Design Practice MArch (January 2026 intake) 12 months Postgraduate Programme By Royal College of Art |TopUniversities
Programme Duration

12 monthsProgramme duration

Tuitionfee

37,000 GBPTuition Fee/year

Application Deadline

05 Dec, 2025Application Deadline

Main Subject Area

Architecture and Built EnvironmentMain Subject Area

Programme overview

Main Subject

Architecture and Built Environment

Degree

MArch

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

Engaging with the built environment in a sustainable way.

The Design Practice MArch is a transformative one-year programme for architects, designers, spatial and creative practitioners at any career stage – whether you’re looking to reimagine an established practice, emerging from undergraduate study, or transitioning from other creative, activist or policy-engaged fields. This programme positions students at the intersection of urgent planetary challenges and unprecedented opportunity. You’ll study material processes and innovation, strategies of specification and reuse, embodied carbon and emerging technologies – from critically engaging AI and carbon accounting methods, developing interdisciplinary design strategies and methods of representation, to bio-based materials, and more.

Individual pathways

Our structure offers flexibility for practitioners to tailor their learning to specific goals, whether you're working towards a specialism, developing a research-led practice, or pivoting your career. Students are encouraged to draw on existing practices and experiences, and to use the skills and exposure of the programme to propose interventions into existing architectural models or develop new forms of practice.

Reimagining our worlds

This programme offers a rare opportunity: dedicated time and mentorship to analyse the crises facing the built environment and develop your own tools, methods, and practice models for engaging them.

Core Units
  • Material Processes
  • Carbon Economies
  • Detailing Risk
  • Just Transition
  • Cross-College electives
  • Independent Research Project

Programme overview

Main Subject

Architecture and Built Environment

Degree

MArch

Study Level

Masters

Study Mode

On Campus

Engaging with the built environment in a sustainable way.

The Design Practice MArch is a transformative one-year programme for architects, designers, spatial and creative practitioners at any career stage – whether you’re looking to reimagine an established practice, emerging from undergraduate study, or transitioning from other creative, activist or policy-engaged fields. This programme positions students at the intersection of urgent planetary challenges and unprecedented opportunity. You’ll study material processes and innovation, strategies of specification and reuse, embodied carbon and emerging technologies – from critically engaging AI and carbon accounting methods, developing interdisciplinary design strategies and methods of representation, to bio-based materials, and more.

Individual pathways

Our structure offers flexibility for practitioners to tailor their learning to specific goals, whether you're working towards a specialism, developing a research-led practice, or pivoting your career. Students are encouraged to draw on existing practices and experiences, and to use the skills and exposure of the programme to propose interventions into existing architectural models or develop new forms of practice.

Reimagining our worlds

This programme offers a rare opportunity: dedicated time and mentorship to analyse the crises facing the built environment and develop your own tools, methods, and practice models for engaging them.

Core Units
  • Material Processes
  • Carbon Economies
  • Detailing Risk
  • Just Transition
  • Cross-College electives
  • Independent Research Project

Admission Requirements

6.5+

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 master's standards overall.

The programme welcomes architects, designers and spatial practitioners from a range of backgrounds, including those from other design disciplines such as sound, moving image or performance, with an interest in the built environment. Applicants from other backgrounds are also welcome, such as practitioners involved in local government, NGOs, journalism and activism.

05 Dec 2025
1 Year
Jan

Domestic
15,150 GBP
International
37,000 GBP

Scholarships

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