARB, the Standards for Learning Providers must be met.

ARB Standards for Learning Providers

Course options

Start date

MArch

Architecture (ARB/RIBA PART 2) MArch, home applicant, full time

  • Home Applicant ,
  • Full time, 2 years
  • £ 9535 per year. Subject to change

Architecture (ARB/RIBA PART 2) MArch, international applicant, full time

  • International Applicant
  • Full time, 2 years
  • £ 16020 per year

VAC Showcase 2025

What we're researching

Our academic team combines world-class teaching with an enquiring research approach.  Our staff includes celebrated practising architects such as Maria Segantini, partner of C+S Architects, Tony Fretton, principal of Tony Fretton Architects, and Katherine Clarke, partner of Muf.

Roland Karthaus and Alan Chandler are recognised experts in the fields of urban design and conservation. Their recent research has included advising on the development of a new capital city in India and the reconstruction of a historic palace in Santiago de Chile - projects which engage with heritage and modernisation.

Alan Chandler and Armor Gutierrez are part of the team at SRI who have developed an award-winning low-carbon alternative to bricks and concrete blockwork, Sugarcrete.

We are also a course partner of Article 25 - the UK's leading architectural aid charity. You could be helping to design, manage and deliver sustainable building solutions in areas affected by disaster, poverty and need - opportunities that will set you up for meaningful employment.

We put concepts such as sustainability into action. For example, we are currently working with Muf and the residents of a London housing estate on a major regeneration project, helping them to make alternative plans for their future.

We have advised the London Mayor's office and the London Legacy Development Corporation on the use of public space, and we have worked with the US Green Building Council to develop new sustainability standards.

Your future career

With our MArch behind you, you will be fully prepared to become a qualified architect. Our Master's programme in architecture​ is fully accredited and grants you a Part 2 exemption from the ARB/RIBA professional examinations.

Professional and industry links

All of our design and practice-based modules work hand in hand with real clients, practices and research institutes in the field of the built environment to give you a truly grounded yet creative understanding of our discipline.

Our life build Construction Week projects have worked with: Burning Man Festival, United Nations Environment Programme, Clean Air Fund, ReSpace, Borough of Newham, Studio Bark, MUF and Grimshaw.

Our Professional Studies Building Matters assignment has worked closely together with: British Land, Buro Happold, ARUP, Max Fordham, Felden Clegg Bradley studios, Peabody, General Projects, Witherford Watson Mann, White Arkitekter, Sir Robert McAlpine, AHMM, PLP, and Bywater Properties.

We offer successful applicants and graduates the opportunity to gain work experience over the summer during our job shadowing week(s). To facilitate this, we work closely together with over 40 London-based design and architecture practices, including 3 Pritzker, 3 Sterling and 2 Van der Rohe prize-winning practices.

ARB outline the threshold competencies required for registration as an architect, irrespective of the route taken to registration. The Competency Outcomes that must be met are available on the ARB website.

Graduate employers

Graduates from UEL’s master's programme in architecture now work for private, public and third sector landscape practices. These include Gustafson Porter + Bowman, Levitt Bernstein, LUC, Farrer Huxley, The Environment Partnership, Marian Boswall Landscape Architects, Essex County Council, Wynne-Williams Associates, Fabrik, Ramboll, Ground Control, Pegasus Group, Allen Pyke Associates, Groundwork and Outerspace. Many of our students have undertaken paid positions with landscape practices whilst studying, including some of the above, plus Arkwood, HTA Design and Ireland Albrecht Landscape Architects. 

Job roles

Some of our graduates go on to work in culturally engaged practices, become social and sustainability entrepreneurs or work in the public sector. Others choose to join internationally awarded design practices or global architecture offices. Want to be your own boss? You could even set up your own architectural design practice. With UEL’s MArch degree in architecture, you'll have the toolkit you need to set yourself up for success.

Architecture and Physical Design London skyscrapers
Studying the Part 2 architecture course at UEL pushed me to achieve things I didn't know I was capable of. The experience enabled me to get the kind of job that I wanted and continues to motivate me in practice."
Marcus Andren

UEL Part 2 Graduate at Carmody Groarke Architects

How we support your career ambitions

We offer dedicated careers support, further opportunities to thrive, such as volunteering and industry networking. our courses are created in collaboration with employers and industry to ensure they accurately reflect the real-life practices of your future career and provide you with the essential skills needed. You can focus on building interpersonal skills through group work and benefit from our investment in the latest cutting edge technologies and facilities.

Career Zone

Our dedicated and award-winning team provide you with careers and employability resources, including:

  • Online jobs board for internships, placements, graduate opportunities, flexible part-time work.
  • Mentoring programmes for insight with industry experts
  • 1-2-1 career coaching services
  • Careers workshops and employer events
  • Learning pathways to gain new skills and industry insight

Mental Wealth programme

Our Professional Fitness and Mental Wealth programme which issues you with a Careers Passport to track the skills you’ve mastered. Some of these are externally validated by corporations like Amazon and Microsoft.

Our Mental Wealth programme

We are careers first

Our teaching methods and geographical location put us right up top

  • Enterprise and entrepreneurship support
  • Ranked 2nd for graduate start-ups (2023/24)
  • Networking and visits to leading organisations
  • Support in starting a new business, freelancing and self-employment
  • London on our doorstep

How you'll learn

Our studios, where the majority of teaching takes place, are a unique and intense environment where you will transform complexity into elegance, animate aesthetics and organise space for social use; whilst integrating essential technical, philosophical, regulatory and practical skills. Situated in the department of Architecture and Visual Arts (AVA) in UEL, the close proximity between courses also brings access to an extensive array of workshop spaces and labs. Including Engineering and Arts workshops; photography, casting, wood and metal workshops as well as a digital fabrication lab with 3D printers, laser cutters and CNC and robotics workshops. Our making culture and hands-on learning approach via creation is an intrinsic and critical aspect of our teaching and learning.

Guided independent study

When not attending timetabled lectures or workshops, you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-study. This will typically involve skills development through design production, reading journal articles and books, working on individual and group projects and preparing coursework assignments and presentations. Your independent learning is supported by a range of excellent facilities including online resources, and specialist facilities, such as the library, the full Microsoft Office software, including MS Teams, and Moodle: our Virtual Learning Environment.

Academic support

Our academic support team provides help in a range of areas - including learning and disability support.

Dedicated personal tutor

When you arrive, we'll introduce you to your personal tutor. This is the member of staff who will provide academic guidance, be a support throughout your time at UEL and who will show you how to make the best use of all the help and resources that we offer.

Class sizes

You will be taught one-on-one or in smaller classes (typically 20 students), with a collaborative ethos. The course leader is Isaie Bloch. Our teaching is accessible and responsive, and regularly scores highly in student satisfaction surveys.

How you'll be assessed

We assess you through coursework, design work and essays. Your final assessment is at the end of the academic year via your academic portfolio. There are no closed-book examinations.

Year 1:

  • 63.5% (consisting of 3 separate parts each weighting 25 + 25 + 13.5%) Integrated Design portfolio
  • 25% essay or equivalent
  • 11.5% written and graphical report

Year 2:

  • 67% (consisting of 3 separate parts each weighting 25 + 25 + 17%) Integrated Design portfolio
  • 25% essay or equivalent
  • 8% written and graphical report

Campus and facilities

What our students and staff say

Architecture degree showcase 23 student work
Coming from a country that prioritises theory over practical application, discovering that my course at UEL focused on hands-on learning was a dream come true. Its strategic location in east London, as an architecture student, only tipped the scales further in their favour."

Take Oyindamola

MArch Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 2)

A table displays a series of architecture models and designs
I am lost for words to express my gratitude for having been able to be part of the delegation travelling for free to Asia during the academic year. This trip has not only enriched my personal growth but has also significantly improved my learning on the matter. It was incredibly rewarding to work helping communities to build sustainably, networking with existing partners and creating new partnerships; promoting our remarkable Sugarcrete research and teaching methodology, which raised interest and curiosity wherever we were."

Rudson Valacio

MArch Architecture (ARB/RIBA PART 2) student