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MSc in Advanced Sustainable Design: Architecture, Sustainable Cities and Built Environment University of Edinburgh in United Kingdom
Degree Level
Master's
Field of study
Environmental Science
Funding
This is not advertised as a funded position. Tuition fees apply. University of Edinburgh graduates may be eligible for a 10% tuition-fee discount, and students may seek scholarships, bursaries or other postgraduate funding. Students should budget approximately £200 for additional programme costs, with optional travel, accommodation, materials and specialist equipment costs, plus living costs estimated at £18,504 per year for 2026-27 in Edinburgh.
Country
United Kingdom
University
University of Edinburgh
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About this position
Advanced Sustainable Design MSc is a one-year, full-time postgraduate programme at the University of Edinburgh’s Edinburgh College of Art, based in the Edinburgh School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.
The programme explores how design can contribute to the sustainable development of buildings, towns, cities and countryside. Students examine the relationship between architecture, design and planning, working across scales from building components and systems to settlements and entire regions. The curriculum combines theoretical study with practical design projects and considers the social, environmental and economic dimensions of sustainable development.
Students develop creative proposals for varied climates and contexts, including global urban settings. The programme offers opportunities to engage with building simulation modelling and quantitative methods for measuring and predicting building performance, supporting evidence-based design decisions. Coursework includes settlement-scale and building-system projects, immersive design work, reports, presentations and a substantial research dissertation shaped around the student’s interests and intended career direction.
Teaching is delivered through small workshops, group and individual tutorials, presentations and discussions. Students join an international learning community and can draw on the expertise of staff with professional and research experience in sustainable design and the built environment. Programme staff include Professor John Brennan, Dr Kate Carter, David Seel and Pepe Navarette Jiminez.
Facilities include fabrication workshops, a printing suite, computer and media facilities, specialist classrooms, libraries, creator labs, technical equipment and recycled materials resources. The programme is affiliated with the University’s Global Environment and Society Academy and offers a pathway toward further research, including doctoral study.
Funding details
This is not advertised as a funded position. Tuition fees apply. University of Edinburgh graduates may be eligible for a 10% tuition-fee discount, and students may seek scholarships, bursaries or other postgraduate funding. Students should budget approximately £200 for additional programme costs, with optional travel, accommodation, materials and specialist equipment costs, plus living costs estimated at £18,504 per year for 2026-27 in Edinburgh.
What's required
Applicants normally need a UK 2:1 honours degree or international equivalent in a relevant subject. Applicants who do not meet the academic requirement may still be considered based on their portfolio and/or relevant professional experience. A portfolio is required. Applicants must also demonstrate English proficiency through an accepted test or an eligible degree or professional qualification; examples include IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component, or the specified equivalent scores for TOEFL-iBT, C1 Advanced/C2 Proficiency, Oxford ELLT or Oxford Test of English Advanced.
How to apply
Apply online through the University of Edinburgh programme page. Read the application guidance, select Advanced Sustainable Design MSc, and submit the required application materials including a portfolio and evidence of English-language proficiency.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.