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LOCATION
Docklands Campus
Location Fees and Funding
Here's the fees and funding information for each year of this course
Overview
Our award-winning architecture department enjoys an international reputation for excellence and for producing architects who combine technical skills with practical experience.
We believe architecture is about engagement. Rather than sitting in a studio designing buildings theoretically you will go out and work on projects in the local area - a thriving, dynamic part of London with huge infrastructure developments.
You will fulfil your creative potential and perfect your skills by working on designs that tackle real-life issues not just in east London but around the world.
You will engage with architectural events nationally and internationally. In 2014, our students exhibited as part of the Venice Biennale and at the London Festival of Architecture.
Our MArch Architecture course is fully accredited, furthering your progress towards becoming a qualified architect.
Students who successfully complete the course are exempt from Part 2 of the ARB/RIBA Examination – one of the three parts required to register as an architect in the UK.
Download our yearbook to view examples of our students' work.
Architecture Units
Place of Visit and Work: Corfu, GR
Tutors: Philip Christou
Year Title: The origins of civic life
Description: In my experience, the most thoughtful student projects I have had the privilege to tutor always made 'a little urbanity' - a piece of town within the given site. In their journeys of discovery searching for their own sense of beauty and delight in architecture, it was when the spatial relationships between buildings began to have a certain tension and charge (élan), something emerged that could be described as civic and alive.
We will search for the origins of civic life in a given city or neighbourhood situation - the primary spatial structures that allow civic life to unfold and form itself around - the life-line, the backbone, the forum. We will design the genesis of the town, one could say an urban embryo.
The 'origins of civic life' are to a large extent already existing in the site - its specific land-form, significant landmarks, buildings and public spaces with special characteristic forms or histories. We will find ways of seeing, drawing and interpreting these 'as found' aspects of the site and we will reinforce and reinterpret the poetic and human dimensions of these qualities to build a community with delight and 'ihsan' (Arabic: إحسان , beautiful excellence).
This year we will work on the island of Corfu in Greece in dialogue with the Mayor and the people of the Island. We will design an ensemble of community buildings: for example - a school, a town square and a public bath.
Place of Visit and Work: Paris, FR / Woolwich, UK
Tutors: Christoph Hadrys, Tony Fretton & Uwe Schmidt-Hess
Year Title: Urban Play
Description: This academic year, we will focus on designing buildings and open spaces in Woolwich, South-East London. Within this location, Unit 2 will explore the guiding theme of Urban Play.
Woolwich is a local urban centre on the River Thames. It is a densely build-up area with buildings of different sizes. The relocation of military functions and the new Elizabeth Line station has led to rapid urban transformations and new developments. However, Woolwich is multi-generational and ethnically very diverse. Most new developments struggle to respond to the existing city and its people in invigorating manners.
During the 20th Century, architects, researchers and planning authorities have increasingly paid attention to different forms of play in cities, for adults but also for children who often find it difficult to integrate in intensive urban life. Unit 2 will explore the guiding theme Urban Play through designing buildings and open spaces that address different forms of playful activities, such as leisure, children's play, sport or civic engagement. This could enable either spontaneous or more structured forms of play. Our interventions could enable new forms of socialisation for more personal and communal growth. We will explore ways in which playful sharing and living together can be part of a unique and synergetic urban life.
Place of Visit and Work: Barcelona, SP
Tutors: Isaie Bloch & Igor Pantic
Year Title: AI Ai Aiaiai
Co-creating a visitors' centre for UNESCO's World Capital of Architecture
Description: We are recently witnessing a major shift in the use of AI systems in the process of image creation. Systems such as DALL-E and Midjourney allow creatives to create combinations of seemingly unrelated concepts in unexpected plausible ways making us to severely question our current visual vocabulary, our ways to critique formal outcome, authorship and its role in our build environment. It offer us unprecedented access to be playful once again with form, typology, materiality, context and use; and to generate countless imaginative variations for spatial ideas to solve complex creative problems.
Through an in depth understanding of typological and architectural descriptors we will create a plethora of non stylistic attributes and novel spatial hybrids to infuse in one of the richest architectural cosmopolitan cities in the world, Barcelona! Barcelona`s unique blend of architectural styles and cultures is as rich as paella itself and as such the perfect environment for innovation and experimentation. As the "world capital of Architecture" in 2026, Barcelona will host the New European Bauhaus initiative, which calls on all Europeans to imagine and co-create a sustainable and inclusive future that is beautiful for our eyes, minds, and souls. Beautiful are the places, practices, and experiences that are inspired by art and culture, responding to needs beyond functionality, in harmony with the environment, encourages dialogue and value diversity of perception and place.
In doing so, both the architectures as well as our methods for design might require more then our human imagination.
Place of Visit and Work: Lanzarote, SP
Tutors: Armor Gutierrez & Rosa Rogina
Year Title: Learning from Lanzarote
An Embassy for the Climate Diaspora
Description: Drawing from vernacular and contemporary solutions developed during the pass millennia by the inhabitants of Canary Island and Andalusia to address extreme weather conditions, this year students in Unit 8 will be challenged to explore radical solutions to the pressing climate change issues of sever droughts, overheating and aridification, and to foresee and address the consequences of these new conditions on current and upcoming migration fluxes, both locally and globally.
By developing a new building typology for a Climate Diaspora Embassy in the Canary Islands, students in Unit 8 will be asked to test innovative and locally sourced materials, passive heating and cooling strategies and urgent water management solutions, creating a catalogue of key architectural responses to the age of climate change.
What makes this course different
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
You will learn to ask radical questions, explore social responsibility and decide how you're going to make an impact as an architect. At the University of East London, we're exploring critical topics like tackling climate change, building sustainably and creating community spaces through well-crafted architecture.
If you're ready to take the next step towards becoming an architect, this course is for you. Not only do we tick all the boxes for RIBA accreditation, we'll help you get the experience you need to stand out.
The MArch Architecture course is designed to prepare you to respond creatively to the uncertainties you will experience in your professional life as an architect. Sometimes students are unclear about the relevance of what they are doing to become an architect. The programme does not attempt to replicate practice, but does prepare you for practice.
It also enables you to continue to develop fruitfully after you leave the school. Just as in professional practice, the school is a learning community in which students and teachers learn together. You work in small groups that stay together for a term or a year. Because the groups are small you get individual attention from the tutors and you learn from other students who are dealing with similar problems.
We'll equip you with a range of practical and professional skills, including advanced CAD software and digital fabrication tools, architectural design methods, architectural history and theory as well as multiple technical and environmental workshops and seminars. You'll put all of these into practice through your integrated design project. This in order to tackle real-life scenarios which affect the whole, not just the part. We will stimulate you to look at architecture as the opportunist, not the problem-solver.
DOWNLOAD COURSE SPECIFICATIONS
MArch Architecture (ARB/RIBA PART 2) - Course Specification
pdf, 289.09 KB
MODULES
- Core Modules
Architectural Design Research & Mental Wealth 1 CloseArchitectural Design Research & Mental Wealth 1
The overall objective of the module is to enable you to work with intelligent, spatial and contextual design tasks that are developed through a critical understanding of theoretical, societal and ethical positions on architecture and the built environment.
At this level (year 1 of the programme) the aim is to establish these intentions as part of your design process in order to prepare you for the other part of the design module, the next year of the programme and career progression. Specific design and theoretical agendas formulated by the different design units within the studio, aim to provide a choice of architectural itineraries to support and facilitate you in this process through an explorative approach to contextual design. In doing so you will begin to recognise the areas for your own personal and professional development (including emotional, social, physical, cultural and cognitive intelligences) through taught and workshop activity.
Fundamental to this module is the open studio environment which allows you to be partially mentored in a variety of skillsets by your peers in the year above.
Architectural Design 1 CloseArchitectural Design 1
The overall objective of the module is to enable you to work with intelligent, spatial and contextual design tasks that are developed through a critical understanding of theoretical, societal and ethical positions on architecture and the built environment.
At this level (year 1 of the programme) the aim is to establish these intentions as part of your design process in order to prepare you for the next academic year of the programme and career progression. Specific design and theoretical agendas formulated by the different design units within the studio, aim to provide a choice of architectural itineraries to support and facilitate you in this process through an explorative approach to architecture. In doing so you will begin to recognise the areas for your academic and professional development.
Fundamental to this module is the open studio environment which allows you to be partially mentored in a variety of skillsets by your peers in the year above.
Technical Environmental and Professional Studies 1 CloseTechnical Environmental and Professional Studies 1
The main aim of this module is:
To study and critically reflect on the technical, environmental, professional and social factors that relate to architectural projects; expanding upon the undergraduate level knowledge in order to enable sophisticated strategies and techniques in the resolution of architectural designs.
Theory and Cultural Studies 1 CloseTheory and Cultural Studies 1
The main aim of the module is:
To study and critically reflect on key issues in the theory of architecture and the culture of the built environment, with specific regard to their relationship to architectural design at a postgraduate level through a choice of particular perspectives (the chosen theory route).
- Core Modules
Architectural Design Research & Mental Wealth 2 CloseArchitectural Design Research & Mental Wealth 2
The overall objective of the module is to enable you to work with complex, spatial and contextual design tasks that are developed through a critical understanding of theoretical, societal and ethical positions on architecture and the built environment.
At this level (year 2 of the programme) the aim is to establish these intentions as part of your individual design process in order to prepare you for the other part of the design module and career progression. Specific design and theoretical agendas formulated by the different design units within the studio, aim to provide a choice of architectural itineraries to support and facilitate you in this process through an explorative approach to design. In doing so they will begin to recognise the areas for their own personal and professional development (including emotional, social, physical, cultural and cognitive intelligences) through taught and workshop activity. Fundamental to this module is the open studio environment which allows you to partially mentor a variety of skillsets to your peers in the year below.
Architectural Design 2 CloseArchitectural Design 2
The overall objective of the module is to enable you to work with complex, spatial and contextual design tasks that are developed through a critical understanding and application of theoretical, societal and ethical positions on architecture and the built environment.
At this level (year 2 of the programme) the aim is to synthesize these intentions in a coherent final architectural thesis proposal as part of your design process in order to prepare you for your career progression. Specific design and theoretical agendas formulated by the different design units within the studio, aim to provide a choice of architectural itineraries to support and facilitate you in this process through an explorative whilst systematic approach to architecture. In doing so you will recognise the areas for their academic and professional development.
Fundamental to this module is the open studio environment which allows you to mentor in a variety of skillsets your peers in the year below.
Technical Environmental and Professional Studies 2 CloseTechnical Environmental and Professional Studies 2
The main aim of the module is:
To study and critically reflect on the technical, environmental, professional and social factors that relate to architectural projects; expanding upon the undergraduate level knowledge in order to enable sophisticated strategies and techniques in the resolution of architectural designs.
Theory and Cultural Studies 2 CloseTheory and Cultural Studies 2
The main aim of this module is: to study and critically reflect on key issues in the theory of architecture and the culture of the built environment, with specific regard to their relationship to architectural design at a postgraduate level through a choice of particular perspectives (the chosen theory route).
HOW YOU'LL LEARN
Our studio, where the majority of teaching takes place, is a unique and intense environment where you will work with an extensive array of equipment.
We have wood, plaster, metal, photography and print-making workshops and a full digital fabrication lab with 3D printers, laser cutters and CNC and an industrial grade robot arm. Most of your design project work will evolve in these studios and workshops. The University of East London is one of the few universities to have this level of workshop incorporated inside your teaching spaces.
You will be taught one to one, or in small classes, with a collaborative ethos. The course leader is Isaie Bloch. Our teaching is accessible and responsive and regularly scores highly in student satisfaction surveys.
We have extensive connections with a range of practices and official bodies. Our teaching staff is regularly joined by architects from reputed organisations and practices, including Zaha Hadid Architects, Studio Bark, C+S architects, Tony Fretton Architects, Assemble, KPF, ARB.
Assemble, a collective which includes four of our own lecturers, was nominated for the prestigious Turner Prize 2015 for its imaginative regeneration work in Liverpool. Roland Karthaus, founding Director of Matter Architecture and lecturer at UEL won a RIBA President's award for research in 2017 with a project for the Ministry of Justice.
HOW YOU'LL BE ASSESSED
We assess you through coursework, design work and essays. Your final assessment is at the end of the academic year via your academic portfolio. There are no closed book examinations.
CAMPUS and FACILITIES

Docklands Campus, Docklands Campus, London, E16 2RD
WHO TEACHES THIS COURSE
The teaching team includes qualified academics, practitioners and industry experts as guest speakers. Full details of the academics will be provided in the student handbook and module guides.
Related Courses

Studying the Part 2 architecture course at UEL pushed me to achieve things I didn't know I was capable of. The experience enabled me to get the kind of job that I wanted and continues to motivate me in practice."
Marcus Andren
UEL Part 2 Graduate at Carmody Groarke Architects
What we're researching
Our academic team combines world-class teaching with an enquiring research approach. Our staff includes celebrated practising architects such as Maria Segantini, partner of C+S Architects, Tony Fretton, principal of Tony Fretton Architects, and Katherine Clarke, partner of Muf.
Roland Karthaus and Alan Chandler are recognised experts in the fields of urban design and conservation. Their recent research has included advising on the development of a new capital city in India and the reconstruction of a historic palace in Santiago de Chile - projects which engage with heritage and modernisation.

We are also a course partner of Article 25 - the UK's leading architectural aid charity. You could be helping to design, manage and deliver sustainable building solutions in areas affected by disaster, poverty and need - opportunities that will set you up for meaningful employment.
We put concepts such as sustainability into action. For example, we are currently working with Muf and the residents of a London housing estate on a major regeneration project, helping them to make alternative plans for their future.
We have advised the London Mayor's office and the London Legacy Development Corporation on the use of public space and we have worked with the US Green Building Council to develop new sustainability standards.

YOUR FUTURE CAREER
With our MArch behind you, you will be fully prepared to become a qualified architect. Our course is fully accredited and grants you Part 2 exemption from the ARB/RIBA professional examinations.
You will graduate from a course that enjoys an international reputation for producing award-winning designers capable of producing complex architectural proposals with skill and sensitivity. The skills you will acquire - superior analysis, creative thinking, technological expertise and draughtsmanship - will serve you well in a variety of work environments.
You will also benefit from our superb connections. We have well established links with a variety of architectural practices and local organisations and these have enabled our students to secure some enviable jobs.
It's up to you how you make an impact. Some of our graduates go on to work in the public sector and culturally engaged practices. Others choose to join internationally awarded design practices or large global offices. Want to be your own boss? You could even set up your own architectural design practice. After this course, you'll have the toolkit you need to set yourself up for success.
Within the School we have a dedicated careers advice service along with an active alumni network who are happy to provide contacts with prospective employers.
Whatever your ambition, we will ensure your learning is placed in a strong, professional context, with your future career always in mind.
Explore the different career options you can pursue with this degree and see the median salaries of the sector on our Career Coach portal.