MSc Architectural and Urban Design

In this programme, you’ll gain hands-on experience through studio-based design projects, field research, and real-world urban investigations. Your work is supported by Edinburgh College of Art’s state-of-the-art workshops and digital facilities, giving you the tools to explore both traditional and modern design methods. You’ll also travel to an internationally significant city for fieldwork, combining site-based research with tutor-led exploration to shape your design proposals.

Your practical learning includes:

• Working in dedicated postgraduate studios at the Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, with your own workspace and computer facilities.

• Accessing workshops across the college, including woodworking, metalwork, model-making, CNC, and digital fabrication labs.

• Using the Art & Architecture Library, which offers an extensive collection on architecture, urbanism, theory, and digital media for research support.

• Participating in fieldwork in Edinburgh and another major city, applying research-informed design methods in real urban contexts.

• Employing both manual and digital methods, from physical model-making to immersive digital representation tools.

Graduates of this MSc are well-prepared for advanced roles in architecture and urban design. Typical career paths include urban designer, architectural consultant, project lead, or design researcher, reflecting the depth of training in both building-scale and city-scale design.

The University of Edinburgh supports your career progression in multiple ways:

• The University Careers Service offers guidance during your studies and for up to two years after graduation, helping with internships, job searches, and interview preparation.

• The strong portfolio and fieldwork experience you develop make you highly attractive to employers in architecture, urban design, and planning.

• While the programme doesn’t have formal industry partnerships, its reputation ensures graduates are highly regarded by potential employers.

• The degree enhances your professional profile, providing long-term value even though it is not formally accredited by RIBA.

• Employment outcomes are strong, with most graduates finding relevant positions within 15 months of completing the course and average starting salaries around £27,500.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing this MSc, you could continue your studies with a PhD in Architecture, exploring research-by-design methods and advanced urban analysis, or other specialized postgraduate research programmes to deepen your expertise in architecture and urban design.