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A sustainable retrofit to make an urban market in Edinburgh Aurangazeb Mirza

Postgraduate

Advanced Sustainable Design - MSc

MSc

Features

1 year
Full-time

Outline

Advanced Sustainable Design gives you the knowledge, skills and creativity to put theory into practice in the sustainable development of our cities, towns and countryside. We work from the scale of building systems to entire regions.

This programme engages with architecture, design and planning but interested applicants can apply with degrees outside of these fields.

Our programme is delivered in a series of practical projects supplemented with teaching on all aspects of built environment sustainable design. You will have the opportunity to work in building simulation modelling and gain desirable skills for the workplace.

We believe that successful sustainable development is not achieved only through technical solutions. You will:

  • explore the complex relationship of design to the contemporary sustainable agenda
  • form creative solutions using design practices for our towns, cities and countryside
  • engage in cultural and professional debates about the built environment
  • gain a distinctive and expert voice in this field

This programme is affiliated with the University’s Global Environment & Society Academy:

Programme Structure

The first semester is a combination of theory and practice. We will explore the theoretical underpinnings of sustainable design, from a planetary scale to that of a building component.

Alongside this, you will work on design projects at the scale of both settlements and building systems. We set many of our projects on a global stage, working in a range of climates and contexts.

The second semester offers immersive design projects that allow you to make your own proposals and test them in real contexts.

You will conclude your studies with a comprehensive dissertation research project that can advance your own interests and be shaped to your preferred career path.

Teaching

Much of your work is based on completing a series of design projects. These are carefully staged so you are supported during the process with group and individual tutorials.

Our programme attracts students from across the world, which you’ll see reflected in our courses and teaching. This leads to an exciting exchange of ideas between students from developed and developing economies.

Our core courses look at different global cities; in our retrofit project, for example, students can choose to work in Edinburgh, Dubai and Singaporean contexts. In your research dissertation, you can choose a topic relevant to your home environment. Past projects have looked at sustainable development in Germany, Greece, Spain, Malaysia, Colombia, Chile and China.

You also complete reports and make presentations with an emphasis on gaining communication skills and making complex ideas clear and comprehensible.

Assessment

You will undertake assignments and projects both individually and cooperatively. You will produce design proposals and reports supported by some written and visual presentation work. At the end of your studies, you undertake a comprehensive research dissertation.

Learning outcomes

Graduates of this programme will have:

  • knowledge of the social, economic and legislative forces that are driving contemporary, sustainable agendas, and understanding of such agendas in relation to architectural cultures
  • the ability to critically assess sustainability as a cultural, economic and environmental phenomenon
  • the ability to interrogate site, programme and context in relation to the production of sustainable construction, engineering and architectural strategies
  • the acquisition of transdisciplinary skills in the articulation of sustainable strategies in related industry sectors

Links and resources

Global Design: find out more about the projects we work on in global contexts 

Resilient Borders: a project that situates your work in real communities [external link] 

Predicting Performance and Design Simulation: how you gain skills to predict the environmental behaviour of your design projects 

Our Application guide (PDF): find out more about our programme structure and the contents of our courses, with advice about what you need to make an application

Our Facebook Page: for updated news and information about our programme 

Hear from our staff and students

Careers

There is a demand for graduates with expertise in sustainable development and the built environment. You will gain tangible skills and a portfolio of work to embrace these opportunities. Many of our students use their acquired expertise to set up their own practices and consultancies with a focus on sustainable design.

Our graduates use this degree to progress within their own field, with a distinctive specialism in the job market. Our students also use this masters to change their career path often using digital and simulation skills to find employment in the large multi-disciplinary consultancies. Our graduates also shape infrastructure and development projects, working in the private sector, local government or national agencies.

Our degree also acts as a stepping stone to doctoral study both in Edinburgh and on a global stage to help meet demand for expert knowledge in this area.

Why you should choose this programme

1

This programme is design-oriented, fusing creative solutions with sustainable strategies.

2

Our staff are all experienced in practice and have track records in the design and procurement of sustainable solutions.

3

We don’t just look at technical fixes, we focus on the social, environmental and economic aspects of sustainable design.

4

We look at best practice in Scotland but are international in our outlook, addressing global as well as local issues.

5

Our programme helps you gain critical skills in a fast growing and evolving design sector.

How to apply and entry requirements

If you'd like to study on a postgraduate programme at Edinburgh College of Art, you must apply through EUCLID, our online application system. You can find out how to do this on the University of Edinburgh website, where you'll also be able to:

  • see detailed entrance requirements for each programme on the Degree Finder
  • get information on what to expect after you apply
  • find out about study modes, start dates and fees
  • find out if, and how, you need to submit a portfolio, showreel or research proposal
  • find out where to go for further advice and guidance.

Get in touch

Edinburgh College of Art Postgraduate Admissions

futurestudents@ed.ac.uk
+44 (0)131 650 4086

Campus facilities

You will be taught at our base in the Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture in Chambers Street. You will have access to the facilities in this building including our subject library and computer lab and workshops.

ECA are excited to be undertaking a capital redevelopment of ECA’s Lauriston Campus over the next 3 years, from April 2024 – 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 

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