Our MArch Programme provides an environment for intellectual discussion about current architectural and cultural discourses. We promote creativity, innovation, imagination and experimentation in our studios, where we integrate research by design methods, hands-on seminars and the inclusion of various new technologies, media and formats in the design process.
Introduction
Our tutors have strong research and professional backgrounds, which grants our students competence and confidence in all areas of the profession and scales of intervention, from urban design to the technical development of the building.
Our design schemes explore both local and international issues. Working with real projects in the UK context allows input from national stakeholders to the briefing and review process; by tackling international issues, we reinforce global citizenship, acknowledge the international nature of our cohorts, and develop the skills to work in different contexts on site and remotely. You will have the opportunity to take semester one of year two abroad at one of our approved exchange Schools of Architecture in China, Australia or Europe.
Our successful international field trips, design competitions, collaborations with different universities and the diverse range of our exchange programme further support this vision, and we’ve a very generous offering of prizes for students performing strongly in areas of our MArch degree. Our graduates have an excellent record of employment in both internationally renowned offices and small-scale specialist practices.
The ability to conceive and develop an investigative and critical approach to architecture
The ability to create architectural designs that integrate social, aesthetic and technical requirements
The ability to analyse problems and to develop a brief for a building or an urban design
The ability to produce designs demonstrating an understanding of climate, passive and active servicing systems
Informed judgement in the development of sustainable design
The ability to present work orally and visually, using drawings, models, and digital presentation techniques.
Accreditation
The Master of Architecture (MArch) programme is accredited as a RIBA Part 2 and a LAM Part 2 award, and is a professional/undergraduate Masters qualification available to students with a BA/BSc in Architecture and RIBA Part 1 or LAM Part 1. This degree is validated by the RIBA and LAM, and prescribed by ARB as a Part 2 qualification towards access to the Architectural Profession in the UK.
Candidates should be aware that those who do not have RIBA Part 1 on joining the MArch here at Liverpool, may apply to the Architects Registration Board (ARB) upon MArch course completion to be considered for RIBA Part 1 (for a fee payable to ARB). The University of Liverpool has no say in this process, which is undertaken independently by the candidate.
Teaching Excellence Framework 2023
We’re proud to announce we’ve been awarded a
Gold rating for educational excellence.
Discover what you'll learn, what you'll study, and how you'll be taught and assessed.
Year one
Year one focuses on the relationship between architecture and the contemporary city. Architectural design is supported by lectures, seminars and carefully planned individual and group work. Taught modules on urban design, professional practice, research methods and contemporary approaches to technology also complement the work in the studio.
Compulsory modules
DESIGN A (ARCH401)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
Architectural Design Studio – Critical Thinking
DESIGN B (ARCH402)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
Architectural Design Studio – Urban Response
DESIGN C (ARCH403)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 2
Architectural Design Studio
DESIGN D (ARCH404)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 2
Architectural Design Studio – Detail
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT & CONTRACT LAW (ARCH405)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
Students are encouraged to participate and discuss their experience of the relevant issues in relation to architectural practice, from which feedback is also sought as a contribution to original data utilised for scholarship purposes (which is then incorporated into next years syllabus). The message of the module is that running an efficient office provides more design time.
Sustainability in Practice (ARCH410)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 2
For this module students will evaluate the implications of construction and management in sustainable design. More specifically they will be taught how construction and management now form an essential element of sustainable design for real world scenarios. In this module students will be required to attend a weekly 2-hour lecture . Each lecture will be held in lecture theatres and will be a mixture of formal presentations and group based exercises.
Humanities and Research Methods (ARCH480)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 2
Research methods training for M.Arch dissertation
URBAN DESIGN: THEORY AND PRACTICE (ARCH406)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 1
This module aims to help students develop in-depth knowledge on urban design and enhance their design skills to address the complex urban challenges of our age. It intends to prepare students to become creative and problem-solving professionals. To do so, this module will introduce students to a wide range of urban design theories, design principles and processes which underpin the discipline of urban design. Students will have the opportunity to study and debate key issues in urban design, the disciplinary foundations of urban design, various topics about public spaces, the application of urban analytical techniques and methods for practice, as well as urban design governance in relation to the planning system. The module will draw examples or case studies from both the local and international contexts and encourage students to think critically about possible design interventions in different urban environments towards sustainable development and place-making.
Any optional modules listed above are illustrative only and may vary from year to year. Modules may be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved and staff availability. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
Year two
You will begin the second year with a design project led by your own interests, with brief-making and a personal exploration of a wide range of media and resources as part of the design process, strongly supported by seminars and guest lectures delivered by world-class tutors, academics, practitioners and Honorary Professors. These included Ian Ritchie and Hans Van De Heijden in 2020/21.
Compulsory modules
Dissertation (ARCH521)
Credits: 30 /
Semester: semester 1
The dissertation module follows on from ARCH480 Research Methods, requiring students to select (with guidance) a suitable architecture related research topic and prepare a significant illustrated written document based on their investigations and analysis.
Thesis Design (ARCH522)
Credits: 45 /
Semester: semester 2
The Thesis Design Project is an individual or group project resulting in a detailed urban or building design that is an exposition of the skills they have acquired during their architectural education. The project begins at the end of semester 1 when students select their topic, though it begins in earnest in semester 2. Students attend formal critiques and meet regularly with an assigned tutor throughout the duration of the module.
Thesis Sustainability and Equity Report (ARCH524)
Credits: 15 /
Semester: semester 2
The Thesis Sustainability and Equity Report is prepared in conjunction with a major piece of design or research work (which is the Thesis Design project for all RIBA Part II route students) and aims to present the architectural and intellectual content of the design project with a particular focus on its sustainability and equity strategies. The report is meant to be a self-contained piece of work that also acts as supporting material to the design project, covering aspects of it that cannot easily be presented in the design submission. It is intended to have a reflective element, where students should articulate their position and decision-making process in writing. Strategies employed in order to address sustainability (environmental, social, economic) and equity issues, as well as other issues that are relevant to each project are meant to be explored in this module.
Optional modules
Research by Design Studies (ARCH520)
Credits: 30 /
Semester: semester 1
The module explores in detail a changing current issue in architecture by investigating and designing a building design project led by visiting tutors engaged in innovative professional practice or academia.
Exchange Studies (Overseas) 3 (ARCH523)
Credits: 30 /
Semester: semester 1
Exchange studio module
Any optional modules listed above are illustrative only and may vary from year to year. Modules may be subject to minimum student numbers being achieved and staff availability. This means that the availability of specific optional modules cannot be guaranteed.
How you're assessed
You’ll be examined and assessed by studio presentations and coursework submissions.
Liverpool Hallmarks
We have a distinctive approach to education, the Liverpool Curriculum Framework, which focuses on research-connected teaching, active learning, and authentic assessment to ensure our students graduate as digitally fluent and confident global citizens.
Course options
Studying with us means you can tailor your degree to suit you. Here's what is available on this course.
Day-to-day teaching takes place in the School of the Arts, an ornate Georgian property located on the historic Abercromby Square. Students will also have the chance to thrive in our Royal Institute of British Architexts (RIBA) award-winning studio spaces that stimulate creativity and reflect the working environment of architects in practice.
Support for students with differing needs from the Disability advice and guidance team. They can identify and recommend appropriate support provisions for you.
Why study Architecture at Liverpool?
Established in 1894, the Liverpool School of Architecture was the first university in the UK to award a RIBA-accredited degree in Architecture
As one of the UK’s premier centres for architectural research and education, the Liverpool School of Architecture is the ideal place to pursue your architecture studies
We are ranked 3rd in the UK for Architecture (The Guardian University Guide 2025) and 7th in the Times and Sunday Times Higher Education Good University Guide 2025.
In the latest Research Excellence Framework assessment (REF 2021), we were rated 5th in the sector for overall research classified as world leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).
We are strongly focused on research, and have many leading architectural experts based amongst our teaching staff
Our membership of the School of the Arts and wider University presents intriguing specialist opportunities, in fields such as autonomous building systems, arts and building design, and climate change risk mitigation
Work is underway on a major refurbishment of our premises, which will comprise a new-build addition of more than 2,000M. The £23 million scheme has been designed by Dublin-based architects O’Donnell + Tuomey, and is expected to be completed by 2024.
What students say...
The ambition the school of architecture has is unmatched by any other in the U.K – and it shows.
The Master of Architecture degree will provide you with the skills necessary to design and construct buildings that are energy efficient and sustainable not only visually appealing.
Our graduates have an excellent record of employment in both internationally renowned offices and small-scale specialist practices.
Recent employers include:
Arup
BDP
Foster + Partners
Hampshire County Council
Hodder + Partners
Rosenbergs Arkitekter, Stockholm
Shedkm
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
Union North
Wilkinson Eyre.
95% of architecture students agree their main activity after graduation is meaningful.
Graduate Outcomes, 2018-19.
Fees and funding
Your tuition fees, funding your studies, and other costs to consider.
Tuition fees
UK fees (applies to Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Republic of Ireland)
Full-time place, per year
£9,535
Year in industry fee
£1,850
Year abroad fee
£1,385
International fees
Full-time place, per year
£29,900
Year in industry fee
£1,850
Year abroad fee
£14,950
The UK full-time tuition fee, international course fee and fee for the year abroad for international students shown are correct for 2025/26 entry. We are currently awaiting confirmation of whether the year abroad fee for UK students, as well as the year in industry fee will change, so the fees shown are for 2024/25. Please note that the year abroad fee also applies to the year in China.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching and assessment, operating facilities such as libraries, IT equipment, and access to academic and personal support. Learn more about fees and funding.
Additional costs
We understand that budgeting for your time at university is important, and we want to make sure you understand any course-related costs that are not covered by your tuition fee. This includes costs for model making, printing and materials. From year two in our BA programme to year five in our MArch programme, there are also optional international fieldtrips that incur additional costs ranging between £100-400.
Admission is by portfolio inspection and an interview, if required. Students need a 1st class BA or BSc degree (with Honours) in Architecture. 2:1 degrees are considered if supported by a strong portfolio and either 65 or above in final year design studio or a clear indication of further developments in practice. We also welcome applications from Interior Design, Landscape Architecture and Architectural Engineering courses, but applicants must have a 1st class degree and submit a 10-page portfolio with their final year project. Candidates who do not meet these criteria and have a strong interest in the course should discuss their circumstances with the Programme Director and the Admission Officer.
International qualifications
If you hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, but don’t meet our entry requirements, a Pre-Master’s can help you gain a place. This specialist preparation course for postgraduate study is offered on campus at the University of Liverpool International College, in partnership with Kaplan International Pathways. Although there’s no direct Pre-Master’s route to this Master of Architecture, completing a Pre-Master’s pathway can guarantee you a place on many other postgraduate courses at The University of Liverpool.
International applicants who do not meet the minimum required standard of English language can complete one of our Pre-Sessional English courses to achieve the required level.
English language qualification
Requirements
IELTS
6.5 overall, with no component below 6.0
TOEFL iBT
88 overall, with minimum scores of listening 19, writing 19, reading 19 and speaking 20. TOEFL Home Edition not accepted.
Duolingo English Test
120 overall, with no component below 105
Pearson PTE Academic
61 overall, with no component below 59
LanguageCert Academic
70 overall, with no skill below 65
Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0500
Grade C overall, with a minimum of grade 2 in speaking and listening. Speaking and listening must be separately endorsed on the certificate.
Cambridge IGCSE First Language English 0990
Grade 4 overall, with Merit in speaking and listening
Cambridge IGCSE Second Language English 0510/0511
0510: Grade B overall, with a minimum of grade 2 in speaking. Speaking must be separately endorsed on the certificate. 0511: Grade B overall.
Cambridge IGCSE Second Language English 0993/0991
0993: Grade 6 overall, with a minimum of grade 2 in speaking. Speaking must be separately endorsed on the certificate. 0991: Grade 6 overall.
International Baccalaureate English A: Literature or Language & Literature
Grade 5 at Standard Level or grade 5 at Higher Level
International Baccalaureate English B
Grade 7 at Standard Level or grade 6 at Higher Level
Cambridge ESOL Level 2/3 Advanced
176 overall, with no paper below 169
PRE-SESSIONAL ENGLISH
Do you need to complete a Pre-Sessional English course to meet the English language requirements for this course?
The length of Pre-Sessional English course you’ll need to take depends on your current level of English language ability.
