International Architectural Regeneration and Development
MA or PGDip or PGCert
Key facts
Start dates
September 2020
Location
Course length
Full time: MA: 12 months, PGDip: 9 months, PGCert: 3 - 9 months (depending on module choice)
Part time: MA: 24 months, PGDip: 18 months; PGCert: 9 months
Department
School of Architecture
Overview
Our MA/ PGDip/ PGCert in International Architectural Regeneration and Development (IARD) focuses on sustainable development and regeneration of the built environment.
Architectural regeneration involves reusing, adapting and evolving existing buildings within an urban or rural context. It recognises the impacts these decisions and interventions have on the regeneration of a place. And it is underpinned by the principles of environmental, social and cultural sustainability.
The course has an international focus and we introduce you to a network of international organisations in the field. We encourage you to use more innovative approaches and dynamic ways of thinking. And we use an interdisciplinary approach so you will gain skills and take part in:
- critical thinking and analysis
- creative design
- field research and design
- implementing projects
- working in different cultural contexts.
On graduating you will be able to take on a leading role in organisations involved in architectural regeneration and development.
How to apply
Entry requirements
Specific entry requirements
The course attracts students from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities.
Applications will normally be open to candidates who fulfil one, or more, of the following requirements:
- hold a good honours degree (minimum 2.2), or international equivalent, in a related discipline
- hold a recognised postgraduate diploma or professional qualification in a relevant subject
- can provide a portfolio or equivalent samples of work (for non-design applicants)
- are mature candidates, who can demonstrate considerable practical experience in a related field
Please also see the University's general entry requirements.
English language requirements
If your first language is not English you will require a minimum academic IELTS score of 6.5 overall with 6.0 in all components.
OR
An equivalent English language qualification acceptable to the University.
Please also see the University's standard English language requirements.
English requirements for visas
If you need a student visa to enter the UK you will need to meet the UK Visas and Immigration minimum language requirements as well as the University's requirements. Find out more about English language requirements.
Pathways courses for international and EU students
We offer a range of courses to help you meet the entry requirements for your postgraduate course and also familiarise you with university life in the UK.
Take a Pre-Master's course to develop your subject knowledge, study skills and academic language level in preparation for your master's course.
If you need to improve your English language, we offer pre-sessional English language courses to help you meet the English language requirements of your chosen master’s course.
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.
Application process
Tuition fees
Questions about fees?
Contact Student Finance on:
Tuition fees
Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year your fees will increase each year.
Financial support and scholarships
The ADAM Architecture Scholarship provides support with fees to one master's student on the programme each year.
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, if any, are detailed below.
The optional field trip carries an additional cost.
Learning and assessment
The course is made up of core (compulsory) modules and optional modules and has three levels:
- postgraduate certificate (PGCert) - requires 60 credits
- postgraduate diploma (PGDip) - requires 90 credits
- master's degree (MA) - requires 180 credits.
For the master's degree you will also need to complete the Research Methods module and a dissertation.
Students usually enrol for the master's degree, but it is possible to enrol directly on the PGCert or PGDip. Either on recommendation from the admissions tutor or as an exit point from the MA.
A field trip is organised each year to look at international examples of regeneration projects.
Study modules
The modules listed below are for the master's award. For the PGDip and PGCert awards your module choices may be different. Please contact us for more details.
Please note: As our courses are reviewed regularly as part of our quality assurance framework, the modules you can choose from may vary from that shown here. The structure of the course may also mean some modules are not available to you.
Learning and teaching
We aim to provide the knowledge and tools that will enable you to recognise the potential of, and contribute creatively to, the appropriate and sustainable regeneration of the inherited built environment in urban or rural contexts, including vernacular architecture.
You will develop a critical awareness of the cultural embodiment of the built environment. And associated regeneration and development processes.
You will gain the skills and tools to enable you to propose and implement strategies and interventions that are:
- innovative
- culturally sensitive
- environmentally sustainable.
Our teaching methods include a combination of:
- lectures
- seminars
- design studios
- workshops
- group discussions
- field study
- master classes.
Field trips
An optional international field trip takes place during the winter break each year. It is a key component of the course.
You will test field research methods and engage in different cultural contexts as professionals. The field study also forms the basis and location for the second semester regeneration and development project.
Past field trip locations have included:
- India
- Cyprus
- Tunisia
- United Arab Emirates
- Romania
- Spain
- Croatia
- the Netherlands
- Portugal.
Please note that you will have to cover the costs of the field trip.
Research
This course is embedded in the Place, Culture and Identity research group in the School of Architecture.
The IARD programme can prepare you for the PhD programme. Many alumni have gone on to pursue their PhDs in the School.
Our research expertise informs our teaching and includes:
- conservation, regeneration and sustainability of traditional settlements in an international context
- historic towns and tourism
- heritage management, including in the context of regional development
- design in a historic and/or vernacular context
- interdisciplinary, cross-cultural and comparative study of vernacular architecture traditions worldwide
- transmission of indigenous, traditional and vernacular skills, expertise and knowledge
- rural regeneration and development
- cultural geography and mapping of vernacular architecture traditions.
We’re proud to host the unique Paul Oliver Vernacular Architecture Library (POVAL).
We are developing Architectural Regeneration, a new publication to support teaching on the programme.
After you graduate
Career prospects
Jobs in architectural regeneration can include a wide range of prospects including private sector consultancy assignments, public sector decision making positions or working for not for profit organisations delivering or assisting the regeneration process.
Graduates of this programme have gone on to work in a wide range of positions in the regeneration field internationally. Much of the success of a career in regeneration is combining the knowledge and skills learnt in the programme with professional skills gained in previous study and practice. Although we are unable to directly ‘find’ jobs for programme graduates, we regularly make recommendations through a good network of contacts and alumni and share employment opportunities with current students and graduates of the programme.
Graduates with architecture backgrounds often go on to work in practices specialising in regeneration or rehabilitation. Younger graduates have found that regeneration expertise has given them an edge and therefore more responsibility in practices they are working at. Those with more experience have found opportunities to diversify and gain positions in consultancy or multi-disciplinary practices.
There are also a wide range of jobs in the non-governmental sectors, ranging from managing small non-governmental (charitable) organisations to working on projects for major donor bodies like UNESCO. We have had an Indian graduate working on post-disaster rebuilding in Haiti, a Japanese graduate working on the preservation of vernacular architecture in Vietnam, and a Canadian graduate running donor-assisted construction programmes in Papua New Guinea. Closer to home, a UK graduate with a background in law is managing a townscape heritage initiative on behalf of the Heritage Lottery Fund.
Overseas students in particular, who have joined the programme from public sector assignments, have found that the degree has helped them both specialise and progress in their departments on their return. One graduate has gone onto head the procurement team in the Ministry of Municipalities specifically dealing with major regeneration projects. Several others work for their respective national heritage authorities.
Other graduates have used the programme as a stepping stone for PhD study, at Brookes or elsewhere. A number of former graduates are now teaching regeneration and conservation at degree and postgraduate levels.
Our Staff
Dr Julia Wedel
Julia's teaching focuses on architectural interventions in existing contexts, and specifically in consolidating diverse stakeholder and environmental interests through sensitive adaptive reuse of the existing built environment.
Read more about JuliaProgramme 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.