Architecture - Architecture, Landscape architecture and Interior Architecture, Architect, Master of Science

Description

Architecture is a field at the intersection of technology and art with strong social, cultural, environmental, and economic implications. The Architecture major aims at

• deepening the students’ technical, scientific and artistic thinking as foundation for building a socially responsible and sustainable future.
• fostering creative exploration and experimentation as well as multi-disciplinary collaboration.

After completing the degree, the students will have

• the ability to apply various design strategies in reaction to programmatic, technical, and aesthetic requirements.
• an understanding of the main lines of development in history and theory of architecture and their contextual relevance for critical design thinking.
• the ability of identifying systemic interactions and the transformation of these interactions into design operations for socially responsible and sustainable action.

The program offers an opportunity for individual development of skills and knowledge in a range of specialization fields such as wood construction, building design and the reuse of buildings, human-centered design and wellbeing, computational design, preservation or urban design and planning.

The program is accredited and in line with the professional regulations of the EU directives.

All directions of specialization within the program prepare the students to pursue a career in architecture or related fields within Finland or abroad and enables them to work as an employee in the private or public sector, as independent entrepreneur or as post-graduate researcher.

Major's intended learning outcomes

Architecture is a field at the intersection of technology and art with strong social, cultural, environmental, and economic implications. The Major in Architecture aims at

• deepening the students’ technical, scientific and artistic thinking as foundation for building a socially responsible and sustainable future.
• fostering creative exploration and experimentation as well as multi-disciplinary collaboration.

After completing the degree, the students will have

• the ability to apply various design strategies in reaction to programmatic, technical, and aesthetic requirements.
• an understanding of the main lines of development in history and theory of architecture and their contextual relevance for critical design thinking.
• the ability of identifying systemic interactions and the transformation of these interactions into design operations for socially responsible and sustainable action.

Language of instruction

The language of instruction in Architecture major is English. However, part of the courses in the field of Architectural History and Renovation are taught in Finnish. The degree can be completed in Finnish, Swedish or English.

Tuition fees and scholarships

The tuition fee for this programme is 20 000 euros per academic year. Citizens of European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland do not pay tuition fees. Citizens of other countries must pay tuition fees.

Aalto University offers a small number of scholarships in the form of tuition fee waivers to fee-paying students. Scholarships can be awarded to the highest-achieving applicants based on the programme's evaluation criteria. Applicants are ranked according to the criteria outlined on the programme's webpage.

More information on tuition fees and scholarships at Aalto University is available at the Scholarships and Tuition Fees webpage.

Structure of studies

The key focus in master's programme education is on developing and deepening of skills and knowledge obtained during the bachelor's phase. The topics include the history and theory of architecture, building design and Finnish building art as well as urban planning and design. Course and design studio teaching is enhanced by means of multidisciplinary collaboration and advanced teaching methods. A number of courses are based on a learning-by-doing approach and the working on real design assignments often in collaboration with the local community. In addition, experimental and design research-oriented courses are offered that allow the in depth exploration of specialized topics and the development of an individual expression and voice as a designer.

More information on the content of the education can be found in the study guide under Curriculum.

Specialisations

The program offers an opportunity for individual development of skills and knowledge in a range of specialization fields such as wood construction, building design and the reuse of buildings, human-centered design and wellbeing, computational design, preservation or urban design and planning. The program is accredited and in line with the professional regulations of the EU directives.

Internationalisation

Studies provide the opportunity for internationalization through, for example, exchange studies and international student competitions and study trips. The internship that is an optional part of the degree can be completed abroad and students can also do field work outside Finland. Some of the department staff are international and lecturers and guests from international schools of architecture visit the department. The department has international research and teaching projects with different universities.

Department of Architecture has international students, both degree students and exchange students. Teaching is provided partly in English and all students study in the same courses.

Further study opportunities

Doctoral programme in Arts, Design and Architecture Arts, or other universities in Finland and abroad.

Career opportunities

All directions of specialization within the program prepare the students to pursue a career in architecture or related fields within Finland or abroad and enables them to work as an employee in the private or public sector, as independent entrepreneur or as post-graduate researcher.

The majority of architects work as project architects in a company or as entrepreneurs in their own architectural agency, working with new or renovation projects. The public sector is another important employer, with job titles including zoning architect, permit architect, cultural environment manager, museum director and municipal architect. Architects work as academic researchers or teachers, such as professors or lecturers. Architects can also be construction managers, project designers or experts in the property field; senior inspectors or specialists in the environmental field or exhibition architects and curators in the field of art. The duties of an architect are steadily expanding from traditional design tasks to other fields that require comprehensive vision and creative problem-solving ability.

Duties of an architect

• Project planning

• Building design in all scales

• Construction, property development

• Urban design, urban planning/zoning of regional entities

• Museum work

• Building history inventories and surveys

• Administrative, teaching, management and research duties, expert tasks

• Furniture design, interior decorating, design, exhibition design

• Architectural graphics, IT, multimedia

Research focus

The research done at the Department of Architecture produces knowledge about architecture, landscape architecture, urban studies and planning, design practice, the role of architecture in society and the future of construction. We also study architectural history and conservation. Furthermore, our focus areas include construction in the social and health sector, construction for a sustainable future, computer-assisted design methods, and humanitarian architecture. Our research profile covers both basic research in architecture and applied research answering the needs of the industry and public sector.

The research relates to multidisciplinary research areas at Aalto University, especially the human-centred living environments, supported by the Living+ Platform.

SOTERA is the research group for Health and Wellbeing Architecture Sotera – Research group for Health & Wellbeing architecture (aalto.fi)

Aalto WiT (World in Transition) LAB WiT LAB – World in transition
Group X Group X | Aalto University (groupxaalto.fi)

Co-operation with other parties

Aalto University and the departments involved in the programme collaborate with many high-quality universities worldwide.

Contact information

Learning Services at the School of Arts, Design and Architecture

For enquiries regarding programme-specific application documents or studies in the programme, please contact Aalto ARTS Learning Services.

[email protected]

Admissions Services

For enquiries regarding the application process, obligatory application documents or English language proficiency, please contact Admissions Services.

[email protected]