MArch Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 2)
Course overview
Start date
September 2020
Subject area
Architecture
Attendance
Full-time
Learning
On campus, dual delivery
Course summary
Our award-winning Architecture department enjoys an international reputation for excellence and for producing architects who combine technical skills with practical experience.
We believe architecture is about engagement. Rather than sitting in a studio designing buildings theoretically you will go out and work on projects in the local area – a thriving, dynamic part of London with huge infrastructure developments.
You will fulfil your creative potential and perfect your skills by working on designs that tackle real-life issues not just in east London but around the world.
You will engage with architectural events nationally and internationally. In 2014, our students exhibited as part of the Venice Biennale and at the London Festival of Architecture.
Our MArch Architecture course is fully accredited, furthering your progress towards becoming a qualified architect.
Students who successfully complete the course are exempt from Part 2 of the ARB/RIBA Examination – one of the three parts required to register as an architect in the UK.
Download our yearbook to view examples of our students' work.Return to campus: dual delivery
In a Covid-secure environment, enjoy learning on our state-of-the-art campuses and flex between online delivery
Find out moreRecognised by industry
The Architects Journal praised our end of year show this year, saying we have a unique appreciation of beauty.
Award-winning department
Our department is renowned for its award-winning students and academics. Two of our architecture lecturers are part of a collective that won the prestigious Turner Prize 2015.
Fully accredited
This is your next step towards becoming a fully qualified architect. Our MArch is fully accredited and grants you Part 2 exemption from the ARB/RIBA professional examinations.
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.
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.
Making a difference
UEL is one of the UK’s leading modern research universities. In the most recent Research Excellence Framework (REF), 17 per cent of our overall research submission was classified as ‘world-leading’ for its quality and impact – almost double our previous REF score. A further 45 per cent of our work was considered ‘internationally excellent’.
Marcus Andren
UEL Part 2 Graduate at Carmody Groarke Architects
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.
Fees and funding
- September 2020
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2020-21UK/EU: Full-time
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2020-21International: Full-time
Home and eligible EU students undertaking RIBA Part 1 and Part 2 are eligible for financial help from Student Finance England.
Part 2 students will be regarded by Student Finance England as "continuing" students but should always apply on the new entrant application form stating that they are on Year 1 of the 2 year RIBA Part 2 course. When applying for year 2 the following year students should use the continuing application form.
If students have a gap of more than 2 years after completing RIBA Part 1 and starting RIBA part 2, students will need to evidence that they have been "working in the field" or have at least kept their link with architecture in order to qualify for Student Finance England funding again. Students should apply online but send in a separate letter by post to explain what they have been doing during Stage 1 and provide relevant evidence.
Apply for Student Finance England funding.
- Apply for a Postgraduate Loan
- Take advantage of UEL scholarships and bursaries
- Ask your employer to sponsor your study
- Study part-time so you can work at the same time (applicable to courses that have a part-time mode)
- Look at UK Research and Innovation funding options
• By telephone
• In person at our Docklands or Stratford campus
• Bank transfer
The Student Money Advice and Rights Team (SMART) are here to help you navigate
your finances while you're a student at the University of East London.
We can give you advice, information and guidance on government and
university funds so that you receive your full funding entitlement.
Email: study@uel.ac.uk
Phone: 020 8223 4444
As part of the Tier 4 student visa requirements, UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) estimate that you will need £1,265* per month to cover your living costs. It includes expenses for accommodation, food and drink, travel within London, text books, entertainment, clothing, toiletries and laundry. Most Tier 4 students are required to show they have sufficient funds to cover the first nine months of the course before they start- a total of £11,385- in addition to the tuition fees. You can find more information about the specific requirements of the Tier 4 student visa here. The amount that you will spend can vary depending on your lifestyle. The UKCISA International Student Calculator can help you plan and manage your money.
* Please note the Immigration Rules are subject to change and this figure is likely to be increased by UKVI year on year. Please therefore check our ISA page for more information at the time of preparing your visa application.International students are required to pay a deposit prior to being issued a Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS).
Your remaining balance will be paid in five monthly instalments over your first term. The first of these instalments must be paid when completing your enrolment on arrival at UEL. Please follow the payment instructions here.
After the required payment has been made, you will be asked to complete the online International Student Reply Form to confirm your acceptance of our offer and of our terms of admittance and fees policy.
Our International team at UEL are available for advice and guidance on studying in London, fees, scholarships and visa requirements.
Email: international@uel.ac.uk
Entry requirements
Your portfolio should demonstrate the equivalent skills and abilities of an ARB/RIBA Part 1 graduate even though it is not required to have an ARB Part 1 degree in order to apply to our course. however in summary and in particular, we will look for the following in the portfolio:
- Evidence of exploratory spatial design techniques including sketching, especially model-making and perspective-based imagery
- Sound technical knowledge of building design and conventional drawing abilities (plans, sections, elevations)
- Environmental and structural design knowledge
- Awareness of architectural history and theory
- Ability to synthesise the above into architectural proposals
- Depth of work, engagement and commitment to the subject
- Presentational skills
Some useful tips to take into consideration
- PDFs should be single files, no larger than 40mb (electronic portfolios only)
- Personal statements should be factual and to the point
- Portfolios presented in person should be printed at A3 or larger and not in plastic sheaths
- Year out and practical work experience is relevant and should be presented, but only after the degree portfolio.
If you do not meet the academic English language requirements for your course, you may be eligible to enrol onto a pre-sessional English programme. The length of the course will depend on your current level of English and the requirements for your degree programme. We offer a 5-week and an 11-week pre-sessional course. Find out more here.
Please note that some courses require applicants to meet the entry requirements outlined on the course page. Our pre-entry Information Advice and Guidance Team are able to provide further advice on entry requirements and suitability for study.
What you'll study
We consistently review and develop our courses and modules to ensure they are up-to-date with sector and industry graduate skills demands. Course structure, modules and options are subject to change.
- Architectural Design M1 (core)
- Technical, professional and cultural studies M1 (core)
- Architectural Design M2 (core)
- Technical, professional and cultural studies M2 (core)
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.
Course specificationHow you'll learn
Our studio, where the majority of teaching takes place, is a unique and intense environment where you will work with an extensive array of equipment.
We have wood, plaster, metal, photography and print-making workshops and a full digital fabrication lab with 3D printers, laser cutters and CNC and an industrial grade robot arm. Most of your design project work will evolve in these studios and workshops. The University of East London is one of the few universities to have this level of workshop incorporated inside your teaching spaces.
You will be taught one to one, or in small classes, with a collaborative ethos. The course leader is Isaie Bloch. Our teaching is accessible and responsive and regularly scores highly in student satisfaction surveys.
We have extensive connections with a range of practices and official bodies. Our teaching staff is regularly joined by architects from reputed organisations and practices, including Zaha Hadid Architects, Studio Bark, C+S architects, Tony Fretton Architects, Assemble, KPF, ARB.
Assemble, a collective which includes four of our own lecturers, has been nominated for the prestigious Turner Prize 2015 for its imaginative regeneration work in Liverpool. Roland Karthaus, founding Director of Matter Architecture and lecturer at UEL won a RIBA President`s award for research in 2017 with a project for the Ministry of Justice.
Who will teach on this course
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
What you'll learn
You will learn to ask radical questions, explore social responsibility and decide how you’re going to make an impact as an architect. At the University of East London, we’re exploring critical topics like tackling climate change, building sustainably and creating community spaces through well-crafted architecture.
If you’re ready to take the next step towards becoming an architect, this course is for you. Not only do we tick all the boxes for RIBA accreditation, we’ll help you get the experience you need to stand out.
The MArch Architecture course is designed to prepare you to respond creatively to the uncertainties you will experience in your professional life as an architect. Sometimes students are unclear about the relevance of what they are doing to become an architect. The programme does not attempt to replicate practice, but does prepare you for practice. It also enables you to continue to develop fruitfully after you leave the school. Just as in professional practice, the school is a learning community in which students and teachers learn together. You work in small groups that stay together for a term or a year. Because the groups are small you get individual attention from the tutors and you learn from other students who are dealing with similar problems.
We’ll equip you with a range of practical and professional skills, including advanced CAD software and digital fabrication tools, architectural design methods, architectural history and theory as well as multiple technical and environmental workshops and seminars. You’ll put all of these into practice through your integrated design project. This in order to tackle real-life scenarios which affect the whole, not just the part. We will stimulate you to look at architecture as the opportunist, not the problem-solver.
Your future career
With our MArch behind you, you will be fully prepared to become a qualified architect. Our course is fully accredited and grants you Part 2 exemption from the ARB/RIBA professional examinations.
You will graduate from a course that enjoys an international reputation for producing award-winning designers capable of producing complex architectural proposals with skill and sensitivity. The skills you will acquire – superior analysis, creative thinking, technological expertise and draughtsmanship – will serve you well in a variety of work environments.
You will also benefit from our superb connections. We have well established links with a variety of architectural practices and local organisations and these have enabled our students to secure some enviable jobs.
It’s up to you how you make an impact. Some of our graduates go on to work in the public sector and culturally engaged practices. Others choose to join internationally awarded design practices or large global offices. Want to be your own boss? You could even set up your own Architectural Design practice. After this course, you’ll have the toolkit you need to set yourself up for success.
Within the School we have a dedicated careers advice service along with an active alumni network who are happy to provide contacts with prospective employers.
Whatever your ambition, we will ensure your learning is placed in a strong, professional context, with your future career always in mind.
