Master of Architecture and Urban Design
Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
Cities are growing faster than ever, with over fifty per cent of the world’s population now living in one.
Gain the skills and knowledge required to respond to this challenge of mass urbanisation with our Master of Architecture and Urban Design.
You’ll learn how to design for healthy city futures by embracing creative and speculative design thinking, alongside engaging with people, data and advanced technologies. Studying units including research, modelling, theory, and professional practice, you’ll be equipped with the much-needed skills to work at a range of scales as a design professional.
Graduates may pursue careers working in urban design, architecture and landscape architecture.
Duration
2 years full-time or equivalent part-time
Intakes
Hawthorn (Semester 1, Semester 2) - View application and start dates
Study modes
- Full-time,
- Part-time
2023 Start Dates
Semester 1 -
27 February 2023
Semester 2 -
31 July 2023
2024 Start Dates
Semester 1 -
26 February 2024
Semester 2 -
29 July 2024
Course information in detail
- Course detail, course structure and units of study.
Course description
Course structure
To qualify for the award of Master of Architecture and Urban Design, students must complete 200 credit points:
- 12 Core units of study (200 credit points)
Maximum Academic Credit
The maximum level of credit that can be granted is 100 credit points (normally eight units) from an accredited course
The maximum level of credit that can be granted is 100 credit points (normally eight units) from an accredited course
Units of study
Core units
Students must complete the following twelve units:
ARC70001 Design Research Studio A (25 credit points)
ARC70003 Design Research Studio B (25 credit points)
ARC70002 Professional Practice Management
ARC80002 Design Research Studio C (25 credit points) *
ARC80003 Design Research Studio D (25 credit points) *
ARC80005 Professional Practice
ARC80002 Design Research Studio C (25 credit points) *
ARC80003 Design Research Studio D (25 credit points) *
ARC80005 Professional Practice
* Outcome units - matched exemptions are generally not granted for higher education outcome units.
Careers and graduate outcomes
- Course aims and objectives, graduate skills and professional recognition.
Aims and objectives
Students who successfully complete this course will be able to apply specialised knowledge in Architecture and Urban Design to demonstrate discipline specific knowledge, skills and attributes. Specifically, graduates will be able to:
- critically reflect on and apply knowledge of contemporary urban design theory and practice demonstrating comprehension of international and local planning theory and history, planning law and statutory planning, urban economics, sustainability, land use and urban design, and strategic planning
- apply analytical design research methods with an understanding of sourcing credible, relevant data to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and apply these to the broader social, economic and environmental urban processes
- apply creative spatial thinking and innovation approaches in a range of settings and scales while critically presenting design ideas and research results to explain, interpret and evaluate the impact of a specific complex architecture and urban design solution
- communicate clearly and concisely using a range of media to present, explain, document and interpret design propositions, methodologies, conclusions, professional decisions and urban analysis to diverse audiences
- apply technical design modelling, construction knowledge, fabrication and planning skills to research, analyse, design, and evaluate plans, policies, strategies and guidelines, land uses allocations, resources and manage implementation processes
- apply a high standard of professional ethics and managerial knowledge in a variety of environments, meeting conduct and ethical behaviour standards relevant to a variety of circumstances
- undertake independent scholarship demonstrating the capacity to plan and execute a research-based urban design project and properly use a vocabulary of urban design paradigms and case studies to contextualise their proposition.
- use professional and managerial knowledge to evaluate architectural, urban design and planning practice in a critical and ethical framework
Course Learning Outcomes are based jointly on the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA) Education Committee;s Policy on Tertiary Education of Architects – Standards for Programs in Architecture (2009) as well as the core capabilities and competencies set out by the Planning Institute of Australia.
Graduate skills
The Swinburne Graduate Attributes signify that Swinburne intends that its teaching courses assist all its graduates to be:
- capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas
- entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
- effective and ethical in work and community situations
- adaptable and able to manage change
- aware of local and international environments in which they will be contributing.
Professional recognition
The Master of Architecture and Urban Design is accredited with the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA).
Pathways and scholarships
- Credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and scholarships.
Course fees and requirements
- Fees, entry requirements and non-year 12 entry.
Course fees
Get part of your postgrad fees subsidised
We have limited CSPs available for this course. That means you could have part of your fees subsidised by the government. Places are limited and allocated based on academic merit. You must be an eligible domestic student to qualify.
Fees are estimates for students commencing in 2023 only: Tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. These fees apply for units studied in 2023 only and may change for units studied in future years. If part-time study is permitted, annual fees will be proportionally lower based on the number of units taken per semester.
How do I pay my fees?
FEE-HELP is a loan given to eligible full-fee paying higher education students to help pay part or all of their tuition fees. The Commonwealth Government pays the amount of the loan directly to Swinburne.
HECS-HELP is a loan and discount scheme available to eligible students enrolled in a Commonwealth supported place. A HECS-HELP loan can cover all or part of the student contribution amount.
The total tuition fee is dependent upon the combination of units of study selected by the student. Fees are reviewed each year. Find out more about fees.
Entry requirements
Admission to the Master of Architecture and Urban Design will require one of the following:
- successful completion of the Swinburne Bachelor of Design (Architecture) or
- successful completion of the Swinburne Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) with a major in Architecture or
- successful completion of the Swinburne Bachelor of Design (Interior Architecture) (Honours) with an Advanced Minor in Architecture or
- successful completion of another three year undergraduate architectural course*.
* In the case of completing another three year undergraduate architectural course, applications will be assessed using a Range of Criteria. These would include (but not be limited to):
- a preselection kit requiring submission of an on-line portfolio (between 10 and 20 pages) **
- a personal statement and University transcripts.
**Pre-selection kit: Applicants are required to submit a portfolio of between 10 and 20 pages, which must address architecture- and/or urban design-related questions and include visual examples; and provide a 200-400 word written statement, the prompts for which can be found on the application portal.
In your portfolio, we are looking for evidence of your ability to think spatially, critically and creatively, as well as the desire to design and build things. In assessing your portfolio, we would like to see your ability to conceptualize and develop ideas. As well as finished outcomes, we are also interested in concept sketches, 3d models or working drawings that display your thinking process.
Your portfolio will be assessed according to the following criteria:
- conceptual thinking and level of ambition in your projects;
- spatial thinking, planning and a sense of scale;
- digital and analogue communication skills, including the use of architectural drawing conventions; and
- construction and environmental technology.
Think carefully about how you present your portfolio as we will also consider how you structure your content into a clear, compelling story about yourself and your passion for, and commitment to, architecture and urban design.
All work must be original. All images must be clearly labelled. In the case of work that has involved others, such as group work or work with a design practice, clearly indicate what your contribution was.
Portfolios will be reviewed on a standard computer screen. Please ensure legibility accordingly.
To submit your portfolio, you’ll need to complete your online application first. We’ll then send you a link so you can upload your portfolio to Slide Room.
A review of prior learning in relation to the Swinburne Bachelor of Design (Architecture) will be necessary, and supplemental transitionary classes may be required.