MSc Architectural Lighting Design
Stockholm, Sweden
DURATION
1 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
Request application deadline
EARLIEST START DATE
Aug 2025
TUITION FEES
SEK 171,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* non-EU/EEA/Swiss is 171000 SEK.
Introduction
Light is essential for human well-being and fundamental to interior spaces, buildings and urban areas. Students learn how lighting quality, both natural and artificial light, affects human behaviour, comfort and health. Factors of sustainable development; environmental, social and economic aspects are at focus. Graduates have unique competence in light planning and work in lighting design, architectural studios or as consultants.
Architectural Lighting Design at KTH
The master's programme in Architectural Lighting design takes on a new approach to light and light planning – a combination of visual, physical and biological-based experience and knowledge applied to design, technology and health. It provides an in-depth understanding of the field through scientific-based expertise and practical experience in artificial light and daylight. Graduates from the programme can apply advanced knowledge in lighting design in both practical and academic situations.
The programme uses innovative teaching and learning methods such as structured lectures and peer-review practices. Interactive sessions create a constructive learning environment in which understanding of the subject is developed through the interaction of students and teachers via presentations and open discussions, tutoring and workshops. The education mixes theory and practice, where you will perform full-scale studies via prototypes and mock-ups to trigger first-hand experience of light within architecture. Furthermore, laboratory sessions allow an in-depth understanding of physical and visual phenomena. We offer a series of motivational lectures throughout the programme, where acclaimed international and national lighting designers, architects and researchers share their knowledge and expertise. Your advancement is assessed through a combination of individual and group work assignments.
The programme is developed by the Lighting Design Laboratory, a division of the Department of Architecture at the School of Architecture and the Built Environment at KTH. The Lighting Laboratory carries out several research projects with companies and other institutions where students are involved.. The division also organises events to interface the academy with companies and research institutions on specific topics, such as the annual Light Week, a collaboration with Swedish Energy Agency. Since 2010 KTH has organised the Light Symposium, a two-day international event focused on light and health, with the universities of Wismar, Aalborg and South-Eastern Norway as partners. KTH has hosted this event on 2010, 2015, 2018 and recentrly on Fall 2023. will host this event in the fall of 2023.
The programme consists of four regular courses and a master's degree project that you will conduct at the end of the second semester.
This is a full-time one-year programme (60 ECTS credits) given in English. Graduates are awarded the degree of Master of Science. The programme is given mainly at KTH Campus in Stockholm by the School of Architecture and Built Environment (at KTH) with a series of study visits and workshops in Stockholm.
Light and Humans
The programme begins with the course in Light and Humans, where students explore the relationship between light and humans, which is mediated by physical space. Knowledge related to light qualities, cultural and human aspects, light sources and materials is combined with the experience of the design process. After the course, you can develop a complete solution for a lighting design proposal, following the design method developed at the division.
Light and Space – outdoor
Following Light and Humans you will take the course Light and Space – outdoor. The course focuses on the relationship between light and outdoor environments, especially urban contexts and its physical and cultural characteristics. The course will expand your knowledge of the methodology and tools of the outdoor lighting processes, concepts and vocabulary. The design tasks concludes with full-scale hands on lighting installations, preparing you to deal with challenges such as ecological impact, social interactions and urban identity.
Light and Science
The final course of the first semester is Light and Science, where your theoretical knowledge about light and its relationship to space and humans is further developed through discussions between fellow students and researchers in the field, lectures, experimental sessions and study visits. You will gain the ability to analyse methodologically lighting conditions through understanding the visual and physical concepts of light by conducting a practical case study with a photometric and ethnographic approach that you will present as an academic paper.
Light and Space – indoor
In this course you will learn the importance of dealing with daylight in combination with artificial lighting in indoor spaces through activities related to sources of light and technology, spatial theory and visual ergonomics, performance and sustainability. In the course, you will also enhance your skills in the design process, planning, calculations and presentation techniques through different tasks based on real case scenario projects.
Degree project
The programme is concluded with a degree project, the focus of which may be chosen from a wide variety of topics within the field of architectural lighting design. Theoretical papers with a strong focus on sustainability about light and health, light and time, urban lighting, perception and information, as well as practical projects with a theoretical frame in rural lighting and interactive lighting design, are a few examples of previous degree projects. Students from the master's programme in Architectural Lighting Design have consistently been granted national and international research funding and scholarships for developing their degree project.
Admissions
Curriculum
The first term of the one-year master's programme in Architectural Lighting Design consist of courses. The second term start with courses and end with the master's degree project. Each term consist of approximately 30 ECTS credits. The courses presented on this page apply to studies starting in autumn 2024.
Mandatory courses
- Degree Project in Architectural Lighting Design, Second Cycle (AF270X) 15.0 credits
- Light and Humans (HS2007) 9.0 credits
- Light and Space-Outdoor (HS2008) 12.0 credits
- Light and Space-Indoor (HS2009) 15.0 credits
- Light and Science (HS2010) 9.0 credits
Program Outcome
Sustainable development
Graduates from KTH have the knowledge ad tools for moving society in a more sustainable direction, as sustainable development is an integral part of all programmes. Architectural Lighting Design has an impact on each one of the aspects of the holistic concept of sustainability. It affects productivity, sociability, safety, orientation, and health, while also being one of the major sources of energy consumption. Evidence from research and practice indicates that design concepts based on an in‑depth knowledge of the context, the users, and the technology provide solutions that are economically viable and healthy. The challenge for the future development of societies is addressed by sustainable lighting, in other words, lighting that meets visual and biological needs while having only a very low environmental impact. This challenge relates both to indoor and outdoor solutions and very often involves off-grid solutions, which stimulate new thinking in terms of production, conservation, and use of energy.
The three key sustainable development goals addressed by the master's programme in Architectural Lighting Design are:
- 3 Good Health and Well-Being
- 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
- 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
Sustainable development is pursued, through various actions throughout the course, with a focus on Social, Cultural, Economical, and Environmental aspects of Sustainability:
- The ability to identify and quantify the impact of Architectural Lighting Design projects within the different areas of sustainable development.
- Showing professional and ethical responsibility in their decisions as students and future Lighting Designers within the scientific and technical aspects of design.
- Ensuring sustainable development by applying an ethical and responsible approach to the social, ecological, and economical aspects of their scope of work.
- Theoretical and experience-based understanding of the social impact of urban lighting projects.
- Planning and working throughout collaborative processes.
- Light and its influence on health.
- Analysis of energy consumption and basic control system strategies.
- Human-centred lighting approach.
- Economical aspects of a lighting installation
Sustainable development
Graduates from KTH have the knowledge ad tools for moving society in a more sustainable direction, as sustainable development is an integral part of all programmes. Architectural Lighting Design has an impact on each one of the aspects of the holistic concept of sustainability. It affects productivity, sociability, safety, orientation, and health, while also being one of the major sources of energy consumption. Evidence from research and practice indicates that design concepts based on an in‑depth knowledge of the context, the users, and the technology provide solutions that are economically viable and healthy. The challenge for the future development of societies is addressed by sustainable lighting, in other words, lighting that meets visual and biological needs while having only a very low environmental impact. This challenge relates both to indoor and outdoor solutions and very often involves off-grid solutions, which stimulate new thinking in terms of production, conservation, and use of energy.
The three key sustainable development goals addressed by the master's programme in Architectural Lighting Design are:
- 3 Good Health and Well-Being
- 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
- 12 Responsible Consumption and Production
Sustainable development is pursued, through various actions throughout the course, with a focus on Social, Cultural, Economical, and Environmental aspects of Sustainability:
- The ability to identify and quantify the impact of Architectural Lighting Design projects within the different areas of sustainable development.
- Showing professional and ethical responsibility in their decisions as students and future Lighting Designers within the scientific and technical aspects of design.
- Ensuring sustainable development by applying an ethical and responsible approach to the social, ecological, and economical aspects of their scope of work.
- Theoretical and experience-based understanding of the social impact of urban lighting projects.
- Planning and working throughout collaborative processes.
- Light and its influence on health.
- Analysis of energy consumption and basic control system strategies.
- Human-centred lighting approach.
- Economical aspects of a lighting installation
Independent lighting designer, lighting designer working for companies or studios, architect and urban planner with knowledge of lighting design, lighting and day-lighting expert, researcher, decision-maker working in private or public institutions.
Scholarships and Funding
KTH offers four different scholarship opportunities for master's studies. The KTH Scholarship covers the tuition fee of a one or two year master’s programme. The KTH One-Year Scholarship is aimed at current KTH master's programme students and covers the tuition fee of the second year of studies. The KTH Joint Programme Scholarship is aimed at students in certain joint programmes and covers the tuition fee for the study period spent at KTH. The KTH India Scholarship is aimed specifically at students from India.
- KTH Scholarship
- KTH One-Year Scholarship
- KTH Joint Programme Scholarship
- KTH India Scholarship
Swedish Institute
The Swedish Institute (SI) offers a number of scholarships for students from targeted countries coming to Sweden.
KTH associated scholarship organisations
KTH cooperates with the following organisations providing scholarship opportunities for prospective KTH students.
- COLFUTURO (Programa Crédito Beca) for students from Colombia
- LPDP (Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education) for students from Indonesia
- FUNED for students from Mexico
Scholarship portals
IEFA database
The IEFA database offer a comprehensive scholarships search, grant listing and international student loan programmes.
Studyportals
The Studyportals scholarship database lists over 1,000 scholarship and grants for students worldwide applying for studies in the EU.
Scholars4dev
Scholarships for Development is a database of scholarships open to students from developing countries.
WeMakeScholars
WeMakeScholars helps students from India secure education loans from banks and NBFCs. They also lists more than 26,000 international scholarships from different trusts, foundations and govt. bodies.
Deferment of student loans in the United States
KTH is an accredited institution at the US Department of Education and holds a Title IV 'Deferment Only' status (OPE ID 03274300). US students may defer payments on existing federal student loan accounts while enrolled in a master’s programme at KTH. The 'Deferment Only' status does not allow students to take out federal student loans for enrolment at KTH. However, the accreditation facilitates grant and loan opportunities for US students as many private student loan institutions in the US use this designation as a requirement to grant new loans. Students who wish to defer payments must contact their lending institution in the US.
Several scholarship options are available. Please check the institute website for more information.
Gallery
Career Opportunities
Lighting is an expanding field of knowledge. In recent years there has been a growing demand for the lighting design expertise, as lighting designers understand the role of light and lighting in architecture, interior spaces and urban environments. They can add important value to a project by enhancing visual performance, energy efficiency, sustainability, safety, well-being and health. There are plentiful job opportunities for architects, designers and engineers with lighting design competence.
Graduates primarily work in lighting design or architectural studios or as self-employed consultants. Employers might also be construction companies, lighting manufacturers and public or private operators. Students graduating from the master's programme in Architectural Lighting Design have also pursued doctoral studies (PhD studies) at KTH or in other national or international universities.
After gratuation
Independent lighting designer, lighting designer working for companies or studios, architect and urban planner with knowledge of lighting design, lighting and day-lighting expert, researcher, and decision-maker working in private or public institutions.