The University of Edinburgh

College of Humanities and Social Science

April 2013

Architecture
What is Architecture?
Architecture is the art of addressing afresh – rationally and
imaginatively – our practical need to protect from the elements,
ourselves, our social activities, and our artefacts. At the same time,
it is the ‘art of the city’, and it aims to create the built environment
in which we may celebrate living together. The student of
architecture acquires skills of observation, analysis and design,
acknowledging that material, environmental, social and historical
factors are the conditions within which architecture is conceived
and realised.

Why study Architecture • the four-year Honours MA Architecture in Stage 4

at Edinburgh?
The Edinburgh School of Architecture and
Landscape Architecture (ESALA) offers a range
of Architecture degree programmes which are
delivered across the central University area,
including Lauriston Place and Minto House on
Chambers Street, and students therefore
benefit from access to a wide range of specialist
facilities. Students have traditionally spent their
first year at our Lauriston Place studios, moving
to Minto House in the second year.
Lauriston Place is equipped, as a large and
fully-functioning school of art, architecture
and design, with studios, workshops, exhibition
spaces and a comprehensive library. Minto
House, which ESALA shares with History of Art,
is a building complex containing a dedicated
library, the Matthew Architecture Gallery, and
extensive and very well-equipped workshops.
The University and the city of Edinburgh
provide an ideal environment, academically
and physically, for the study of Architecture
and Architectural History. The city is a World
Heritage Site, with excellent examples of
historic architecture in the medieval planned
burgh of the ‘Old Town’, adjacent to the
University, and in the Georgian ‘New Town’.
Victorian and later building in the centre and
suburbs further enrich the city. Moreover, since
the end of the 20th century, we have witnessed
a particularly exciting building era in Edinburgh.
What does the degree involve?
There are a range of programmes available:
• the three-year Ordinary BA Architecture;
• the four-year Honours MA Architecture;
Creative and Cultural Environments;
• the four-year Honours MA Architectural
History;
•  Landscape Architecture programmes*.
These degree programmes have the same
academic structure as those studied elsewhere
in the University of Edinburgh. As a student in
the first two years, you accumulate 120 credits
per year, typically in courses of 20 or 40 credits.
BA Architecture/MA Architecture
Both degrees are fully accredited and lead to
RIBA/ARB professional status.**
Stages 1 & 2
In the first two stages, students study
Architectural Design, Technology & Environment,
Architectural History and Visual Culture.
In addition, students in second year take 20
credits of elective study from among courses
offered by the Colleges of Humanities and Social
Sciences, and Science and Engineering. At the end
of the second year, you will decide whether to
progress to the three-year BA or the four-year MA.
Stage 3
Design options are introduced in Year 3, and
students choose according to their developing
and special interests. These architectural studio
courses address large themes; for example,
sustainability, technology, adaptation, virtuality,
and intervention. Professional studies is also
introduced at this stage, as is design theory.
In addition, as at Stage 2, you take a 20-credit
elective course. The MA Honours programme
includes a semester of work experience.
Students on the BA programme graduate at the
end of stage 3.
Following a second period of placement, you
will choose a main architectural studio course
and develop, curate and present an academic
portfolio. You also write a dissertation on a
topic of your choosing.
MA Architecture in Creative and Cultural
Environments
This is a programme for students who are
interested in architecture but who do not seek
accreditation as members of the profession.
Stages 1 & 2
In the first two years, students study
Architectural Design, Technology &
Environment, Architectural History and Visual
Culture. In addition, students in second year
take 20 credits of elective study from among
courses offered by the Colleges of Humanities
and Social Sciences, and Science and
Engineering.
Stage 3
Students pursue their particular interests in
facets of architecture in Year 3. You choose
from a wide range of subjects including
Architecture, Architectural History, History of
Art, and Landscape Architecture.
Stage 4
Students take an architectural studio course or
a combination of Architectural History and
outside courses. Students will also write a
dissertation.

Degrees in Humanities and Social Science Degrees in Science and Engineering

BA Ordinary/MA Honours in: MA Honours in: BEng/MEng Honours in:
Architecture** Architectural History Structural Engineering with Architecture
Architectural History and Archaeology
MA Honours in: History of Art and Architectural History (Please see separate information sheet for
Architecture in Creative and Cultural Environments Social and Architectural History Civil and Environmental Engineering)

* Please see separate Subject Information Sheet for Landscape Architecture

** Please note: The Architecture Institute has fully accredited all Architecture programmes with ESALA at Edinburgh College of Art in the University of Edinburgh
“My creative experience has been enriched by studying within
an art school environment. The intimate nature of working in
a specialist institution means that it’s a friendly place to be and in
day to day activities you cross paths with a broad range of artists
and designers. Studio provision is great, and the chance to take
art and design elective courses in first year offers new ways
of thinking and working”
Architecture student
MA Architectural History
In the first and second years, core courses in
Architectural History are taken alongside other
associated courses (usually History of Art,
Cultural Studies or Archaeology are
recommended). A third course in each year is
chosen from subjects offered by study areas in
the Colleges of Humanities and Social Science,
and Science and Engineering, subject to
compatibility of timetables. The student is
therefore likely to study four different subjects
in these two years.
In the Junior Honours year, students take
a course in Texts and Theories in Western
Architecture and, as well as Honours courses,
they may undertake a placement. In the Senior
Honours year, students take four optional
Honours courses and prepare a dissertation.
Honours Options
The choice of options is made by the student.
Each optional course deals with a field of
architectural history in which the tutor has a
research interest. Options available vary and
not all options are offered every year.
At present they include:
• Evolution of Edinburgh Townscape
• Vienna around 1900
• What is Modernism?
• Georgian Architecture
• Themes in 20th-century Architectural
Culture
• Scottish Country House 1660-1800
• The Italian Renaissance Villa
• Victorian Architecture: Themes and Ideas
• Architecture and Empire
• German Architecture of the 20th Century
•  Leon Battista Alberti: the Theory and
Practice of the Visual Arts in 15th Century
Italy
Further Study
Students who have successfully completed
the degree programme in Architecture to a
sufficient standard, and who intend to practice
as architects, may apply for entry to the
two-year MArch delivered by ESALA. Entry
to the degree is competitive and, although
progression is not guaranteed, many students
do continue on to this programme.
The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this leaflet at the time of going to press. However, it will not form part of a contract between the University and a student or applicant and
must be read in conjunction with the Terms and Conditions of Admission set out in the Undergraduate Prospectus. Printed on recycled paper for Student Recruitment and Admissions –
www.ed.ac.uk/student-recruitment. PDF version available at: www.ed.ac.uk/studying/undergraduate/information-sheets
What sort of teaching and They are also prepared for postgraduate study
assessment methods are used? in such areas as Planning. Students of
Architectural History can make contributions in
Architecture Design consists of a continuous
a variety of areas, such as conservation,
series of design exercises and projects.
heritage, land management, historical
Each student has a studio workplace. Work
consultancy for architectural practices and
is assessed continuously. Technology and
research.
Environment embraces the study of structure,
construction and the sustainability of buildings.
What are admissions staff
Practical work, undertaken in the workshops,
is also part of the course. Assessment is based looking for?
on course work, essays and examinations. Architecture occupies a position in society
Architectural History, taught through lectures where many scientific, social-scientific and
and tutorials, is assessed by essays, artistic disciplines meet. Consequently, there
examinations and class presentations. is no one subject, studied at school, that leads
Honours Architectural History courses are to the study of Architecture. What is required is
assessed by essays and examination. In the an enquiring mind, with regard to these many
Senior Honours year, all students write a disciplines, and one that enjoys attempting to
dissertation of 10,000 words on a topic of make the observations that they generate into
their choice agreed with a supervising tutor. the substance of architectural design.
MA Architecture students are also required Furthermore, the architect works with experts
to undertake a placement in order to acquire in different fields and therefore needs to be able
experience of professional architectural to communicate effectively with them. What is
practice. On its completion, they write an needed is a mind prepared to explore new
assessed report on their experience. ideas and technologies.
Are there any opportunities You will find our most up to date entry
to study abroad? requirements at: www.ed.ac.uk/studying/
undergraduate/degrees
Work experience, for intending architects on
the MA programme, is distributed in two eleven
week periods through the third and fourth How do I find out more?
Stages. These may be opportunities for students For further information about Architecture
to work and study at home and abroad. In please contact:
addition, there are a limited number of places
on an ERASMUS exchange proramme, which Dr Soledad Garcia Ferrari
allows students of the MA Architecture degree Tel: 0131 221 6083
to undertake a year abroad instead of the Email: architecture@ed.ac.uk
professional placement. Students apply and Web: www.esala.ac.uk
are selected during second year.
For further information about admissions
Are there any links with industry please contact:
and commerce?
Architecture, at Edinburgh, has strong links with Undergraduate Admissions Office
the architectural profession. These are helpful College of Humanities and Social Science,
to students when seeking their placement and The University of Edinburgh
other forms of work experience. Tel: 0131 650 3565
Email: HSSUG@ed.ac.uk
What can I do after my degree? Web: www.hss.ed.ac.uk
Typically, students on the BA/MA Architecture
degree course proceed to the second degree
required by the architectural profession For more
(Architects’ Registration Board, Royal Institute detailed information
of British Architects) for certification to practise on degree structure
as an architect. Students who take the degree and content, please see:
in Architecture in Creative and Cultural
www.ed.ac.uk/schools-
Environments are able to enter a wide range of
departments/student-
professions connected with the building trade,
like project management or journalism. recruitment/publications-
resources/degree-
programmes