Course

Master of Architecture (Urban Transformation)

Approved Abbreviation: MArchitecture

Western Sydney University Course Code: 3761.1

AQF Level: 9

CRICOS Code: 099363K

This course will prepare graduates for professional activities in the field of architecture. Particular emphasis is placed upon developing mastery of architectural design through studio-based teaching in the context of urban transformation and urban reconstruction opportunities of greater metropolitan Sydney and comparable global conditions. Students are required to complete a design-research thesis to demonstrate their ability to think independently, critically, and to resolve complex design issues. Additional studies in urban and contemporary architectural theory, building and design technology, electives, and professional practice constitute the overall degree.

Students enrolled in the Master of Architecture (Urban Transformation) should anticipate expenses of approximately $200 per semester for model-making materials and large format plotting costs. All students must have their own laptop when commencing the course (minimum 8GB RAM, 512GB Hard Drive, multi-core processor, and high performance graphics card).

Completion of the Master of Architecture (Urban Transformation) will prepare students seeking to undertake doctoral level study with the necessary qualification to seek admission as a higher degree by research candidate.

In 2020, all studio units in this course will be offered at Westmead campus and/or online.

Study Mode
Two years full-time or four years part-time.

Accreditation
Accreditation of the Master of Architecture (Urban Transformation) will be sought from the NSW Architects Registration Board in late 2021 to coincide with the completion of the degree by the first cohort of graduates. This process is administered by the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA) and the program is designed to meet the guidelines of the National Competency Standards in Architecture (NCSA). Graduates of this program will be eligible to seek registration as a qualified architect in Australia upon completing a period of internship and registration exam after successfully completing the course.

Admission

Applicants must

  • have successfully completed an undergraduate degree, or, higher, in architecture.
  • submit a high quality, maximum 10 page A4 PDF portfolio showing their past creative work, and any relevant work experience (1 page maximum) which will be assessed by the architectural team at WSU.
  • submit a sample of writing, no more than 1000 words, to demonstrate writing and critical reasoning ability. This can be a product of the applicant’s previous study such as undergraduate history.

Applicants with a GPA of 4 and above will be considered subject to additional criteria being met with a portfolio submission.

Portfolio (PDF only) formatting and content requirements

  • Maximum 5MB file size
  • Colour or black and white
  • A4 portrait or landscape
  • No embedded hyperlinks. Static files only. No security or password protection on the file
  • Cover sheet with your name, email address, and phone number and 100 word maximum description of the creative content, explanation of any exceptional circumstances, and articulation of why the field of architecture is of interest
  • Save the PDF file using the following name format: M_Arch_SURNAME_FIRSTNAME_portfolio.pdf

For example, M_Arch_SMITH_JOHN_portfolio.pdf

You must upload your portfolio to your UAC application or via direct application through the Western Sydney portal. Refer to the Western Closing Dates page for application deadlines:

https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/currentstudents/current_students/dates/closing_dates

Do NOT email portfolios to WSU.

Where any work is authored by more than just the applicant, this needs to be clearly identified and credited (such as collaborative projects).

Additional information

International applicants must also provide a full transcript of their undergraduate studies.

Applications from Australian and New Zealand citizens and holders of permanent resident visas must be made via the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC). Use the links below to apply via UAC or Western Sydney University. Applications made directly to Western Sydney do not have an application fee.

Applicants who have undertaken studies overseas may have to provide proof of proficiency in English. Local and International applicants who are applying through the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) will find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on the UAC website. Local applicants applying directly to the University should also use the information provided on the UAC website.

http://www.uac.edu.au/

https://westernsydney.uac.edu.au/ws/

International applicants must apply directly to the University via the International Office.

International students applying to the University through the International Office can find details of minimum English proficiency requirements and acceptable proof on their website.

International Office

Overseas qualifications must be deemed by the Australian Education International - National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR) to be equivalent to Australian qualifications in order to be considered by UAC and Western Sydney University.

Special Requirements Prerequisites
A construction safety site induction card (e.g. “white card”) is required to enable students to participate in site visits and field study.

Work Integrated Learning

Western Sydney University seeks to enhance student learning experiences by enabling students to engage in the culture, expectations and practices of their profession or discipline. This course includes a placement or other community-based unpaid practical experience.

There is a mandatory work component required for completion of this course. Please contact the Course Advisor listed above for information.

International students should also refer to the 'Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students' website for more information and a link to the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

Work Integrated Learning (WIL) for international students

There are three key approaches undertaken for Work Integrated Learning experiences including:

1. Design Studios for Work-based training: Design problems in an Architectural Design Studio whereby the project is a real life problem in industry. Students may work individually or in teams to integrate multiple aspects of (project/problem-based) learning with the practice of work in addressing the industry’s needs. Students will be located in the WSU Design Studio for weekly sessions. An academic staff member is the Studio Leader supervising sessional tutors who are practising architects.

2. Professional Practice/Industry Placements: During the final year of the Master degree, students will undertake a research and design thesis that will be supervised by academic staff. Additionally, students will be paired with an industry mentor to help provide guidance and relevance to industry needs, opportunities, and futures.

3. Guest lectures, site visits, and office visits will provide additional exposure to current industry practice and developments in the field.

Course Structure

Recommended full-time sequence for start year intake

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 160 credit points as per the recommended sequence below.

Year 1

1H session

800218Researcher Development 1: Reading, Writing, and the Business of Research

Autumn session

301382Practice Research Studio Civic
301239Advanced Design Communication

2H session

800220Researcher Development 2: Proposing and Justifying Research

Spring session

301383Practice Research Studio Housing
301240Integrated Building Technology

Summer A session

301104Professional Practice and Building Law

Year 2

Autumn session

301241Urban Transformation Thesis Studio 1

From Autumn 2021 this unit is replaced by equivalent unit 301398 Urban Transformation Studio Local.

301398Urban Transformation Studio Local
101633Managing Cities: History and Theory

Spring session

301242Urban Transformation Thesis Studio 2
301191Project Procurement Systems

And one Alternate unit from the list below

Note: 301104 Professional Practice and Building Law is offered during the Summer A session only. This is a fully online unit with scheduled weekly Zoom meetings.

Recommended Part-time sequence for start year intake

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 160 credit points as per the recommended sequence below.

Year 1

1H session

800218Researcher Development 1: Reading, Writing, and the Business of Research

Autumn session

301239Advanced Design Communication

2H session

800220Researcher Development 2: Proposing and Justifying Research

Spring session

301240Integrated Building Technology

Year 2

Autumn session

301382Practice Research Studio Civic

Spring session

301383Practice Research Studio Housing

Summer A session

301104Professional Practice and Building Law

Year 3

Autumn session

101633Managing Cities: History and Theory

Spring session

301191Project Procurement Systems

And one Alternate unit from the list below

Year 4

Autumn session

301241Urban Transformation Thesis Studio 1

From Autumn 2021 this unit is replaced by equivalent unit 301398 Urban Transformation Studio Local.

301398Urban Transformation Studio Local

Spring session

301242Urban Transformation Thesis Studio 2

Note: 301104 Professional Practice and Building Law is offered during the Summer A session only. This is a fully online unit with scheduled weekly Zoom meetings.

Replaced Units

The units listed below count towards completion of this course for students who passed these units in Autumn 2020 or earlier.

800166 - Research Design 1: Theories of Enquiry

800169 - Research Design 2: Practices of Research

301237 - Practice Research Studio 1

301238 - Practice Research Studio 2

Alternate units

Choose one of

300947Building Regulations
101636Developing Sustainable Places
101315Financing Cities in the Global Economy
102698Green Urbanscapes: Bio-Physical Functions and Services
300708Planning and Development Control
301190Safe and Sustainable Construction
301189Smart Construction
101314Urban Management Practice: Governance and Power in the City

Any other Level 7 elective unit with permission of Director Academic Program

Recommended full-time sequence for mid- year intake

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 160 credit points as per the recommended sequence below.

Year 1

2H session

800218Researcher Development 1: Reading, Writing, and the Business of Research

Spring session

301383Practice Research Studio Housing
301240Integrated Building Technology

1H session

800220Researcher Development 2: Proposing and Justifying Research

Autumn session

301382Practice Research Studio Civic
301239Advanced Design Communication

Year 2

Spring session

301241Urban Transformation Thesis Studio 1

From 2021 this unit is replaced by equivalent unit 301398 Urban Transformation Studio Local.

301398Urban Transformation Studio Local
301191Project Procurement Systems

And one Alternate unit from the list below

Summer A session

301104Professional Practice and Building Law

Autumn session

301242Urban Transformation Thesis Studio 2
101633Managing Cities: History and Theory

Note: 301104 Professional Practice and Building Law is offered during the Summer A session only. This is a fully online unit with scheduled weekly Zoom meetings.

Recommended part-time sequence for mid- year intake

Qualification for this award requires the successful completion of 160 credit points as per the recommended sequence below.

Year 1

2H session

800218Researcher Development 1: Reading, Writing, and the Business of Research

Spring session

301240Integrated Building Technology

1H Session

800220Researcher Development 2: Proposing and Justifying Research

Autumn session

301239Advanced Design Communication

Year 2

Spring session

301383Practice Research Studio Housing

Autumn session

301382Practice Research Studio Civic

Year 3

Spring session

301191Project Procurement Systems

And one Alternate unit from the list below

Summer A

101633Managing Cities: History and Theory

Year 4

Spring session

301241Urban Transformation Thesis Studio 1

From 2021 this unit is replaced by equivalent unit 301398 Urban Transformation Studio Local.

301398Urban Transformation Studio Local

Autumn session

301242Urban Transformation Thesis Studio 2

Note: 301104 Professional Practice and Building Law is offered during the Summer A session only. This is a fully online unit with scheduled weekly Zoom meetings.

Replaced Units

The units listed below count towards completion of this course for students who passed these units in Autumn 2020 or earlier.

800166 - Research Design 1: Theories of Enquiry

800169 - Research Design 2: Practices of Research

301237 - Practice Research Studio 1

301238 - Practice Research Studio 2

Alternate units

Choose one of

300947Building Regulations
101636Developing Sustainable Places
101315Financing Cities in the Global Economy
102698Green Urbanscapes: Bio-Physical Functions and Services
300708Planning and Development Control
301190Safe and Sustainable Construction
301189Smart Construction
101314Urban Management Practice: Governance and Power in the City

Any other Level 7 elective unit with permission of Director Academic Program



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