Close

Master's of Architecture Part 2 (MArch)

MArchD

Join a live webinar and find out more

UCAS code: P047904

Start dates: September 2026

Full time: 24 months

Part time: 48 months

Location: Headington

School(s): School of Architecture

Overview Course details Careers Entry requirements How to apply Tuition fees
next or previous

Find a course

Expand

Overview

This is a bespoke, design-led MArch Part II where you choose your studio culture from day one. Unlike traditional courses, you’ll specialise immediately in one of our six distinct research environments: Interior Architecture, Urban Design, Digital Craft, Sustainable Architecture, Advanced Architectural Design, or Global Development and Humanitarian Practice.

You’ll work in a vertical studio system alongside world-leading practitioners and researchers to hone your ambitions, whether that is joining a top-tier firm like Foster + Partners or leading humanitarian aid projects globally.

At Oxford School of Architecture, you’ll immerse yourself in an inclusive and supportive community based around a high-quality studio culture, shaped by our passion for design in a socially responsible way. You’ll have the freedom to undertake projects that reflect your passions, and you’ll work alongside expert academics and industry professionals from local and national practices to gain the specialised skills needed to be an architect of the future.

Attend an open day or webinar Ask a question Order a prospectus

Why Oxford Brookes University?

  • Radical Agency

    Don't just follow a syllabus. Choose your own path from six distinct design specialisations in Year 1 and dedicated vertical studios in Year 2. A bespoke education for the independent architect.

  • Expert Practitioner Faculty

    Learn directly from architects who lead research at the highest level and practice at top UK firms. Our staff-to-student ratio ensures deep, individual mentorship for your design thesis.

  • Digital Craft and Innovation

    Master the future of making. From our VR and AI suites to our extensive workshops and prototyping facilities, we provide the physical and digital infrastructure for rigorous experimentation.

  • Sustainable learning

    Driven by research, creativity and curiosity, the School of Architecture brings leading-edge thought in Low-Carbon Building, Vernacular Architecture, Place Culture and Identity and the Centre for Development and Emergency Practice. Our research guides industry at the highest level.

  • A city to call home

    Oxford has a rich student culture, and you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in study at the world-famous Bodleian, one of the oldest libraries in Europe. Our studios are open 24/7 and are supported by an on-site print room with advanced 2D and 3D printing facilities, equipment and tech loan services.

  • Accreditation(s)

    Architects Registration Board, Royal Institute of British Architects, Malaysian board of Architects

    • Architects Registration Board
    • Royal Institute of British Architects
    • Malaysian board of Architects

Course details

Course structure

Course at a glance

  • Teaching Method: Vertical Unit System / Design Specialisations
  • Studio Access: 24/7 dedicated studio space
  • Facilities: Extensive Workshops, 3D Printing, VR/AR Suite, Print Room
  • Outcome: ARB/RIBA/LAM Part 2 Exemption + Specialised Design Portfolio

The MArch Part II offers a dynamic, design-led experience. Year 1 focuses on core modules and specialisation; Year 2 culminates in a major thesis portfolio. Using tutorials as our primary teaching method, we provide individual support to help you tailor your path.

Integrated learning and workshops

Through an integrated approach, you will tackle individual and group projects that balance academic rigour with practical skill. Our high-spec studio and workshops empower material experimentation via:

  • Advanced 2D/3D printing and photographic scanning
  • Industry-standard software and VR/AR suites
  • A dedicated architecture workshop.

You will graduate ready to collaborate with industry professionals and make an immediate impact in the field.

Learning and teaching

Our programme gives you the opportunity to define your architectural education through selection of a design specialisation in Year 1 and a design thesis studio in Year 2. Our core modules ensure that your work meets all of the required professional criteria which gives you the freedom to explore in detail areas and aspects of the field that most resonate with your design agendas in your studio and specialisation.

Assessment

You’ll be given feedback to support the submission of assignments, which generally takes the form of a portfolio, emphasising process work and iteration as well as final output. Through sector leading cross marking and moderation policies we shall ensure that we maintain consistent standards and learning outcomes across each module are fairly assessed. Work is marked as a percentage and you must pass all compulsory components of the course, without exception, to progress from Year 1 to Year 2.

An internal cross-studio portfolio examination will determine your final design grades. This takes place at the end of the second semester in Year 2. Our programme is accredited by the RIBA, the ARB and by LAM, and we appoint external examiners to ensure that our assessment standards and processes are fair and consistent. We choose two external examiners from the profession and two external examiners from academia who have sight of all school submissions and meet you at the end of Year 2.

Field Trips

The MArch Part II course at Oxford Brookes values and encourages field study.

Each studio and specialisation offers an optional field trip. These field trips may be local or international, depending on the focus of the studio or specialisation. Other optional opportunities for field study are offered to the entire cohort, including visits to maker spaces, architectural parks or interesting cities.

See the Additional costs section of this page for details of costs.

Study modules

Year 1

Compulsory modules

  • Design 1 /Agency (30 credits)

    You'll have the opportunity to integrate research methods with practical representation skills, while exploring themes from your design specialisation alongside social, economic and environmental issues. By the end of this module you will have improved your creative and critical thinking skills and your design agency through research and experimentation. We explore "conventional" research methods alongside LLM and AI exploration, developing an informed and critical position on these methods whilst creating new ways of working with these technologies.

  • Design 1 /Praxis (30 credits)

    You will integrate Management, Practice and Law with practical design and representation skills across various media scales. You'll find that this module will build on your Design Agency work, enabling you to develop your proposition and propose a new method of working that reflects your specific interests. Ultimately, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the legal and practical aspects of architectural practice, and you'll foster your creativity and design decision-making abilities. This module includes a design project, guided by expert tutors, that you use as a situation to embed your praxis knowledge.

Optional modules

  • Design Studio Specialisation (DSS) specialisation (60 credits)

    Join one of our vertical design studios! Our design studio specialisation enables you to join one of our vertical design studios and refine your design skills alongside our second year students. This vertical system enables peer learning and collaboration - and allows exploration of a complex, master's level, design brief. 

    To help you develop a compelling thesis design portfolio, you will collaborate directly with experienced industry professionals and experienced design tutors - with studio leads from high-end practice such as WilkinsonEyre and Robert Dye Architects. The MArch Part II at Oxford Brookes enables you to define your own path.

  • Advanced Architectural Design (AAD) specialisation (60 credits)

    You will develop skills that expand the world of architecture, including photography, film-making, and narrative development. You'll also build upon your intrinsic imagination and inspiration, cultivating an experiential understanding of the world around you. As an Advanced Architectural Design student, you’ll immerse yourself in an intensive, studio-focused environment where the development of architectural ideas is celebrated over traditional consumption or product-driven output. You'll question, speculate and generate thought-provoking proposals that redefine the role and impact of architecture in contemporary society. This specialism is connected to the Design, Theory and Practice (DTP) research group. 

  • Digital Craft in Architecture (DCA) specialisation (60 credits)

    Develop your advanced digital design and making skills, focusing on the intersection of computational design, digital fabrication and traditional craftsmanship. In partnership with leading design practices such as Mamou-Mani, MAKE and Grimshaw. You’ll experiment at the acclaimed Grymsdyke Farm digital fabrication labs, using its grounds for large-scale projects and collaborating with craftspeople and industry partners, building vital career connections. This specialism is connected to the Design, Theory and Practice (DTP) and the Place, Culture and Identity research groups.

  • Global Development and Humanitarian Practice (DHP) specialisation (60 credits)

    You will investigate the impactful influence of humanitarian efforts and human-rights-based responses on global issues.  As part of this exploratory journey, you'll delve into the complexities of cultural differences and critically consider how gender, diversity, and equality shape the world today. This specialism is connected to the Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP) research group.

  • Interior Architecture (MIA) specialisation (60 credits)

    You'll delve into a programme that merges architecture, interior design, and social science. You'll be taught how to shift your focus from fundamentally designing physical 'objects' to critically evaluating the 'subjective' experience of the users, and creating a fulfilling design experience for your end user. This specialism is connected to the Design, Theory and Practice (DTP) research group.

  • Sustainable Architecture: Evaluation and Design (SAED) specialisation (60 credits)

    Evaluation and Design (SAED): You'll explore the theory and practice of creating low-carbon and sustainable buildings. You can expect to gain an advanced understanding of the key sustainability issues facing the sector, equipping you with the knowledge to develop environmentally responsible solutions. This specialism is connected to the Oxford Institute for Sustainable Development (OISD) research group.

  • Urban Design (UD) specialisation

    You will integrate theory and design practice to develop your urban design skills. You'll learn how to address contemporary global issues through your projects, working with examples and locations from around the world. Many global challenges can be tackled through better city design. Urban designers play a vital role in shaping sustainable communities, from protecting green spaces to reducing travel times. At Oxford Brookes, you’ll study design from building scale to city-wide masterplans, exploring environments from villages to megacities. This specialism is taught by Urban Design Experts and practitioners in our School of the Built Environment and connected to the Land, Design and Development (LDD) research group.

  • Specialisation Studio (60 credits)

    You can tailor your Part II to include a specialisation, choosing one route from the following design specialisations each offering a different approach to architecture. Our design specialisations ensure you leave the programme with a clear agenda and direction - helping you target the best design practices globally.

    • Interior Architecture (MIA) Specialisation
    • Advanced Architectural Design (AAD) Specialisation 
    • Sustainable Architecture: Evaluation and Design (SAED) Specialisation 
    • Urban Design (UD) Specialisation
    • Digital Craft in Architecture (DCA) Specialisation
    • Global Development and Humanitarian Practice (DHP) Specialisation
    • Design Studio (DSS) Specialisation

    Each specialism consists of two 30 credit modules, one that explores theory and research and one that applies theory and research to design. Our Specialisation Studios are led by academic and industry experts, ensuring you learn directly from our leading research groups including CENDEP and OISD.

Year 2

Compulsory modules

  • Year Two Design Studio Overview

    The four modules below are taught and assessed in one of our leading edge design studios. You'll generate a major architectural project under the guidance of two studio tutors and various technology and praxis tutors. Alongside design studio, we hold weekly architecture, technology and design symposia - bringing practitioners and experts to discuss contemporary architectural issues. These symposia feed into your design studio directly, as provocations and guidance towards your final year portfolio. You'll get to embed the specialist learning from year one in a project you can be proud of, supported by passionate and experienced staff. Our studios all have a designated space in our department, with access to 24/7 - you'll find a place to work and a place to be inspired.

  • Architectural Design 1 /Thesis (30 credits)

    Your thesis will centre on the architectural design of various scales and complexity, placing a strong emphasis on the initial stages of a design project. You will explore the definition and visual rationale of your design thesis, aiming to deepen your understanding of the critical relationship between the human, architectural, and urban/landscape scales within both local and global contexts. You'll progressively cover topics such as site analysis, brief development, forming design concepts, setting creative parameters, speculative design, and feasibility, all of which will build upon insights you gained in your first year to evolve your core ideas. You'll undertake this work within a dynamic design studio environment, running alongside the following modules:

    • Architectural Design 2 /Experiment (30 credits)
    • Architectural Design 3 /Praxis (30 credits)
    • Technology Design and Representation (30 credits)

  • Architectural Design 2 /Experiment (30 credits)

    This module is designed to deepen your understanding of the design process, highlighting how creative exploration intersects with technology, art, culture, and society. You will critically develop iterative design methods by employing a variety of digital and analogue techniques across both 2D and 3D media. The scope of your work will span sketch design, detail design, design in context, and design in use. You will investigate sustainable impact as an integral part of your design development. Within the design studios, your projects will not only contribute to your individual learning but also feed into a broader concept and critical discussions, as you engage with architectural design through both individual and collaborative group work.

  • Architectural Design 3 /Praxis (30 credits)

    In Design 3 /Praxis you'll develop a project that aligns with the specific type of architectural practice you hope to explore professionally, potentially collaborating with industry partners, public institutions, or third-sector stakeholders. This module enables you to fully integrate sustainable strategies for both the use and evaluation of your design, ensuring you apply relevant regulatory frameworks and industry standards. Working directly within the design studio environment, you are encouraged to develop both established and innovative ways of creating and positioning your architectural propositions, while benefiting from the support of embedded studio practice experts.

  • Technology Design and Representation (30 credits) (30 credits)

    In this module, you'll significantly improve your grasp of technical design and how technology drives architectural innovation everywhere, from global trends to local projects. You will build a strong foundation in architectural and related technologies by critically analysing existing studies. Prepare to develop a deep, critical understanding of how place, culture, and technology strategies interlink, enabling you to question current practices and creatively propose sustainable solutions. You'll actively test and experiment with structures, construction techniques, and environmental concepts alongside your core design work, while gaining a nuanced understanding of materials, on-site vs. off-site construction, and their short-term and long-term impact on the surrounding environment. This hands-on learning occurs through both individual and group projects within the design studio, where an embedded technology tutoring team is on hand to support you.

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 Brookes is one of the few UK schools offering a dedicated Humanitarian Practice specialisation within a RIBA Part 2 programme. Home to the pioneering Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP), our research spans architectural engineering, low-carbon building, development, vernacular architecture, conservation, design, and AI.

Our multidisciplinary research yields practice-oriented outcomes that actively shape global policies in architecture, sustainability, and humanitarian practice.

We seamlessly integrate research into teaching, ensuring a direct knowledge transfer to the classroom. This symbiotic relationship enriches the student experience and deepens their understanding of the architectural topics. The collective impact of our research activities underscores a commitment to maintaining a dynamic, world-class educational environment at Oxford Brookes.

Careers

Elite employment outcomes

Our graduates are aggressively recruited by the world's leading practices. Recent alumni have secured roles designing for Zaha Hadid Architects, Foster + Partners, WilkinsonEyre, Grimshaw, and Allies and Morrison.

Beyond traditional practice, our Global Development graduates are leading disaster relief operations with major NGOs, while our Digital Craft alumni are pioneering computational design roles in film and tech.

The specialisations within the course prepare students for a rapidly changing industry where specialist skills are increasingly important.

Watch our School of Architecture Employability video

Careers include:

  • architectural and engineering practices
  • research or sustainability consultancies
  • development work
  • creative professions
  • academia.

Student work by Carlos Lora-Tai entitled Cultural Quarter at Sunset

Related courses

Related course
Sustainable Architecture: Evaluation and Design
Related course
Global Development and Humanitarian Practice
Related course
Urban Design
Related course
Interior Architecture
Related course
Digital Craft in Architecture
Related course
Advanced Architectural Design
Left
Right

Entry requirements

International qualifications and equivalences

How to apply

Application process

Please use the "apply now" link below. Once you have started your application, you will be asked to provide your portfolio, references and a personal statement. You will be invited to MArch "Virtual Cafes" where you'll get to meet staff and students on the course who can answer any questions you might have about studying here, and also to in-person open days. After you have completed your application, you will be invited to an interview to discuss your portfolio and architectural aspirations and agendas.


Apply now

Tuition fees

Please see the fees note
2026 / 27
Home (UK) full time
£9,790
Home (UK) part time
£1,220 per single module
International full time
£18,900

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

Tuition fees

2026 / 27
Home (UK) full time
£9,790
Home (UK) part time
£1,220 per single module
International full time
£18,900

Questions about fees?

Contact Student Finance on:

+44 (0)1865 534400

financefees@brookes.ac.uk

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.

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.

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

Undergraduate maintenance loans for full-time UK students Undergraduate tuition fee loans for UK students Part-Time UK Faculty Scholarship

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

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.