Master of Architecture

The Master of Architecture at Adelaide University is a two-year professional degree for people who want to work as architects. It picks up where an undergraduate architecture degree leaves off. You spend most of your time in design studios, working on projects that get more complex each semester. Alongside the studios you take core units in architectural history and theory, building technology, structures, environmental design and professional practice. You also learn the digital tools architects actually use, CAD, BIM, parametric modelling and visualisation, and how to put together a set of construction documents that a builder can price and build from.

How the degree is structured

Australian master's degrees are built on units of study, each worth a set number of credit points. You need to pass a certain total to graduate. At Adelaide the year is split into semesters, and most students take a standard full-time load of four units per semester. The degree runs for two years full-time; part-time study is usually possible but stretches the timeline. The final year includes a capstone design project or a research-based thesis, where you work somewhat independently on a topic you choose, with a supervisor. That project is the centrepiece of your portfolio when you leave.

Work-integrated learning and professional recognition

Architecture in Australia is a regulated profession. To register as an architect you need to complete an accredited qualification, get practical experience and pass the Architectural Practice Examination. The Master of Architecture is the second part of the accredited sequence, the first being an accredited bachelor degree. The degree is structured to meet the competency standards the profession expects, and the design studios and professional practice units are where much of that comes together. Many students pick up work in architectural offices during the degree, and some programmes build a placement or industry project into the later units. Confirm the current accreditation status and any placement requirements on the official course page, because these details can change.

Who it suits

This degree suits students who already hold an undergraduate architecture qualification and want to move toward registration, or who want to work in a design-led practice, a multidisciplinary studio or a related field such as urban design, heritage or sustainable building. It also suits people returning to study after some time in practice who need the accredited master's to progress. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and after graduating you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream, which lets you stay and work in Australia for a period. Check your eligibility with the Department of Home Affairs. English requirements for entry are set by the university; IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall is the common coursework-postgraduate standard, with TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic, Cambridge C1 Advanced and the university's own English programmes accepted as equivalents. The Student visa has its own separate English threshold. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 115897J. Always confirm entry requirements, fees, semester dates and accreditation on the official Adelaide University page before you apply.

• Architect, working in private practice, government or large commercial studios, on residential, commercial, public and institutional projects. Registration follows after the required practical experience and the Architectural Practice Examination.
• Graduate architect or architectural assistant, the usual first role after graduation, supporting a project team with documentation, modelling and design development.
• Urban designer, working with councils, state planning agencies or consultancies on precincts, housing and public space.
• Heritage or conservation consultant, advising on alterations and additions to heritage buildings and places.
• Sustainable design consultant, helping project teams meet energy, environmental and building performance targets.
• Project or design manager, coordinating consultants and contractors on building projects, often after a few years in practice.
• Academic or researcher, continuing to a doctorate and teaching or researching in architecture schools.

Australian industries that hire architecture graduates include architectural practices, construction and property development, government planning and infrastructure agencies, engineering and multidisciplinary consultancies, heritage bodies, and universities. The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may allow international graduates to stay and work in Australia after completing the degree.