The Department of Architecture welcomes international applicants to apply for the 2 year, full-time Master’s Degree Programme in Architectural Design. The program is taught in English and begins in September of each year.  The degree awarded, Master of Science in Architecture, is a professional architect’s degree, providing the qualifications to work as an architect as well as eligibility to continue to doctoral studies.

The school’s teachings respond directly to its surrounding, northern environment. Local building traditions and extreme climate conditions offer great resources and possibilities for research and creating new architecture for extreme northern climates.

Aims and content of the programme

The aim of the International Master’s Programme is to provide knowledge and skills in architectural design, architectural lighting, detailing of interiors and exteriors, material technologies as well as urban space design and detailing. The goal is to encourage students to develop a personal relationship with architecture and design and to produce graduates with practical skills needed in the architect’s profession as well as the expertise to participate in research and to carry out post-graduate studies.

The contents of the programme are based on the tradition and experience of teaching design closely related to architecture. The focus of studies is on studio projects, varying from larger scale public buildings to the designing of details both for buildings and urban structures with an emphasis on sustainability. Additionally the lectures cover contemporary features in public building in Finland and Scandinavia and the latest developments of wood, steel and concrete as building materials.

The professors are internationally recognized architects and researchers. International workshops as well as guest lectures by noted domestic and foreign architects, researchers and artists are an integral part of the education.

Learning Outcomes

After completing the Master’s Degree in Architectural Design, the student

• is able to work as an independent architect, expert or a member of a research team within urban design, building design or design closely related to architecture
• is capable of valuing, selecting and implementing artistic and scientific methods in the architect’s work
• recognizes basic concepts of research and the central theories, methods and practices of the field of architecture and is able to apply research results and theoretical knowledge in practice
• is able to value environmental issues and sustainable development extensively within the profession of an architect
• is able to set objectives to the given design task and through utilizing processes of creative work is able  to develop various solutions based on analyses and problem solving, regardless of the scale of the task
• is able to present and justify the functional principles of the solutions chosen
• is able to apply advanced working methods and tools in a creative manner in the solutions visualization
• is able to follow the domestic and international development in the field of architecture and participate in the social debate concerning architecture
• is capable of taking responsibility of his own professional developing and specialization

Graduation Requirements

To be awarded a master´s degree, a student must complete the required studies and master´s thesis, write a maturity essay demonstrating language proficiency (English). The diploma for the degree of Master of Science (Architecture) is awarded on request and issued by the Education Dean of the Faculty. 

Contact information

DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE, P.O.BOX 4100, FI-90014 UNIVERSITY OF OULU, FINLAND

See programme description according to ECTS criteria.