phd by practice architecture

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PhD in Architecture

The Ph.D. in Architecture offers candidates opportunities to develop and deepen their education in 3 important ways:

• Enhancing research and analytical skills with rigorous methods of inquiry and synthesis;
• Acquiring advanced knowledge specific to their area(s) of inquiry through comprehensive scholarly investigations and distinguished documentation; and
• Developing the ability to communicate knowledge in a clear and eloquent manner.

To realize this goal, the faculty has made a commitment to create, along with doctoral students, a climate in which scholarship and creativity can flourish. Underlying the advanced study of architecture at KU is an ethic regarding architectural inquiry and architectural practice; one that sustains the question, “What ought we do as architects and researchers to enhance the quality of life on this planet?” Examples of inquiry at KU that exemplify this underlying question are

• Progressive models of practice embracing evidence-based design and design-build practices;
• Affordable housing with a sensitive aesthetic;
• Material investigations to create more affordable and sustainable building practices;
• Rigorous evaluations of built artifacts to inform better design practice;
• Translation of empirical findings of person-place interaction research into design guidelines; and
• Critical perspectives on human settlement patterns.

Our research is founded on an ethical position. We are not involved in research simply to generate knowledge for its own sake but rather to improve the human condition through more thoughtful built form. The overall focus is on developing understanding that may inform the critical delivery processes by which humane architecture is created.

Note : Contact your department or program for more information about the Research and Skills and Responsible Scholarship requirement for doctoral students.

This degree requires a minimum of 49 credits and is for students seeking to enhance the body of knowledge in the discipline of architecture. Because of this desire, Ph.D. students at KU are viewed as colleagues and collaborators with our faculty and as such, as valuable resources. The degree prepares students for careers in academia, consulting, practice-based research, or work in the public sector.

Concentration Areas

The Architecture, Culture, and Behavior concentration investigates the social, cultural, political, and psychological dimensions of designed environments within a broad interdisciplinary framework, using a range of qualitative and quantitative methodological approaches. Within this concentration, students could inquire into a variety of research questions related to diverse types of architectural, urban, and geographical settings. Research topics may include, among others, issues related to: architectural education; housing and community designs; social justice in design; psychological aspects in designed environments ; programming and post-occupancy evaluation of designed environments; nexus between organizational culture and space; architectural and urban morphology; social aspects in sustainable design; cultural heritage preservation and management; traditional settlement studies; urban design and development; and international development and globalization.

Students are highly encouraged to pursue advanced theory and methodology courses offered in the fields of humanities and social sciences, in addition to those offered in the School of Architecture & Design in order to develop an interdisciplinary intellectual context for their research inquiries. 

The faculty members serving on the committees of our students in this area are:

• Dr. Hui Cai
• Dr. Nisha Fernando
• Dr. Farhan Karim
• Dr. Marie-Alice L’Heureux
• Dr. Mahbub Rashid
• Dr. Kapila Silva
• Prof. Kent Spreckelmeyer, D. Arch., FAIA

A list of recommended courses for our students in Architecture, Culture, & Behavior:

• ABSC 798: Conceptual Foundations of Behavior Analysis
• ABSC 831: Science of Human Behavior
• ABSC 935: Experimental Foundations of Applied Behavior Analysis
• ANTH 695: Cultural Ecology
• ANTH 732: Discourse Analysis
• ANTH 775: Seminar in Cultural Anthropology
• ANTH 783: Doing Ethnography
• ANTH 788: Symbol Systems
• ANTH 794: Material Culture
• C&T 907: Critical Pedagogies
• ELPS 777: Problems in Contemporary Educational Theory
• ELPS 831: Sociology of Education
• ELPS 871: Introduction to Qualitative Research
• ELPS 948: Research in Education Policy and Leadership
• EVRN 620: Environmental Politics and Policy
• EVRN 656: Ecosystem Ecology
• EVRN 701: Climate Change, Ecological Change, and Social Change
• EVRN 720: Topics in Environmental Studies
• GEOG 670: Cultural Ecology
• GEOG 751: Analysis of Regional Development
• GEOG 772: Problems in Political Geography
• GEOG 773: Humanistic Geography
• GIST 701: Approaches to International Studies
• GIST 702: Globalization
• HIST 898: Colloquium in Material Culture and History
• HIST 901: Research Seminar in Global History
• HWC 775: Advanced Study in the Body and Senses
• ISP 814: Decolonizing Narratives
• PHIL 622: Philosophy of Social Science
• PHIL 850: Topics in Recent Philosophy
• POLS 961: The Politics of Culturally Plural Societies
• POLS 978: Advanced Topics in International Relations Theory
• POLS 981: Global Development
• PSYC 693: Multivariate Analysis
• PSYC 790: Statistical Methods in Psychology I
• PSYC 791: Statistical Methods in Psychology II
• PSYC 818: Experimental Research Methods in Social Psychology
• PSYC 882: Theory and Method for Research of Human Environments
• PUAD 836: Introduction to Quantitative Methods
• PUAD 937: Qualitative Methods in Public Administration
• SOC 803: Issues in Contemporary Theory
• SOC 804: Sociology of Knowledge
• SOC 812: Analytic Methods in Sociology
• SOC 813: Field Methods and Participant Observation
• SOC 875: The Political Economy of Globalization
• SW 730: Human Behavior in the Social Environment
• SW 847: Grant Writing and Fundraising
• SW 979: Methods of Qualitative Inquiry
• SW 981: Advance Quantitative Research Methods
• SW 988: Mixing Methods in Social science Research
• WGSS 600: Contemporary Feminist Political Theory
• WGSS 801: Feminist Theory
• WGSS 802: Feminist Methodologies

Growing evidence has demonstrated strong links between the built environment and human health and wellness. The Health & Wellness program at the school of Architecture & Design at the University of Kansas, including both the professional program and the PhD concentration, is one of the strongest programs in the nation that is dedicated to research and design education about environments for health and wellness. It is built on close collaborations between an interdisciplinary team of faculty, affiliated professionals, and several academic and research programs (including the University of Kansas Center for Sustainability, Gerontology Center at the Life Span Institute, Health Policy and Management at the School of Medicine and School of Nursing, and Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at School of Engineering).

The goal of the concentration is to use evidence-based design approaches to study the impacts of design on human health and wellness. The scope varies at multiple scales, from object, to room, to building and site, to entire communities.

This concentration provides students with the theoretical, technical and applied knowledge and skills to prepare them for academic and professional careers to promote human wellness in a variety of building types (e.g. healthcare, senior care, office, education, recreation). The curriculum focuses on developing skills in quantitative and qualitative research on health-related design. In addition, PhD students may also consider participating in the seven-month health and wellness professional internship, which is currently offered in the professional program.

Some topics that students may investigate in this program are:

• Inpatient and ambulatory healthcare facilities
• Environments for special populations
• Natural or built environments that enhance human wellness
• Environments that support healthy and productive workplaces
• Neighborhoods that improve the physical, social and cultural health of the community
• Prof. Kent Spreckelmeyer, D.Arch, Emeritus FAIA
• Frank Zilm, D.Arch, FAIA
• Dr. Herminia Machry

Recommended Health and Wellness courses include:

• ARCH 600: Evidence-based Design in Healthcare Facilities
• ARCH 731: Architecture of Health

Some other courses currently offered to health and wellness professional program may be available to PhD students:

• ARCH 807: Healthy and Sustainable Environments Internship
• ARCH 692: Documentation (in conjunction with ARCH 807)
• ARCH 808: Healthy and Sustainable Environments Capstone Studio

The Building Performance & Design Computation concentration examines the crossroads of building science (lighting, acoustics, thermal, energy conservation, air quality) and design. Studies in this area seek to advance knowledge improving building occupant well-being and environmental sustainability through optimized building design. Research may require both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, often involving both physical testing and numerical simulation of the built environment.

Courses within the department are augmented by courses offered in other university units such as engineering, psychology, planning, and computer science. 

• Dr. Dilshan Remaz Ossen 
• Dr. Francesco Carota
• Dr. Gustavo Garcia do Amaral 
• Dr. Jae Chang
• Dr. Hongyi Cai
• Dr. Hugo Sheward
• Dr. Keith Van de Riet
• Dr. Tzu-Chieh Kurt Hong
• Dr. Xiaobo Quan

A list of recommended courses for our students in Building Performance & Design Computation:

• ARCE 650: Illumination Engineering
• ARCE 660: Building Thermal Science
• ARCE 750: Daylighting
• ARCE 751: Advanced Lighting Design
• ARCE 752: Lighting Measurement and Design
• ARCE 760: Automatic Controls for Building Mechanical Systems
• ARCE 764: Advanced Thermal Analysis of Buildings
• SW 847: Grant-writing and Fundraising
• UBPL 738: Environmental Planning Techniques

The aim of History Theory and Criticism concentration is to produce cutting-edge scholarship in the field of architectural history, philosophy and theory. The courses in this concentration offers a wide ranges of topics that includes architectural historiography, discourse analysis, analytical methodology, critical survey of architectural history around the globe, and the emerging issues that set the current philosophical and disciplinary debates. Allied faculty members and research students investigates the socio, political, philosophical and material context of architecture to understand the broader shifts of the discipline and its impact on society, and vice versa over time. The main goal of this research cluster is to identify and use novel research methods in architectural history and theory to understand the relationship among changing social dynamics, evolving technology, and built environment. 

Students are highly encouraged to pursue advanced theory and methodology courses offered in the fields of humanities and social sciences, in addition to those offered in the School of Architecture, Design, and Planning, in order to develop an interdisciplinary intellectual context for their research inquiries.

A list of recommended courses for our students in History, Theory, & Criticism in Architecture

• ARCH 540: Global History of Architecture I
• ARCH 541: Global History of Architecture II
• ARCH 542: History of Architecture III
• ARCH 600: Spaces of Poverty
• ARCH 600: Postcolonial Architecture
• ARCH 600: HyperHistory: Digital technology and architectural historiography
• ARCH 600: History of American Architecture
• ARCH 600: Global Cities
• ARCH 600: Theory of Vernacular Architecture
• ARCH 630: Theory and Context of Architecture
• ARCH 665: History of Urban Design.
• UBPL 522: History of the American City I
• UBPL 722: History of the American City II
• HIST 302/303: The Historian's Craft
• HIST 303: Sin Cities
• HIST 660: Biography of a City
• HA 305/505: Introduction to Islamic Art and Architecture
• HA 536: Islamic Art and Architecture in Africa
• HA 310: The Art and Architecture of Florence and Paris
• HA 311: The Art and Architecture of the British Isles
• HA 508: The Italian Renaissance Home

Program Details

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School of Architecture

College of design.

Ph.D. in Architecture

Doctoral studies in architecture train students for careers conducting research in academic settings, in scientific laboratories, and now increasingly in private firms as well. The aim of research is to create new knowledge that can help us build well and create responsible and responsive physical environments. Such a knowledge necessarily engages with the full complexity and messiness of human life. It includes understanding of social, physical, historical and cultural impact of design decisions and practices, as well as the development of technical methods and computational tools to improve decision-making in design.

Specializing in architectural research, therefore, requires mastering aspects of at least one cognate discipline—history, cultural studies, psychology, sociology, cognitive sciences, engineering, computation—and quite often of more than one of these. Not surprisingly, the study needed to do this is demanding. But those students who bring with them a deeply held curiosity about the built world, an ability to work independently, and an openness to learning new skills and ideas will find the work deeply satisfying and tremendously rewarding.  

Our Program

Established in 1982, the Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture Program at Georgia Tech is one of the largest and most expansive programs of its kind in the United States, with approximately thirty students in residence pursuing their Ph.D. coursework or completing their dissertation research. A diverse faculty of scholars and researchers advise students in one of the following four areas of specialization.

Architecture, Culture, and Behavior

Building Design Technology

Design Computation

History, Theory, Criticism

Our Ph.D. Process

Students devote most of their time in close individual work with a faculty advisor in one of these areas of specialization. The course of studies allows students considerable room to define their own course work, which can be taken both within the school as well as in other departments. Once the course work is completed, studies become practice oriented—most of the student time is spent in actual research, either on their own topic, or contributing to faculty-led research projects. The students’ progress towards the degree is charted through a series of qualifying milestones.

After identifying a topic of research within their area of specialization, students develop a preliminary research paper to demonstrate the ability to frame and describe a scholarly topic, pass a comprehensive exam that tests their mastery of both depth and breadth of knowledge in their field of study, and, finally, produce and orally defend a dissertation that makes a demonstrable original contribution to their area of study. Along the way, they are expected to produce scholarly publications and make presentations of their work to fellow researchers and scholars. A distinctive feature of our program is the availability of opportunities to teach, both as preceptors and assistants, but also as independent instructors.

Your Prospects

Ph.D. studies are a natural springboard for academic positions. The majority of the graduates from our programs have gone on to academic careers both in the US and internationally, often making quick promotion to leadership positions. The training to do independent work, to think abstractly, and to handle technical literature has also provided a strong general foundation for some graduates to find work in areas beyond architecture. Career pathways of our graduates are shaped to some extent on their areas of concentration. About 90% of graduates who specialized in History, Theory, and Criticism and Architecture, Culture, and Behavior areas of concentration in the last five years have teaching and research positions in institutes of higher education both in the Unites States and abroad; others have found positions as research leaders in industry, in firms involved with architecture and construction, product manufacturing, and cultural resource management. Students who specialized in Design Computing and Building Technology streams were split more evenly between academia and industry, with about 40% of the graduates in these areas in the last five years finding jobs in industry and in leading national research laboratories.

It is in the nature of research in any field to be at the cutting-edge of disciplinary development. The graduates of a research program should, therefore, expect come away not just with competence in a subject matter and ability to solve problems, but also the knowledge and ability to think of ways to advance ideas, techniques, and methods in their discipline. This is a remarkably fortuitous time to those who seeks to do just this in architecture. Recent developments in computational technology, in our ability to collect vast amount of behavioral and user data, in techniques of machine learning and data analysis, and in our ability to design and build highly complex forms using automated algorithmic processes, are not only creating an unprecedented appetite for research within architecture, but they are also erasing traditional sub-disciplinary boundaries between different areas of work. Beyond career opportunities, therefore, ambitious graduates of the program will also find themselves well positioned to make foundational contributions to a discipline that is in an excitingly formative stage.

Student Support

Our program is able to offer a limited number of research and teaching assistantships to students as a way to support their studies. Graduate teaching assistantships (GRAs) offer a stipend and cover the tuition for the semesters for which they are awarded; the stipend is given at either 1/3 time (15 hrs per week) or at ½ time (20 hrs per week) depending upon the requirements of the course to which they are assigned. Determination of the positions and selection is made every Spring by the school administration with recommendations from the faculty teaching the courses for which assistantships are available and from the students’ advisors. The selection criteria include academic performance, possession of knowledge and skills required to fulfill the tutoring, mentoring, or grading duties required for the assistantship, and evidence that the student can handle their duties responsibly.

Opportunities for Graduate Research Assistantships arise from sponsored research projects undertaken by the faculty. They may be also offered at either 1/3 time (15 hrs per week) or at ½ time (20 hrs per week) according to the needs of the faculty member offering the award. The selection for GRA positions is made by the individual faculty members according to their requirements. There is no formal common procedure to apply for these positions.

Each year the program offers the Presidents’ Fellowship to one selected student who has been offered a GRA or a GTA. The fellowship includes a stipend given over and above the tuition and stipend that come with the assistantship. There is no application for this award; selection is made on merit by the school administration on the recommendation of the PhD advising faculty. The fellowship is restricted to US citizens or permanent residents.

Each year the School of Architecture hosts approximately 60 Design and Planning firms at a joint career fair with the School of City and Regional Planning. This fair is open to all students from freshmen level undergraduate students, Masters students and PhD students. Many students receive summer internships, full year internships as well as permanent positions as a result of their participating in the fair. This provides the students with a direct line for employment opportunities all around the US, with participating firms.

About 70 % of the current students have GTA support, and the remaining are self-funded or received support for external sources.

Additional information about Graduate Assistantships, fellowships, loans, and off-campus employment options is available on the Office of Graduate Studies site . For more information on demographics, admissions, and time-to-degree for doctoral students in our program, go to Doctoral Student Statistics . Enter ‘Architecture’ as a term in the search criteria box.”

Meet our Ph.D. Students

Doctoral students in the School of Architecture develop knowledge and technologies that enhance design imagination and the design process. Learn more about our current Ph.D. students here.

Ph.D. in Architecture

The PhD in Architecture (PhD-Arch) program at Carnegie Mellon advances interpretive, critical and contextual perspectives on the built environment and spatial design. The program offers students an interdisciplinary platform to investigate built environment cultures, practices and politics across a range of historical and geographical contexts.

Nida Rehman

Assistant Professor & PhD-Arch Track Chair

Program Overview

The PhD in Architecture (PhD-Arch) program at Carnegie Mellon advances interpretive, critical and contextual perspectives on the built environment and spatial design. Bringing together methods in history of architecture, urban studies, critical spatial practices, environmental humanities, digital humanities, environmental justice and community-oriented research, the program offers students an interdisciplinary platform to investigate built environment cultures, practices and politics across a range of historical and geographical contexts.

The intellectual foundation of the program is informed by Carnegie Mellon Architecture’s commitments to racial and spatial justice in architectural epistemology, pedagogy and practice. The program builds on and extends the foundational work in the school in the area of community-oriented urban design and research and is supported by the wide-ranging expertise and resources in the school and across the university, particularly in the arts and humanities.

Admission Information

Learn more about the PhD-Arch curriculum below.

PhD-Arch Curriculum

Program Faculty

For more information about the PhD-Arch program, please contact track chair Nida Rehman .

William J. Bates

Adjunct Faculty

Erica Cochran Hameen

Associate Professor, DEI Director & DDes Track Chair

Stefan Gruber

Associate Professor, MUD Track Chair & RCI Director

Kai Gutschow

Associate Professor & Associate Head for Design Ethics

Kristen Kurland

Teaching Professor

Francesca Torello

Special Faculty

Admissions Resources

Are you a current student looking for resources? Handbooks, procedures and other information can be found on the Student Resources page .

Architecture

MPhil or PhD or PhD by Practice or PhD by Published Work or Research Degree involving Creative Work

Find a course

Start dates.

January 2024 / June 2024 / September 2024

Application deadline

It is recommended that you apply at least 6 months in advance of your intended start date to allow adequate time for your application to be processed (in the case of UK/EU with settled status applicants, no less than 6 weeks).

Course length

Full time: 1 - 3 years

Part time: 4 - 6 years

School of Architecture

Funding status

Self-funded

More details

Occasionally we have competitive studentships to apply for. Please contact the PGRT to enquire.

For more info: [email protected]

Research proposal guidelines

Doctoral Training Programme Brochure

The School of Architecture is committed to engaging in world-leading research that addresses social, environmental and architectural challenges - locally, nationally and internationally. We provide a dynamic and inspirational research environment and a diverse and inclusive research culture, incorporating the work of all staff and students.

As a research student, you will be affiliated with one of the School’s research groups. Projects can cover a wide range of areas in and associated with Architecture, including:

• construction
• structural technologies
• sustainability of the built environment
• vernacular architecture
• conservation
• urbanization
• humanitarian practice
• architectural practice
• Building Information Modelling (BIM)
• design theory
• Live projects
• social justice
• health and the environment
• housing and home.

Research expertise

As a research student you will be affiliated with one of our research groups. Please explore the research groups and their associated staff to see how your chosen field of study aligns with the research portfolio within the school.

Institutes and Centres

• Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP)
• Architectural Engineering Research Group
• Design, Theory and Practice (DTP)
• Low Carbon Building (LCB)
• Place, Culture and Identity

Degree routes

All students enrol as probationer research students. During the first year you will formally register your research proposal for one of the below routes. 

The degree for which you register will depend on your academic qualifications and research experience. 

MPhil (with possibility of transfer to PhD)

Most students initially register for an MPhil with the possibility of transfer to a PhD without submitting for an MPhil. During your MPhil you will:

• critically investigate and evaluate an approved topic
• demonstrate understanding of research methods appropriate to the chosen field 
• present and defend a substantial thesis by oral examination. 

Length of study

• Full Time: min 2 years, max 3 years for MPhil component only; for MPhil/PhD, min 3 years, max 5 years. 
• Part Time: min 3 years, max 4 years for MPhil component only; for MPhil/PhD, min 4 years, max 6 years.

Entry requirement: the minimum entry requirement for an MPhil degree, or an MPhil with the intention of transferring to a PhD, is:

• a first-class or upper second-class UK honours degree
• a relevant master’s qualification
• or an equivalent qualification.

Applications from those holding qualifications other than the above will be considered on their merits and in relation to the nature and scope of the work proposed.

PhD by Practice

A PhD by Practice is a PhD undertaken through workplace-based research (including in an architectural practice) or through action research. The outcome would be a practical piece of work and a critical reflection on that work. The relationship between practical and critical work will vary from project to project.

‘By practice’ covers a number of different approaches:

• developing an innovative project at a workplace (paid or unpaid work) for example, developing new tools (technical or analytical)
• implementing a project (where the project or the implementation methods in itself are identified as contributing new knowledge in the field, such as testing new practices)
• learning and documenting new or hitherto undocumented/under-researched practices in a community of practice
• adapting practices to new environments
• formulating a new policy (institutional or thematic)
• working on a project/learning at work (including activist research in which the candidate actively works for change in an organisation/group).

The aim with a PhD by practice is to investigate critically and evaluate an approved topic resulting in an independent and original contribution to the field, and demonstrate an understanding of research methods appropriate to the chosen field by documenting, understanding, analysing and possibly developing particular practices related to a workplace or community of practice.

The guiding principle is that basic research and knowledge expansion can happen through practice-based research. Practice-based research is often time-consuming and the innovations made possible through such research need to be acknowledged.

Entry requirement: the minimum entry requirement is:

PhD by creative work (PhD by design)

You may undertake a programme of research in which your own creative work or practice forms the most significant part of the intellectual enquiry. These creative work degrees may be in any field but must be undertaken as part of a registered research programme.

Length of study:

• Full Time: min 2 years, max 3 years for MPhil component only; for MPhil/PhD, min 3 years, max 5 years.

The criteria for a PhD are similar to those for an MPhil, with the key difference that:

• the research carried out will result in an independent and original contribution to knowledge.
• Full Time: min 2 years, max 5 years.
• Part Time: min 3 years, max 6 years.

Entry requirement : a recent master’s degree in a discipline appropriate to the proposed research. The master’s needs to have included research training and a research project.

In exceptional cases, applicants who have a good honours degree (or equivalent) may apply for direct registration to a PhD if they have appropriate research or professional experience at postgraduate level which has resulted in published work, written reports or other appropriate evidence of accomplishment. An unpublished master’s dissertation would not suffice in this instance.

PhD by published work

The degree of PhD on the basis of published work may be awarded to candidates whose submitted work:

• reflects the same academic standards as those which operate for a traditional PhD based upon an approved programme of supervised research
• forms a coherent programme of research
• demonstrates the use of appropriate research methodology
• and makes an original and sufficient contribution to the present state of knowledge in a particular field to the satisfaction of the examiners.

Applicants should normally have had some prior association with Oxford Brookes University. The submission for examination comprises the published work on which the application is based, together with a supporting critical appraisal of this work.

• Part Time: 1 year

Entry requirement : the minimum entry requirement is:

Why Oxford Brookes University?

As a research student you will be joining a School that is involved with world-leading research in a dynamic and vibrant environment. You will benefit from:

• links with the wider faculty (the School of the Built Environment , School of Engineering, Computing and Mathematics and the School of Arts )
• automatic membership of the Faculty Doctoral Training Programme (DTP) .
• optional training courses, student events, lectures and other opportunities
• 24-hour access to digital suites with specialist programmes such as Building Information Modelling (BIM), ArchiCAD, Revit, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) modelling, 3D Studio Max and, Rhino 3D
• a purpose-built workshop offering dedicated spaces, tools and technologies for working with a wide range of materials
• close links with the UK and international practice, civil society, industry and government
• a Director of Studies and at least one other supervisor
• a range of personal support that includes access to a wide range of staff who are available for consultation.

Current supervisors in the School of Architecture include:

Dr Andrea Placidi

Senior Lecturer and Subject Coordinator for Interior Architecture

View profile

Professor Aylin Orbasli

Professor of Architectural and Urban Heritage

Dr Brigitte Piquard

Reader in Humanitarianism and Conflict

Professor Cathrine Brun

Director of CENDEP

Dr Emma Rowden

Senior Lecturer

Dr Francesco Proto

Senior Lecturer in Architecture

Professor Jane Anderson

Programme Lead for Undergraduate Architecture

Dr Julia Wedel

Senior Lecturer in Architecture, Subject Coordinator International Architectural Regeneration and Development

Professor Marcel Vellinga

Professor of Anthropology of Architecture

Ms Maria Faraone

Senior Lecturer in Architecture, RIBA Studio Programme Director

Dr Mina Samangooei

Professor Rajat Gupta

Professor of Sustainable Architecture and Climate Change, Director of OISD and LCB Group

Dr Ricardo Assis Rosa

Senior Lecturer in Architecture - Design and Technology

Dr Shahaboddin Resalati

Reader in Sustainable Architecture

Dr Supriya Akerkar

Director, Centre for Development and Emergency Practice (CENDEP)

Dr Zoe Jordan

Aleyda valdes.

Displacement due to gang violence in Latin America

Catalina Morales Maya

Inclusive building, neighbourhood design and actual space performance in the context of urban spaces, UK

Fatima Hashmi

Understanding forms and processes of stigmatisation and populations’ responses: A multi-site case study of ethnic minority groups in Pakistan and Colombia.

Grace Khawams

Assessing job readiness among Lebanese and Palestinian refugee youth with intellectual disabilities in Lebanon: An Action Research Framework

Kate McAuliff

Deaf Refugees in Jordan and Lebanon: a conceptual framework of agency and double displacement

Oscar Natividad Puig

The role of multi-scalar networks in participatory urban interventions addressing socio-spatial inequality: an actor- network perspective

Sherin Al shaikhahmed

Leadership of youth with disabilities in the context of Humanitarian-Development Nexus

Tobias Vokuhl

Built back better? Exploring end-user perceptions of Economic, Symbolic, Cultural and Social capitals gained or lost in Nepal Government grant qualifying post-earthquake reconstruction housing.

How to apply

Entry requirements.

Please see the degree routes section above for specific entry requirements.

English language requirements

If English is not your first language you will need to provide an IELTS language certificate with an overall score of 6.5 (with no less than 6.0 in any element).

As a result of very recent changes made by UK Visas & Immigration, please note we no longer regard TOEFL as an acceptable language test for entry to Oxford Brookes. This applies whether you require a Student visa or not. You can find more details on our English language requirements pages .

If you do not meet these requirements you may be able to take our University English as a pre-sessional course .

Application process

• check entry requirements and fees
• explore our research groups and supervisory staff pages to see how your chosen field of study aligns with the research portfolio within the school
• agree your research with Emma Rowden ([email protected]) , and advise her that you are considering making an application.
• You are also welcome to contact particular academics to help you develop your ideas
• formulate your proposal. You can indicate any staff members whom you would like to work with, or Emma will circulate your proposal to the most appropriate staff to get their comments.
• if the proposal is accepted, Emma will ask you to make a formal application, or give you advice on how the proposal may be improved. For guidance on writing a PhD research proposal see our Guide to writing PhD Research Proposals .
• gather required supporting documents
• submit your application through Oxford Brookes online application system
• email the supporting documents directly to [email protected]

Supporting documents

Before applying through the Oxford Brookes online application system please make sure you gather the following supporting documentation:

• research proposal
• scan of your passport - to confirm your name and date of birth. We will then ensure that any offer letters issued to you correspond with your passport name, this will help when applying for a student visa
• IELTS Certificate or equivalent (if required) – no older than two years from the proposed start date of your programme.
• scan of your final degree certificates already awarded
• scan of transcripts
• two references (at least one academic) – your references must be on institutional headed paper and be dated and signed by referee(s). They can be sent directly to the Research Administrator in the Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment in a sealed envelope, or emailed. Please note that it is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure their referees supply these documents
• evidence of funding – (if sponsored by an employer or government, you must provide evidence in the form of a recently dated sponsorship letter on official headed paper. If supporting your studies from private funds, you must provide a recently dated bank statement).

Tuition fees

Fees quoted are for the first year only. If you are studying a course that lasts longer than one year, your fees will increase each year.

For International fees the following factors will be taken into account by the University when it is setting the annual fees: inflationary measures such as the retail price indices, projected increases in University costs, changes in the level of funding received from Government sources, admissions statistics and access considerations including the availability of student support. 

Home fees are set by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and are released approximately five months before the start of each academic year.

If you have any questions about fees, get in touch with the Research Degrees Team at  [email protected] .

How and when to pay

Tuition fee instalments for the semester are due by the Monday of week 1 of each semester. Students are not liable for full fees for that semester if they leave before week 4. If the leaving date is after week 4, full fees for the semester are payable.

• For information on payment methods please see our Make a Payment page.
• For information about refunds please visit our Refund policy  page

Compulsory costs

Optional costs

Funding your studies

Financial support and scholarships.

Featured funding opportunities available for this course.

All financial support and scholarships

View all funding opportunities for this course

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Architecture PhD

The department offers an accredited professional Master of Architecture (MArch), a post-professional Master of Advanced Architectural Design (MAAD), Master of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees.

Master of Architecture (MArch)

The Master of Architecture program is designed to provide students seeking their first accredited professional degree with a comprehensive and challenging education leading to the practice of architecture. Graduate students have the flexibility to choose a variety of paths within a two-to-three-year rigorous program, depending upon previous education and experience. The department makes no restriction as to the field of undergraduate preparation. However, the length of the required residence period, the number of required semester course units, and the specific list of required courses may vary depending upon undergraduate major, professional and other work experience, and previous graduate study, if any. The placement into the program (two year or three year) will be decided by the Master of Architecture Committee upon reviewing the application.

Master of Advanced Architectural Design (MAAD)

STUDIO ONE is a one-year post-professional design studio intended for those who have a professional (Bachelor or Master of Architecture) degree, and who wish to continue to explore current design issues in a stimulating, rigorous, and experimental studio setting. Students who complete the program will receive a non-accredited Master of Advanced Architectural Design degree. The two-semester studio course is at the core of the program and is integrated with required seminars, lectures, and workshops in design theory, history, urbanism, digital applications, and building technology.

Master of Science (MS)

This researched-based, non-professional degree program offers the opportunity for advanced research in specialized areas within the increasingly complex subfields within architecture, preparing students for a range of careers. The degree emphasizes coursework and supervised independent research in one of the following areas of study: Building Science, Technology and Sustainability or History, Theory and Society . The undergraduate degrees of our entering M.S. students are diverse, including architecture, history, engineering, environmental sciences, or a range of other disciplines related to the built environment.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

This advanced research-based degree prepares students with outstanding academic records for careers in teaching and scholarship in architecture and its related areas, or in roles in government or private companies and organizations that require specialization and experience in research. The program emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach of both depth and breadth as part of the students formal coursework and original research. The student defines their specialty (the basis for the dissertation), in one of the following areas of study: Building Science, Technology and Sustainability or History, Theory and Society .

Contact Info

[email protected]

232 Bauer Wurster Hall

Berkeley, CA 94720

At a Glance

Department(s)

Architecture

Admit Term(s)

Application Deadline

January 3, 2025

Degree Type(s)

Doctoral / PhD

Degree Awarded

GRE Requirements

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PhD in Architecture

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The PhD in Architecture is a three year research degree offering the opportunity for independent research under the supervision of a departmental member of staff. Unless the student becomes a member of a  research group , the research is undertaken entirely by the candidate on their own, with regular supervisions on progress with their supervisor. 

The Department welcomes applications from graduates to undertake research towards an PhD degree in most areas or architectural research, but is unable to offer places to candidates for whom no supervisor is available. Applicants are admitted who meet the course requirements and whose research interests match those of an available member of the academic staff. 

Please note that the Department does not offer a taught PhD programme, unlike, for example, many North American Universities. 

List of available supervisors

Course Structure & Examination

The PhD in Architecture is a three year programme which commences in October each year. It is also available on a five year part-time basis. Students submit their dissertations at the end of their third full-time year (or part-time equivalent) and will be invited to attend an oral examination up to three months after submitting. 

The programme involves minimal formal teaching. Students will usually have their supervisors confirmed before they have begun their course in October and will typically meet for 45 minutes on a fortnightly basis during term time. A bespoke programme is evolved by the student in conjunction with their supervisor and will include attendance at the Department’s programme of research seminars and other relevant graduate courses. Attending lectures is optional but students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of lectures offered in the Department, their college and other departments and faculties relevant to their research topics.

As well as the research and skills training programme offered by the Department of Architecture, students have the opportunity to develop their research skills by attending numerous courses, such as those related to the use of bibliographic resources and other databases, and specific computer skills. Informal opportunities to develop research skills also exist through mentoring undergraduate students, contributing to our departmental journal,  Scroope  and other opportunities presented by fellow students and members of staff.

Students will be provided with feedback via supervisions and their supervisor's termly reports which are available to them via their self-service pages on CamSIS.

Students will be provided with feedback via review exercises, supervisions and the supervisor's termly reports.

Submission of a thesis, which is not to exceed 80,000 words.  The thesis is examined by two examiners, and includes an oral examination which is usually held at the Faculty.

Footnotes, references and text within tables are to be counted within the word limit, but captions, appendices and bibliographies are excluded. Appendices (of no determined word length) may be permitted subject to the approval of the candidate's supervisor (in consultation with the Degree Committee). Appendices should be confined to such items as catalogues, original texts, translations of texts, transcriptions of interview, or tables. Permission to include such appendices must be requested well in advance of the submission of the final thesis. 

Candidates for the PhD are reviewed formally on an annual basis.  In the third term, candidates submit a First Year Report.  Candidates’ reports are assessed by two assessors and the candidate is invited to attend an oral assessment. 

During their sixth term, candidates are required to give a presentation of their work to the Graduate Director(s), their supervisor and any other appropriate assessor approved by the supervisor. The candidate’s progress is assessed and documented in a short report.  

The ninth term review ensures that candidates are on track to submit on time.  

Candidates submit a log of their research activity which is assessed at each of the annual reviews described above. 

Annual Reviews of Work

Students undertake an annual review of their work throughout their programme which is realised in different ways; for example, the production of a report or undertaking a presentation. The purpose of the reviews is to ensure that students are on track to submit a successful dissertation by the submission deadline. The first review also serves as a registration exercise, for which students have to submit a report of 10,000 words which is orally assessed by two assessors. The purpose of this exercise is to determine whether the student is suited to the demands of PhD research and to address any concerns if there are any. 

Examination

Students submit a dissertation, of not more than 80,000 words (60,000 words for the MSc degree). The dissertation and the general field of knowledge within which it falls is orally examined by two examiners. At least one of the examiners will be external to the University.

At a Glance

Course length and dates:

3 years full-time/5 years part-time, October start.

Examination:

A dissertation of not more than 80,000 words. 

Academic requirement:

A 1st class or a high 2i honours degree in Architecture or a related discipline, and a Masters degree with  merit  (if a  merit  category exists).

English language requirement:

See  Postgraduate Admissions Office . 

Applications accepted from:

The preceding September.

Application Deadlines:

The final deadline for applicants seeking funding is early January, please see Postgraduate Admissions for exact date. Even if you are not seeking funding, we strongly recommend that you submit your application by 7 January, as no applications will be accepted once this competitive and popular programme is full.

Course Fees:

Information relating to the fee for this course is available from the  Postgraduate Admissions Office .  

If you are seeking funding for your course via one of the University’s main funding competitions, there are specific deadlines and eligibility criteria for each competition.  Please check the Funding Section of the  Postgraduate Admissions Office  website for information and application deadlines. 

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Architecture, PhD

The Ph.D. Program in Architecture, created in 1964, is the oldest in the country and is widely regarded as preeminent in the fields of theory, technology and representation. Its goal is to produce a body of graduates who will act as a reflective leaven to the architectural profession, providing an historical and/or theoretical context for current practice.

The Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture is for the person who wishes to make a significant scholarly contribution to the discipline of architecture. Requirements for the degree include twenty approved courses, the passing of two language exams, a qualifying examination, a preliminary examination, teaching experience, a dissertation and a final defense. Course work from previous Master's degrees is taken into consideration when deciding the number of courses required for the Ph.D. degree. Students with a Master's degree from Penn may be granted up to 12 course units transfer credit, those with a Master's degree from another institution may be granted up to 8 towards their Ph.D. requirement.

For more information: https://www.design.upenn.edu/architecture/graduate/info

View the University’s Academic Rules for PhD Programs .

A total of 20 course units are required.

 Program Milestones

• 2 language exams
• 2 semesters as a teaching assistant
• Qualifying Examination
• Preliminary Examination
• Dissertation and Final Defense

The degree and major requirements displayed are intended as a guide for students entering in the Fall of 2024 and later. Students should consult with their academic program regarding final certifications and requirements for graduation.

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Architecture

Working at the intersection of research and practice, key details.

• Full-time or part-time study

School or Centre

• School of Architecture

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Application deadline

• Applications closed. Please check back soon.

Career opportunities

• PhD study leads to a range of opportunities. You might become a lecturer or academic researcher, designer or consultant in industry, curator in leading cultural institutions worldwide, in international institutions such as NGOs and charities. It is an opportunity for you to investigate a research question or issue in depth, enabling you to take a more reflective, more innovative role in design.

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The architecture research programme focuses on practice-led and interdisciplinary research with tangible public and social impact..

Working at the intersection of theory, research, media and critical-spatial-practices, the MPhil/ PhD programme in Architecture supports experimental practice-led and interdisciplinary theses aiming at tangible public and social impact. The programme fosters architectural research at the intersection of history and theory, critical ecologies, new materialism, and digital culture. The programme is investigating the diverse ways in which architects, artists, filmmakers, curators and other cultural producers have negotiated crises associated with globalization, migration and statelessness, the hauntings of empire and the colonial present, new digital technologies, and the growing biopolitical conflicts around ecology and climate change. We strongly encourage to think about the performativity of space, or architectural forms and practices in their interrelation to the climate crisis, social movements and institutional change. 

We support written academic research in the history and theory of architecture and new media of exploration and documentation. We are especially interested in practice-led research, which could involve an architectural project, a work of heritage preservation, community work, an artistic practice, an exhibition, or a film production. Our programme is relevant to diverse research careers in academia, spatial practice, curation, publishing and critical conservation. We encourage establishing real world collaborations with industry-based research groups, leading design practices, policymakers, social and environmental justice groups, human rights organisations and cultural institutions.

We particularly welcome research proposals aligned with the strategic areas of research in the School of Architecture: ‍ Climate Justice , ‍ Architecture & Social Movements , Institutional Forms & Practices Documentary Research, Heritage & Digital Materialities , Interior Architecture & The Culture of Care , Feeling, Fiction, Frame , Laboratory for Design and Machine Learning

All research themes encourage interdisciplinary research with new models of collaboration between postgraduate research students, as well as academic and non-academic institutions or partners.

Programme details

• PhD: 3–4 years (full time), 6–7 years (part time)
• MPhil: 2–3 years (full time), 4–6 years (part time)

Applications will open in autumn for September 2025 entry. If you would like to make a late application for 2024/5, some programmes may still have spaces so please contact [email protected] as soon as possible.

Register your interest to be the first to know when applications for 2025 entry open. 

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Explore further

Explore more work from current architecture postgraduate research students .

Catch the replays from our online Open Day.

A Short History of the Elevator Pitch, Image Credit: Ines Weizman

Nico Alexandroff, Thesis Title: Indexical Ice. Evidencing and acting on the climate emergency via the index of Greenland’s ice. Image: Cryospheric Phenomena, by Nico Alexandroff

Benjamin Mehigan, Thesis Title: A Golden State Confronting the Definition and Mediatization of ‘Extreme’ Climatic Events in California. Image: Picturesque (2020) by Benjamin Mehigan

Francisco J. Quintana, Thesis Title: Urban Cold War. Development Politics of US Housing Operation in the Third World during the 1970s. Image: World Bank ‘Sites and Services’ self-help housing projects implemented in 37 developing countries by Francisco J. Quintana

Elisavet Hasa, Thesis Title: Infrastructures of Solidarity and Care in Athens (2010-2020) Social Movements, Protocol Systems, and Prototypical Designs. Image: Solidarity Pharmacy of Vyronas District in Athens by Elisavet Hasa

Maria Paez Gonzalez, Thesis Title: Supreme (In)formality. The Productive Mastery of Silicon Valley’s ‘Tech’ Corporate Architectures. Image: Steve Jobs sits in his Woodside, California home. Image Credit: Diana Walker, 1982

Professor Ines Weizman

Professor of History and Theory of Architecture

Ines Weizman is Professor of History and Theory of Architecture at the School of Architecture at the RCA and directs our Architecture PhD. She is the founding director of the Centre for Documentary Architecture (CDA), an interdisciplinary research collective comprised of architectural historians, filmmakers and digital technologists.

The School of Architecture is based at our historic Kensington site.

Our studios are the heart of day-to-day activity for the School. Studios are purpose-designed for inspiration and interaction between students of different design disciplines. Shared workspaces are provided for all research students. In addition, you have access to wood, metal, plastic and resin workshop facilities, as well as contemporary digital fabrication equipment and a suite of bookable project and making spaces.

School of Architecture Studios, Photographer: Richard Haughton

More details on what you'll study

Find out what you'll cover in this programme

What you'll cover

What is a research degree.

At the RCA we offer both MPhil and PhD research degrees. Research candidates can study in part-time and full-time modes (subject to approval) and their research can be undertaken by project or thesis modes. The mode of research will be discussed in interview, and should be indicated in the application process.

A postgraduate research degree challenges you to complete a research project that pushes the boundaries of our understanding.

Unlike a taught degree, a research degree emphasises independence of learning and increased specialisation. You will manage your own research project in order to investigate your topic in depth and to produce new ideas, arguments and solutions.

A research degree will give you the subject matter expertise and transferable skills necessary for a wide range of senior roles in research and academia, as well as in business, industry and the cultural and creative sectors.

A PhD is awarded to students who produce a substantial piece of original research that makes a contribution to research in the field. This can take the form of a thesis (60,000-80,000 words) or by project (a body of work and thesis 25,000-40,000 words). If you’re a PhD candidate you’ll normally registered for three years full-time, with submission within four years, or six to seven years part-time. You must remain registered and pay an appropriate fee until submission.

An MPhil is awarded for original research and submission of a thesis. If you’re an MPhil candidate you’ll normally be registered for two years (full-time) or four years (part-time).

Our postgraduate community

We have more than 250 PhD students pursuing cutting-edge research and undertaking advanced training across the College:

• School of Arts & Humanities
• School of Communication
• Computer Science Research Centre
• School of Design
• Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design
• Intelligent Mobility Design Centre
• Material Futures Research Centre

The RCA is a world-leading postgraduate university and is ranked the most research-intensive university of art and design in the UK since 2014. Both our students and staff are drawn from countries across the globe. Overseas students play a vital role in ensuring that our College community benefits from a diversity of experience and skills.

Doctoral training programme

At the RCA, research students undertake training both at a cross-College level and within their Schools/Centres, offering rich and robust preparation and learning opportunities for their research degree progression. Many of these also offer opportunities to build a portfolio of experience for future careers.

All students are required to attend our Doctoral Training Weeks in September, February and July (pro-rata attendance by negotiation for part-time students). These are opportunities to participate in the broader research community at the RCA, but also to undertake timely training to support research progression. These intensive weeks include a range of professional development seminars, training and advice in writing, getting published, achieving impact, entering the academic job market and more, and opportunities for you to develop and present your research to your peers and staff.

Our Research Biennale, held every alternate February, offers a showcase of research to internal and external partners and public. The events include space for testing and experimenting with public facing aspects of research, extending and challenging frameworks and perceptions of what art and design research can be.

We are committed to ensuring that you are well equipped, not only to complete your studies but also to develop your future careers.

Supervisors

All students are allocated supervisors upon registration; your supervisory team will have both subject specialism and experience of supervising to completion. Our of current staff index includes an overview of their research interests, recent research outputs and areas of expertise. These give an idea of the key areas of research that are covered at the RCA.

We are not able to guarantee allocation to a specific supervisor as we need to balance staff capacities and our research strategy. However, if there is a particular supervisor whose research aligns with your research proposal, please join us at one of our Open Days and we can talk with you about the possibilities.

Each student will have six supervisions per year (3 for PT students); these might be with the full supervisory team or with one supervisor. Students are expected to initiate these meetings, set the agenda and provide supervisors with pre-reading or other materials in an agreed timeframe for review.

Annual progress reviews

All research students have Annual Progress Reviews, which they must pass in order to progress into the next year of study. These are vital points where all candidates receive formal feedback not only from their supervisory team, but also from other members of the faculty.

There is a formal Confirmation Exam that takes place midway through the period of study to ascertain your readiness for PhD submission; if you who do not meet the requirements at this stage then you’ll usually be recommended to submit for MPhil examination.

Requirements

What you need to know before you apply

The programme welcomes applications from candidates from across the world and of all ages, including those with academic and professional backgrounds.

Applications are considered in terms of quality of proposal, quality of practice (where appropriate), readiness to undertake a research degree at this level and supervisory capacity.

What's needed from you

Portfolio requirements.

Your portfolio is a showcase of your work as an artist or designer and can be made up of images, videos or writing examples. Your portfolio helps us to better understand your application and allows you to show evidence of your ability and motivation to undertake a given programme.

Generally, we’re looking for you to demonstrate your:

• Creativity, imagination and innovation
• Ability to articulate the intentions of the work
• Intellectual engagement in areas relevant to the work
• Technical skills appropriate to the work
• Potential to benefit from the programme

Please submit a CV listing your academic journey, practice experience, writing projects and other information about yourself that you would like to have considered as part of your application.

Video requirements

Please present some background to the motivations for your research proposal (i.e. previous experience, research, a collaboration with an institution, the meaning of academic research for your work and research interest).

English-language requirements

If you are not a national of a majority English-speaking country, MPhil candidates will need the equivalent of an IELTS Academic score of 6.5 with a 6.5 in the Test of Written English (TWE). PhD candidates will need the equivalent of an IELTS Academic score of 7.0 with a 7.0 in the Test of Written English (TWE).

If you need a Student Visa to study at the RCA, you will also need to meet the Home Office’s minimum requirements for entry clearance.

Fees & funding

For this programme, fees for new students.

Fees for September 2024 entry on this programme are outlined below. From 2021 onward, EU students are classified as Overseas for tuition fee purposes.

Home: High residency

Home: low residency, overseas and eu: high residency, overseas and eu: low residency.

New entrants to the College will be required to pay a non-refundable deposit in order to secure their place. This will be offset against the tuition fees for the first year of study.

Overseas and EU

Progression discounts.

For alumni and students who have completed an MA, MA/MSc or MRes at the RCA within the past 10 years, a progression discount is available for Doctoral study. This discount is £1,000 per year for thee first three years of full-time study.

Continuation fees

Candidates who have completed the minimum three years of study (FT or 6 years PT) for PhD will be eligible to apply for Continuation Status. This is a period of study, for up to one academic year, during which a candidate will be focused upon revising and editing their thesis/project.

Scholarships

Rca scholarships.

The RCA scholarship programme is growing, with hundreds of financial awards planned for the 2025/6 academic year.

For more information and examples of financial awards offered in 2024/25, visit the Scholarships & awards webpage.

You must hold an offer to study on an RCA programme in order to make a scholarship application in Spring 2025. A selection of RCA merit scholarships will also be awarded with programme offers. 

We strongly recommend that you apply for your programme as early as possible to stand the best chance of receiving a scholarship. You do not apply directly for individual awards; instead, you will be invited to apply once you have received an offer.

More information

Mphil/phd fee bands.

The RCA is introducing two separate tuition fee bands for MPhil/PhD students with effect from the academic year 2023/24: Low Residency and High Residency. For more information about what the different fee bands entail, and for frequently asked questions on fee bands, visit:

Additional fees

In addition to your programme fees, please be aware that you may incur other additional costs associated with your study during your time at RCA. Additional costs can include purchases and services (without limitation): costs related to the purchase of books, paints, textiles, wood, metal, plastics and/or other materials in connection with your programme, services related to the use of printing and photocopying, lasercutting, 3D printing and CNC. Costs related to attending compulsory field trips, joining student and sport societies, and your Convocation (graduation) ceremony. 

If you wish to find out more about what type of additional costs you may incur while studying on your programme, please contact the Head of your Programme to discuss or ask at an online or in person  Open Day .   

We provide the RCASHOP online, and at our Kensington and Battersea Campuses – this is open to students and staff of the Royal College of Art only to provide paid for materials to support your studies. 

We also provide support to our students who require financial assistance whilst studying, including a dedicated Materials Fund.

External funding

With the Government's introduction of the new Doctoral Loan and the continued support available via the Arts and Humanities Research Council, there are more financial support options than ever before.

Tuition fees are due on the first day of the academic year and students are sent an invoice prior to beginning their studies. Payments can be made in advance, on registration or in two instalments.

Ask a question

Get in touch if you’d like to find out more or have any questions.

More opportunities to study at the RCA

Related programmes.

MA Architecture (ARB/RIBA Part 2)

Expand the possibilities of your practice by developing a speculative, independent and critical ethos

Interior Design

We value and promote speculation, analysis, rigour and provocation through all aspects of interior design.

Master of Research RCA

An interdisciplinary research MRes by practice or thesis across art and design

• Schools & departments

Architecture PhD, MPhil

Awards: PhD, MPhil

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Programme website: Architecture

Introduction to Postgraduate Research

Join us online on 19 June to learn about applying for and studying a research degree at Edinburgh.

Find out more and register

Research profile

Research is central to the study of architecture within the Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture (ESALA). It motivates our intellectual and creative activities and underpins our collaborations with a range of important international and UK-based institutions.

We actively promote interdisciplinary approaches to research in architecture. Our expertise and interests range across the following areas:

Architectural Conservation

Our focus includes:

• conservation theory and history
• urban conservation
• conservation technology
• the challenges of bridging heritage and new architecture

Architectural History, Theory and Criticism

We have particular strength in:

• the history of architecture in Britain and the British colonial world (18th and 19th centuries)
• Germany, Central Europe and Russia
• modernism in Europe, North America and Africa
• Renaissance Italy
• the history of landscape
• the history of technology
• the international history of mass housing and urban development
• the theory and philosophy of architecture
• the philosophy of place
• critical inquiry and methodology

Design-led Research and Studio Practice

We focus on:

• research in and through design, as informed by contemporary architectural and cultural theory
• studio pedagogy
• research-led teaching
• methodologies of urban research and fieldwork

Technology, Environment and Sustainability

We offer expertise in:

• lightweight steel structures
• the building envelope
• design and manufacturing
• sustainable design in both qualitative and quantitative senses, looking at environmental response, design theory, rural planning and user-centred solutions

Interior Design

Programme structure.

The PhD programme comprises three years of full-time (six years part-time) research under the supervision of an expert in your chosen research topic within Architecture. This period of research culminates in a supervised thesis of up to a maximum of 100,000 words.

The MPhil programme comprises two years of full-time (four years part-time) research under the supervision of an expert in your chosen research topic within Architecture. This period of research culminates in a supervised thesis of up to a maximum of 60,000 words.

Regular individual meetings with your supervisor provide guidance and focus for the course of research you are undertaking.

You will be encouraged to attend research methods courses at the beginning of your research studies.

And for every year you are enrolled on programme you will be required to complete an annual progression review.

Training and support

All of our research students benefit from Edinburgh College of Art's interdisciplinary approach, and you will be assigned at least two research supervisors.

Your first/ lead supervisor would normally be based in the same subject area as your degree programme. Your second supervisor may be from another discipline within Edinburgh College of Art or elsewhere within the University of Edinburgh, according to the expertise required. On occasion more than two supervisors will be assigned, particularly where the degree brings together multiple disciplines.

Our research culture is supported by seminars and public lecture programmes and discussion groups.

Tutoring opportunities will be advertised to the postgraduate research community, which you can apply for should you wish to gain some teaching experience during your studies. But you are not normally advised to undertake tutoring work in the first year of your research studies, while your main focus should be on establishing the direction of your research.

You are encouraged to attend courses at the Institute for Academic Development ( IAD ), where all staff and students at the University of Edinburgh are supported through a range of training opportunities, including:

• short courses in compiling literature reviews
• writing in a second language
• preparing for your viva

The Scottish Graduate School for Arts and Humanities ( SGSAH ) offers further opportunities for development. You will also be encouraged to refer to the Vitae research development framework as you grow into a professional researcher.

You will have access to study space (some of which are 24-hour access), studios and workshops at Edinburgh College of Art’s campus, as well as University wide resources. There are several bookable spaces for the development of exhibitions, workshops or seminars. And you will have access to well-equipped multimedia laboratories, photography and exhibition facilities, shared recording space, access to recording equipment available through Bookit, the equipment loan booking system.

You will have access to high quality library facilities. Within the University of Edinburgh, there are three libraries; the Main Library, the ECA library and the Art and Architecture Library. The Centre for Research Collections which holds the University of Edinburgh’s historic collections is also located in the Main Library.

The Talbot Rice Gallery is a public art gallery of the University of Edinburgh and part of Edinburgh College of Art, which is committed to exploring what the University of Edinburgh can contribute to contemporary art practice today and into the future. You will also have access to the extraordinary range and quality of exhibitions and events associated with a leading college of art situated within a world-class research-intensive University.

St Cecilia’s Hall which is Scotland’s oldest purpose-built concert hall also houses the Music Museum which holds one of the most important historic musical instrument collections anywhere in the world.

In addition to the University’s facilities you will also be able to access wider resources within the City of Edinburgh. Including but not limited to; National Library of Scotland, Scottish Studies Library and Digital Archives, City of Edinburgh Libraries, Historic Environment Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland.

You will also benefit from the University’s extensive range of student support facilities provided, including student societies, accommodation, wellbeing and support services.

PhD by Distance option

The PhD by Distance is available to suitably qualified applicants in all the same areas as our on-campus programmes.

The PhD by Distance allows students who do not wish to commit to basing themselves in Edinburgh to study for a PhD in an ECA subject area from their home country or city.

There is no expectation that students studying for an ECA PhD by Distance study mode should visit Edinburgh during their period of study. However, short term visits for particular activities could be considered on a case-by-case basis.

For further information on the PhD by Distance please see the ECA website

Entry requirements

These entry requirements are for the 2024/25 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2025/26 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2024.

Normally a UK masters degree or its international equivalent. If you do not meet the academic entry requirements, we may still consider your application on the basis of relevant professional experience.

You must also submit a research proposal; see How to Apply section for guidance.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country
• English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced ( CAE ) / C2 Proficiency ( CPE ): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE : ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 70 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS , TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE , in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old* at the beginning of your programme of study. (*Revised 05 March 2024 to extend degree validity to five years.)

Find out more about our language requirements:

Fees and costs

Tuition fees.

Scholarships and funding

Featured funding.

• Edinburgh College of Art scholarships

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding

Further information

• Edinburgh College of Art Postgraduate Research Team
• Phone: +44 (0)131 651 5739
• Contact: [email protected]
• Postgraduate Research Director, Architecture & Landscape Architecture, Dr Ruxandra-Iulia Stoica
• Contact: [email protected]
• Edinburgh College of Art Postgraduate Research Team Student and Academic Support Service
• The University of Edinburgh
• Evolution House, 78 West Port
• Central Campus
• Programme: Architecture
• School: Edinburgh College of Art
• College: Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences

Select your programme and preferred start date to begin your application.

PhD Architecture - 3 Years (Full-time)

Phd architecture - 6 years (part-time), phd architecture by distance - 3 years (full-time), phd architecture by distance - 6 years (part-time), mphil architecture - 2 years (full-time), mphil architecture - 4 years (part-time), application deadlines.

If you are applying for funding or will require a visa then we strongly recommend you apply as early as possible. All applications must be received by the deadlines listed above.

• How to apply

You must submit two references with your application.

You must submit two references with your application, one of which must be an academic reference and preferably from your most recent studies.

You should submit a research proposal that outlines your project's aims, context, process and product/outcome. Read the application guidance before you apply.

• Preparing your application - postgraduate research degrees (PDF)

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

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• Undergraduate Majors + Minors
• Graduate Programs
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• Minor in Sustainable Design
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• + About LAEP
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• + About DCRP
• Master of City Planning
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• + About IURD
• About MRED+D
• + BA in Sustainable Environmental Design
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• For Students

PhD in Architecture

• About Architecture
• Building Science, Technology, and Sustainability

History, Theory, and Society

The PhD in architecture is a research degree appropriate for those seeking careers in teaching and scholarship in architecture and its related areas, or in roles in government or professional consultation that require depth in specialization and experience in research.

About the Program

Berkeley’s PhD program in architecture is interdisciplinary in outlook, reaching into the various disciplines related to architecture and incorporating substantial knowledge from outside fields. Students admitted to this program carry out a program of advanced study and research, both on the basis of formal class work and of individual investigation. Work centers on three related fields of study, the major field (the basis for the dissertation), and one-to-two minor fields, at least one of which must be from a discipline outside architecture.

Fields of Study

The PhD in Architecture emphasizes coursework and supervised independent research in one of the following:

• Building Science, Technology and Sustainability (BSTS)
• History, Theory and Society (HTS)

Major fields outside these fields or combinations thereof may also be proposed at the time of admission. Coursework is individually developed through consultation with an academic adviser. Outside fields of study may take advantage of the University’s varied resources. Recent graduates have completed outside fields in anthropology, art history, business administration, city and regional planning, computer science, various engineering fields, psychology, women’s studies, geography and sociology.

The following are members of the PhD faculty, broken into one of two offered areas of study. Please also review the current list of all faculty in the Architecture Department for other faculty and specialities. A sampling of faculty research is described on the faculty research projects page.

Building Science, Technology and Sustainability

Requirements

The Ph.D. program in architecture is governed by the regulations of the University Graduate Division and administered by the departmental Ph.D. committee. Specific degree requirements include:

• A minimum of two years in residence.
• Completion of a one-semester course in research methods.
• Satisfaction of a foreign language requirement for those in the History, Theory and Society.
• Completion of one-to-two outside fields of study.
• A written qualifying examination, followed by an oral qualifying examination.
• A dissertation.

Course requirements for the degree include:

Designated Emphases

Global Studies The concurrent MA program in Global Studies is designed to complement the graduate degree programs in architecture. It is intended to produce graduate students who combine advanced professional training with a detailed knowledge of contemporary international issues or particular world areas or countries. The content of each MA program will be shaped in consultation with the departmental adviser to meet the specific needs and interests of the individual student.

New Media The designated emphasis (DE) in new media comprises a set of courses with content in the history, theory, and practice of computationally based representation, and communication and interpretation of information.

BSTS Master of Science and PhD Handbook for 2023-2024 and 2024-2025

For previous years' handbooks, please contact graduate advising .

• PhD Alums— Building Science, Technology and Sustainability
• PhD Alums— History, Theory, and Society

How to get a PhD in Architecture

Whether you’re at a crossroad in your professional career as an architect or in the middle of your BArch or MArch with some doubts on whether you want to practice architecture, pursuing a doctoral program in architecture might be an opportunity to still be involved with the world of architecture albeit not by practicing professionally. Pursuing a PhD in Architecture can easily be seen as a career shift since the point of getting a degree in architecture is to become an architect, however, there is another side to architecture that is less concerned with creating buildings and more on research, a route that can be as important and fulfilling. Nowadays, this can come in different forms of non-professional degrees, one of which is a Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture. In this article, I hope to provide some insight to those who are interested in doing research work in architecture.

A Doctor of Philosophy in Architecture is a relatively new addition to doctoral studies when put next to other fields in the humanities and sciences. At least in the United States, PhD’s in Architecture didn’t emerge until the 1970s. For example, Taubman College in Michigan , one of the first to offer a Doctor of Architecture, only started offering the degree in 1969 while Harvard did not introduce its degree until 1987. This delay shouldn’t come as a surprise since practicing architects have always been able to work in academia with a professional degree alone, leading to a discussion of whether the field of architecture even needed to have this degree. In fact, even the first generation who pursued these degrees continued to practice throughout their time in school. The PhD, however, did allow for architects and designers to more directly involve themselves in academia and have an impact there.

Ultimately, offering a non-professional degree in Architecture as high as a PhD birthed other non-professional degrees that we see today in schools. Alongside the MArch and BArch degrees, there are the MS degrees which are non-accredited degrees that provide studies on a specific research topic. For example, several schools around the United States, including USC , UPenn , and GSAPP , offer master's in historic conservation degrees that focus on historic architecture conservation research. Other concentrations include sustainable design, urban design, architectural history, and even real estate development. Although not required for accreditation, it’s a great opportunity for individuals who are passionate about a specific subject in architecture.

A prerequisite to start your PhD is to have a Master of Arts. This is typically already built into the PhD program itself and could take up to two years to complete. The Master of Arts degree is seen as a preparation for a PhD degree. Although built-in, you may still need to apply to enter the PhD degree once completed. Once you do enter, your years pursuing a PhD will depend on your chosen research. In architecture specifically, this can last between four to seven years. A second language (some institutions even require a third) is often a requirement while pursuing a PhD to be able to understand historical documents on a deeper level. The language depends on your chosen research, but typically they must fall within the modern languages.

The Application

Just like applying to your previous degrees, you’ll want to consider location since you’re expecting to be in school for several years. Most importantly, however, it’s vital to really dive into the school, the department where your PhD lies, and the faculty that is part of that department. In this level of academia within architecture, schools can define their architecture differently. Some schools don’t have a sole architecture department but rather, are integrated within another department such as arts and urban planning. Schools that do have an independent architecture department will also typically present specific tracks for studies. MIT for example has a History and Theory of Architecture track along with a History and Theory of Art. At UC Berkeley , they provide a PhD track of Building, Science, Technology, and Sustainability as a collective, also known as BSTS, and a track of History, Theory, and Society as a collective, also known as an HTS.

Furthermore, looking into faculty who are working on the same interest and passion as you are will be an important consideration as they essentially serve as advisors throughout your research. On top of these, you will have to take the GRE (a good amount of schools are waiving this even for PhD applications), an essay talking about what you're interested in researching and why, and recommendations from previous employers, faculty and so forth. PhD applications are typically due by the end of the year, but each school will vary in its specific dates.

Compared to paying a tuition fee in a professional degree such as BArch and MArch, pursuing a PhD relies on funding from grants and scholarship as research work can be seen as work in itself. The initial funding and conditions will vary from each school. The common thread, however, is that becoming a TA or even teaching a full course at the institution is a way to receive money while doing your research. Because PhD’s are primarily seen as a route towards academia (not always exclusively), this will serve as a great opportunity for those who are interested in practicing their skills in teaching. Just like any degree, outside scholarships and grants are opportunities for more funding and typically, this is seen as a way to avoid doing teaching jobs to focus on doing your research and writing a dissertation.

The Dissertation

If you have a BArch or MArch, you might already be familiar with the idea of a thesis. The dissertation is essentially going to be your thesis that you’ll be working on pretty much your whole time in your PhD. A dissertation is the main requirement for you to obtain your Doctor of Philosophy degree, typically a book-length research project which you would defend to a committee. Schools will go about this differently but nonetheless, expect to do a lot of reading and writing within your PhD degree to cultivate your research work.

Job Prospects

A Doctor in Philosophy is the main way to get into academia. There is still a lot of debate on what kind of professionals should be teaching studios and seminars in architecture schools, nonetheless, you will find an array of schools that provide some sort of architectural study to students, lying in different places within the spectrum of the built work and the historical theory work. Another route to consider would be a job at a research institution focusing on the arts and culture such as museums as they can also provide openings due to architecture falling within the humanities. Ultimately, the point of a PhD is to be able to have the space and time for an individual to research a topic which that individual feels passionate about and believes to be an important topic. This specificity can lead towards a more specialized workforce, whether that is in academia, the arts, or even urban planning.

Because architecture is mainly a practicing profession, doing research work can be an anomaly. However, this is not to say that the work cannot have value in the world of architecture. Architecture can live through different mediums — from living in the built environment to existing in a piece of writing. Regardless of which medium you resonate the most with, it’s important to remember that executing your interests and passions can spark and inspire ideas, and architecture should continue cultivating a diverse set of thoughts. So if you have a passion for a certain topic, find ways to cultivate it. Whether it be by building something or writing about it.

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About the Author

Lance Arevalo

22 Comments

APRIL 6, 2021 | 3:00PM ET / 12:00PM PT

"Expanding the View into Post-Professional Degree Programs"

https://www.acsa-arch.org/webi...

great and awesome idea !

   I see more unplayable student loans in someone future.    Focus on helping current professionals make more money.  Creating more elite intellectuals does not help. 

thisisnotmyname

"Typical funding for the doctoral degree includes four years of full funding (tuition fellowship, benefits, and stipend based on a Graduate Student Instructorship or a Graduate Student Research Assistantship) and two additional years of tuition only fellowship (TOF) with benefits, if required. "

I knew a few PHDs from UMich, they didn't have to pay anything. You might be projecting. 

phd programs are almost always 100% funded, with a stipend on top.

now, is a phd in architecture a necessary degree? still debatable- i wasn't aware how new this type of degree is in architecture.

It's a jumping off point to get deep into research or academia. People aren't doing this to go do the same thing as all the MArchs and BArchs. With that in mind, I would say it's a great approach if that is your intent.

Nam Henderson

i'm speaking more about the broader philosophical debate about the nature of the degree.. i think prior to the 70's, what was common was an art history phd with a focus in architecture, which i think there is plenty of argument in it being sufficient enough.

A PhD in architecture is great, but only if there are available teaching slots open. Though it goes back to the larger point where architecture expertise should be valued more in media, government, etc. Biden's about to pass a 3 trillion dollar infrastructure bill with no apparent design vision -- just a lot of economist BS. Meanwhile there are no popular critics left, and the few venues left are keen to pretend like the McMansion lady has something interesting to say.

JJArchitect

PhD acronym 'piled high and deep'

DesignGnome

One of the offices I worked at has an office in Honolulu, many of my co-workers there have PHDs in arch 

Context is key. University of Hawaii has a professional DArch degree. It is very different than the other Arch PHDs as far as I understand.

Yea, don't do this unless you want to struggle to find a middling academic job. Even if the doctorate is heavily subsidized, this is a complete waste and will no way help you in your architectural business. On top of it, they put the most bizarre, out of touch professors in this sector - or you are learning on you're own / in thesis mode - which you could do without being a PHD student.

Just a reminder to those in college thinking about pursuing this degree path - a PhD in Architecture - if you bypass getting licensed (per NCARB and State Board requirements) to obtain your PhD and take a career path in academia, it is illegal to call yourself an 'Architect' in the U.S. Please don't confuse the two.

I mean, if you just don't get licensed regardless of what you do in academia technically it's illegal... Unless you work in IT ;D Anyway, the two things are entirely unrelated, you can get a PHD and conceivably still get licensed, you could get a MArch and not get licensed. I know there are a lot more unlicensed MArchs out there calling themselves Architects than PHDs calling themselves architects. This seems like a rather non-problem. 

My comment was directed more to those in the age bracket I often mentor (high school students and college students) looking to become licensed Architects. Many of them are always looking for the least path of resistance to become licensed Architects - merely providing clarity the article did not address. Designers/people misrepresenting themselves as or doing work as 'Architects' is an issue - Google how state Architecture boards are cracking down on people misrepresenting themselves as 'Architects'. One of the states I'm licensed in issues rulings and legal cases each month the State brought against designers/people working as or misrepresenting themselves as 'Architects'. The cases often end in hefty fines and/or in extreme cases more punitive legal ramifications for the individuals.

Am curious as to how the profession protects the term 'Architect' but doesn't really work to heighten the terms standing in the world. Most clients are happy with a designer, developer, planner or interest to do most of the work, perhaps getting an architect to stamp when necessary. All of this does little for the 'Architect' as it was understood by Frank Lloyd Wright or anyone else.

J D J... That's fair. Getting a doctorate is definitely not least path of resistance though. As for the legal actions. I also see that in the state I am licenced in, but it's almost exclusively for people who have represented themselves as architects for the purpose of performing architectural services. Which, is of course illegal and the main point. However, I have also know hundreds of recent grads and young professionals who refer to themselves as "architectural designers" or something like that, which is illegal and they technically know it.

My favorite is the Honorary Doctorate. 

Dr. Sean "P. Diddy" Combs

Dr. Aiec Baldwin

Dr. Robert DeNiro

Dr. Conan O'Brien

Dr. Usain Bolt

Dr. L.L. Cool J

Dr. William Shatner

Odd, nothing in the alphabet letter salad following J Daniels Jenkins name above indicates that he is an architect. 

wrong- aia indicates licensure vs assoc aia.

By the way, Harvard began its Ph.D. in Architecture program in the 1900s. 

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Graduate School

Architecture

General information, program offerings:, director of graduate studies:, graduate program administrator:.

The School of Architecture, Princeton’s center for teaching and research in architectural design, history, and theory, offers advanced degrees at both the master’s and the doctoral levels.  The curriculum for the master’s degree, which has both a professional and a post-professional track, emphasizes design expertise in the context of architectural scholarship.  Architecture is understood as a cultural practice involving both speculative intelligence and practical know-how.  Each student constructs a personal course of study around a core of required courses that represents the knowledge essential to the education of an architect today.

The five-year doctoral program focuses on the history, theory, and criticism of architecture, urbanism, landscape, and building technology.  The approach is interdisciplinary, covering a broad range of research interests from an architectural perspective.  Working closely with the faculty of the school and allied departments in the University, students build individual programs of study involving at least two years of course work, general examinations, and a dissertation.

In 2014, the School of Architecture launched a new computation and energy Ph.D. track.  The new track focuses on developing and researching new techniques of embodied computation and new systems for energy and environmental performance.  It is supported by connections to the School of Engineering and Applied Science , the Department of Computer Science and the Andlinger Center for Energy and Environment . With the addition of new courses and curricula for the computation and energy track, and with the acquisition of industrial robotic arms and the renovation of the Embodied Computation Laboratory (also known as the Architectural Laboratory), students will actively contribute to hands-on applied research in architecture while becoming experts in their field.

Additional departmental requirements

Ph.D. – At least three samples of written work, no page limit, but maximum size 10 MB each. Please compress the file. In the statement of academic purpose, candidates must describe professional and academic experience and its relevance to future plans for research and teaching. Also outline potential areas of research in the context of Princeton’s program. Applicants are required to select an academic subplan when applying.

M.Arch. – M.Arch. – Design portfolio, bound into a brochure no larger than 8 1/2 by 11 inches (overall size when closed). An electronic version must also be uploaded with your application. There is a 5GB size limit for the digital portfolio. The first page of the portfolio should include a brief statement (less than 500 words) explaining why the student specifically wants to attend Princeton University to earn a professional degree. Portfolios of admitted applicants will be retained. 

Portfolios must be postmarked by January 2 and received by January 10. Please note: If you are tracking the delivery of your package,  Graduate Admission will be closed December 25 - January 1. Normal hours will resume on Thursday, January 2.

Please avoid special packaging as this delays the processing of your materials and does not increase your opportunity for admission. Be sure to include your full name, date of birth, and department on all materials sent. Please mail these materials to:

Princeton University Graduate Admission ATTN: Portfolios One Clio Hall Princeton, NJ 08544

Materials submitted will become the property of Princeton University.

Program Offerings

Program offering: ph.d., program description.

History and Theory Track

The interdisciplinary nature of the doctoral (Ph.D.) program stresses the relationship of architecture, urbanism, landscape, and building technologies to their cultural, social, and political milieu. Supported by strong affiliations with other departments in the humanities, sciences, and social sciences, the program has developed a comprehensive approach to the study of the field. Students interact with their peers to sustain their individual projects in a context of collective research.

Computation and Energy Track

The technology Ph.D. track develops research in the field of embodied computation and new systems for energy and environmental performance.  Through associated faculty it is linked to the School of Engineering and Applied Science, particularly with Computer Science and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment. A proseminar for the Ph.D. track supports the initial methods and processes for this research. The applied research component of the track is supported by infrastructure including an industrial robotic arm located in the School of Architecture’s Embodied Computation Lab and research facilities in the Andlinger Center.

History and Theory Track Course requirements for each student are determined by the Ph.D. Program Committee according to students’ previous experience, specialized interests, and progress through the program. For the first two years, each student engages in course work and independent study and is required to take a minimum of four classes each term, including required language and independent reading courses, for a total of 16 courses.

In the first year of residence, a required two-term proseminar introduces students to historical research and methodological approaches and guides the development of individual research proposals. The minimum number of courses are reduced by one when a student serves as an assistant-in-instruction (AI). This does not reduce the number of required papers; the AI assignment replaces an audited course.

Computation and Energy Track Course requirements for each student are determined by the Ph.D. Program Committee according to the student’s previous experience, specialized interests, and progress through the program.  During the first year of residence, a two-term proseminar introduces students to the process of developing prototype-based research, the literature review process, and methods for innovative scientific hypothesis generation and analysis.  It also guides the development of individual research proposals.  The course requirements for each student are set by the Ph.D. Program Committee according to the student’s previous experience, specialized interests, and progress through the program. The course load consists of a total of sixteen courses, nine of which have to be taken for credit, including two required proseminar courses during the first two years of study. Extending the reach of previous coursework, four research projects have to be developed, documented in paper format, and submitted as a package for the general examination once coursework is completed. The coursework must have an interdisciplinary focus that supports the student in developing expertise in an area of research as an extension of the architectural core that serves as the basis for developing a dissertation proposal.

Language(s)

A student must satisfy the program requirement of a reading knowledge of two foreign languages before the end of the second year in residence. These languages should be relevant to the general history of the discipline or specifically relevant to the student’s area of research. An examination of comprehension is administered by the appropriate language department.

Additional pre-generals requirements

Each year in mid-May, doctoral students are expected to present a progress report for review with the Ph.D. Program Committee. The purpose of these oral reviews is to give feedback to the student and to keep all members of the Ph.D. Committee informed about the work of all students.  The progress report should list courses taken for grades or audit, papers completed or in progress, grades received, and a description of how courses relate to the student’s major and minor fields of concentration. The report should also note conferences attended, lectures given, teaching and/or research assistantships. Second-year reports incorporate a prospectus on the materials to be included in the general examination dossier. The prospectus includes a list of six papers (History and Theory track) or four research project reports (Computation and Energy track) to be included in the general examination dossier accompanied by a statement connecting this research and writing to the student’s major and minor fields of concentration.

General exam

The general examination is designed to ascertain the student’s general knowledge of the subject, acquaintance with scholarly methods of research, and ability to organize and present material. The components of the general examination are assembled sequentially during the student’s period in residence, according to a program overseen and approved by the Ph.D. Program Committee. The general examination is normally taken upon completion of two years of course work (preferably in the fall of the third year in residence).

Qualifying for the M.A.

The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree is typically an incidental degree on the way to full Ph.D. candidacy and is earned after a student successfully completes the general examination. It may also be awarded to students who, for various reasons, leave the Ph.D. program after successfully completing the general exam.

Teaching experience is considered to be a significant part of graduate education. The School recommends that Ph.D. candidates serve as Assistants-in-instruction (AI) for at least one term.

Post-Generals requirements

Following the general exam, students meet with the Ph.D. Program Committee each spring. These reviews provide opportunities for all members of the Ph.D. Committee to review progress and provide feedback. Students submit a progress report describing publications, conferences attended, lectures given, teaching or research assistantships completed. The report also includes progress on dissertation writing, funding applications, etc.  At least one new dissertation chapter must be submitted in each of the post-generals years.

Dissertation and FPO

The culmination of the program is the defense of the finished dissertation at the final public oral (FPO) examination, which includes the thesis adviser, a second reader from the Ph.D. Committee, and a third internal or external reader. For full FPO committee composition requirements, please consult the Graduate School website.

Advisers read and comment on initial drafts of the student’s dissertation, consult on methods and sources, and approve any changes in the dissertation outline stemming from research discoveries and shifting emphases. The School often recommends that additional readers from inside or outside the School review sections of the research.  The research toward a dissertation normally includes at least one year spent on archival research.

The Ph.D. is awarded after the candidate’s doctoral dissertation has been accepted and the final public oral examination completed.

Program Offering: M.Arch.

Professional Master’s Degree The Master of Architecture (M.Arch.), accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), is intended for students who plan to practice architecture professionally. The M.Arch. qualifies students to take the state professional licensing examination after completing the required internship. Refer to the NAAB statement on the School of Architecture’s website for more information.

Students are eligible for admission to the graduate program whether or not they have had undergraduate work in architecture. The typical duration of the program is three years; students with an intensive undergraduate architecture background may be eligible for advanced standing.

Post-Professional Master’s Degree A post-professional M.Arch. degree is available to those who hold the degree of Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch.) or its equivalent from an international institution. These are students who have successfully completed a professional program in architecture and have fulfilled the educational requirements for professional licensing in the state or country in which the degree was granted. Students typically complete this program in two years. The post-professional degree is not accredited by the NAAB.

Students in the professional M.Arch. program must take a minimum of 25 courses, typically four per term, including one design studio each term and the independent design thesis in the final term. The studio sequence, required building technology and professional practice courses, and courses in history and theory of architecture and urbanism constitute a core knowledge of the discipline. In addition to these required courses, each student must complete distribution requirements within the areas of history and theory and building technology. In order to encourage the development of an individual program of study, each student may select up to three electives, which may be fulfilled with any course offered within the University and approved by the director of graduate studies.

Students granted advanced standing are usually required to take a minimum of 16 courses within the distributional requirements of the three-year program, including one design studio each term and the independent design thesis in the final term. Because of the differences in the educational backgrounds of students entering with advanced standing, the required number of courses in the areas of distribution is determined by the director of graduate studies after reviewing each student’s transcript and experience.

While students normally take four courses each term, in their final term of the program they may enroll in and complete as few as two courses, provided that total course requirements will still be met and additional time is needed in the final term to meet the specific research requirements of the thesis.  Students who wish to enroll in fewer than four courses in the final term must have this request reviewed and approved by the director of graduate studies. 

Students in the post-professional master’s degree program are granted wide latitude in course selection in order to create a program of study which aligns with their individual educational and research goals. The courses are distributed across the areas of design studios and a design thesis, history and theory, building technology, and elective courses that can be taken throughout the University with the approval of the director of graduate studies. Students are required to complete a minimum of 14 courses.

The thesis at Princeton is understood to be the culmination of the Master of Architecture curriculum. As such, it is the moment when the student contributes to, and advances, the discipline. Students participate in a thesis workshop during their penultimate semester. The aim of this workshop is to hone topics by situating them within a lineage—articulating where a project resembles or differs from works that have addressed such topics—and by developing a focused argument for a particular approach to the question. The thesis design project, conducted as independent work during the final semester, then tests this approach in a project whose underpinnings are pointed toward the synthesis of intellectual and design objectives. The thesis concludes with a public final review, where the project is evaluated both on its own terms and within the broader field of contemporary architectural discourse.

Additional requirements

Computer Requirement

Students in the Architecture program are strongly encouraged to own a Windows or Mac computer during their tenure.  The School of Architecture does provide 10 high-end Dell desktops in the computer lab with a full suite of software.  Recommendations for personal computer purchases include a minimum 512 SSD hard drive, 16GB RAM, decent graphics card and processor.  Computers should have the most updated operating systems with virus software installed.  Most software provided by the School of Architecture is via network distribution and is Windows based.  In addition, students are required to pay an annual $350 lab fee for access to the computers, plotters, printer, scanners and networked software.

• Mónica Ponce de León

Associate Dean

• Michael Meredith

Director of Graduate Studies

• Marshall B. Brown
• Beatriz Colomina (fall)
• Spyros Papapetros (acting) (spring)

Director of Undergraduate Studies

• Stanley T. Allen
• M. Christine Boyer
• Beatriz Colomina
• Elizabeth Diller
• Mario I. Gandelsonas
• Sylvia Lavin
• Guy J.P. Nordenson
• Jesse A. Reiser

Associate Professor

• Forrest M. Meggers
• Spyros Papapetros

Assistant Professor

• Erin D. Besler
• S.E. Eisterer
• V. Mitch McEwen
• Daniela Mitterberger
• Aaron P. Shkuda

Visiting Professor

• Albena K. Yaneva

Visiting Lecturer with Rank of Professor

• Mark Wigley

Visiting Lecturer

• Sylvester Black
• Cynthia C. Davidson
• Darell W. Fields
• Anda French
• J. Robert Hillier
• Tessa Kelly
• Peter Pelsinski
• Mahadev Raman
• Zachary S. Schumacher
• Daniel Sherer
• Thomas Weaver

For a full list of faculty members and fellows please visit the department or program website.

Permanent Courses

Courses listed below are graduate-level courses that have been approved by the program’s faculty as well as the Curriculum Subcommittee of the Faculty Committee on the Graduate School as permanent course offerings. Permanent courses may be offered by the department or program on an ongoing basis, depending on curricular needs, scheduling requirements, and student interest. Not listed below are undergraduate courses and one-time-only graduate courses, which may be found for a specific term through the Registrar’s website. Also not listed are graduate-level independent reading and research courses, which may be approved by the Graduate School for individual students.

ARC 501 - Architecture Design Studio

Arc 502 - architecture design studio, arc 503 - integrated building studios, arc 504 - integrated building studios, arc 505a - architecture design studio, arc 505b - architecture design studio, arc 505c - architecture design studio, arc 506a - architecture design studio, arc 506b - architecture design studio, arc 507 - thesis studio, arc 508a - m. arch thesis studio, arc 508b - post-prof. thesis studio, arc 509 - integrated building systems, arc 510 - structural analysis for architecture, arc 511 - structural design, arc 513 - contemporary facade design, arc 514 - the environmental engineering of buildings, part i, arc 515 - the environmental engineering of buildings, part ii, arc 518 - construction and interpretation, arc 521 - elemental building function, arc 522 - history of comparative architecture, arc 525 - mapping the city: cities and cinema (also art 524), arc 526 - research in urbanism, arc 530 - m.arch. thesis seminar, arc 531 - proseminar for post-professional m.arch., arc 532 - post-professional m.arch. thesis seminar, arc 537 - architecture, technology, and the environment, arc 546 - technology and the city: the architectural implications of networked urban landscape (also urb 546), arc 547 - introduction to formal analysis, arc 548 - histories and theories of 19th-century architecture (also art 585), arc 549 - history and theories of architecture: 20th century (also art 586), arc 550 - space and subjectivity, arc 560 - topics in contemporary architecture & urbanism, arc 560a - topics in contemporary architecture and urbanism, arc 560b - topics in contemporary architecture & urbanism, arc 560c - topics in contemporary architecture and urbanism, arc 562 - introduction to the architecture profession, arc 563 - founding, building, and managing your own architectural practice, arc 569 - extramural research internship, arc 571 - phd proseminar (also art 581/las 571/mod 573), arc 572 - research in architecture (proseminar), arc 574 - computational fabrication, arc 575 - advanced topics in modern architecture (also mod 575), arc 576 - advanced topics in modern architecture (also art 598/mod 502), arc 577 - topics in modern architecture (also mod 577), arc 578 - utopics: private fantasies, public projects, arc 580 - gender, cities, and dissent (also gss 580/mod 580), arc 594 - topics in architecture (also art 584/hum 593/mod 504/spa 559), arc 598 - m. arch thesis studio-resubmission, arc 599 - post-prof. thesis studio-resubmission, art 504 - studies in greek architecture (also arc 565/cla 536/hls 534), art 547 - early modern architecture (also arc 552), art 551 - from above: european maps and architectural plans before aerial observation (also arc 557), art 565 - seminar in modernist art and theory (also arc 585/mod 565), art 583 - textile architecture (also arc 583), cee 546 - form finding of structural surfaces (also arc 566), hum 595 - interdisciplinary studies in the humanities (also arc 593/cla 595/mod 595), hum 597 - humanistic perspectives on history and society (also arc 597/las 597/mod 597/spa 557), mae 518 - virtual and augmented reality for scientists, engineers, and architects (also arc 516/ene 528), spi 533 - planning theory and process (also arc 535).

Stuart Weitzman School of Design 102 Meyerson Hall 210 South 34th Street Philadelphia, PA 19104

215.898.3425

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M.c. overholt, architecture phd candidate, and stephen vider (bryn mawr) awarded graham foundation organizational grant for fantasizing design: phyllis birkby builds lesbian feminist architecture (center for architecture, summer 2025).

Photographer unknown, “Phyllis Birkby filming at Caroling’s stained glass Wholeo Dome,” Monte Rio, California, 1978. Photograph, 8 x 10 in. Courtesy Noel Phyllis Birkby Papers, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, MA

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• http://www.grahamfoundation.org/grantees/

Architecture PhD Candidate M.C. Overholt and Stephen Vider (Bryn Mawr) are excited to announce that their Summer 2025 exhibition at the Center for Architecture (New York) has been awarded a 2024 organization grant by the Graham Foundation. Titled  Fantasizing Design: Phyllis Birkby Builds Lesbian Feminist Architecture,  the exhibition traces the life, work, and networks of lesbian feminist architect Phyllis Birkby (1932–1994), who inspired design professionals and the public to imagine a built environment beyond the confines of existing male-dominated forms. Inspired by the women’s movement and gay liberation, she joined one of the first lesbian feminist consciousness-raising groups, staged a feminist building occupation, and co-founded the Women’s School of Planning and Architecture. Her most groundbreaking intervention, however, was the series of workshops she began encouraging women to imagine and draw their “fantasy environments”—the home and community spaces they would like to inhabit.  Fantasizing Design  takes Birkby and her circle of friends, lovers, and collaborators as a lens on the broader ways feminists and lesbian feminists have worked to remake architectural practice, domestic space, and the broader built environment through rare archival materials from Birkby's extensive personal and professional archive at the Sophia Smith Collection of Women's History at Smith College.

Through her role as exhibition co-curator, M.C. hopes to explore her interest in queer and feminist architectural histories beyond her dissertation and the space of the classroom, bringing such histories to a broader architectural and LGBTQIA+ audience at the Center for Architecture. 

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Architecture in philadelphia: 41 can't-miss landmarks, historic homes & more, explore the timeless beauty and diverse styles of philly's architectural masterpieces....

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Philadelphia’s architectural heritage runs nearly 300 years deep.

From charming rowhomes and brownstones that line city blocks to 67 National Historic Landmarks , just about every architectural style and design can be found in the city.

Here’s a crash course on Philly’s architecture history:

During the 18th century, Georgian and later Federal-style buildings dominated Old City and Society Hill.

In the first half of the 19th century, Greek revival and Roman forms in museums and churches appeared and flourished with works by architects such as William Strickland, John Haviland and Thomas U. Walter.

Architect Frank Furness dominated during the Victorian era, designing over 600 Gothic buildings, churches, banks and universities, while residential architecture became Minerva Parker Nichols’ little-known legacy.

And during the 20th century, skyscrapers changed the cityscape forever.

Of course, Philly is home to hundreds, if not thousands, of notable buildings, historic houses and parks — far too many to fit into this article. Below, find just some of the region’s can’t-miss architectural marvels in Philadelphia.

Pro tip: There’s no better way to explore these stunning structures than on foot. (We are the most walkable city in the country, after all.) Jump on a tour with either The Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia and Philadelphia Historic Architecture Tours or pick up a copy of Philadelphia Architecture: A Guide to the City by John Andrew Gallery to learn more about Philadelphia’s architecture.

Historic Houses

German immigrants’ craftsmanship is showcased in Germantown at the 5.5-acre Cliveden property, made up of a main house, kitchen, colonnade, wash house, barn and carriage house. German architectural design principles of forms, patterns and ratios , exterior classical façades, and traditional building materials like Wissahickon schist make this property distinct. Inside, Colonial Revival columns separate rooms decorated with marble fireplaces and antique furnishings. Explore Cliveden’s intricate construction and design on a ticketed tour .

Where: Cliveden, 6401 Germantown Avenue

The Historic Houses of Fairmount Park

One of Fairmount Park ’s can’t-miss things to do is to explore six former 18th- and 19th-century summer-homes-turned-museums: Cedar Grove, Laurel Hill, Lemon Hill, Historic Strawberry Mansion, Mount Pleasant and Woodford. The “Park Charms” exemplify William Penn’s vision for wealthy suburban living with areas for gardening, sporting and entertaining in Federal- and Georgian-style estates. Their shared history overlaps with early Pennsylvania furniture, open hearths, family heirloom objects, oval rooms and extensive grounds, all on view during guided tours .

Where: Strawberry Mansion, 2450 Strawberry Mansion Drive

VIEW OTHER LOCATIONS (5)

Woodford, 2300 North 33rd Street

Lemon Hill, Lemon Hill Drive

Laurel Hill, 3487 Edgley Drive

Mount Pleasant, 3800 Mount Pleasant Drive

Cedar Grove, 1 Cedar Grove Drive

Restaurants

Del frisco's double eagle steakhouse.

Built in 1922, this former First Pennsylvania Bank is now a steakhouse inside the two-story Packard Grande Building. The entry boasts intricate iron and metalwork; inside are large marble columns, a floor-to-ceiling wine tower, sculpted ceilings and stone lion sculptures. Some of the best-kept secrets include a bank vault turned private dining room with a vast glass-encased wine cellar; the original bank clock above the main dining room’s bar; and an oak-paneled chamber, rumored to be a former ”mistress room” for the bank’s employees, complete with a marble-lined shower.

Where: Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steakhouse, 1428-1432 Chestnut Street

The Mermaid Inn

At the corner of Mermaid Lane and Germantown Avenue sits a local watering hole for local musicians that was once a 1700s stagecoach stop and inn . The two-and-a-half-story German structure was designed (and later rebuilt) in the Colonial Revival style with Wissahickon-area stones, a white porch entrance and an interior that made it a 2023 Chestnut Hill Architectural Hall of Fame finalist . The inn has original leaded glass windows with etched and hand-painted mermaid designs, a cherry wood bar, an ornate chandelier above the bar and an arch capped with sculptured relief of a lady’s head on either end.

Where: The Mermaid Inn, 7673 Germantown Avenue

Rex at the Royal

Royal Theater — Philadelphia’s first and largest Black-run of over 100 years — was nearly demolished in 2017. Luckily, the South Street façade was protected by the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, and Sojourn Hospitality restored much of the 7,000-square-foot structural and cultural history with updated designs to make Rex at the Royal , a cafe, bottle shop and Southern coastal-inspired restaurant and bar. Highlights include the theater’s blue-and-green color scheme, a sprawling dining room with cushy booths, the long turquoise top bar, an upper mezzanine, and a raised stage for live jazz performances.

Where: Rex at the Royal, 1524 South Street

Divine Lorraine Hotel

Built in the early 1890s by architect Willis G. Hale, The Divine Lorraine Hotel was one of the city’s first skyscrapers at 10 stories tall, as well as one of the first to have electricity and an elevator. The building has seen many lives as a wealthy residential building, a hotel and, most recently, hotel apartments under Mint House . The red marquee sign and north-facing façade are a fixture on North Broad Street, while inside, preserved and restored Victorian details include terra cotta tile floors, a formal lobby with a marble grand staircase and large chandelier, and sculptural gold crests on ceilings and columns.

Where: Divine Lorraine Hotel, 699 N. Broad Street

Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center

At 60 floors, the Comcast Technology Center skyscraper built by Fosters + Partners is the city’s tallest building. The glass-and-stainless-steel structure houses a 12-story Four Seasons Hotel , with amenities that include an infinity edge pool on the 57th floor heated year-round and a 60th-floor sky lobby where guests pass through to the sophisticated cocktail lounge JG SkyHigh. Reflective pyramid ceiling panels, marble stairs and a cascading waterfall open to 360-degree views of Philadelphia, where elevated dining takes on a whole new meaning at the Jean-Georges restaurant atop the 1,121-foot-tall tower.

Where: Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia at Comcast Center, 1 N. 19th Street

Guild House Hotel

This National Historic Landmark turned luxury boutique hotel was founded in 1882 by the women-led New Century Guild as a hub for education, entertainment and activism in the early 20th century. The Victorian-era rowhouse was recently redesigned and restored by local teams ROHE Creative and architecture firm Moto Designshop to become the Guild House Hotel . There are 12 suites — each inspired by its female founders — blending modern romantic amenities with historic architectural elements like leaded glass windows, ornate fireplaces, wood paneling and antique writing desks. Private tours are available by appointment only.

Where: Guild House Hotel, 1307 Locust Street

Society Hill Hotel

Originally built in 1932, what’s now the Society Hill Hotel & Restaurant had a colorful past before it was fire-damaged and abandoned. Now its Old-World hotel charm returns as a boutique hotel and all-day restaurant by the founders of United By Blue. Walk through the black and white awning to view exposed original ceiling beams, refurbished wood floors, a bright gold-colored gas sign in its original frame, a restored long oak bar, large street-facing windows and a recreation of the original floral wallpaper on the ceiling.

Where: Society Hill Hotel, 301 Chestnut Street

Concert Venues

Curtis institute of music.

One of the world’s most prestigious music conservatories, The Curtis Institute of Music is also an architectural and engineering marvel. A recent example is the Locust Street campus expansion (Lenfest Fall) led by Venturi, Scott Brown and Associates . The original former mansion has grown into two connected buildings with intimate multi-use music spaces and studios adorned by ornate wooden carvings seen throughout staircases and walls, antique oil paintings of prominent composers and musicians, gold-finished light sconces, bust sculptures, and decorative exterior ironwork. Private campus tours , free recital concerts and orchestra events bring these details to life.

Where: Curtis Institute of Music, 1726 Locust Street

The Met Philadelphia

North Broad Street’s Metropolitan Opera House is now the restored Met Philadelphia . First built by opera impresario Oscar Hammerstein I and opened in 1908, it’s since been a movie theater, a sports venue and now an impressive concert hall. The venue features classic opera house elements including a neoclassical façade, terrazzo flooring, chandeliers, columns with gilded lighting fixtures and accents, and tiered seating that make it one of the most spectacular live show experiences in the region.

Where: The Met Philadelphia, 858 N. Broad Street

Benjamin Franklin Bridge

Philadelphia’s most famous bridge — with appearances in movies like Rocky , Philadelphia and National Treasure — is the 57th-longest suspension bridge in the world, standing more than 100 feet above the Delaware River and best seen from either Race Street Pier or Cherry Street Pier . The blue bridge — designed in the 1920s art deco style by French architect Paul Philippe Cret (also of Benjamin Franklin Parkway ) and Leon Moissieff— has two tall towers and tapering cables. Today, it connects Old City to New Jersey with cars, a pedestrian walkway and PATCO.

Where: Benjamin Franklin Bridge, 1 Benjamin Franklin Bridge

Thomas Mill Covered Bridge

One of Chestnut Hill’s most treasured sights is the “red covered bridge” on Forbidden Drive over Wissahickon Creek. Originally built in 1731, Thomas Mill Covered Bridge was once one of the busiest locations along the Wissahickon, connecting travelers around Philadelphia from Norristown to Germantown . Now it’s the only remaining covered bridge in Philadelphia — and the only covered bridge in any major U.S. city. The large red structure with a tin roof is 96 feet long and 17 feet wide and was restored by the Works Progress Administration in 1938. The quickest way to access the bridge is by parking in the Forbidden Drive Upper Parking Lot , then walking Forbidden Drive (which, as its name suggests, is closed to cars) to the bridge .

Where: Thomas Mill Covered Bridge, 8901 Forbidden Drive

FDR Park (known as “The Lakes” to locals) is more than just a 348-acre urban park; it’s a legacy of the Olmsted Brothers , the landscape architect family best known for Central Park in New York City. Visitors seeking architecture splendor alongside their outdoor recreation should seek out the Edgewood Lake boathouse . It has an open-air pavilion, a vaulted ceiling, structural brick arches and a grand floor-to-ceiling brick fireplace, plus a picturesque gazebo located nearby. There’s also a newly built two-acre all-ages playground with a 20-swing structure (the largest swing set in North America) and “birdhouse” structures with slides and climbing areas inspired by local bird habitats.

Where: FDR Park, 1500 Pattison Avenue

Rittenhouse Square

Another Paul Philippe Cret masterpiece, Rittenhouse Square is one of five original squares planned by city founder William Penn in the late 17th century. The family-friendly park is impressive from every view, but some of the most popular attractions include five bronze cast sculptures , a fountain pool and 145 wooden benches . Luxury mansions and townhouses on picturesque streets surround the park, like the four-story brick red house of Edward Wood on South 17th Street built in 1890.

Where: Rittenhouse Square, 18th and Walnut streets

Government Buildings

Philadelphia’s City Hall is the world’s largest free-standing masonry building and the largest city hall in the U.S. at over 500 feet tall. It was built in Second Empire style using 88 million bricks, white marble and limestone. Around the exterior are 250 sculptures designed by Alexander Milne Calder, none more iconic than the 53,000-pound, 37-foot-tall bronze statue of city founder William (Billy) Penn on the top. Inside is over 1 million square feet of space that includes a 100-year-old elevator and a 19th-century clock tower best viewed during group tours that conclude on the 360-degree glass-enclosed observation deck.

Where: City Hall, 1400 John F. Kennedy Boulevard

First Bank of the United States

Alexander Hamilton set the foundation for the country’s financial system, which came to life at the First Bank of the United States , a South Third Street landmark since the late 1790s. The First Bank, a creation of architect Samuel Blodgett Jr., boasts a three-story brick structure with a blue marble exterior. The building is adorned with symbols of American wealth, such as a sculpture of Mercury, the ancient Roman god of commerce, leaning against a globe to symbolize the global economy. Though it’s currently closed to the public, it’s well worth admiring from outside.

Where: First Bank of the United States, 120 S. 3rd Street

Independence Hall

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Independence Hall is the birthplace of both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. The building — which originally housed all three branches of Pennsylvania’s colonial government — features an 1820s steeple tower restored by architect William Strickland, who also added a clock and additional ornamentation. Independence Hall follows the German design principles of proportion, balance and symmetry, but looks more like a country house in an urban setting. Ticketed tours are available .

Where: Independence Hall, 520 Chestnut Street

Second Bank of the United States

Folks who have seen Greece’s Parthenon might notice the resemblance in this early 19th-century Chestnut Street building in Old City . William Strickland designed the Second Bank of the United States in Greek Revival style — and subsequently set the tone for many American bank buildings. While the exterior remains intact, the interior has transformed into a permanent collection of 18th- and 19th-century portraits depicting more than 150 political leaders, military officers, explorers and scientists. Not to be missed are the building’s original barrel-vaulted ceiling, marble columns in the main banking room and fireplaces.

Where: Second Bank of the United States, 420 Chestnut Street

Avenue of the Arts

When on South Broad Street, look for signs of the past : vintage lamp posts, decorative subway entrances, and lit-up signs for the Academy of Music, the Suzanne Roberts Theatre, the Tony Award-winning Wilma Theater and the Clef Club (hence the name Avenue of the Arts ). Prior to it becoming a hub for performing arts and culture in the ’90s, South Broad Street was the location for the city’s top banks and offices in the ’50s, and shortly after, skyscrapers were added by architects like Daniel Burnham (Land Title building at 1400 Chestnut Street). These days, modern construction comes together with the Avenue’s historical character.

Where: Avenue Of The Arts, South Broad Street from City Hall to South Street

Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Philly’s “ Museum Mile ” is lauded by urban planning followers the world over. The Parkway was originally conceived by French architects Paul Philippe Cret and Jacques Greber to connect downtown Philadelphia to Fairmount Park with a wide boulevard lined with statues, trees and museums, just like Paris’s Champs-Élysées. Today, it’s a cultural destination that commands a pause in front of the 93,000-square-foot Barnes Foundation , the Rodin Museum (seek respite in the lush outdoor garden) and the Philadelphia Museum of Art , recently renovated by Frank Gehry .

Where: Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Elfreth's Alley

One of the nation’s oldest continuously inhabited residential streets is lined with 32 homes where working-class artisans once lived. The narrow cobblestone pathway from Second Street to Front Street dates back to the 1700s and is named after Jeremiah Elfreth, a blacksmith and land developer. The alley is frequented by visitors admiring Colonial architectural relics like flower boxes, shutters, bond brickwork and the spinning second-story porch on Bladen’s Court. Houses No. 124 and No. 126 are the Elfreth’s Alley Museum , run by the Elfreth’s Alley Association, which offers paid tours.

Where: Elfreth's Alley, 126 Elfreth's Alley

Attractions & Historic Buildings

Athenaeum of philadelphia.

The Athenaeum of Philadelphia is a National Historic Landmark in Washington Square West built in the Italianate Revival style and designed by architect John Notman (who also designed Laurel Hill Cemetery ). The three-story brownstone houses an extensive collection of local historic architecture reading materials and boasts a grand staircase, a first-floor exhibition gallery, elaborate lighting fixtures and dark Victorian wallpaper. The second-floor members’ library and reading room shines with two-dozen ornate columns holding up a 24-foot ceiling, antique glass bookcases, a sofa designed by Paul Cret and even a 200-year-old-plus chess table. Guided tours are open to the public.

Where: Athenaeum of Philadelphia, 219 S. 6th Street

Boathouse Row

The 15 boathouses on the eastern bank of the Schuylkill River incorporate design elements from the Late Victorian, Gothic and Revival styles of the 19th and 20th centuries, merging aesthetic beauty with timeless utilitarianism. The Undine Barge Club (13 Boathouse Row) is made of stone and wood with a red and green tower, while the University of Pennsylvania’s boathouse (11 Kelly Drive) is a narrow, two-story brownstone with a single boat bay, an east and west wing (added later), Venetian windows and river-facing upper balcony. The boathouses’ architectural exterior features shine (literally) thanks to LED lights .

Where: Boathouse Row, 1 Boathouse Row

Masonic Temple

This Freemason members space has been at One North Broad for more than 150 years, completed even before City Hall . It was first a Gothic-style building, then expanded to a larger Masonic Hall before being constructed as the Masonic Temple by James H. Windrim in the 1870s. It features an Egyptian Hall covered in shades of gold and green, a 105-foot-long rug gifted by the Grand Lodge of Puerto Rico installed in the Corinthian Hall’s Roman-inspired room, statues of Founding Fathers and a grand ballroom. Their guided tour was awarded Best Tour of 2024 by Philadelphia magazine .

Where: Masonic Temple, 1 N. Broad Street

The Navy Yard

Architects at James Corner Field Operations are combining principles of sustainability, environmentalism and nature with social, active and urban environments at The Navy Yard in South Philly. Central Green is five acres of open fields featuring flowering meadows, a hammock grove, an outdoor amphitheater, bocce courts and fitness stations, including a 20-foot-wide circular track. Throughout The Navy Yard, visitors can find public art and interactive sculptures, as well as the Courtyard Philadelphia South at The Navy Yard , a modern LEED-certified hotel with a façade that alternates colors and shadows based on sunlight and time of day.

Where: The Navy Yard, 4747 S. Broad Street

Philadelphia Museum of Art

The iconic 1928 Beaux-Arts Philadelphia Museum of Art building was built as three linked Greek temples and designed in part by Penn architecture school grad Julian Abele, who was inspired by the temples he saw while traveling in Greece. Visitors might notice the museum’s recent renovations and expansions designed by Frank Gehry . Lenfest Hall and the Great Stair Hall are must-see spots, but now there’s also a sky-lit walkway with a Catalan tile vaulted ceiling, an espresso bar and a curved Piranesian staircase at the north entrance; a new central atrium in the east lobby; and larger windows for more natural light in the main lobby.

Where: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

University of Pennsylvania

The University of Pennsylvania is one of America’s oldest universities with picturesque West Philly campus buildings of various architectural styles , some of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Fisher Fine Arts Library is a red sandstone, brick-and-terra-cotta Venetian Gothic building designed by Frank Furness. The 39 dorms of the “Quad” are architecture firm Cope and Stewardson’s fancier Neo-Jacobean version of the Collegiate Gothic style. Some of Penn’s campus and facilities are open to the public , and virtual tours are available via YouTube .

Where: University of Pennsylvania, Walnut & South 34th streets

Society Hill Towers

On South Second Street between Walnut Street and Spruce Street is a condo community consisting of 614 units in three 30-story buildings. The rental units, aka the “towers,” were built in the 1960s by I.M. Pei as part of the area’s urban renewal project and later were added to the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places. These residential skyscrapers — surrounded by acres of landscaped grounds — overlook Penn’s Landing and the Delaware River and are just steps away from the critically acclaimed restaurant Zahav. Self-guided walking tours are available in person or virtually.

Where: Society Hill Towers, 285 Saint James Place

Wanamaker Department Store

This isn’t just a regular department store. The Wanamaker Building of 1911 (now Macy’s Center City ) is one of the most architecturally significant retail spaces in the U.S. and a designated National Historic Landmark. Its Beaux-Arts architectural style from architect Daniel H. Burnham helped influence American department store design. Do as locals do on your visit : Listen to the 28,500-pipe Wanamaker Grand Organ , touch the 2,500-pound bronze eagle or watch the seasonal Christmas display and light show . The Macy’s History Tour gives visitors an overview of the building’s grand features, merchandising and fashion legacy.

Where: Macy's Center City (Wanamaker Department Store), 1300 Market Street

William H. Gray III 30th Street Station

William H. Gray III 30th Street Station , deemed one of Architectural Digest’s 37 most beautiful train stations in the world for its opulent Neoclassical design , is a five-story Amtrak concourse completed in 1934 by a Chicago architecture firm. It was originally intended to serve as the headquarters of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company and features a limestone façade, cast-iron and steel-framed windows, bronze doors, wood benches, marble finishes, prism glass windows and even a chapel at one time (now a conference room). In 1978, the station was added to the National Register of Historic Places and in 2014, it was renamed to honor a former U.S. Congressman from the Philadelphia area.

Where: William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, 2955 Market Street

Religious & Sacred Sites

Al-aqsa islamic society.

This blue, white and gold-colored three-story mosque has operated as a Kensington community center for nearly 40 years. Middle Eastern colors, decorative patterns and intricate tilework cover the entire building, as well as the metal posts on the street around it. Not to be missed is “ Doorways to Peace ,” a mosaic-and-mural collaboration between interfaith community members as a response to anti-Islamic acts. Al-Asqa is only open to members of the mosque, but is beautiful to admire from the outside.

Where: Al-Aqsa Islamic Society, 1501 Germantown Avenue

Beth Sholom Synagogue

This Elkins Park synagogue opened in 1951 and was the only synagogue Frank Lloyd Wright ever designed. Wright incorporated faith-based symbolism throughout his design of the Mayan Revival-style building. The 160-ton steel base evokes cupped hands atop an angular triangle frame alluding to Mount Sinai; inside is a 110-foot ceiling, forty-foot concrete slabs representing Moses’ tablets and over 1,000 seats bathed in natural light that shines down from the pyramid-shaped roof. Explore this National Historic Landmark on a ticketed tour .

Where: Beth Sholom Synagogue, 8231 Old York Road, Elkins Park

Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul

The largest Catholic church in Pennsylvania, the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul was modeled after the Lombard Church of St. Charles in Rome and is the only cathedral in the United States built in the Roman-Corinthian architectural style. The design is characterized by a cruciform floor plan, barrel arches, Corinthian columns, a copper dome (now shining in a green patina), and marble and walnut finishes. The building was designed by Philadelphia architect Napoleon LeBrun (see also Academy of Music ) and John Notman (of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church). It is free to visit, with limited tours available .

Where: Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul, 18th Street & Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Church of the Advocate

A hidden gem in North Philly, the Church of the Advocate is a stunning Gothic Revival church designed by notable 19th- and 20th-century church architect Charles Burns. It’s a complex of buildings, including a chapel, parish house, curacy and rectory, with stained-glass windows, flying buttresses, tall spires and quadripartite vaults. There are also a series of religious and large civil-rights-themed murals honoring the Church’s Black history , including its role as the first Episcopal church in the world to ordain women. Today it stands as a National Historic Landmark by the National Parks Service. Book a tour (by appointment only) by calling (215) 978-8000.

Where: Church of the Advocate, 1801 W. Diamond Street

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The Bartlett School of Architecture

• Architectural Design MPhil/PhD and Architectural & Urban History MPhil/PhD

Architectural Design MPhil/PhD and Architectural & Urban History & Theory MPhil/PhD

Architectural Design MPhil/PhD

This stream within Architecture MPhil/PhD encourages the development of architectural research through the combination of designing and writing. Students present a thesis consisting of a project and a text that share a research theme and a productive relationship. The project may be drawn, filmed, built, or make use of whatever media is appropriate.

View the UCL Prospectus page for this programme

Architectural & Urban History & Theory MPhil/PhD

This stream within Architecture MPhil/PhD allows students to conduct an exhaustive, original and creative piece of research into an area of their own selection and definition. The range of research topics undertaken is broad, but most explore the history and theory of architecture and cities between 1800 and the present day.

In their first year, students are registered as MPhil candidates, but are then expected to upgrade to PhD status. Full-time students are expected to complete their PhDs in three to four years, whilst part-time students complete theirs in five to seven years.

Architectural Design thesis submissions combine a design project and a text of around 60,000 words. The research for Architectural & Urban History & Theory  is normally presented as a text of 100,000 words maximum with illustrative material.

All students have the option of auditing modules from  Architectural History MA , led by Professor Peg Rawes. Students are also encouraged to take advantage of the variety of skills development courses run by the Graduate School UCL and the Language Centre. In particular, students are advised to follow the workshop The Creative Thesis, run in conjunction with the Slade School of Fine Art, which is tailored to practice-led research.

Supervisors

Architectural Design MPhil/PhD and Architectural & Urban History & Theory MPhil/PhD both draw on the full range of the research expertise offered at The Bartlett School of Architecture.

As an MPhil/PhD candidate, you will have two doctoral supervisors: one from the school and a second from another school in The Bartlett or elsewhere in UCL, depending on your research area.

Dr Sabina Andron Graffiti, street art and public art; legal geography and urban property regimes; the right to the city, spatial justice and urban commons; urban semiotics, geosemiotics, surface semiotics; urban visual culture and image theories; deviance, disorder and crime in cities; vandalism, protest and anti-social behaviour; transgressive and subversive practices of urban inhabitation.

Professor Peter Bishop Application of urban design and urban planning theory; incremental urbanism; temporary uses and installations; role of conservation in distorting urban change; role of other stakeholders and political forces outside the design process in the construction of the built environment.            Professor Iain Borden History of modern architecture; urbanism and urban culture; skateboarding, graffiti and urban arts; public space; experiences of architecture; film, photography and other urban representations; critical theory and cultural studies.

Roberto Bottazzi The aesthetic, spatial and philosophical impact of digital technologies on architecture and urbanism.   Professor Ben Campkin Histories, theories and practices of urbanism and urbanization. Transdisciplinary urbanism and experimental methods of urban research, publication and public engagement. Urban night spaces, cultures and governance. London’s history and built environment; contemporary urban policy and practice in London. Queer space, architecture and architectural histories; heritage associated with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer populations.

Professor Mario Carpo   History of architectural theory and history of cultural technologies, with focus on the early modern period (the Vitruvian tradition and the Italian Renaissance, from Alberti to Vignola) and on contemporary digital design theory (1990 to the present).   Professor Nat Chard Architecture and indeterminacy; relationship between ideas and technique in architectural representation and manufacture; experimental practices in architecture; developing methods of drawing and making as a means of architectural research.             Professor Marjan Colletti   Digital design and digital theory; experimental building and urban design; innovative CAD/CAM fabrication technologies; neo-baroque and exuberant synthetic and syncretic design techniques.             Professor Marcos Cruz Innovative environments, utilization of bacteria and algae, computation, bio-technology and synthetic biology.

Dr Edward Denison Histories and theories of modernism and modernity outside ’The West'. Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia, especially China and Chinese encounters with modernity domestically and/or globally. Colonialism, post-colonialism, and globalisation. Cultural heritage and critical approaches to urban heritage. Community engagement/campaigning and neighbourhood planning.    Professor Murray Fraser Architectural design; design research; architectural history and theory; cultural studies; architecture and globalisation; cross-cultural influences; cultural identity; urbanism.   Professor Stephen Gage Time-based architecture; architecture that interacts with people and the external environment; architecture and performance.

Dr Sam Griffiths Theories and methods for researching and writing the historical relationship between urban populations and their built environments; the spatial cultures of industrial cities, suburbs and high streets; urban manufacturing; architecture as chronotope in realist fiction and historical writing; space syntax as an interdisciplinary approach to research in the humanities and social sciences.  

Peter Guillery London's buildings and topography of the 16th to 21st centuries, especially housing, industrial buildings and vernacular architecture.

Dr Sean Hanna   Spatial cognition; mathematical and computational modelling of spatial and social relationships; individual and collective creativity; machine learning and intelligence; complexity and big data.   Dr Penelope Haralambidou Architectural drawing and making as research methods; art and architecture; Marcel Duchamp; architecture and allegory; theories of perception, memory, imagination and representation in design; visual technologies – historical and contemporary; experimental film and digital projection; exhibition design and curating; book architecture; stage design; and the design of public spaces.   Professor Jonathan Hill Programme Director Histories and theories of architectural authorship and design; the formation of the architect; architecture by users and non-architects. Histories and theories of architecture and landscape with regard to their relations with the environment, climate and weather since the eighteenth century.

Dr Jan Kattein

Dr Chris Leung   Prototyping through digital modelling, simulation, fabrication and instrumented testing as a modus operandi for design research; timber construction and sustainable approaches to the design of timber buildings; passive low-energy actuator technologies (phase-transitioning waxes, thermo-bimetals, shape memory alloys) for environmental control in buildings; digital and hybrid digital-analogue control systems for facade systems; solar energy; passive cooling with optically selective radiators; embodied mechanical logic; advanced manufacturing processes e.g. design for multi-material polymer printing.   Professor Yeoryia Manolopoulou Architectural design and theory; design research methods; architecture and experience; collaborative, aleatoric and performative design; dialogic architecture; place, material practices and building; pedagogic settings; theories of embodied mind, action and environment; the architectural score; practices of drawing; architecture’s intersection with art, anthropology and neuroscience.

Dr Clare Melhuish Anthropology of architecture, the built environment and urban processes; ethnography of architectural practice; urban and architectural visual and material culture; postcolonial urbanism; critical urban heritage; modern(ist) architecture and planning in London; French modern(ist) architecture and planning; Arab cities; Caribbean urbanism; universities and urban regeneration; education spaces and the city;  participatory and community-led planning; anthropology of home and domestic space; ethnographic methodologies.

Professor Alan Penn Urban research at the scale between the building and the city; design of complex buildings and their relations to organisations (i.e. hospitals, laboratories and offices); development of computing for architecture; urban pollution dispersal; virtual reality applications for the built environment; simulation of social phenomena and urban growth and change.        Professor Barbara Penner Tourism; American hotels, resorts, and commercial architecture; gender and space; domesticity; consumerism; bathrooms and infrastructure; inclusive urbanism; appropriate technology.             Professor Sophia Psarra Architecture narrative and fiction, geometry of architecture and urban space; conceptual order, spatial morphology and spatial experience; the formation of spatial meaning in architecture and symbolic languages across different media; architectural theory; the morphology of cities in relation to processes of industrialisation, de-industrialisation and innovation; spatial design of complex buildings and its relation to society and organisations; computer modelling and visualisation.

Dr Caroline Rabourdin       Essay writing as critical and creative practice; spatial theory; phenomenology; art practices; spatial literature; philosophy of language; linguistics; translation studies; comparative literature.        Professor Peg Rawes Theories of materiality and technology in architecture and spatial arts practices; embodiment,  spatial subjectivities and aesthetics; histories and theories of geometry and spatiotemporality in early-modern European and Continental philosophy; social and political theories of ecology; wellbeing.             Professor Jane Rendell Gender/feminist theory and architecture; art, architecture and urban interventions; critical spatial theory and practice; creative/critical subjectivity and positionality in writing or site-writing; psychoanalysis and space; public space, cultural identity and narrative.     

Harriet Richardson Architectural history and heritage; medical buildings; development of hospital planning and design; post-war hospital architecture in Scotland; National Health Service; urban history; Scottish Architecture

Dr Tania Sengupta Postcolonial and transcultural studies; colonial, post-colonial/contemporary architecture and urban history (non-western worlds, especially South Asia); postcolonial identities in western contexts. For non-western contexts: architectures of governance; provincial identity and rural-urban relationships; spatial cultures of domesticity; material and spatial cultures; global, local and scalar relationships in architecture/ urbanism; everyday spaces and practices.   Professor Bob Sheil Architecture and design through production, experimental design, prototyping, making, fabrication, craft, innovative technology, digital practice, digital manufacturing, assembly, materials, modelling, transgression from drawing to making, 3D scanning.

Professor Mark Smout Design-based approach to architecture, landscape (urban and rural) and climate change via political, technological and artistic disciplines.     

Dr Nina Vollenbröker Mobility; domesticity; the U.S. American West; manuscript diaries; nineteenth-century quilts; photography; histories and spaces of deaf culture; disability and architecture.

Dr Robin Wilson  The architectural media (especially the architectural journals of the 20th century); architectural photography; architectural criticism; arts-based and performative methods of spatial research; curatorship and architecture; utopian theory.

Dr Fiona Zisch Cognitive architecture / neuroarchitecture; spatial cognition; cognitive ecologies; neurophilosophy; radical embodiment; embodied knowledge and intuition; cyberfeminism; technology, interaction, performance; movement, choreography.

Other current doctoral supervisors include:

• Allen Abramson, (UCL Anthropology)
• Matthew Beaumont, (UCL English)
• Nadia Luisa Berthouze, (UCL Computer Science)
• Victor Buchli, (UCL Anthropology)
• Marc-Olivier Coppens, (UCL Chemical Engineering)
• Colin Fournier, (Emeritus Professor of Architecture & Urban Planning)
• Lisa Griffin, (The Bartlett Development Planning Unit)
• Susanne Kuechler, (UCL Anthropology)
• Adrian Lahoud, (Royal College of Art)
• Jerome Lewis, (UCL Anthropology)
• Mark Miodownik, (UCL Mechanical Engineering) 
• Sharon Morris, (The Slade School of Fine Art)
• Michal Murawski, (UCL SSEES) 
• Ioannis Papakonstantinou, (UCL Electronic and Electrical Engineering)
• Brenda Parker, (UCL Biochemical Engineering)
• Kathryn Riley, (UCL Institute of Education)
• Hugo Spiers, (UCL Cognitive, Perceptual & Brain Sciences)
• Philip Steadman, (UCL Energy Institute)

Events and exhibitions

Architectural Design MPhil/PhD and Architectural & Urban History & Theory MPhil/PhD jointly run a series of events which all students are expected to attend:

Research Conversations

Fortnightly work-in-progress seminars and reviews for new MPhil/PhD students. MPhil students also present more in-depth seminars to meet the criteria needed to upgrade to PhD status.

Research Projects 

An annual PhD conference and exhibition with invited critics as respondents, organised by The Bartlett School of Architecture with the Slade School of Fine Art.

• Find out more about PhD Research Projects 2020
• Read the PhD Research Projects publications on Issuu

Our MPhil/PhD students develop creative and critical techniques that can be used in researching, designing and writing about any architectural issue, subject or site.

Upon completion of their PhDs, students have gone on to pursue careers in a wide variety of fields, from architectural and design practice to curatorial positions. Students have also progressed into academic roles at both The Bartlett and other higher education establishments, such as:

• The Architectural Association
• Chelsea College of Art and Design, University of the Arts London
• Goldsmiths College, University of London
• Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts School of Architecture, Copenhagen
• Royal Holloway College, University of London
• University for the Creative Arts
• University of Toronto
• University of Westminster

Programme Directors:  Professor Jonathan Hill  and Professor Sophia Psarra Programme Coordinators:  Nina Vollenbröker  and  Dr Sophie Read Programme Administrator:  Rahil Alipour  and Drew Pessoa

Find out more about our MPhil/PhD students

Find out more about The Bartlett's leading research

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