Architecture

Projects with impact

During your master’s, you will be involved with projects that combine working in research, education and industry. Through applied research you come up with innovative solutions for genuine societal issues. Below, you can find some examples of projects our master’s students engage in.

About this programme

The four-year programme is a design master where you will combine your study with working in professional practice. Therefore, after you finish your studies, you can immediately register yourself in the Architects’ Register (Architectenregister in Dutch) as you are exempt from the required two-year practice experience.

Course overview

First year
In the first year you will work on your basic design skills, which will involve familiarising yourself with various design methods. You will do this in the so-called design studios, by working on a topical theme with students from other years. We will encourage you to embark on a journey of discovery in your field of interest. In the research studio, you will do field research and we will discuss a number of academic articles.

Second year
The second year will focus on experimentation. In the design studios, you will learn to formulate your own design assignment and test your design methods. You will engage in discussions with users, research materials and immerse yourself in utopias. We will facilitate your growth by throwing you in at the deep end, allowing you to fail and carrying out evaluations together.

Third year
Your studies will become more in-depth in the third year. In the design studios, you will position yourself as a critical thinker. You will challenge yourself by formulating complex design assignments. You take a position as an architect. We will coach you towards becoming the architect that you want to be and that society needs. You will write a paper during the research studio.

Fourth year
The fourth year will focus on your graduation. Everything you learned in the design studios, research studios and from your work in professional practice will come together at this stage. You will work on your qualifying examination and show how you, as an architect, are making a positive impact.

Work in professional practice
Throughout your studies, you will spend a minimum of  20 hours (maximum 32 hours) a week working in a relevant work environment (an architect's firm or related).

After graduation

Graduates of the master’s programme will receive the title Master of Science (MSc) and will be able to register in the Dutch Architects’ Register (Nederlands Architectenregister). This registration licenses you to work as an architect anywhere in Europe.

Admission procedure

The admission starts with your enrolment in Studielink. Below you will find more information about the requirements and admission.

Pre-education
Everyone with a bachelor's degree of a bachelor in the development line can apply for admission. These are:

• Bachelor (B/BSc) Architecture
• Bachelor (B) Art Academy (Architectural design/Interior design)

English requirements
International students applying for admission must demonstrate that they have achieved an IELTS score of at least 6.0 (subscore may not be lower than 5.5) or an equivalent score if they took a different type of language test. The student must be able to provide evidence that the language test was taken no more than two years ago. Other language tests are TOEFL or Cambridge ESOL test certificate. The minimum scores are as follows:

• TOEFL internet based: score of 80 with no subscores below 17
• IELTS: 6.0 with no subscores below 5.5
• Cambridge ESOL: Grade C (scale 169-172)

Dutch language
Because it is a part-time master's degree, it is necessary for the student to work in a suitable professional practice. It is not mandatory to have that workplace set up at the start of the study, but it is the student's own responsibility to find a job as soon as possible. Mastering the Dutch language is important, preparation prior to study is wise and the student should be at the level of NT2 at least one year after starting.

Entrance examination
Prior to the admission interview, prospective students will sit an entrance examination. In the interview, the results of this examination will be discussed. The examination will assess aspects of creativity, technique and empathy. The assignments can be found further down this page. In addition, attention will be paid in the admission interview to a personal portfolio to be brought along.

Non-EEA students have to send their results, CV, motivation and portfolio to [email protected] before the 1st of March. For EEA students this is the 1st of April.

Admission interview
After assessing the entrance examination, CV, portfolio and motivation letter, a decision will be made on whether to invite candidates for an admission interview. The admission interview is aimed at assessing whether the student has sufficient motivation, knowledge, insight and talent to take the programme at the Academy. During the interview, the results of this examination will be discussed. The examination will assess aspects of creativity, technique and empathy. The student's personal portfolio will also be discussed.

Entrance examination

Assignment 1: Design
Design a building that consists of two linked cubes of 3x3x3 m. The way you link the cubes is free, as long as the cube is recognisable. Think of an environment (city, beach, forest, etc.) where you place the cubes. Create a house for yourself by editing the cubes. Present your design on up to two A3 sheets. Draw and visualise everything that is necessary to communicate your idea properly, such as a site plan, floor plans, façades, cross-sections, spatial images, references, materials, etc. If desired, you can add an explanatory text (no more than 200 words).

Assignment 2: Execution and technique
Make a cross-section (scale 1:20) of the most characteristic façade of your cube design and a few principle detail drawings (scale 1:5).

Assignment 3: Theory and empathy
Choose from the list of architects below a (favourite) architect and motivate your choice on the basis of concepts of the architect in his/hers time in the architectural debate and the architectural movement the architect can be counted in. And describe the architectural quality of their work. Process your answers in an essay of max.1000 words.

• Lina Bo Bardi
• Oscar Niemeyer
• Toyo Ito
• Carlo Scarpa
• Francis Kere
• Edwin Lutyens
• Sverre Fehn
• Kazuyo Sejima
• Louis Kahn
• Mario Botta
• Lacaton Vassal

Work in practice
Master's students are required to gain practical experience. A student must work at least 20 hours a week in a relevant practice (architectural firm or related). This must be an architectural firm. If you do not have a relevant workplace at the start of the study, the Academy will try to help you. However, finding a workplace remains the student's responsibility.

The workplace is expected to:

• You create designs and realise them;
• It is a stimulating and challenging working environment with plenty of opportunities to develop as an architect;
• It has a high-level infrastructure: availability of literature, documents with regulations and materials, opportunity to consult with colleagues, etc.

It is necessary to go through all parts of the process (designing, realising the design, understanding the connection between the different parts). This may also mean gaining work experience at several architectural firms.

Work in practice for Non-EEA Students
In general Dutch law does not allow students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to work in the Netherlands in regular employment. The Academy of Architecture is an exception to this rule. A limited number of non-EEA students is permitted to have regular employment in the Netherlands for a maximum of 32 hours per week under a number of strict conditions.

Contact
Do you have questions about the application and/or admission? Contact the secretariat of the Academy by calling (050) 595 54 05 or mail [email protected].