This programme is for highly motivated students who wish to: 

• Further their skills in the research-led spatial, programmatic, material, structural and environmental articulation of architectural design. 
• Engage with the contemporary city and the associated flows of information, energy and resources. 
• Critically position their practice in relation to contemporary theoretical discourses, modes of inquiry and representation. 
• Develop situated and careful forms of architectural knowledge and production that are speculative, creative, low-carbon, regenerative, and inclusive.

The two-year Master of Architecture (MArch) programme offers a unique studio-based and research-led learning experience, and the opportunity to develop designs that engage with complex urban settings, innovative material systems, and critical forms of inquiry and representation—elaborating nuanced responses to the pressing environmental, socio-economic, and political questions facing architectural practice in the 21st century.  

Based in one of the most beautiful and architecturally significant cities in the world, the ARB and RIBA Part 2 validated MArch programme at ESALA combines creative inquiry and academic rigour with a deep sense of professional responsibility, empowering our students to imagine and prototype forms of spatial practice that are low-carbon, situated, inclusive and regenerative. 

The MArch is delivered through a diverse set of elective design studios, each focusing on a specific urban setting or geographical area, and on a set of thematic concerns. Complementary courses in theory, technology, and professional practice are offered to engage with different facets of contemporary architectural discourse, and to develop core professional competencies. Uniquely, the programme offers two curricular pathways, allowing students to complete either a one or two-year design-studio thesis, prioritising either breadth or depth of enquiry.

Students in the Master of Architecture (MArch) gain excellent skills in the development and articulation of spatial, programmatic, material, structural and environmental architectural designs capable of nuanced responses to the complex challenges facing the built environment in the 21st century. Our MArch degree forms the second stage in a process that will enable you to register and practice as a professional architect in the UK.

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.