Architecture BA/MA (Hons)

Level: Undergraduate

Subject: Architecture and Architectural History & Heritage

Year of entry: 2026

Key facts

UCAS Code

K100

Award

BA/MA (Hons)

Duration of study

3 years, 4 years

Delivery

Full-time

Study location

Central Area

Start date

September 2026

School

Edinburgh College of Art

College

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Study abroad

Available

Accreditation

Available

Placement

Available

Open days and events

About the degree programme

We offer two professionally accredited architecture degrees:

  • BA Architecture is a three-year, full-time undergraduate degree
  • MA (Hons) Architecture is a four-year, full-time undergraduate degree. 

The Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA) recognises architecture as a cultural, environmental, and societal practice. It is a civic endeavour concerned with people and how they live.  

Our undergraduate programmes build knowledge and expertise across a range of disciplinary concerns:

  • design
  • technology
  • the environment
  • history
  • theory
  • the fine arts

We establish broad horizons in which the depth and intensity of work unfolds. We offer tools and techniques of inquiry, analysis, and projection for a rigorous engagement with contemporary and future challenges.

ESALA operates at the intersection of advanced creative practice and a world-leading research environment. We bring the two together to enable critical architectural responses to the social and environmental crisis facing the contemporary world.

Our ambition is to reimagine architectural education in the climate crisis context by celebrating diverse voices, practices, and forms of knowledge.

We strive to educate ethical practitioners, thinkers, and creators who will make a positive social impact. 

Through design and critical reflection, ESALA is an exceptionally rich environment for the exploration of architecture’s capacity to improve the communities it serves. 

Discover what it's like to study architecture from our staff and students.

How long it takes to complete this degree programme

This programme will take three or four years to complete.

You will begin on the MA (Hons) Architecture programme but at the end of Year 2, you will choose one of two pathways: 

  • three-year BA Architecture
  • four-year MA (Hons) Architecture

Programme rankings

  • 1st in Scotland for Architecture and Built Environment in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025
  • In the UK's top 10 universities for Architecture and Built Environment in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025

Programme benefits

  • A Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Part 1 Accredited programme situated in a city that has long been a centre of education and enlightenment. 
  • Many pathways offer a varied choice of study in the humanities, history, theory, environmental and digital cultures with architecture. 
  • A culture of investigation and critical thinking in making, supported by world-class workshops, technical facilities and staff, prime sites for understanding and investigating the ethical and moral challenges of building in our contemporary world. 
  • The enabling of a broad foundation which questions what architecture might be within a city, university and college, emphasising reason, responsibility and individualism of inquiry in action. 
  • You will work within an inclusive, fair, respectful and welcoming culture in which all staff and students can flourish. Edinburgh College of Art is proud to be Athena Silver Swan accredited. 

Beyond providing the foundations required for architectural practice, the ESALA BA/MA Architecture programme provides opportunities for personal expression through a broad-based approach.

Courses exploring architectural theory, computational thinking and professional practice, alongside those in design, illustrate the nature of the discipline and the possibilities inherent within it. Additionally, I got the chance to engage with an internationally circulated student-run publication, an active climate action network, and a lively student-organised lecture series.

This shows the school's commitment to diverse forms of expression, while an extensive suite of elective courses - drawn from across the university - and a supported work experience period enrich learnings and enable further opportunities. Ultimately, it’s difficult to truly summarise the breadth and reach of the possibilities the course has to offer. 

James Haynes BA/MA Architecture, graduated 2023.

Find your entry requirements

Use the dropdowns to find out your entry requirements.

  1. Select the country where you are studying or where you studied your qualification.
  2. Select the qualification you are studying or studied.
United Kingdom,

Tuition fees for MA (Hons) Architecture

View the tuition fees for one academic year of MA (Hons) Architecture.

Tuition fees for this programme

Accommodation and living costs

You need to cover your accommodation and living costs for the duration of your programme.

We estimate that a single student can potentially spend a maximum of £920 to £2,257 on living costs each month, depending on your accommodation.

This estimate covers the costs of:

  • accommodation
  • food
  • utility bills
  • travel within Edinburgh
  • health and wellbeing costs

See a breakdown of living costs

Scholarships and funding

Funding information

You can find detailed information on financial support available, based on where you are living, in our funding section.

Funding

What you will study

ESALA is committed to the ethos of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion. Our programme is carefully structured to help you build an understanding of architecture as part of a larger world and contemporary conversations on ecology, economics, politics and ethics.

In summary, our programme aims to:

  • offer an education that nurtures agile, deeply informed architectural thinkers and makers
  • encourage productive interdisciplinary conditions and exchanges on issues of space, place, the environment, the city, culture, and society
  • nurture an ethical approach to practice that recognises diverse perspectives, positions, and forms of knowledge on architecture and the built environment
  • prepare you to engage with planetary challenges facing architecture and the world

On the BA/MA (Hons) Architecture programme, you will benefit from the outstanding range of facilities offered by the workshops and digital infrastructure of Edinburgh College of Art (ECA). We nurture an ethos of critical thinking through making.

Our studio courses are complemented by notable strengths in:

  • the history and theory of architecture and urbanism
  • conservation
  • landscape architecture and landscape studies
  • interior and spatial design
  • fine art

Through design and critical reflection, ESALA is an exceptionally rich environment for the exploration of architecture’s capacity to improve the communities it serves.

Your studies will include contemporary conversations taking place not only in architecture but also in:

  • landscape
  • construction
  • urbanism
  • economics
  • politics
  • ethical practice

Study pathways 

All students begin on the MA (Hons) Architecture programme. 

At the end of Year 2, you will choose one of two pathways: 

  • three-year BA Architecture
  • four-year MA (Hons) Architecture

The three-year option is good if you want to prioritise qualifying, or if you wish to develop your broader academic interests. 

The four-year option means you qualify with an MA (Hons) degree, and includes a period of professional practice experience, or the opportunity to study abroad in Year 3.

Both BA and MA students take the same 40 credit design courses in their 3rd or 4th year that integrate and synthesise learning gained across the programme.

In Year 1 you will: 

  • learn about the principles of architectural design
  • work on projects that look at architectural elements and assembly in different contexts

At the same time, you will be taught the fundamentals of: 

  • principles of technology
  • environmental practices
  • architectural history

In some courses, you will study with students from landscape architecture and structural engineering.

Find Year 1 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

In Year 2 you will: 

  • begin to integrate your developing design skills in more complex and rewarding urban contexts
  • work with more ambitious building programme briefs
  • take a field trip to a European city where design projects are situated
  • continue to apply your knowledge of technology and environment to your design work
Option courses 

You will also choose an optional course that allows you to broaden your learning in subjects across the University.

Optional courses may follow a structured programme pathway in architectural histories or digital culture. 

Choosing your pathway 

At the end of Year 2, you can select whether you wish to take the three-year BA or four-year MA honours programme.

Find Year 2 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Three-year pathway

You will study design and its cultural and technical contexts.

Studio options and portfolio

You will choose from a series of thematically directed studio options within the design courses, where you will work and learn in a design studio environment. These will help you to consolidate a specific exploration and appropriate tectonic resolution at a deeper level.

You will study these studio options alongside courses in:

  • architectural theory
  • professional practice
  • logistics

You will also develop, curate and present an academic portfolio. 

Four-year pathway

The MA (Hons) programme is a full honours programme. It includes an integrated practice working period where you study through distance learning as you gain professional experience. 

In Year 3, you will be able to develop your interests in architecture with a range of studio-based options within the design courses.

Find Year 3 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

In Year 4, MA (Hons) students return from the period of integrated practice work completed in Year 3. 

Semester 1 

You will study a humanities semester to complete a self-directed dissertation. 

You will also choose an option course from across the University. Option courses may follow a structured programme pathway in architectural histories or digital culture. 

Semester 2

In Semester 2 you will: 

  • complete an immersive design project with another architectural design studio
  • take a course in logistics
  • develop, curate and present an academic portfolio

Typically, at the end of Year 4 you will have the opportunity to take part in our Graduate Show. This is a chance to exhibit your work. You can see work submitted by previous graduates on our 2024 Graduate Show page.

BA/MA Architecture Graduate Show 2024

Find Year 4 courses (2024-2025 academic year)

Study abroad

International exchanges offer an exceptional opportunity for third-year MA Architecture students to immerse themselves in an international experience. Whether it is for a semester or a full year, studying abroad provides a unique opportunity to explore new cities, countries, and cultures. 

Previous destinations for students have included:

  • Madrid
  • Stuttgart
  • Graz
  • Athens
  • Milan
  • Santiago de Chile

These exchanges offer the opportunity to tailor and supplement your programme trajectory. The application process is competitive, conducted during Semester 1 of your second year, and a fixed number of places are allocated annually to home students.  

Here are some of the many benefits students can look forward to:  

  • Cultural immersion: experience a new culture first-hand. Living and studying in a different country allows students to immerse themselves in its traditions, language, and daily life, enriching their understanding of the world.  
  • Personal growth: stepping out of your comfort zone helps build confidence, independence, and adaptability. You’ll learn to navigate new environments, solve problems, and develop a greater sense of self-reliance.  
  • Academic enrichment: gain access to diverse courses and teaching styles that may not be available at ESALA. This can broaden your academic perspective and enhance your educational experience.  
  • Networking opportunities: meet new people and make connections with students, professors, and professionals from around the world. These relationships can be valuable both personally and professionally.  
  • Career advantages: employers highly value international experience. Participating in an exchange programme demonstrates qualities like flexibility, global awareness, and the ability to thrive in diverse settings.  
  • Language skills: an exchange programme provides a fantastic opportunity to improve your language proficiency through everyday practice and academic study.  
  • Travel and adventure: explore new places and cultures, make lifelong memories, and enjoy unique experiences that you wouldn’t have at home. It’s a chance to see the world from a different perspective.  

Field trips

Field trips are an essential component of our programme.

We seek critical engagement with sites, infrastructures, material flows, communities and ecologies across many of our courses.

Visits to these places are organised on a course-by-course basis and are typically local in scope and accessible by public transport.

We offer one international field trip, typically in the second semester of Year 2, to a European City.

The cost of the trip can vary depending on the location, and as such we cannot provide an estimated cost. This trip is partially subsidised but we recommend that you consider this extra cost before you apply.

Teaching and assessment

Teaching

University is a place to formulate your own goals, study independently and in groups, and reflect upon your learning throughout your degree. 

Learning and teaching at university may be quite different to your experiences at school.

 You will be taught through: 

  • studios and workshops
  • lectures
  • seminars
  • field trips
  • critical reviews
  • practical experience

In addition to these, and to get the most out of your courses, you will need to read widely. 

Studios and workshops

As an architecture student, much of the work you develop will be in the form of drawings, sketches and models through which to test and refine your response to design challenges.  

This work is typically developed in a studio setting, in which you will be allocated a space to progress work over a specified time frame.

Studio practice balances self-contained activities with cooperative and collaborative discussion, which emphasises both personal intellectual and skill-based development.  

Studio work demands consistent engagement with process-based, iterative and reflective working methods and is based on sound pedagogical theories. Within a studio session you will often work on complex and demanding projects, which are developed through a series of exercises and explorations, aimed at achieving specified learning outcomes.

Studio practice requires the integration of material, technological, conceptual and construction-based concerns.

Studio experiences are often enhanced by time spent in our various specialist workshops, where you will have the opportunity to develop skills in:

  • woodwork
  • metalwork
  • casting
  • representation
  • digital fabrication
  • documentation
Lectures  

Lectures are taken by all students on a course and are delivered as interactive presentations which may involve audio-visual material. 

Lectures are given by specialists in their field and are designed to guide you through the background, questions and debates related to the topic you are studying. 

You are expected to take notes in lectures. The information provided - as well as the approach taken by the lecturer - will be very useful when it comes to writing your coursework essays.

Tutorials and seminars 

The material introduced in lectures is often discussed further in tutorials. Tutorial groups are smaller and are led by an experienced academic. The emphasis here is less on what the academic says and more on what you think about the topic yourself. 

You should prepare for tutorials by considering any questions or topics proposed in advance, reading the recommended secondary literature, and noting down your thoughts and ideas. You will then be asked to voice these thoughts and ideas in class discussions. It is important that you participate in tutorials. 

Seminars are similar to tutorials but are stand-alone classes and not linked to a lecture. Many classes in the honours years (Years 3 and 4) are seminar-type classes. 

Self-study and group work 

Students should expect to spend about 200 hours on learning and teaching activities for a 20-credit course, and 400 for a 40-credit course. Only a proportion of this will be in lectures, or in tutorial or seminar settings. 

You will spend the rest of their time on independent study, or working in small groups, and producing coursework, such as:

  • drawings
  • models
  • diagrams
  • essays
  • presentations

You will receive oral and written feedback in class and for assignments. Feedback will come from both lecturers and other students and will help guide your self-study and group activities.

Assessment

You will be assessed in a variety of ways on this programme, and for a variety of purposes. These purposes often overlap, and include:

  • to assess what you already know and provide context for future learning (diagnostic)
  • as a way to help you develop your knowledge, skills and attributes as you progress (formative)
  • to monitor your learning and assess your progress and competence (summative)

We assess work from across a range of courses using a variety of carefully determined methods which test, verify and confirm graduate criteria and attributes. These methods include:

  • portfolios
  • presentations
  • reports
  • essays
  • calculations
  • animations
  • models
  • dissertations
  • written examinations

Methods are selected to align with our programme and course learning outcomes.

These assessment methods are designed to prepare you to become a practitioner in your discipline, involving a mutual understanding of the purpose of assessment.  

Within the programme, we commit to assessment principles which are inclusive, equitable and fair, and processes of assessment which are reliable, robust and transparent.

In all cases, the assessment selected will be proportionate to the amount and level of credit of the courses undertaken.

We ensure that our verbal and written feedback on assessments will be:

  • constructive
  • developmental
  • timely

In doing so, we expect that our students will commit to the same objectives. 

Support for your studies

ECA’s Student and Academic Support Service (SASS) supports students throughout their studies in all degree programmes at ECA.

You will have a dedicated Student Adviser, based within SASS, who is specially trained to support you during your studies. Your Student Adviser will be your first point of contact for any support, including questions about your studies or your well-being. Your Student Adviser can support you with:

  • personal or wellbeing issues that you are facing, including how to access specialist support
  • queries related to your programme, such as course enrolments, programme transfers and academic progression
  • applying for extensions and special circumstances
  • advice about how to take a break from your studies
  • registering with the Disability and Learning Support Service

If you’re unsure who to ask, you can contact your Student Adviser as a first point of contact.

Support for your studies

Our academic staff

The strength of ESALA’s educational portfolio draws on the research expertise and specialisms of our staff, which includes:

  • architects
  • landscape architects
  • interior and spatial designers
  • artists
  • engineers
  • computer scientists
  • historians
  • geographers
  • philosophers
  • cultural theorists

Key members of staff on this programme include:  

You can learn more about the staff who will teach you on ECA's people directory.

ECA People Directory

Where you will study

Study location

Architecture is primarily based on Chambers Street, in the heart of Edinburgh, between Minto House, Adam House and 7-8 Chambers Street.

Some teaching also takes place in the Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) buildings, facilities and resources at Lauriston Place within the University's Central Area campus.

You will be taught in lecture theatres and seminar rooms within ECA and across the University's Central Area.

Academic facilities

You will have access to a wide range of facilities, including:

  • dedicated large open-plan design studios where students each have a workspace
  • extensive and well-equipped wood, metal and digital fabrication workshops
  • a subject-specific library
  • a printing suite
  • continually upgraded computer and media facilities in the buildings on Chambers Street  

Additionally, we are integrated into the wider College of Art, which means students have access to facilities, and exceptional resources at Lauriston Place.

A wide range of amenities are found throughout the central University of Edinburgh campus which is minutes from our base on Chambers Street, including:

  • libraries
  • art suppliers
  • student unions and bars
  • cafes 

You will also have access to:

  • design studios
  • specialist facilities at ECA and the wider University
  • a range of study spaces and specialist classrooms
  • computing facilities and creator labs
  • libraries and special collections

In addition to these facilities, we have the ECA Store on campus where you can purchase materials for your projects, along with our Free-Use Hub where you can access free recycled materials.

Students also have access to Bookit, where you can access and loan a wide range of digital and technical equipment for free as part of being a student.

You can find out more on the ECA website.

Facilities and resources at ECA

Investing in our learning environment

Edinburgh College of Art is excited to be undertaking a capital redevelopment of ECA’s Lauriston Campus over the next three years, from April 2024 to April 2027. ​

The project aims to maximise the use of existing space, improve accessibility, and create a vibrant campus that fosters collaboration and innovation.​

The project involves refurbishing and repurposing various spaces across the Lauriston campus, including technical facilities, student and teaching spaces, and the relocation of the Reid School of Music from Alison House to the Lauriston Campus. New social spaces, seminar rooms, and studios are being created to accommodate our growing community.

You can find more about the project at the below link:

Building work starts at ECA’s Lauriston Campus - Edinburgh College of Art

Virtual tour

You can take a closer look at the Edinburgh College of Art and explore our facilities and campus with our virtual tour.

Take a virtual tour of Edinburgh College of Art

Accreditation

The BA Architecture and MA (Hons) Architecture form part of a three-step process that will enable you to register and practise as a professional architect in the United Kingdom.

Studying for a BA or MA (Hons) in architecture is Part 1 of this three-step process.

After completing this process you can register as an architect with the Architects Registration Board (ARB) and join the RIBA as a Chartered Architect.

We have full validation of both MA and BA Architecture programmes from the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). We are visited regularly by the RIBA Visiting Board. The last visit was in December 2022.   

Entry to the profession in the UK is overseen by the Architects Registration Board (ARB). We currently retain full validation of both MA and BA programmes from the ARB.

From 2027, only Part 2 (Masters level) architecture programmes will be accredited by the ARB. However, entry onto Part 2 programmes will continue to be based primarily on having a Part 1 or undergraduate qualification in architecture.

For more information, please visit the ARB website.

ARB - Practical training requirements

ARB - Changes to how architects are trained and educated

Career paths

The BA and MA (Hons) Architecture programmes both offer routes into the architecture profession. 

Our graduates typically continue their studies to qualify as architects working in a wide range of established and emerging contexts. These include: 

  • private practice
  • local and national government
  • large commercial organisations in the UK and overseas

Architecture students gain a strong and adaptable skill set in:

  • design
  • spatial awareness
  • problem-solving
  • project-based production

Careers Service

Our Careers Service can help you to fully develop your potential and achieve your future goals.

The Careers Service supports you not only while you are studying at the University, but also for up to two years after you finish your studies.

With the Careers Service, you can:

  • access digital resources to help you understand your skills and strengths
  • try different types of experiences and reflect on how and what you develop
  • get help finding work, including part-time jobs, vacation work, internships and graduate jobs
  • attend careers events and practice interviews
  • get information and advice to help you make informed decisions

Visit the Careers Service website

Further study

After you complete your programme, you may want to go onto further study at Edinburgh or a different university. You could progress to:

  • a masters degree
  • a postgraduate diploma or certificate
  • a PhD
  • a second undergraduate degree

Find out about options for further study 

Postgraduate degrees you might be interested in could include:

Graduate profiles

Read our undergraduate alumni profiles to find out more about their student experience and their careers.

Sonakshi Pandit (MA Architecture) alumni profile

Farhana Jiwa (BA Architecture) alumni profile

How to apply

You must submit a full application through UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) before the relevant deadline.

Guidance on applying through UCAS

What you need to apply

As part of your application, you will need:

  • your academic qualifications
  • a personal statement
  • evidence of your English language skills (with relevant qualifications)
  • a reference

How we select

If you have met, or are predicted to meet, all our entry requirements by the relevant deadline, then your application will go into our selection process.

As part of this selection process, we will review all the information you submit in your UCAS application when we decide who to select for this degree programme.

How we select applicants

When to apply

  • 2026 entry UCAS deadline: 14 January 2026 (6:00pm GMT)

This is the deadline for all UK, EU and international applicants to non-medicine and veterinary medicine programmes.

To find out if any degree programmes have spaces after 14 January 2026, search the University of Edinburgh on the UCAS website.

Search degrees that are open on the UCAS website

Key application dates and deadlines

After you apply

After you have applied for your degree programme, we suggest you have a look at the following information to help you prepare for university:

Applying as an international student

As an international student, you apply for this degree programme through UCAS.  

Find out more about applying through UCAS  

Visas and immigration 

If you do not have the right to live in the UK, you will need to apply for and secure a Student visa before the start date of your degree programme.  

Our Student Immigration Service can help you with the Student visa application process. 

Applying for a visa  

Agents  

An education agent is someone who can help you with the application process as an international student. 

We work with education agents around the world and have a list of local offices you can contact.  

Find contact details for an education agent

What our students say

What is it really like to study here? Our students share their experiences on our social media.

You can find out what a day in the life is like for an Edinburgh College of Art Student, from late nights in the library to their favourite walks around the city!

Instagram: Edinburgh College of Art

Accommodation

We guarantee an offer of University accommodation for all new, single undergraduate students from outside Edinburgh. To be eligible, you need to meet all criteria and apply for accommodation by 16 August in the year of your entry to the University.

University accommodation website

Accommodation guarantee criteria

If you prefer to live elsewhere, we can offer you advice on finding accommodation in Edinburgh.

Accommodation information from the Edinburgh University Students' Association Advice Place

Societies and clubs

Our societies and sports clubs will help you meet like-minded people, find a new hobby, or simply socialise.

Societies

Sports clubs

As a student within ESALA (Edinburgh School of Architecture & Landscape Architecture), you are invited to join two societies during your studies:

  • ESALA Climate Action
  • ArcSoc (Architecture Society)

ESALA Climate Action

ESALA Climate Action is a staff and student group aiming to tackle the climate emergency in the School’s teaching and learning, research, and community practices.

The group hosts and promotes a programme of events, debates and workshops in each academic session. The programme is committed to augmenting the initiatives and ethos promoted by ESALA Climate Action in response to three main themes:

  • Carbon: Reduce the School’s carbon footprint by promoting energy-efficient practices both on campus and in our teaching and research.
  • Resources: Increase awareness of the social and ecological cost of materials by promoting reuse, repurposing and rehabilitation strategies to reduce waste.
  • Society: Raise climate change literacy and decolonise the School’s curriculum to promote environmental justice and diversity.

ESALA Climate Action

ArcSoc

ArcSoc is a student-run architecture society. Each year they run an expansive series of social and academic events, including a lecture series, building visits, and the Annual Architecture Ball.

Edinburgh ArcSoc on Instagram

The city of Edinburgh

Our vibrant capital is a blend of culture, history, nature and modern city life. A fantastic place to live, it is also the perfect location to study architecture.

As a place of outstanding architectural interest and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, Edinburgh offers the perfect setting in which to study the built environment.

Edinburgh’s dynamic cultural scene boasts the largest collection of historic buildings, museums, art galleries and theatres of any city in Scotland.

The University of Edinburgh’s museums and galleries include:

  • the Talbot Rice Gallery
  • Centre for Research Collections
  • St. Cecilia’s Hall: Concert Room and Music Museum

Edinburgh is home to several major annual festivals, each bringing talent from around the world to our streets and stages, making the celebration of diversity an intrinsic part of the city’s culture. These include the:

  • Festival Fringe
  • Film Festival
  • Art Festival
  • Book Festival
  • Jazz & Blues Festival

Some of our students even participate in our annual festivals.

Health and wellbeing support

You will have access to free health and wellbeing services throughout your time at university if you need them.

The support services we offer include:

  • a student counselling service
  • a health centre (doctor's surgery)
  • support if you're living in University accommodation
  • dedicated help and support if you have a disability or need adjustment

Health and wellbeing support services

Contact us

Contact us through our enquiry team if you have any questions about this programme.

Open days, events and visits

Find out when our next open days will be taking place

Open days, events and visits

Chat to our students on Unibuddy

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Discover Uni data

This information is part of a government initiative to enhance the material that higher education institutions provide about their degree programmes.

It is one of many sources of information which will enable you to make an informed decision on what and where to study.

Some programmes do not have Discover Uni data available.