Applied Design in Architecture - 2012 entry

Course content

Year 1

Research into design

This year has a very strong emphasis on acquiring in-depth knowledge of an architecturally important field of study and utilising that knowledge in design. This is achieved by taking one of the six 'design specialisations'. You must choose which design specialisation is best for you. The specialisations on offer are deliberately highly diverse to cater for the changing nature of the profession in practice. This course produces graduates for the global market and as such requires a high level of commitment from staff and students.

The design specialisations are:

• Advanced Architectural Design
• International Architectural Regeneration and Development
• Development and Emergency Practice
• Sustainable Building: Performance and Design
• Research-led Design
• Urban Design.

Each of the research specialisations offers teaching from experts within that subject area, and links, through teaching focus and staff, to the five research clusters that are an invaluable resource within the School of architecture. The five research clusters keep the specialisations at the cutting edge in terms of a global agenda. They are, in general terms, environmental design, technology, development and emergency practice, humanities and architectural design.

Each of the design specialisations include a design project or projects, to which you will apply your detailed learning.

In addition to the design specialisation the first year will, through the Research Philosophy for Design module, widen your thinking in terms of what constitutes research, test your critical thinking and improved your analytical abilities. All of these are essential tools and their enhancement will place you in a stronger position to undertake the design studio in the second year.

Your ability to represent your ideas in a coherent and focused manner is the remit for the Representation module. This module will identify your strengths and build up your weaknesses, both in terms of visual and verbal communication methods. The module will be allow you to dedicate time to fine-tuning techniques or building from basics in sketching, model making, 2D and 3D CAD. To build confidence in verbal communication skills through the presentation of methods and actual practice.

The Management, Practice and Law module in year one looks at the landscapes within which these issues are being informed. This module is taught by practicing architects who have first-hand experience of the issues under discussion. Through a series of workshops you will work on topics that are essential to the practice of architecture. Management, practice and law is part of the design delivery of the programme and you will be expected to approach the coursework from a design position. This module asks that you approach this subject with a very different mind-set than the traditional position.

Due to the diverse and preparative basis of this year it is compulsory for all students to pass all compulsory components of the Research into Design year in order to be progress to the Design and Technology year.

If you should fail any part of the year and is offered as a resit, you may resubmit work on the stated date during the summer vacation prior to the start of the next academic year and if you are then deemed to have passed can begin the Design and Technology year.

Year 2

Design and technology

This year is structured to enable you to synthesise a broad range of complex cultural, aesthetic, research and technical factors, and design specialisation learning into your major design project and portfolio.

The year is spent participating in one of six design studios. All studios have control over their own programme of projects and each has a different view of architectural culture and promotes different design methods. The design studios are taught by some of the brightest designers and tutors in the country and consequentially their programmes demand high levels of creative and intellectual endeavour from you, as well as high levels of productivity. Their aim is to raise your design thinking, skills and production to the highest possible standard.

All six units present their projects for the year in the induction session and you are asked to vote for all six in order of preference. This system is to allow for the fair distribution of the students across all six units. There is no guarantee of a particular design unit but normally at worst you are allocated your second choice of studio, most students are allocated to their first choice.

During the design and technology year, your design work must develop into technically ambitious architecture and be the subject of your compulsory Advanced Technology for Design module. This module designs through technology and therefore fully complements and parallels your work in the design studio. There is a very strong emphasis here upon the creative possibilities for architectural technology. We ask for an open and experimental approach to technology, but also a clear understanding of its context and aims.

The staff delivering the teaching in the design studio unit and the Advanced Technology for Design module are made up from academics and practitioners. This energetic mix will challenge you to think about design and technology in a new manner, building confidence in ability, enabling deep thinking, and aiding you to define a personal design spirit.

Sitting alongside the design and technology is the second Management, Practice and Law module. This module builds on the learning and skills from the first year module and prepares you for stepping back into practice. As in the first year module this is learning is delivered by practicing architects. Through focus groups with architectural practices, this module figures in the skills that are seen as highly desirable for the part 2 graduate to have when seeking employment.

Throughout the two years of the programme there will be interim and final reviews. This offers an opportunity to receive feedback from outside of your design studio or design specialisation. We have strong links with practice and academic institutions and can attract the most able people to come to sit on our reviews.

This is truly a programme that aspires to produce the architect for the future, the architect that has global skills for international practice.

Exhibition

The end of year Exhibition is the culmination of each year’s academic programme. It is not only a showcase for your work, but is in itself an important opportunity for you to develop spatial and presentation skills in a very immediate and hands-on way. All students must play a full role in designing, organising, making and maintaining the exhibition. To this end the exhibition is an integral part of your design studio and design specialisation programme.

As our courses are reviewed regularly, modules may vary from those listed here.

Faculty

Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment

Department

School of Architecture

Course length

Full-time: 2 years

Teaching location

Headington Campus, Gipsy Lane

Start date

September 2012

UKPASS code

47904

Entry requirements

Admission to the programme will normally be open to applicants who fulfill either of the following requirements:

• Hold a good approved undergraduate honours degree, 1st/2.1, in Architecture or discipline relevant to Architecture.
• Possess an appropriate professional background and experience of designing architecture, or designing in a discipline that has a strong relationship or similarities to architecture.

Scholarships and funding

For general sources of financial support, see:

• funding for students from the UK and EU
• funding for students from outside the EU

Why Oxford is a great place to study Applied Design in Architecture

As a student in Oxford you'll be at the heart of the UK's most successful economic region and in a centre for leading industries which provides you with a host of learning opportunities. Because Oxford is one of the world's great academic cities, it is a key centre of debate, with conferences, seminars and forums taking place across education, science, the arts and many other subjects. In addition to our own excellent libraries and resource centres, our postgraduate students have access to the world-renowned Bodleian Library, the Bodleian Law Library and the Radcliffe Science Library.

Support for students studying Applied Design in Architecture

The Student Support Co-ordinators are your first port of call for any of the following types of issues:

• PIP problems
• Choosing your programme of study
• Personal issues
• Financial issues
• Disability or sickness
• Learning difficulties.

The student support co-ordinators will refer you on to the appropriate support if they cannot provide you with a solution to your problem. You can drop into the Student Support Office during the working week or you can email or phone the office to make an appointment. Please use this service - it can very quickly put your mind to rest.

For further details see the link: http://www.brookes.ac.uk/schools/be/students/support.html

How Brookes supports postgraduate students

Supporting your learning

From academic advisers and support co-ordinators to specialist subject librarians and other learning support staff, we want to ensure that you get the best out of your studies.

Personal support services

We want your time at Brookes to be as enjoyable and successful as possible. That's why we provide all the facilities you need to be relaxed, happy and healthy throughout your studies.