Advanced Practice (Open Award)
MA or MSc or PGDip or PGCert
Start dates: May 2026 / September 2026 / January 2027
Full time: Sept entry 1 year/ Jan entry 1.5 years/ May entry 15 months
Part time: Sept entry 2 years/ Jan entry 2.5 years/ May entry 27 months. DISTANCE LEARNING Sept entry 2 years/ Jan entry 2.5 years/ May entry 27 months
Location: Headington, Distance learning
School(s): School of Architecture, School of the Built Environment
Overview
The Advanced Practice Masters is a flexible, interdisciplinary programme spanning our internationally recognised schools in Architecture, Design, Art, Engineering, and the Built Environment. Designed for lifelong learning, the curriculum can be tailored to provide a competitive edge within your specialist field.
This programme offers the unique opportunity to translate your existing professional practice into academic credit, allowing you to deepen hard-won expertise within a challenging, supportive, and collaborative context. By strengthening your professional identity, you position yourself for significant career advancement.
Each sector-relevant module can be completed as a standalone unit to fit your schedule or “stacked” toward a full Masters degree, empowering you to become a recognized specialist in your field.
Why Oxford Brookes University?
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Self directed study
You get to choose what modules you study.
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Choose the title of your award
With approval of the Programme Committee.
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Your prior learning can count
Both certificated and experiential prior learning can be integrated as credit into the learning programme.
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Multi-professional environment
Act as both a leader and a team member to solve problems.
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Architectural leadership
Critically analyse knowledge and skills; learn to manage change, combining ideas to generate solutions.
Course details
Study modules
The flexible program supports you as you build a customised learning experience in your specific area of interest, whether in research or creative practice. Bring in your relevant professional expertise from practice and receive credit for it!
Example study paths with prior learning:
- Professional expertise in school architecture + RM&Dissertation = MA in Advanced Practice in School Design
- Professional expertise in Passive House design + Net Zero Building Technologies + Climate-Sensitive Urban Development + RM&Dissertation = MSc in Advanced Practice in Sustainable Design
Example study paths along themes:
- Sustainability and climate resilience
- Architectural design and innovation
- Digital technologies
- Building technologies
- Ethical Practice
- Retrofitting and conservation
- Interiors: set, event and exhibition design and virtual environments
- Humanitarian action
- Urban design and planning
- Leadership and management
- Impact assessment and building evaluation.
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from those shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Research
Oxford School of Architecture and School of the Built Environment have lively research environments that produce world-leading research that addresses social, environmental and architectural challenges locally, nationally and internationally.
The research groups in the schools cover a broad spectrum of fields, including:
- architectural engineering
- low carbon building
- development and emergency practice
- vernacular architecture
- conservation and design
- smart construction
- land design and development
- planning policy and governance.
Here are some recent research projects our staff is involved in:
Careers
As a graduate of the course you will gain specialised expertise in a field of your interest, helping you to advance your career.
The course will support your career development and a practice’s expertise in an area through practice based learning. If you are thinking about joining the programme, starting with a dialogue with your practice is important in order to make the most out of this masters degree.
Our Staff
Dr Adrian Robinson
I joined Oxford Brookes in December 2016 as a full time Senior Lecturer in Construction, having previously taught architecture and engineering at Leicester DMU, Central St Martins UAL and Southampton University.
Read more about AdrianDr Avar Almukhtar
Avar is Associate Professor in Digital Technologies and Urban Design at the School of the Built Environment. His role involves Teaching and Research.
Read more about AvarProfessor Aylin Orbasli
Aylin is co-founder and former subject coordinator of the Masters in International Architectural Regeneration and Development. She teaches theoretical modules and supervises Masters and PhD level research degrees. She is the deputy director of the Endangered Wooden Architecture Programme.
Read more about AylinProfessor Esra Kurul
I am a Professor of Sustainability Transitions in the Built Environment, and the Research Lead in the School of the Built Environment.
Read more about EsraDr Hossein Movahed
Hossein's recent research was to incorporate the use of natural ventilation in Passivhaus buildings, reducing any overheating potential. He has also attended a train the trainer course for delivering Passivhaus material in Dublin in 2012 and has a strong connection and contact with the Passivhaus community both nationally and internationally.
Read more about HosseinDr Mark Austin
My role as Postgraduate Programmes Lead is to provide effective leadership of the school's postgraduate programmes through monitoring and enhancing the quality academic performance.
Read more about MarkProfessor Rajat Gupta
Rajat Gupta is Director of the multi-disciplinary Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD) and Low Carbon Building Research Group. He holds senior professorial chair in sustainable architecture and climate change at level 4 (highest level).
Read more about RajatDr Supriya Akerkar
Dr Supriya's work focuses on furthering rights of women, gender and sexual minorities, older people and people with disabilities, displaced groups affected by disasters and emergencies, and indigenous people.
Read more about SupriyaMr Toby Shew
I curate and manage eight postgraduate design studios for the RIBA part II course, ensuring a plurality of ideas and methodology in this professionally recognised course.
Read more about TobyRelated courses
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
Typically, you’ll have a minimum recognised qualification equivalent to an undergraduate honours degree, including ARB Part 1. If you are interested in the programme, please email the Subject Coordinator (Arda - ainceoglu@brookes.ac.uk) to learn more about admission requirements.
You may have been working in related fields for a number of years and seek to further develop your skills in an academic environment. You’ll have a background and experience that includes undergraduate studies in a design-related field, built environment, art, or engineering. A wide range of interests and skills is particularly relevant to the interdisciplinary nature of the programme. Every applicant will be evaluated on an individual basis.
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
Please see the University's standard English language requirements.
International applications
This course is not open to students seeking visa sponsorship under our UKVI licence. Any international student who already holds a different visa type that permits study would be able to enrol on the course and would be required to complete our standard Right to Study checks which apply to all OBU courses taught in person.
Credit transfer
Terms and conditions of enrolment
When you accept our offer, you agree to the Terms and Conditions of Enrolment. You should therefore read those conditions before accepting the offer.
How to apply
Application process
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
The following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support.
How and when to pay
Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.
- For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
- For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy page
Additional costs
Please be aware that some courses will involve some additional costs that are not covered by your fees. Specific additional costs for this course are detailed below.
Compulsory costs
| Additional costs | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
| Travel expenses will be incurred (only travel within the practice placement will be reimbursed). | Typically £0 |
| You will be expected to keep a sketchbook, produce specific drawings and maske models using a variety of media, mostly oout of recycled and inexpensive materials, but equipment and consumables will be needed. For example, a portfolio case, pens, glue, and knives. | £500-1000 |
Optional costs
| Additional costs | Amount (£) |
|---|---|
It’s your responsibility to cover print / binding costs where coursework submission is required. Please note that a lot of the coursework is now submitted online. |
From £30 |
Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes. For the 2025/26 academic year, the University is introducing an alternative subsidised travel offer for all students with further information on our Travel webpages. |
From £10 |
It’s your responsibility to cover print / binding costs where coursework submission is required. Please note that a lot of the coursework is now submitted online. |
From £30 |
| You may choose to purchase books to support your studies. Many books on our reading lists are available via the Library, or can be purchased secondhand. | £20-60 per book |
Accommodation fees in Brookes Letting (most do not include bills) |
£107-301 per week |
Accommodation fees in university halls (bills included, excluding laundry costs) |
£139-248 per week |
Graduation costs include tickets, gowning and photography. Gowns are not compulsory but typically students do hire robes, starting at £41. |
Typically £0-200 |
Students are responsible for their own travel to and from university for classes. For the 2025/26 academic year, the University is introducing an alternative subsidised travel offer for all students with further information on our Travel webpages. |
From £10 |
Funding your studies
Financial support and scholarships
Featured funding opportunities available for this course.
All financial support and scholarships
Programme changes:
On rare occasions we may need to make changes to our course programmes after they have been
published on the website. For more information, please visit our
changes to programmes page.