Skip to main content

Architecture Urbanism & Climate Action

Postgraduate
T339

This MSc programme equips graduates and returning professionals with specialist skills to respond to the challenge of planning, designing, and actioning a sustainable built environment.

Award Name Degree - Masters (Level 9 NFQ)
NFQ Classification Major
Awarding Body National University of Ireland
NFQ Level Level 9 NFQ
Award Name NFQ Classification Awarding Body NFQ Level
Degree - Masters (Level 9 NFQ) Major National University of Ireland Level 9 NFQ
Course Provider:
Location:
Belfield
Attendance Options:
Full time, Daytime
Qualification Letters:
MSc
Apply to:
Course provider
Number of credits:
level 9 nfq, credits 90

Duration

1 year full-time.
MODE OF DELIVERY: Face-to-Face

Entry Requirements

- An honours undergraduate degree (NFQ level 8) with a minimum upper second class honours or international equivalent in subjects related to the built environment including architecture, urban design, engineering, environmental sciences, or humanity degrees involving social or natural sciences.

- Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.

Careers / Further progression

Careers & Employability
The range of climate change response, and environmental sustainability, related careers is broadening. This sector is set to expand rapidly in coming years. This MSc gives students a unique set of skills to allow them stay ahead of the curve and apply for exciting and fulfilling job opportunities. Potential careers include sustainable architecture and practice, sustainability consultancy, engineering consultancy, energy efficiency agency, public and environmental policy, sustainable development, energy supply and management and NGOs.

This MSc has a track record of providing a springboard to exciting careers in research and academia. It allows students pursue a range of further research opportunities into architectural and urban design aspects of climate action. High achieving masters students will also be invited to continue onto PhD study in UCD either via in-house project opportunities or by applying for funding through national funding schemes.

Course Web Page

Further information

NEXT INTAKE: 2024/2025 September.

MSc Architecture, Urbanism & Climate Action (T339) Full Time
EU fee per year - € 9300 va
nonEU fee per year - € 29100 va

va"Bench Fees EU and non EU students on this programme are also required to pay a charge of €450 to cover the cost of consumables in addition to the published fee above"
***Fees are subject to change

Please note that UCD offers a number of graduate scholarships for full-time, self-funding international students, holding an offer of a place on a UCD graduate degree programme. For further information please see www.ucd.ie/global/scholarships/

The following entry routes are available:

MSc Architecture, Urbanism & Climate Action FT (T339)
Duration 1 Years Attend Full Time
Deadline Rolling*

* Courses will remain open until such time as all places have been filled, therefore early application is advised

Urban environments and their buildings are at once both acutely responsible for the climate crisis, and present some of the most achievable solutions. Climate action is urgently required to mitigate their environmental impact and unearth creative solutions. This MSc programme equips graduates and returning professionals with specialist skills to respond to the challenge of planning, designing, and actioning a sustainable built environment. The School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy (APEP) brings together four key disciplines to provide a unique graduate learning experience. Core modules are specifically designed to enhance knowledge of Sustainable Development Goals, climate science and policy as well as skills for sustainable building and urban design. Options allows students choose from a wide range of architecture, planning and policy based modules, as well as energy and sustainability modules from around the University. The programme links in with prestigious national and EU funded research projects and industry collaborations. This facilitates students in furthering research and knowledge, and the programme has a track record of supporting careers in sustainable design practice, consultancy, policy and academia.

The UCD School of Architecture, Planning & Environmental Policy has an established international track record as a leading research centre in sustainable building and city research with large national and international funded projects. It is in the Top 150 QS World University Rankings by subject area, and has long led the way in architectural study and practice in Ireland.

Stage 1 - Core
Architecture in a Climate EmergencyARCT41210
Urban Resilience and EthicsARCT41240
Climate Carbon Cities ChangeARCT41260
Geodesign for Urban FuturesARCT41310
Research for Environmental PolENVP40170

Stage 1 - Option
Realising Built ProjectsARCT40030
Urban Design Theory (UDT)ARCT40180
Street Life: Urban Design, an IntroductionARCT40660
Postgraduate StudioARCT40680
Urban Design StudioARCT40690
Agency: Design / BuildARCT40870
Concrete ResearchARCT40950
Linked Research ProjectARCT41230
Retrofit Existing BuildingsARCT41270
MAUCA InternshipARCT41290
Air PollutionBSEN30030
Energy System & Sustainable EnvironmentsBSEN40700
Carbon & SustainabilityBSEN40720
Behavioural E'mics:Policy AppECON42570
Tools for Sust DevelopmentENVP40040
Environmental Economics & Climate PolicyENVP40100
Reimagining Dublin: An Interdisciplinary Exploration in Urban RegenerationGEOG40750
Practical Environmental AssessmentGEOG40860
Remote SensingGEOG40890
Coastal RisksGEOG40960
Climate Change Law and PolicyLAW41090
Planning, Society and DiversityPLAN40030
Rural & Landscape PlanningPLAN40040
Urban and Regional DevelopmentPLAN40060
Housing Policy and PlanningPLAN40070
Geographical Information Systems for Policy and PlanningPLAN40220

90 credits total: 60 credits taught and 30 credits linked research project

In the final trimester students will complete a linked research project. This can take the following 3 forms;

Option 1: Placement with a linked employer. The student will undertake a programme of work for an industry or public body. The work will be agreed between the student, academic supervisor and the placement host if a suitable option is available.

Option 2: Working on established industry-collaborative research projects as part of a research team in the fields of architecture or urbanism, or related areas including; energy efficient buildings, smart cities, climate action policy research etc.

Option 3: Individual study in a research area of choosing by the student and agreed with the module coordinator.

- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of climate change, its causes and design and policy strategies to mitigate it, particularly related to the built environment.

- Ability to work effectively as an individual, in multidisciplinary teams, to tackle the essential challenge of our time.

- Demonstrate the ability to consider the environmental impact of buildings, including matters of resource depletion, energy consumption, life cycle performance, carbon intensity and in-use performance when designing buildings.

- Understand and participate in current debates within the areas of sustainability and climate change.

- Demonstrate an advanced ability to apply concepts and theoretical knowledge to climate change related challenges in Europe and globally.

Katie O'Neill
Contact Number: 01 7161781

Course Provider:
Location:
Belfield
Attendance Options:
Full time, Daytime
Qualification Letters:
MSc
Apply to:
Course provider
Number of credits:
level 9 nfq, credits 90