With academics following in the footsteps of architectural giants like Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier and Norman Foster, by winning the RIBA Royal Gold medal and the RIBA International Prize, UCD Architecture guarantees exposure to superlative pedagogy from globally acclaimed architects. Delivered by a School with over 100 years of experience, this elite Master of Architecture has RIAI & RIBA accreditation and has obtained substantial equivalency with NAAB.
This programme and the UCD School of Architecture has additional distinguishing features which make it an attractive and exclusive place to study:
Number 1 choice for Irish high-school leavers
Ranked in the top 50 Architecture Schools in Europe by Domus
Global recognition QS Top 100 in Planning
Accredited and internationally recognised teaching programmes
Vibrant doctoral programme
Research Excellence
Dedicated studio space for each student
Why UCD Architecture?
Architecture at UCD is highly attractive to students due to the exposure to world-leading researchers and significant career prospects.
O’Donnell + Tuomey, RIBA Gold Medal Winners 2015
UCD is ranked in the top 1% of higher education institutes worldwide.
Degrees with high employability with dedicated careers support.
Alumni & Adjunct Professors, Shelley MacNamara & Yvonne Farrell Grafton Architects, Winners of RIBA International Prize
Ireland’s largest and most international university.
Established in 1854 with 160 years of teaching and research excellence.
Vision and Values Statement
This programme is aimed at students who wish to develop a career in architecture. It is a national and international professionally accredited academic programme that will equip graduates to work worldwide in architectural design and in creative and research practice. We encourage and support students to be active, motivated and autonomous learners, who have a critical and reflective approach to architectural design, practice and research.
This studio and lecture-based programme, led by academics and practitioners at the forefront of the discipline, aims to provide an engaging, exciting and innovative learning environment that encourages students to develop their individual professional capacities while placing equal emphasis on research and critical enquiry. We do this through design projects, academic writing, technological and constructional investigations and practical experiments, valuing innovation, investigation and original creative work underpinned by due regard for rigour, depth and precision. Students are provided with a firm foundation in advanced methodologies and skills and develop a close familiarity with the broader disciplinary, regulatory and societal frameworks within which professionals must operate.
The programme uses teaching, learning and assessment approach such as individual and group design projects, live-projects, case students, scenario-based learning and written research and dissertations. Each has a focus on individual development and reflective learning while developing effective group-work, written, verbal and visual communication and presentation skills
