MA Architecture and Advanced Digital Design

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

• Architecture

You will normally have at least an upper second-class undergraduate UK honours degree (or international equivalent) in a related field including Architecture, Landscape, Environment Design, Urban Design, Interior Architecture, Digital Arts, Product Design, Computer Science, Gaming, Media, or Engineering.

Applicants are required to provide a digital portfolio and a written personal statement (approximately 450 words) as part of the application process to evidence design, understanding of architecture, digital skills, 2and research. Applicants with current industry experience should evidence this and its relevance as part of the portfolio and personal statement.

Other professional qualifications or degree disciplines will be considered on merit on a case-by-case basis. As part of the application process, the internal programme and university admissions teams may review applicant’s portfolios to determine suitability based upon drawing and communication of related skills, and the relevance of experience. Applicants may be invited to attend additional pre-start study skills support.

Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English qualification.

UK and Channel Island students

Full-time fee: £12,400 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course provided you complete it in the normal timeframe (eg no repeat years or breaks in study).

Part-time fee: £2,067 per 30 credits studied. The fee per credit will remain the same for each year of your course provided you complete it in the normal timeframe (eg no repeat years or breaks in study). The total amount you pay each year may differ based on the number of credits studied.

Find out about the extra support we may be able to provide with our scholarships for UK students .

EU and non-EU international students

Full-time fee: £28,500 per year. Tuition fees will remain the same for each year of your course provided you complete it in the normal timeframe (eg no repeat years or breaks in study).

Part-time fee: £4,750 per 30 credits studied. The fee per credit will remain the same for each year of your course, provided you complete it in the normal timeframe (eg no repeat years or breaks in study). The total amount you pay each year may differ based on the number of credits studied.

Many of our international students are eligible for a discount on their tuition fees. Visit our scholarships and funding pages to find out what's available for you.

Specialist costs

Compulsory estimate: Not set

Optional estimate: £2000

It is advised that students own a high-end / gaming laptop capable of running 3D modelling, visualisation and computational software to facilitate flexible independent working. A full laptop specification guide is available from the programme team.

Subject specific CAD software is also required. Student discounts are available at most hardware vendors and software can be purchased at discounted rates. We would suggest students wait to purchase software until your studies commence to avoid paying for a software which may be provided for free.

• Indicative cost of Midrange Laptop PC: £750
• Indicative cost of High-End Laptop PC: £2000
• Indicative cost of Wireless Mouse: £10
• Indicative cost of External HDD storage (Backup): £70
• Indicative cost of Cloud storage (Backup) eg. dropbox from approx..: £7/month, icloud approx. £9/month
• Indicative cost of Revit: £free (student copy)
• Indicative cost of Auto CAD: £free (student copy)
• Indicative cost of Adobe Suite: £free (student copy)
• Indicative cost of AI Subscriptions: £120 per year
• Indicative cost of Rhinoceros: £160 – permanent licence (one off cost).

Specialist software and IT equipment mentioned above is available on campus in both the School of Architecture and elsewhere on Manchester Metropolitan University and University of Manchester campuses. Remote access systems are available when the buildings are closed.

There are laptops available on short term loan within the department which meet the high specification description, and within Manchester Metropolitan University.

Please see the 'Additional Information' section of this webpage for further cost information.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).

Further Additional Expenses

Placement costs

Optional estimate: £1,000

A trips policy is in place where curriculum-based fieldwork is financially supported by the school, and optional extra-curricular study tours are available for students to attend at their own cost. Costs of an optional study tour may vary depending on the activity type and location where it takes place. A study tour could be in the range of c.£100-£1000, and if these are international, a UK alternative will also be offered.

Other costs

Compulsory estimate: £1000

Printing

Student submissions are digital but there may be occasions where print is more suitable, especially for reviews with industry professionals. Indicative print costs – up to £500.

Model making / workshop materials

General use of workshop facilities are not charged for. Materials are provided for machine and process inductions, however, further materials used when developing individual project work are not provided but are available for purchase at cost from workshop stores. Workshop and material costs are therefore variable and dependent on personal project ambitions connected directly to the size of the chosen site and the level of detail that they are exploring. Indicative cost of workshop materials £250.

Graduate Degree Show

Printing final work, creation of exhibition material, and the production of specific models for the graduate exhibition Indicative costs – up to £200.

The programme will allow you to develop transformative critical thinking skills, apply theoretical concepts to problem-based design scenarios, develop subject specialisms based on your background, context and experiences, and generate creative design solutions in a studio-led active learning environment.

Through diverse studio specialisms and Research Project supervision, you’ll explore advanced themes which further the fields of architecture and digital design.

Core modules

• Foundations of Digital Architecture
• Theories of Digital Architecture
• Research Skills
• Experimental Digital Design
• Research Project
• Speculative Digital Futures

MA Architecture and Advanced Digital Design is a future-focussed postgraduate degree that explores how emerging technologies are transforming architecture and the built environment. Through a unique combination of design, theory and research, you will develop advanced capabilities in computational design, digital fabrication, visualisation and AI-enabled workflows, equipping you to respond creatively and critically to contemporary design challenges.

Over the course of this intensive 12-month programme, you will build expertise through a sequence of interconnected modules. You will begin with Foundations of Digital Architecture, developing core skills in computation, fabrication and visualisation, before examining the ideas behind technological change in Theories of Digital Architecture. Alongside this, Research Skills will prepare you to undertake independent academic enquiry and critical analysis.

As your studies progress, Experimental Digital Design challenges you to address real-world design issues through innovative approaches, combining digital tools, AI technologies and advanced design thinking. Example projects might include developing computational design systems, creating digitally fabricated architectural prototypes, producing immersive visualisations, or using AI-assisted workflows to explore future urban environments. The programme culminates in Speculative Digital Futures, a substantial research-by-design project that allows you to define your own specialist area and investigate the future of digital architectural practice.

As part of the internationally recognised Manchester School of Architecture, ranked among the world's leading architecture schools, you will learn from research-active academics and industry professionals specialising in digital design, computation, fabrication, visualisation, artificial intelligence and machine learning. You will also benefit from access to advanced digital studios, fabrication workshops, computer laboratories and specialist software across both Manchester Metropolitan University and The University of Manchester.

Strong industry links, guest lectures, live projects, practice visits and opportunities to exhibit your work connect your learning to Manchester's thriving digital, creative and built environment sectors. By graduation, you will possess the technical, creative and critical skills needed to influence the future of architecture and pursue careers in areas such as computational design, digital fabrication, visualisation, BIM, AI-enabled design, immersive technologies and digital innovation.

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk