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Universities United Kingdom Royal College of Art Courses Master of Arts [M.A] Environmental Architecture

Master of Arts [M.A] Environmental Architecture
at Royal College of Art

London, United Kingdom

Tuition Fee £ 32,000
Country Rank#123
Duration12 Months
Score IELTS: 6.5

Program Overview

Earth systems are changing. The globe is warming as a result of CO2 emissions, with dramatic consequences in the form of abnormal and intensified climatic events such as floods or fires. At the same time, a series of related metabolic rifts, from ecosystem loss, to species extinction, ocean water acidification, desertification, and the resulting loss of livelihoods, compound to generate environmental destruction and social tensions in the form of wars, famines and mass migrations. The underlying causes of these momentous shifts lie within the environmental and territorial architectures of capitalist modes of production, globalised through colonisation and development policies, and their discriminatory and racial logics. New environmental architectures are urgently needed.

The aim of MA Environmental Architecture is to constitute a new field of knowledge production and practice concerned with the design of alternative forms of co-dependence between life forms and earth systems. The MA Environmental Architecture is a design-led and field-focused course that emphasises a transdisciplinary approach to design research. The programme proposes an unique approach to environmental architecture education that brings together architectural and ethnographic research methods, with the use of technoscientific tools for analysing, classifying, and producing environmental data.

At the same time, students are exposed to the perspectives of those in the frontlines of environmental struggles across the world, to histories and theories of environmental change, and to the most recent advances in the related fields of environmental law and climate justice.

Through its long-term Research Studio units the programme will provide students with the opportunity to engage with live projects in sites of complex environmental change, to work with experts from other disciplines, such as lawyers, geologists or biologists, and to embark on multiple-day field trips where they will be able to engage stakeholders and meet local communities, while testing and exploring environmental research and analysis methods.

Course Content
The programme is delivered across three terms and includes a combination of programme, School and College units.

Term 1

In term 1, you will study Studio Unit 1: Architectures of Extraction, and Seminar Unit 1: Metabolic Rifts. You will also be offered an Elective in Term 1.

Across Terms 1 and 2, you will participate in the College-wide unit. This unit aims to support students to meet the challenges of a complex, uncertain and changing world by bringing them together to work collaboratively on a series of themed projects informed by expertise within and beyond the College. These projects will challenge you to use your intellect and imagination to address key cultural, social, environmental and economic challenges. In doing so, you will develop and reflect on the abilities required to translate knowledge into action, and help demonstrate the contribution that the creative arts can make to our understanding and experience of the world.

Term 2

In term 2, you will study Studio Unit 2: Environmental Interventions, and Seminar Unit 2: Critical Future Scenarios.

In term 2 all School of Architecture students will participate in the Media Studies, School-wide unit. The unit aims to increase students’ critical engagement with media and space. Through this unit you will be supported to increase your cross-disciplinary communication and you will be challenged to expand your media practice beyond architecture’s reliance on media as purely representation.

Term 3

The programme culminates in the Independent Research Project (IRP). This unit enables you to apply the intellectual, technical and professional skills that you have developed throughout the programme to a challenging self-set brief. The IRP can be developed either individually or in group, and it should be based on the proposition for intervention developed in Studio Unit 2: Environmental Interventions. This is an opportunity for you to reflect on the theme of the studio while pursuing your own research interests.
Entry Requirement
Candidates are selected entirely on merit and applications are welcomed from all over the world. The selection process will consider creativity, imagination and innovation as demonstrated in your portfolio, as well as your potential to benefit from the programme and to achieve high MA standards overall.

You’ll likely be students of architecture with a 3+2-year Bachelor and Master’s degree, or master-equivalent 5-year diploma preferably in Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Landscape Urbanism, Urban Design or other related design discipline looking to acquire expertise in large scale, environmental and ecological design projects.

We’ll consider other backgrounds, such as fine arts, social sciences, geography, urban studies, planning or economics, if your prior work is of exceptional merit and you’re able to demonstrate their ability to work alongside and contribute to multidisciplinary teams. Evidence of your intellectual and professional curiosity and a readiness to engage in a rigorous and demanding period of study is essential.

Portfolio requirements

Your portfolio is a showcase of your work as an artist or designer and can be made up of images, videos or writing examples. Your portfolio helps us to better understand your application and allows you to show evidence of your ability and motivation to undertake a given programme.

Generally, we’re looking for you to demonstrate your:
- Creativity, imagination and innovation
- Ability to articulate the intentions of the work
- Intellectual engagement in areas relevant to the work
- Technical skills appropriate to the work
- Potential to benefit from the programme
Environmental Architecture is an interdisciplinary programme that aims at exploring the contribution of architecture towards addressing our current environmental and climate crises. We would like you to prioritise projects or other pieces of work that showcase:
- Ability and interest in addressing environmental and climate issues through design
- A range of technical design skills (these might take the form of drawing, model making, 3D models, film, photography, writing, painting, performance, exhibition design or others)
- A range of research methods (this could include academic papers, fieldwork, interviews, documentary practices, environmental analysis or other)
- Experience in group work and collaborative practices
- Experience of working with non-academic partners (if possible)
All submitted materials should state if they were done individually or in collaboration, and clearly explain the research methods and design processes that led to the final outcome.

English-language requirements

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country you will need the equivalent of an IELTS Academic score of 6.5 with a 6.0 in the Test of Written English (TWE) and at least 5.5 in other skills. Students achieving a grade of at least 6.0, with a grade of 5.5 in the Test of Written English, may be eligible to take the College’s English for Academic Purposes course to enable them to reach the required standard.

You are exempt from this requirement if you have received a 2.1 degree or above from a university in a majority English-speaking nation within the last two years.
Fees & Scholarships
Overseas and EU - £32,000*

Cost Of Studying At Royal College of Art

Interest rates as low as 8.9% ^*

250K+

Students Assisted

800Cr+

Loan Amount Disbursed

5000+

Loans Sanctioned

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Master of Arts [M.A] Environmental Architecture at Royal College of Art