Architecture by Design

Entry requirements

Normally a UK masters degree or its international equivalent.

You must submit a portfolio as part of your application.

If you do not meet the academic entry requirements, we may still consider your application on the basis of your portfolio and/or relevant professional experience.

Months of entry

January, September

Course content

The Architecture by Design PhD offers you the opportunity to pursue design-led research at the highest level. The words ‘by design’ refer to your mode of research, mode of practice and mode of exegesis. Therefore, it is important to understand how your ‘by design’ method informs and directs a thesis over a particular research duration, and how the development of your ‘by design’ methodology is not only an important aspect of the thetic process, but also important to how your thesis is finally presented.

This PhD can be pursued through many lines and techniques of architectural inquiry, spanning design, buildings, technology, history, sustainability, conservation, theory, criticism, city, visuality, communication, philosophy, politics, environment, landscape, information technology and digital media.

Your output must contain original works such as designs, built work, drawings, models, photographs, video, sculptures, installations or websites and include documentation of the processes by which the work was produced.

Your research culminates in a professionally presented text of not more than 50,000 words and a comprehensive record of the exhibited material (images, drawings, photographs) contained in a coherent and archivable format (bound thesis and/or CD/DVD).