Master Of Architecture

The NUS Master of Architecture (M Arch) is Asia’s leading design and research program for architecture. Our programme emphasises design expertise in architecture. By recognising architecture as a cultural practice that involves both speculative intelligence and practical execution, the programme encourages students to acquire knowledge and cultivate critical perspectives for their future creative practice.

NUS M Arch design studios are rich in diversity and rigorous in quality. Conducted across four semesters, the Design Options Studios and the graduate level Design Thesis programme explore a variety of issues through research-based design. Students will be trained to think critically and materially as they embark on explorative design methodologies that commits to iterative design processes.

Complementing the M Arch design studios are the Core Professional Modules and Graduate Level Electives. Set in a lecture and seminar-style learning environment, these modules shall focus on the core knowledge of specific topics. M Arch students will benefit from the application of these basic theories and research methods in their design activities and beyond.

Experiencing these curriculums, students are expected to proactively build up their knowledge and skills. In the second semester of M Arch II, students shall concentrate on their individual Design Thesis. Encompassing a wide variety of disciplines and cultural dimensions, the Design Thesis module offers students an opportunity to form independent positions on self-researched inquiries.

Facilitated by a team of world-class academics and professional architects from six research clusters: Research by Design, History, Theory and Criticism, Technologies, Urbanism, Landscape Studies and Design Education, the programme develops students’ abilities in research-driven design practice. For concurrent degree programme students, the compulsory Architectural Internship Programme (AIP), provides an additional opportunity to experience real-life architectural practice. Supplemented with guest lectures, symposiums, exhibitions, overseas exchange and field research, NUS M Arch programme shall richly inspire students in advanced graduate learning.

With this, the NUS M Arch programme will prepare our graduates to become design leaders, well-placed to capitalise the opportunities that a rapidly changing Asia and world, have to offer.

Admission Requirements

Graduates of this programme will have a prerequisite degree for professional registration in Singapore.

Candidates are required to possess:

• a BA (Arch) Hons accredited degree   OR

• BA (Arch) accredited degree

Applicants must provide proof of accreditation by a National Accreditation Board or the Board of Architects of the country of origin; or Board of Architects (Singapore), subjected to approval by the Board of Graduate Studies.

External candidates admitted to M (Arch) programme need to fulfil min CAP of 2.5 and min C grade for both AR5801 Options Design Research Studio 1 and AR5802 Options Design Research Studio 2 in order to proceed to M.Arch final year.

Candidates must complete Architectural Design track of the BA (Arch) concurrent degree (CDP) with minimum CAP of 2.5, and minimum B- average for Year 4 Design in order to proceed to the M.Arch programme.

Candidates who meet the relevant requisites would also be considered for specialisation in Urban Design in the M (Arch) final year.

Applicants whose first language is not English are required to demonstrate their English proficiency by means of?TOEFL?/?IELTS?test scores.

Applicants may be waived from this requirement if they completed their degree programme taught entirely in English, situated in an English speaking country, for example (non exhaustive list) Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, United Kingdom, USA.

To meet the English requirement for our MSc programmes in Engineering, the minimum score expected is :

• IELTS: A minimum 6.5 overall band score.

• TOEFL iBT (at a test center)/Home Edition: A minimum score of 92.

• TOEFL iBT Paper Edition: A minimum score of 580.